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THE NEW BAB AL SHAMS – first look

Why the New Bab Al Shams

The iconic and well established Bab Al Shams has been taken over by the Kerzner group, so it’s not no longer a Jumeirah property.

The result is a high class, cool feeling desert retreat. It definitely deserves a visit. Read on to see what you could do to get away from it all for a different day out.

What could you do in a day at the new Bab Al Shams

You could have lunch, a drink at the Gentle Bar, take a desert drive and then unwind with a cool swim at any one of their infinity pools.

Finally you could experience sundowners and dinner on the rooftop restaurant. We did all the above in a day, read on for the honest account.

Eating at the New Bab Al Shams

We had lunch at the Mediterranean Turkish restaurant Zala at the resort. Food is presented in a combined style of help yourself as well table service for some items.

We had a very good look around the extensive buffet and live stations before selecting our food.

A word of warning – SAVE ROOM for desserts here. They are excellent and some of best hotel desserts I’ve had. The Turkish pastries are standout as is their lemon tart.

Bab Al Shams Zala lemon tart DoinDubai monica kapila

Cocktails and beverages are very reasonably priced.

The full lunch buffet with a hot beverage costs AED 200 per adult. We think this is a very reasonable price for a resort of this calibre.

Sunset drinks and dinner are served at Amwa. We loved our experience here.

Bab al Shams Amwa food pan asian doindubai monica kapila

You get a good view of the desert at sunset and drinks here at the end of the day are a must do. Amwa serves pan Asian style cuisine and the quality and presentation is good.

The New Bab Al Shams DoinDubai Monica Kapila Amwa rooftop bar

I would definitely come for drinks and dinner here again. Amwa is only open for dinner at the moment.

Activities – The Desert Drive

An experienced driver/guide takes you in the resort’s new Range Rover Defender vehicles on a drive for around an hour or so.

The New Bab Al Shams DoinDubai Monica Kapila Desert experience

You get to see some oryx, camels of course as well as learn about the conservation initiatives in place in the area.

There is some “dune” type driving and you are brought to a fabulous area for a “photo shoot”. It’s cool and worth doing.

The drive with driver/guide in the Range Rover costs AED 1100 for 2 people, each additional person costs AED 400. New rates are coming out for summer. Keep checking the post, we will add here when we know.

Other activities included camel riding and archery. We didn’t try on this visit.

The swimming pool area is a real draw and a great place to unwind and cool off despite the heat!

Weekday pool access costs AED 275 per adult. Weekend price is AED 375 at the moment.

Bab Al Shams poolside Doin Dubai Monica Kapila

Location and website

Bab al Shams is located around 50 minutes drive or so away from Downtown Dubai. Arabian Ranches is on the way, it’s just beyond the Al Qudra bike track.

The Bab Al Shams Website

NOTE NEW PRICES COMING OUT FOR SUMMER – we will add here, please keep checking the post. 

disclosure: This post was written in conjunction with Bab Al Shams but the views are all my own - Monica Kapila owner and founder of DoinDubai.

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VISIT NAIROBI if you love forest walks, foodie tours, flower shopping and easy safaris

We’re regular visitors to Kenya from Dubai, it’s only a 4.5 hour flight and there’s just a one hour time difference but it’s a whole world away from Dubai Life!

We recommend you visit Nairobi, the capital of Kenya for a short break. But don’t do those typical touristy things, read our account of how to savour the city like a local.

VISIT NAIROBI if you love forest walks, foodie tours, flower shopping and easy safaris walk in Karura Forest
WALKING IN KARURA FOREST

What would you do on a visit Nairobi – forget the usual touristy things and savour the city in style but like a local.

Try a gorgeous walk in Karura Forest

Karura forest is a protected natural area in Nairboi that has clearly marked walking and biking trails with beautiful, mature trees and woodland terrain. You can choose from 5/10 or 15 km trails. It’s very safe, you meet people walking alone, in groups or with their dogs.

It’s a regular activity for many people who live in Nairobi. There is a little animal life in the forest, the occasional monkey, plenty of birds and sometimes you see baby antelope. But you’re mainly here for some glorious forest bathing, with no sounds of cars or sites of any type of city life.

VISIT NAIROBI if you love forest walks, foodie tours, flower shopping and easy safaris drinks at the RIver Cafe Karura
HAVE A DRINK AT THE RIVER CAFE AT THE EDGE OF THE FOREST

Lap it up and build up an appetite for a meal or snack at the River Cafe at the Limuru Gate entrance to the forest.

Non residents pay around US $5.00 to get in to the forest. NOTE you can’t take in any plastic water bottles. Scroll down for the Karura Forest official website.

Places to eat with delicious foodie vibes when you visit Nairobi

We recommend pizzas at Solo Grano at the Gigiri Courtyard in Gigiri. A vibrant, buzzy but laid back outdoor area with a variety of casual but very good eateries. We also had oysters from Gropper Seafood across the carpark, they come to you with the menu. Super value at $5.00 for 6 Kilifi oysters.

The pizzas are so reasonable too. We hear that a new BBQ place called Chop It has just opened there.

VISIT NAIROBI if you love forest walks, foodie tours, flower shopping and easy safaris oysters at Gigiri Courtyard
OYSTERS AT THE GIGIRI COURTYARD

We also liked the tapas and cool terrace vibes of a restaurant called Tapas, on the ground floor of Westgate Mall.

For really casual Indian kebabs and bbq type food try the newly opened Rozina near Runda. Next to On The Way supermarket that has a super bakery at the back!

Rozina is the name of the grandmother of the owner and it’s her original recipes that are still used today. This is the 4th branch of this brand. It does have a full service bar as well, not too great for vegetarians, apart from their egg chappati which is MUST TRY. A sort of masala omlette encased in a crispy, flaky parantha type pastry case.

If you know someone that can sign you in the Muthaiga Country Club in, then go to Pinks and pick anything from the menu, lovely for breakfast or a snack, avoid weekends when it gets busy!

And if you’re in the mood for a snack lunch, or very late breakfast type then we loved the Art Caffe quiches at the Village Market branch. I wouldn’t recommend the side salads though!

VISIT NAIROBI if you love forest walks, foodie tours, flower shopping and easy safaris quiche from art caffe market
COOL QUICHE AT ART CAFFE VILLAGE MARKET

How to shop for flowers when you visit Nairobi

First check with your home country that you’re allowed to bring flowers back! Not possible in London I know! But totally fine in Dubai via Emirates at least.

VISIT NAIROBI if you love forest walks, foodie tours, flower shopping and easy safaris Tambuzi roses the best
WE LOVE THE TAMBUZI ROSES

I like the Tambuzi roses best, sometimes available from Art Caffe Market branches. Thank you to my friend Firoza for that recommendation.

We like the Art Caffe Market in Runda. Else just buy your flowers from any roadside stall.

VISIT NAIROBI if you love forest walks, foodie tours, flower shopping and easy safaris flowers from the road side
FLOWER STALLS ON THE ROADSIDE

You do need to source a box to transport them in though.

VISIT NAIROBI if you love forest walks, foodie tours, flower shopping and easy safaris you need a flower box
YOU NEED A BOX FOR YOUR FLOWERS

Usually a good florist will sell you one or give you one for free if you buy flowers. Try Village Market or Sarit Centre depending on where you’re staying.

No need to go to the Mara for a safari

Nairobi National Park is a great way to experience a safari in the city. It’s about a 45 minute drive from the city and then you can spend most of a day there in a vehicle spotting animials.

There’s no guarantee you’ll see lot’s of wildlife but you may get lucky and see lions, buffalo, rhino and more.

Useful websites

Karura Forest official website

Tambuzi Roses

More on Kenya here

If you fancy the Kenyan coast, again, super cool and nothing like our Dubai beaches, then check this post out.

Other short break destinations

We loved Milan, now over 20 flights a week now from the UAE!

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YOUR REPORTER MONICA KAPILA AT THE MUTHAIGA COUNTRY CLUB

Do also check our Monica’s Travel Tips page for new destinations and routes from Dubai. New routes being added all the time! You may also like the prints for sale at KAPILA GALLERY here.

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CHINA TOWN IN DUBAI MALL – Not just more street food

What is China Town in Dubai Mall all about

It’s a large area decorated to look a bit like a Hong Kong street with a variety of authentic food kiosks and eateries. Is it worth a visit? Read on to find out.

LIKE A STREET IN HONG KONG BUT IN DUBAI MALL

There are nice places to sit and eat. Much nicer vibe than the food courts. Note that not all the food places are open as yet.

Some of are very informal order at the counter kiosks, others a a bit more formal.

So it’s an upmarket feeling, Asian style food court for the main section. But it’s not only about food.

Where exactly is China Town in Dubai Mall

China Town in Dubai is located on the 1st floor of Dubai Mall, near the ice rink. It’s easily accessible once you’re in the mall.

What are the best places to eat there

That depends on whether you’d like something quick and good value or want to splurge a bit. The popular kiosks are definitely Hawker Chan and Lanzhou Beef Noodle when we visited. I think Lanzhou also has a branch in International City.

Note I went with a Chinese friend who lives in Dubai so she has some inside knowledge on what’s good!

The Hawker Chan stall specializes in chicken and rice Singapore style. Often there are queues to order from this famous name kiosk.

HAWKER CHAN KIOSK IS FAMOUS FOR CHICKEN RICE

The Lanzhou beef noodle kiosk was also really busy. It serves steaming bowls of tender beef in spicy, soupy noodles.

Note there is no vegetarian or even chicken broth equivalent so if you don’t eat beef then this one is not for you.

Haidialo is a more formal restaurant serving Chinese Hot Pot. It has it’s own area and is a proper stand alone restaurant.

We like Chinese hot pots but my friend didn’t recommend we try this one just yet! Do check out their cool marketing videos though!

It’s certain more restaurants and kiosks will be opening as the space matures apparently up to 30! More formal restaurants will open up as well.

NOODLES AND DIM SUM TOO BUT A BIT BASIC

Is it all about food

It’s mainly but not exclusively about food in China Town Dubai at the moment. We loved the well known in China brand Xiaomi.

It’s an electronics retailer that I thought was quite reasonably priced. We LOVED the neat white air fryers that are just AED 349!

If you’d like to see our cool air fryer recipes page then click here for AIR FRYER RECIPES

A WHITE AIR FRYER – XIAOMI SO COOL

Or follow our AIR FRYER SIMPLE instagram.

I also would have bought their foldable reading light, but that was sold out. They also seem to specialize in android operated smart phones that cost a fraction of Apple or Samsung models.

The store was founded in 2010 by a young Chinese business man from Beijing.

There is also a Yin Yang spa branch here too. Very popular massage spa that we know from Al Wasl road in Jumeirah. Somewhere for those who don’t like to shop!

If you like Chinese food then you could also try here

If you like Chinese food you may also want to consider eating at Din Tai Fung on the lower ground floor near the fountains.

DUMPLINGS AT DIN TAI FUNG LG FLOOR

Be sure to pop in to Kadayifzade Turkish pistachio pastry shop next door for a sample for high end, authentic dessert.

TURKISH DELIGHTS AT KADAYIFZADA

Is China Town in Dubai Mall worth the visit

if you’re in Dubai Mall then yes definitely pop up there. Take a look at the giant panda exhibit and have a good look round Xiaomi store.

GIANT PANDA EXHIBIT

If you eat beef then you’ll love Lanzhou Beef kiosk, otherwise maybe have dumplings at Din Tai Fung?

The area is bound to evolve and get busier as time goes on.

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Chat Gpt told me there are 30 restaurants and cafes in China Town Dubai Mall. Well sure there will be eventually but not at the moment! It also said it was a vibrant Chinese cultural showcase, again, not as yet!

If you’d like to try your hand at making some Chinese food at home, then try this easy, tasty Chinese fish fillets recipe.

monicas-weekend-monica-kapila-doindubai-chinese-style-fish-fillets-

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MILAN TO COMO – How best to do the trip

Most people are keen to experience Milan to Como – how best to do the trip? Read on to find out what the most practical ways are to do this and what to do when you’re in Como itself.

Doesn’t matter if you’re skinted or minted, there’s an option for everyone!

Milan to Como DoinDubai Monica Kapila Moltrasio bay
MOLTRASIO BAY A VILLAGE BY LAKE COMO

How to get to Como from Milan – options

Generally you can get to Como from Milan in 3 ways:

Hire a car and drive there yourself, but the roads are windy, parking isn’t easy in Como and you can’t have a drink or two and drive back on the same day easily!

You could hire a driver and car to get dropped off and then get picked up, this is expensive though, very expensive when you compare the cost of doing this by train. It’s about 200 euros or so one way in a regular car.

You could take a train from a station that’s close to you in Milan and get off at Como station, there’s only one main station in Como.

Milano Centrale is popular BUT it’s a big, busy station, we took the train to Como from Garibaldi station, not too far by taxi from our hotel Aethos The Yard Milan.

It takes roughly an hour to get to Como from Milan by train. Seemed to be only one class of travel.

Choose a train where you don’t have to change. They run quite regularly during the day.

COST by train from Milan to Como – RETURN is; wait for it.. just 10 euros per person!

So this is by far the most reasonable and quite comfortable way of getting to Como from Milan.

When in Como what should we do

That depends on your interests but most people want to see some of the villages around the lake.

The town itself though is a nice place to walk around and explore if you have time, there are plenty of little restaurants and shops.

There are picturesque squares and cobbled streets just about 10 minutes walk away from the station. Just follow everyone!

But the real draw is to see the lakeside and ideally stop off at some of the villages round the lake.

If you only had a day how best to see the villages around Lake Como

If you had a car then it’s easy to drive from one village to another or you could spend some time in just one or two villages.

We think a great way to experience Como is to take a boat and do the hop on hop off option as you feel like. That’s all within the same fixed price of just 8 euros so about AED 35 !

1 HOUR FOR THIS SECTION OF THE LAKE
BELLAGIO IS 3 HOURS AWAY BY BOAT FROM COMO

There are 2 types of boat trip you can take, the water taxi type boat open to the general public or you could hire a boat and skipper via a private boat taxi arrangement and customise your experience.

The second option is much more expensive though, we were told nearer 900 euros for a private boat taxi. Of course if you’ve booked a hotel to stay at then you could ask to be collected by the hotel’s own boat service.

Do book your boat tickets IN ADVANCE if you can, the queues are very long so you waste time hanging around.

Milan to Como DoinDubai Monica Kapila Side garden Passalaqua Moltrasio Como
PASSALCAQUA HOTEL SIDE GARDEN

The public boat taxi is just 8 euros per person for hop on hop off arrangement that takes you around the lower part of the lake.

There are 5 villages you could see via this route, so it’s amazing value for money!

You do need time though so maybe it’s best to decide which villages you want to see. If you stay on the boat, it takes an hour to do the round trip. It may be standing room only for some parts and you may get a bit wet, so dress accordingly.

If you want to get to Bellagio though, that’s a 3 hour journey away by boat from Como jetty and a different boat.

For a special occasion.. go here at least once in your life if you can

You can only visit Passalacqua in Como if you’re staying there, and I can’t recommend it highly enough for a special occasion.

Milan to Como DoinDubai Monica Kapila Poolside Passalaqua
POOLSIDE PASSALACQUA HOTEL MOTRASIO – COMO

An historic mansion with beautifully kept grounds and gardens that include a pool, tennis court and an organic garden.

This property would be ideal if you were looking for a venue for a medium sized private function too.

It’s hard to describe the effect of the music, the smell, the views, the decor and the sense of place that Passalacqua has on you unless you’re there. Experience it yourself at least once if you can.

We loved it and would go back.

Milan to Como DoinDubai Monica Kapila afternoon tea at Passalaqua
TEATIME AT PASSALACQUA

Passalacqua is located in Moltrasio, the third stop of the public boat taxi tour.

Please note, apart from the place we suggest for lunch below and of course Passalacqua itself, there isn’t too much else to stop for in Moltrasio!

It’s not that easy to walk around either, unless you arrive by car.

Save this place for a marvellous lunch idea

We all loved our lunch at Baia di Molstrasio lakeside restaurant a few minutes walk from the jetty. Please do book ahead as this place is always very popular.

MILAN Cool places to eat sleep and sight see DoinDubai Monica Kapila Moltrasio lunch
LUNCH AT BAIA DI MOLTRASIO – COMO

Note a table inside by the window I feel is better than outside when the sun is out, even in early March, as it gets too hot!

If you’re staying in Milan then we recommend our hotel The Aethos Milan – The Yard.

Have a look at our post on that. If you need ideas for things to do and restaurants in Milan see our recommendations for Milan.

MILAN Cool places to eat sleep and sight see DoinDubai Monica Kapila Cathedral
DUOMO IN MILAN

If you want to see more of our FOOD in Milan see this Tik Tok account for My_Food_Moods here. It’ll make you so hungry!

MILAN Cool places to eat sleep and sight see DoinDubai Monica Kapila Rinascente lunch
FOOD INSPIRATION AT MY_FOOD_MOODS

If you liked this post then help us by sharing using the buttons especially whatsap

Want more honest, practical ideas about other destinations? Then SUBSRIBE here

Do also check our Monica’s Travel Tips page for new destinations and routes from Dubai. New routes being added all the time! You may also like the prints for sale at KAPILA GALLERY here.

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