Staycation or vacation? Pick your choice before Eid holiday ends

Dubai - While many prefer to pack their bags to the nearest destination, there are quite a lot of residents who have opted for a staycation.

As the long break for Eid Al Adha begins today, residents are rushing to make that last minute booking either for a vacation or a staycation.
While many prefer to pack their bags to the nearest destination, there are quite a lot of residents who have opted for a staycation as airfares have shot up and forced them to scale back the budget and spend quality time with their loved ones in their preferred hotel.
The UAE hotels have also cashed in on the opportunity and many offers are being made with heavy discounts on food, stay and entertainment activities. The occupancy levels are running high and it is a windfall that the hospitality sector would not want to lose on.
Manu Midha, region head - Middle East, OYO Hotels and Homes, said: "We have seen an overwhelming response from travellers for the upcoming Eid break. Our occupancy levels have increased and a majority of tourists are coming from Saudi Arabia and Oman, among other places. Many people booked their stays well in advance and the surge can be attributed to residents who are spending Eid in the UAE."
Residents plan many activities varying from sports to entertainment during staycation.
The idea is to enhance consumer experience in their home town as they do not choose to travel to a foreign destination.
"We have witnessed that more and more guests are opting for staycations to experience and enjoy the facilities inside hotels and spend quality time with their loved ones," added Midha.
Meanwhile, popular holiday firm HolidayME has highlighted that while their bookings had been full, they also introduced many affordable packages for families to travel abroad.
"It is expected that demand for holiday travel is high in this Joyous occasion of Eid. In our business, we anticipate this and create very competitive packages for our customers.
This year, we chartered an entire aircraft to Seychelles and offered packages starting from Dh2,999 only," said Manvendra Naha Roy, head of online supply at HolidayME.
"Demand for all short-haul destinations have been very strong but customers can still find some affordable packages to destinations in Oman, Kyrgyzstan etc. and enjoy a quick getaway."
Dubai-based online flight and hotel booking platform Tajawal indicates that booking or hotel stay by the UAE tavellers has increased this year compared to last year.
Since the Eid Al Adha holiday period for public and private sector employees will last up to four days, the average length of hotel stay has dramatically increased by 43 per cent as residents seek to experience far-flung destinations and their diverse culture. The trends seem to continue with the average length of hotel stays up from three to seven days compared to 2018.
Muzzammil Ahussain, EVP of Tajawal, said: "Looking at our current booking trends, it appears more families and holidaymakers in the UAE are indulging in longer holidays, particularly overseas during this Eid Al Adha?period. From Zurich to closer-to-home destinations such as Kuala Lumpur and Sri Lanka, we are witnessing that a vast majority of travellers are opting for city sightseeing abroad over a local staycation this holiday season. Interestingly, more travellers from the UAE are now choosing?low-cost carriers?for long-haul flights and prefer to stay in mid-range hotels over their luxury counterparts for an authentic experience in cities across the globe."
Tajawal also observed that flight bookings with low-cost carriers have increased in 2019 compared to last year as UAE travellers get away this summer without the price tag of a full-service?flight abroad and take advantage of new long-haul routes by regional airlines.??
Revealing the latest hotel booking trends, Tajawal saw exponential growth in demand for three-star and four-star hotels offering unique and authentic holiday experiences.
The promotions are offered for a three-day stay or even a single day with as low as Dh299 per person in a hotel.
Shaji Abu Salih, corporate director - business development, Shaza Hotels, said: "Eid Al Adha is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a short break with your family without travelling too far. To make your celebrations extra special, our hotels have put together a wide array of attractive festive offers." Abdulla AlAbdulla, chief operating officer of Central Hotels, said: "The Eid holidays make it possible for both regional and domestic guests to enjoy a relaxing break closer to home. Hence, we have created the very best offers for our customers to enjoy a memorable and enchanting Eid Al Adha. All our properties are located in Dubai to experience the city's prime attractions ranging from shopping malls to theme parks."
According to HolidayME.com, popular destination for Eid are Georgia, Azerbaijjan, Belgrade for Dh3,500 per person for a package of 2 nights and 3 days. The UAE travellers are also tapping Armenia which is a bit expensive for Dh4,000 per person.
While the staycations are cheaper, wide and varied vacations offer you a new world of opportunities to explore. Pick your choice before the holiday ends.
sandhya@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE