A villa at Angsana Velavaru, Maldives. Courtesy Angsana Velavaru
A villa at Angsana Velavaru, Maldives. Courtesy Angsana Velavaru

Travel deals: the Maldives, Germany and Abu Dhabi



With the new James Bond film Spectre due in cinemas next month, the Angsana Velavaru resort in the Maldives is offering adrenaline junkies a chance to emulate the secret agent's lifestyle, with its Live for Adventure package. Set on a private island, the resort features in-ocean villas suspended above the water, and offers a host of activities. After arriving by seaplane, begin your mission with a high-octane speedboat trip to a secluded sand bank, before trying kitesurfing, wakeboarding or jet-skiing. Then re-enact scenes from Die Another Day with an underwater scooter trip or a shark safari. The package, which starts from Dh2,534 per night, including taxes, includes a stay in a beachfront villa, a night fishing experience, unlimited water sports, a sunset cruise and scuba diving for two. It's available until December 20, based on a minimum five-night stay. For more information, visit www.angsana.com.

HotelTonight launches in Dubai

The accommodation-booking platform HotelTonight has just launched in Dubai, and is offering travellers last-minute hotel deals at reduced rates. Dubai is the latest addition to the mobile-only platform, which is now available in 35 countries. HotelTonight helps properties fill unsold rooms at the last minute, with 65,000 rooms on offer for stays in the emirate. The company says that one in every four rooms is vacant every night on average. For more information, visit www.hoteltonight.com or download the app for iPhone or Android.

Aloft opens in two more German cities

Aloft Hotels has expanded its German presence with new properties in Munich and Stuttgart. Aloft Munich, which is near the city's central train station and the official grounds of Oktoberfest, features 184 rooms. Other nearby attractions include the shops of Maximilianstrasse, the Pinakothek Museum, the Viktualienmarkt and Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena football stadium. The 165-room Stuttgart hotel, meanwhile, is part of the mixed-use Milaneo development project in the city's European Quarter, which offers shopping, restaurants and entertainment, as well as office space and residential units. Rooms at Aloft Munich cost from Dh755 per night, including breakfast and taxes; rooms at Aloft Stuttgart cost from Dh455 per night, including taxes. For more information, visit www.alofthotels.com.

Stay for three, pay for two in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's newest five-star hotel, Jannah Burj Al Sarab, has an opening offer that gives guests a free night as part of their "Stay 3, Pay 2" package, available for bookings until the end of this month. The hotel, which is located in the Al Zahiya/Mina area of the capital, will also give a 20 per cent discount to those who book a stay seven days in advance, available until December. Currently in its soft-opening phase, the Burj Al Sarab is Jannah's fifth hotel in the UAE, and is targeted towards business and leisure travellers. Rooms cost from Dh493 per room per night, including taxes. For more information, visit www.jannah.ae.

mhealy@thenational.ae

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World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

The biog

Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball

MATCH INFO

Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')

Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')

The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ

Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700

Engine 3.0L V6

Transmission Eight-speed automatic

Power 340hp @ 6,000pm

Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

SPECS

Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman

Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 306hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
RESULTS

2.15pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m

Winner Shawall, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer)

2.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Anna Bella Aa, Fabrice Veron, Abdelkhir Adam

3.15pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

3.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m

Winner Taajer, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

4.15pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 (D) 1,700m

Winner Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri

4.45pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner Maqaadeer, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson