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WHERE CAN WE TRAVEL TO FROM DUBAI? without having to quarantine. IDEAS HERE

Where can we travel to from Dubai without having to quarantine is the question we’re all asking ourselves. It IS possible to go places but as we know restrictions are definitely in force on many fronts. BUT travel is in our DNA so see where you can go NOW.

LONDON

So now we can GO TO LONDON WITHOUT HAVING TO UNDERTAKE EXPENSIVE HOTEL QUARANTINE, but so far we still have to isolate and quarantine privately for 10 days with a possibility of early release after day 5.

So that’s a lot of expensive covid tests AND many days of leave for those who work “wasted” . I also understand it can take up to 48 hours to get your test result back after day 5 so that’s a minimum of 7 days!

So some of us are waiting till the UK recognizes our entirely genuine vaccines. BUT when and if you do get to London check out some ideas we’ve experienced below.

LONDON IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES from boutique hotels to cooking lessons and everything in between. We LOVE London!

Click on the picture to see our many London posts. Psst we’ve also been alerted to a cool new hotel to check out in London’s West End. So add The Mayfair Townhouse to your list of places to consider having a drink, meal or few sleeps at!

ARTESIAN BAR AT THE LANGHAM LONDON

KENYA

We’ve just travelled to Kenya for a short break from Dubai and while the visa process has changed, there is no need to quarantine. Click to KENYA IDEAS HERE to see all our previous posts linked to countries we’ve been to to inspire you to book a trip.

KENYA IDEAS tried and tested here.

KENYA BEACH HOUSE

It’s possible to go to Kenya without having to quarantine, you just need a -ive PCR test on arrival and you have to generate a QR code via a link. The link to how you generate that code is here It’s a short 4 hour 40 minute flight from Dubai to Kenya direct on Emirates.

You do need a visa before hand so apply for an e visa on line first. Then on return you need a _ive PCR test.

SUNDOWNERS IN THE BUSH KENYA

NOTE the terminal is now in a NEW PLACE at Nairobi airport. Check you get dropped at the right place. Covid tests are quite easily available in Nairobi, the cost is around US $65.00 or so.

AMERICA

Well California Ideas here tried by us.

It’s possible for us to fly directly to the States from Dubai. Click for CALIFORNIA ITINERARY for you to copy. It’s a long flight but you do just get on and get off!

Shutters View Visit California

(16 hours from here to California) And I understand if you spend 10 days there you can now also go to London from there.

California Holiday Big Sur Beaches

WHERE CAN WE GO IN EUROPE ? European Trips we’ve been on check the itineraries here.

I think you can go many countries in Europe from Dubai without having to quarantine, BUT check which countires are or would be green if you need to go on to the UK. See where we recommend in

SPAIN, NORWAY, ITALY, THE CZECH REPUBLIK, BUDAPEST and TURKEY.

SPAIN

You can travel to Spain from Dubai without having to quarantine. We LOVED Barcelona and our foodie adventures in San Sebastian. The H10 hotel group has a 25% discount on 2 of our favourite hotels at the moment.

IN THE MOOD FOR BARCELONA

CZECH REPUBLIC

We loved our long weekend in Prague, click the link to read about what we did and where we stayed. It’s a very quick flight from Dubai.

NORWAY

This is an expensive destination but if it’s clean air and fabulous scenery you’re after then this is the place!

FABULOUS FJORDS IN NORWAY

ITALY

A really easy flight, fabulous food, good infrastructure and very friendly vibes, choose what kind of holiday you want in Italy.

BUDAPEST

A really good short trip from Dubai, fabulous architecture and a very walkable city. Lot’s of history too.

SHORT BREAK IN BUDAPEST

TURKEY

Well we’ve put this into Europe but know it can be classed as Asia as well, we went to Istanbul, Bodrum and Cesme, I’d do that whole trip again if I could. We LOVED the Maรงakizi hotel but there is a Mandarin Oriental in Bodrum too!

TURKEY TRIP

As always CHECK ALL RESTRICTION AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BOOK ANY TICKETS! We were almost off to Poland BUT we’re not clear as to whether they accept our vaccines or not, please let me know if you have any updated information on this. Poland seems like an amazing place to visit, great value too!

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TRAVELLING TO LONDON FROM DUBAI July 2020

Should we be travelling to London from Dubai ?

Travelling to London From Dubai DoinDubai Business Class Window
It's all a bit unclear

3 Sep 2020 update TRAVELLING ANYWHERE FROM DUBAI

  • Covid Tests, required for travellling, are available in a number of clinics in Dubai, some are 24 hour walk in clinics such as the Dubai London Clinic in Jumierah. โ 
  • Prices range from around AED 300 to AED 370. โ 
  • You have to QUARANTINE till you get your result, usually within 24 to 36 hours or so, regardless of whether you display any symptoms. We’ll keep UPDATING THIS POST, PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS.ย โ 
  • Need a visa? Check here first.ย 

UPDATED 29TH AUGUSTย 

It’s now compulsory to have evidence of a covid negative test result 96 hours before you fly to Dubai.

Let’s look at the detailed requirements:

  1. On first contacting Emirates, I was told an NHS test would in no way be accepted. On a subsequent call I was told YES an NHS test would be accepted BUT it had to be an email, NOT an SMSย 
  2. The NHS doesn’t always guarantee you an emailed result, sometimes it’s just an SMS you receive.ย 
  3. We know the NHS emailed results are accepted as friends have gone through fine with these. The advantage is of course they are FREE.ย 
  4. Private providers such as clinics and even pharmacies in the UK also undertake covid tests as in the PCR swab test that requires a swab of your nose and throat. The sample is sent to a lab and the results are emailed to you, usually within 24 hours. Labs seem to be working 24 hours to keep up with demand, at least in London as I understand.ย 
  5. The timing of the test is critical, so Emirates requires you take your swab pcr test no longer than 96 hours before your flight departure time. So that’s from the time you submit or go for your test, NOT from when the lab receives your sample.ย 
  6. It’s tricky as you need to leave enough time to receive your result as well.ย 

You also must have an approval form to return back to DXB. If you give your approval number to Emirates once you have your form, they will update it in the system for you.ย 

LINK from Emirates with new requirements FOR RESIDENTSย  is

HERE

LINK from Emirates with new requirements FOR TOURISTS OR VISITORS is

ย HERE

UPDATED 8TH AUGUST

HERE IS THE LINK TO MORE COUNTRIES ADDED TO QUARANTINE LIST FROM BRITISH GOVERNMENT.ย 

UPDATED 4TH AUGUST 2020

As we expected, changes to travel rules all the time, now it’s compuslory for anyone travelling TO DUBAI to carry a covid negative certificate that’s valid for 96 hours. So no earlier than 4 days before your departure date.ย 

If you’re coming from certain countries, then certificates must be obtained from certain designated facilities. Approval to return is still needed and applied for in the same way.ย ย 

All the new information that came through from Emirates today is in this LINK here. Please share with anyone who needs to know.ย 

There were so many uncertainties regarding travelling to London from Dubai during this time, but I did it and am sharing my honest experience as clearly as possible in this post.

Please share with others if you think it will help. Time of travelleing is around 3rd week of July 2020, so things may change very soon.ย  Please check with your airline and official government sites from your country of origin and destination before you decide to travel. It’s a calculated risk that depends on your personal situation.ย 

Making the booking with Emirates

I booked my flight a week before my departure. I reserved a seat by phone with Emirates : tel is 04 214 4444 and I asked if I needed to show an a “successful” approval to return Dubai form before booking.

I was told yes I should do this but as a Dubai resident, there would be no problem with getting the approval. But they offered to reserve my booking and “block or hold” the booking for 6 hours.

Do you need to complete an approval to return to Dubai form BEFORE you book?

The operator at Emirates said yes to me on the phone, but the second time I rang I was told no approval is needed for you to BOOK A FLIGHT WITH EMIRATES. You do NEED APPROVAL TO RETURN TO DUBAI ITSELF though.

But it seems you don’t have to apply for it before you travel. The validity of approval I received via email in a couple of minutes was for 4 weeks. If you travel for longer than that, you can re apply on line.

Here is the official link for applying for approval

You need your PASSPORT for your file number and an email address and date of birth. Very easy form to fill in and submit.ย 

48 hours before you go

You also need to download and complete an extensive landing track and trace form giving details of your stay in the UK. You HAVE to show this form when you arrive at Dubai airport before travel AND again at Heathrow airport.

It’s a 3 page form that you can fill in online and print off and or save on your phone and have emailed to you. I did all 3 and kept the printed version with me.ย  The UK border DID ASK to see it. Officially it’s called a Passenger Locator Form.

There are many countries and categories of people who are exempt from quarantining for 14 days on arrival in the UK,ย  BUT as I write, the UAE is not on on the exemption list, so you do have to quarantine.ย 

Here is the link to fill in the ARRIVAL IN THE UK FORM.ย 

You CANNOT DO THIS MORE THAN 48 HOURS BEFORE YOU TRAVEL. The link won’t give you access to do so, as I understand.ย 

At the airport in Dubai

Dubai airport was much quieter than usual but it was much busier than when we dropped off our daughter on June 23rd. That was the date when covid tests before leaving Dubai were going to be compulsory. But as we know that didn’t happen.

Most airport staff are in full protective aprons and masks of course. Gloves are not compulsory. You are asked to show your arrival in the UK form when you check in.

Security is the same as usual, but overall, there are far fewer people travelling than what we’re used to so the whole process is very, very quick. You are told to get to the airport 3 hours before hand though.ย 

Travelling to London From Dubai DoinDubai not the usual A380
not the usual A380 on the afternoon flight

Is Dubai Duty Free open?

Yes it is! So you can have a wander around the shops. There are some discounts around but they aren’t obvious, just ask if there are any offers, you may be pleasantly surprised!ย 

I upgraded my seat to Business using miles so I had access to the Emirates Business Lounge. While the lounge is open, the experience is very different to normal! Firstly it was almost deserted, very quiet with more staff than passengers at about lunch time. The lounge opened on the 1st of July.ย 

There is no open buffet or hot food of any kind at all. Ordering is done via a QR cardย  and a very limited menu is on offer.ย 

Travelling to London From Dubai DoinDubai Deserted Business Class lounge
Business Lounge is deserted

There is the choice of a vegetarian or non vegetarian box that contains a salad, a wrap and some processed, white rolls. Hot beverages are dispensed in paper cups. But everything arrives on a silver tray and you are served at your table. Everyone was very polite. There is also a small menu of alcoholic beverages you can choose from.ย ย 

There are no magazines or newspapers of any kind on any stands neither are they available on request, so do take your own reading material for longer flights.ย 

There are toilets of course, but fewer than usual, the facilities were extremely clean and being refreshed on a regular basis.ย 

The lounge is open for customers for sure, but this is not Business as Usual, by a long shot. I did feel totally safe at all times at Dubai airport and on the flight too.ย 

Travelling to London From Dubai DoinDubai Dubai Duty Free quiet
Dubai Duty Free is open

During the flight

Crew are in full aprons that cover their uniforms and they wear masks throughout the flight. It’s compulsory for passengers to wear masks for the duration of the fight apart from while eating or drinking. The flight took off and landed roughly according to schedule. It was about half full, or half empty!ย 

Again there is no reading material on board the cabin. I was served a hot lunch and an afternoon snack. There is a huge amount of real cutlery that comes with each meal. I counted a total of 6 knives, forks and spoons!ย  Tea and coffee were dispensed in china mugs whenever you needed a drink.ย 

There was no cheese board as an alternative to the dessert on the tray for the business class meal.ย 

Travelling to London From Dubai DoinDubai Too Much cutlery small amount of food
Too much cutlery

Arriving at Heathrow

We arrived at Terminal 2, the Queen’s Terminal, not the usual terminal we would have exited from. Only Terminals 2 and 5 are open at Heathrow at the moment due to the much lower number of aircraft in circulation.ย 

At immigration you can opt to exit via the e-gates if you have a British passport, but a number of people who tried the gates, including your reporter, were denied access via the electronic gates and asked to Seek Assistance.

That meant a long wait in a line to reach the one immigration officer on duty in that section.ย 

You are asked to show your completed passenger locator form, it’s a long, but uncomplicated form so do it before hand. Some people were filling their’s up while standing in line!ย 

I ordered a private taxi to take me home, and on the way was struck by how much faster the journey was but also at the number of places that were closed. I kept another mask on throughout my journey. You do have to quarantine for 2 weeks on arrival in the UK if you are coming in from the UAE.

Coming back to Life after Lockdown. From London's Marylebone. NEXT POST

Masks will be compulsory to wear in all shops, cafes and restaurants including take away places in the UK from Friday 24th of July.ย 

Travelling to London From Dubai DoinDubai Monica Kapila Langham apron
Enjoying a Seedlip and Soda at home

What are your feelings about travelling this summer?

Please let me know in a comment below and do share this post with anyone thinking of travel. It’s an honest account of how things stand at the moment. Thank you.. Monica.ย 

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COOKING LESSONS in LONDON SAUCE by the Langham

Immerse yourself in some cooking lessons in London Sauce by the Langham.

A classy, interactive, fun, cooking workshop where youโ€™ll hone your culinary skills regardless of the level youโ€™re currently at.

Cooking Lessons in London Sauce at the Langham DoinDubai chicken on stove

Building Blocks of Good Cooking

The cooking school is called Sauce and the lessons are all about the building blocks of good cooking. I tried their Stocks and Sauces course one Saturday in July.

The workshop includes lunch with wine, a tour of the Roux at the Landau kitchen, all your instruction, ingredients to replicate everything youโ€™ve watched being made and you get to take home your creations too.

Coffee and gorgeous snacks are also included to help you get through the day.

Cooking Lessons in London Sauce at the Langham DoinDubai Kitchen banter

What do you learn in your cooking lessons in London Sauce by the Langham

Cooking Lessons in London Sauce at the Langham DoinDubai take home sauces in containers

We learnt how to make chicken stock, chicken jus, a sauce Antiboise, Hollandaise sauce and variations on that as well as a superb Crรจme Anglaise sweet sauce.ย 

How do they teach you

We watched a very informative, practical demonstration by the Kitchen Manager Millie Simpson for each dish and then returned to our fully equipped cooking stations to replicate what we had seen but under some expert guidance. We didnโ€™t have to clear anything away or wash up. You do need to keep your station tidy though.

Do you need to know how to cook

No, you donโ€™t need to know how you cook, but you must have a keen interest in cooking and you probably do cook a bit yourself at home. Millie showed us classical, but accessible French methods to make our stocks and sauces. There arenโ€™t really any short cuts. You do have to be quite energetic, not be afraid of sharp knives and quite quick at your workstation. There is a fair amount of cooking involved in the workshop so you get great value for money.

Cooking Lessons in London Sauce by the Langham Monica Kapila

I learned how to:

expertly cut onions (banana shallots, always hold at the root)

concasse tomatoes (blanche with a slit, peel, petal and dice)

make a good crรจme anglaise from scratch (and I know how to rescue if needed)

make a chicken jus

make a sauce Antiboise

we were shown MUCH MORE than the above, but I am confident at trying all I have listed having done the lessons with Millie!

What was the most impressive dish

The brown chicken jus:
I would never have believed such a tasty, classy chicken jus could be made by simply starting to roast chicken wings in their own fat in the oven, lotโ€™s more to do after that of course, but thatโ€™s how you start.

The crรจme anglaise:
Even the one I made (that needed rescuing in a water bath) was a good French restaurant quality custard. Creamy, not too sweet, milky and infused with vanilla pods, I served mine cold the next day with warm rhubarb crumble dessert.ย 

Cooking Lessons in London Sauce at the Langham DoinDubai chicken and salad

I have also learnt that there is a logical order involved in sauce making:

Itโ€™s Alcohol followed by Stock followed by Fat

REMEMBER

ALCOHOL THEN STOCK THEN FAT

Course details

The class started at 9.15am with a light breakfast.ย  It finished with lunch and wine at about 2.15pm.

Cost ยฃ150.00 per person.

Itโ€™s a great, group activity. Go with some mates and combine with a cocktail at the award winning Artesian bar on the ground floor before you leave.

Cooking Lessons in London Sauce at the Langham DoinDubai salmon on rye bread

Sauce is located on the first floor of the Langham hotel in London.ย 

Disclaimer: This post was written in conjunction with the Langham but the views are all my own. Would I do a class here again? I would definitely do the pasta making cooking lessons for sure. Some of the participants in our class had already done it and highly recommended it.
Monica
Editor
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HYATT REGENCY LONDON THE CHURCHILL HOTEL

Thisย Hyatt Regency London the Churchillย hotel underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2016 and the result is a beautiful, British blend of contemporary and classic.

The hotel cleverly incorporates references to Sir Winston Churchill and surrounding history. But itโ€™s not just one great world leader that is associated with the hotel – it has hosted both Barack Obama and Tony Blair.

Image ofHYATT REGENCY CHURCHILL HOTEL LONDON DoinDubai Welcome Sweets

A few minutes walk away from the iconic Selfridges in Londonโ€™s West End the hotel is a luxurious place to rest and rejuvenate whatever the time of year.

Itโ€™s especially enjoyable in the warmer months as Portman Squareโ€™s trees are in full bloom and make a great landmark for you to find your bearings in busy, urban Oxford Street.

Experience the Suite Life in Londonโ€™s Portman Square

Hotel suites often comprise of two distinct areas quite close together and sometimes can seem either clinical or cramped – not so in our suite at the Churchill.

Expect a separate hallway with itโ€™s own cloakroom, a large and modern lounge area with a marble coffee table and lastly, a spacious bedroom with an en-suite bathroom.

The suite really felt like home to us, especially coming from Dubai as proportions were so generous. But I particularly liked the clever blend of contemporary furnishings and colours that still managed to incorporate traditional values.

Image ofHYATT REGENCY CHURCHILL HOTEL LONDON DoinDubai spacious room

The same values permeate the whole hotel from the lobby through to the grand Montagu restaurant. The chandeliers were extremely elegant and remarkable in their own right.

Image ofHYATT REGENCY CHURCHILL HOTEL LONDON DoinDubai chandelier

There are of course mementoes of Sir Winston Churchill placed in and around your room in a very natural way that serve to remind you of the heritage of the hotel.

The suite life entitled us to use of the hotelโ€™s Regency Club lounge on the 8th floor. The evening drinks and canapรฉs from 5.30 to 7.30 were a great opportunity for the family to get back together and share stories of the day and refuel before going out for a late dinner to one of Londonโ€™s beautiful restaurants.

You could also have your breakfast in the club lounge if you wish to, but I recommend trying The Montaguย restaurant (named after Venetia Montague –ย  Sir Winston Churchills’s wife) for a sumptuous and memorable breakfast.

Everyone from the restaurant managers and waiters to the chefs were clearly committed to providing us with the best experience we could have.

HYATT REGENCY CHURCHILL HOTEL LONDON DoinDubai Breakfast

We felt genuine warmth and an eagerness to serve at the hotel – no request was ever too complicated or too much to ask for.

Linger for longer over cappuccinos in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency London the Churchill hotelย 

Do have your last cappuccino at the fireside in the imposing lobby just adjacent to the Montagu and linger over last minute plans for the day before venturing out to explore London.

Image ofHYATT REGENCY CHURCHILL HOTEL LONDON DoinDubai Fireside lobby

Location of the Hyatt Regency London the Churchill hotel

We actually felt like we were sitting in the square itself while at the Churchill Bar. The space has itโ€™s own private outdoor terrace with a nautical theme evident throughout, boasting Chelsea inspired flowers just about everywhere. Post-dinner coffee and conversation with pretty crockery and silver teapots really added to our Churchill experience.

In addition, the blankets and overhead heaters were most welcome for cooler London evenings.

Image of HYATT REGENCY CHURCHILL HOTEL LONDON DoinDubai Churchill Bar Terrace

Everyone has their own favourite restaurants in London but a couple I would recommend within walking distance of the hotel are Royal China for dim sums until 4pm and the recently opened Rรผya โ€“ a Turkish restaurant from Dubai. Do have coffee and a cinnamon roll at Ole and Steen in St Christophersโ€™s place just a short walk away and pick up some treats from Selfridges food hall to enjoy in your home suite home.

 

To borrow some words from Sir Winston.. โ€œNourish your hopes, but do not overlook realitiesโ€

The reality is that the Hyatt Regency London the Churchill hotel works superbly well on all fronts.

You can explore the hotel in more detail via it’s the official website here.

Image ofHYATT REGENCY CHURCHILL HOTEL LONDON DoinDubai Winston Churchill photo

 

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