The welcome
A smiling porter is waiting for me outside the entrance and carries my suitcase into the lobby. The walkway leading to the glass doors is flanked by attractive gardens set with chairs. I've arrived in Istanbul a few days before the general election and I have to undergo a security check before entering. The security guard is both courteous and thorough as he scans my passenger bag and ushers me through a metal detector. The whole process takes about 45 seconds.
After the narrow streets and tight turns of the taxi on the way here, the lobby's spaciousness is a welcome respite. My arrival gets off to a bumpy start, however, when reception staff cannot find my reservation on their system. They ask me to take a seat on one of the many leather couches dotting the lobby while they "fix" the situation. My further 15-minute wait felt shorter thanks to the use of their complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi service. I'm offered a tasty chocolate-chip cookie, warm from an oven beneath the counter - a welcome note advertised as part of the Doubletree brand.
The neighbourhood
The hotel is located in the inland district of Kadikoy across the Bosphorus River on what is deemed the Asian side of the city. The hotel is easily the biggest building in a mostly leafy residential neighbourhood filled with apartment blocks and small townhouses. However, after only a few minutes walk you will find yourself in Bahariye Caddesi and Kadikoy's pedestrian zone: a labyrinth of walkways hosting an eclectic mix of shops, fashion boutiques and seafood restaurants. It is also viewed as one of the city's prominent cultural precincts with second-hand bookshops, vintage record stores and grungy live music venues.
The service
A welcome emphasis is placed on efficient service. Drink and food orders arrive without delay and the room service meal arrives exactly on the 25-minute mark as promised. When asked about local attractions, reception staff helpfully point me towards the nearby ferry station from where boats depart every 15 minutes for the Golden Horn and Istanbul's more famous landmarks. Disappointingly, they are less than enthusiastic about recommending local sights, such as Kadikoy's pedestrian zone, which, as it turned out, is a shopping and foodie's paradise.
The room
My room is designed to capitalise on the spectacular views of the Bosphorus, with large double-glazed windows and a king-sized bed placed in the middle of the room so you to wake up to a view of the river. That's if you wake up: the plush orthopaedic mattress, soft linens (300-thread sheet count), down comforter and comfy pillows make me sleep in past breakfast.
A large desk and ergonomic chair sit in front of the bed and windows, with a decent half-metre gap in between. However, the 32-inch LCD television clamped to a column beside the desk hangs precariously low; I have to swing it to one side to decrease the risk of head injury. But the star of the show remains the view. I sit on one of the two plush, green reading chairs and enjoy watching a flotilla of boats gently pass across the river.
The food
With the hundreds of restaurants on your doorstep, it would be a shame to have all your meals at the hotel. That said, the Doubletree is a worthwhile option for those wanting a change from local seafood and kebab dishes. The hotel's in-house restaurant, Doubles, serves international dishes both buffet and a la carte, while those with a sweet tooth can purchase a variety of local and international sweets from the in-house Bisou Patisserie located beside the lobby. I elect for a room-service dinner and the menu has enough tempting options for a three-course meal. I order a fresh mozzarella salad (26 Turkish lira; Dh59) which came with tomatoes, rocket leaves and balsamic vinegar, followed by a beefburger (28 lira; Dh64) which is slightly oily but flavoursome thanks to the caramelised onion, crisp beef bacon and cheddar cheese, with a side serving of thick wedges. For dessert, the Ottoman plate (21 lira; Dh48), featuring baclava with stuffed figs and apricots, is deliciously fruity.
The scene
Quiet. The hotel which opened in March, already hosts a number of business conferences, and is currently the location for a culinary TV game show. The local municipality is gearing up to sell the local area as a new tourism hotspot, so expect a growing number of tourists in the summer season; however, when I visit out of season, it is all power suits. The restaurants are quiet during my weekend stay, with only a handful of visitors enjoying a quite drink inside or a morning coffee in the garden outside.
Loved
The room's almost panoramic view of the Bosphorus River. Waking up to such a beautiful setting is what memorable holidays are all about. I also appreciate the complimentary Wi-Fi which is available all around the hotel grounds, allowing you to work in your room or in the gardens.
Hated
On two occasions staff walk into my room unannounced, apparently mistaking my room for another. They apologise profusely but such intrusions are embarrassing and simply should not happen.
The verdict
A hotel with plenty of promise. A very good base to explore the under-appreciated Asian side of Istanbul.
The bottom line
A king guest room costs 430 lira (Dh973) per night, including breakfast and taxes. DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul-Moda, Caferaga Mah Albay Faik Sözdener Ca, Kadikoy, Istanbul (www.hilton.com.tr/eng/Doubletree-Istanbul-Moda; 00 90 216 542 43 44).
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
What is type-1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.
Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
