Why not take two pocket-friendly holidays next year?
Published: Wed 13 Dec 2017, 11:22 AM
Last updated: Wed 13 Dec 2017, 7:05 PM
You don't always have to opt for a last-minute holiday. Apart from burning a hole in your pocket with the last-minute premium flight costs, peace evades you as you finalise the minutest details, just hours away from your holiday. A little bit of planning can give you relief from the vacation anxiety.
Sure, planning a holiday can be a daunting task and the most important question is zeroing down the destination. We bring to you a list of countries you can consider if you have major travel goals in 2018.
What more, these 10 destinations are pocket-friendly and can be visited on a string budget of Dh4,000 per head. So, how about visiting two countries next year?
1. Rome
With a 5 day package costing you around Dh3,000 you can discover Italy's capital Rome. Revisit the power of the former Roman Empire with ancient ruins at the Colosseum. If you are into art, walk through the Vatican museums - home to masterpieces such as Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes.
Travel time: 6h 40m duration
Currency value: 1 UAE Dirham = 0.23 Euros
2. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is one destination which combines it all - the beaches, the caves, the forts, wildlife and the heritage. Climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress to get a beautiful view of the city and proceed to the Golden temple of Dambulla. Visit the botanical garden, Gregory lake, golf course in the beautiful city of Kandy. If you are a beach bum, Sri Lanka is home to many. Head to Bentota, Nilaveli, Negombo or Trincomalee.
Currency value: 1 UAE Dirham = 41.41 Sri Lankan Rupee
Flight time: 4 hours, 25 minutes
3. India
It might be home for many expats in Dubai but the vast country offers a different experience in each state. If booked in advance, you can get a cheap bargain on flight to any of the major cities and then explore the city through the well-connected roadways or railways. It would be best to discover every part of it (east, west, north, south) on different trips if you don't have the luxury of a month-long holiday!
Currency value: 1 UAE Dirham = 17.59 Indian Rupee
Flight time: 3 hours
4. Indonesia
Considered the cultural heart of Bali, Ubud is one of the top attractions of Indonesia. Surrounded by greenery, enjoy the stunning view of the terraced rice fields. You must have seen it on the timeline of your Facebook friends - the magnificent Borobudur is one of the famous Buddhist temples in the world. If it doesn't give you the creeps, go watch the world's largest living reptile, Komodo Dragon at the Komodo National Park. Head to Gili islands to dip in the pristine waters of Indonesia.
Currency value: 1 UAE Dirham = 3629.36 Indonesian Rupiah
Flight time: 8 hours
5. Nepal
Fulfill your fixation of heritage in Kathmandu, which is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites around the world. The sites include the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka, Patan and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhunath and Bauddhanath and the Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan. Lead the life of a hippie and explore the night life in Thamel. Savour the beauty of the majestic Himalayan peaks with a visit to Pokhara. Enjoy activities like zip flying, paragliding in the Pokhara valley.
Currency value: 1 UAE Dirham = 28.14 Nepalese Rupee
Flight time: 4 hours, 15 minutes
6. Jordan
With flights starting at Dh 1,200 a visit to Amman in Jordan should be on your list in 2018. It also figured as part of Top 50 best destinations to visit in 2018 by Travel + Leisure.
And just right around UAE's own back yard is Jordan. The home of Her Highness Princess Haya, there's a lot of things to do in Jordan - such as seeing the beauty of Petra.
Flight time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Currency value: 1 UAE Dirham = 0.19 Jordanian Dinar
7. Istanbul
Explore the colourful Grand Bazaar, the biggest undercover markets in the world in Istanbul. Dig into some Turkish delights and enjoy apple tea with the locals. After a long hectic day, head to the Turkish bath hammam and unwind your senses.
Flight time: 4 hours, 50 minutes.
Currency value: 1 UAE Dirham = 1.04 Turkish Lira
8. Ukraine
The capital of Kyiv is a blend of traditional Ukrainian culture and its Soviet past. If you're a coffee-lover, Lviv's coffee mines is a must-see. The country on the Eastern Europe is a wonderful mix of forests, meadows, humans living in harmony with nature. Go to take a much-needed break.
Flight time: 5 hours 45 minutes.
Currency value: 1 UAE Dirham = 7.40 Ukrainian Hryvnia
9. Armenia
If you like history and would want to delve into ancient monasteries, you can take a short
four- day trip to Armenia. Take a guided tour of the History Museum of Armenia to check collections illustrating the centuries-old history of the Armenian nation.
Flight time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Currency value: 1 UAE Dirham = 131.80 Armenian Dram
10. Zanzibar
If you are looking for an exotic weekend island getaway, Zanzibar can be your choice of destination. You could head to the island for its cool, sunny weather during the coming summer months.
A walk in Stone Town will let you understand the Arabic, India, African and European influences in its architecture. Nungwi beach is also ideal for snorkeling, diving or kite surfing. Among the other things, you can do include a trip to the private animal reserve, Cheetah's Rock.
Flight time: 5 hours 55 minutes
Currency value: 1 UAE Dirham = 611.00 Tanzanian Shilling.
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