As a new luxury Raffles hotel opens inside Winston Churchill's Old War Office in London, at the other end of the spectrum Shrek's swamp is now available to rent on Airbnb.
In the UAE, Emirates has rolled out its premium economy offering on more of its planes, while one Maldives resort is offering free seaplane transfers this summer.
Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.
Emirates expands premium economy
Emirates Airline has announced that it is introducing its premium economy class, which launched during summer last year, to two more points in its network. The offering will be available on Sao Paulo flights from November 19 and to Tokyo Narita from December 20.
This will take the number of routes operating its newly retrofitted flagship A380 aircraft, which features the enhanced cabins, to 14, including launches to Mumbai and Bengaluru on October 29.
Each plane has 56 seats in premium economy, which offers more comfortable seats than in economy, plus extra legroom, and premium dining and beverages.
Shrek's swamp available to rent on Airbnb
A recreation of Shrek's home from the beloved DreamWorks Animation's film is listed on Airbnb for a one-off holiday experience on the grounds of a 19th-century mansion in the Scottish Highlands. It's described by host Donkey as a “mud-laden, moss-covered, murky-watered oasis”.
Bookings open on October 13 at 9pm GST for one two-night stay for up to three guests on October 27 until 29.
A stay at this “spectacularly secluded swamp-scape” includes the opportunity to “relax in the ambience of 'earwax candlelight'", to “kick your feet up with a parfait” and enjoy a stack of freshly made waffles in the morning.
As part of this package, Airbnb will also make a one-time donation to Hopscotch Children's Charity, which offers holidays to some of Scotland's most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
Raffles London at the OWO opens its doors
Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Haldane, Earl Kitchener and John Profumo are only a few of the well-known historical figures to have walked the hallowed halls of the Old War Office in London. Today, it's opened to the public for the first time as a Raffles hotel, which had its launch party this weekend.
The property is now home to 120 rooms, including 39 suites and 85 residences. Five Heritage Suites are found in the building's most storied rooms, formerly offices of political and military leaders, that have been restored to preserve their original features. Another eight Corner Suites are in the turrets overlooking Whitehall and are named after famous women, including spies and Churchill's wife, Clementine.
There are also nine restaurants on-site, including three exclusive venues by chef Mauro Colagreco, encompassing Mediterranean, Italian, Parisian and Japanese cuisines, as well as elevated fine dining. There are three bars, too, including the wood-panelled Guards Bar; The Spy Bar, a speakeasy hidden in the shadows; and a sake bar.
To top it all off, a four-floor spa offers nine treatment suites, a 20-metre indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms, a gym and a health-conscious cafe.
London's secret Second World War tunnels to open to the public
Another historic London location that's set to open to travellers for the first time is the city's old Second World War tunnels, a network of secret passageways spanning 8,000 square metres about 40 metres below High Holborn.
An ambitious £220 million plan for a new museum and tourist attraction “as iconic as the London Eye” was unveiled last week, set to be designed by the architects behind Battersea Power Station if it secures planning approval.
Known as the Kingsway Exchange Tunnels, they were built in the 1940s to shelter residents from the Blitz bombing campaign during Second World War, which is the last time they were open to the public.
The tunnels also acted as a base for MI6 officials, and details of the passageways were covered by the government's Official Secrets Act for most of the 20th century.
If work goes ahead as planned, the new attraction will open in 2027.
Free seaplane transfers in the Maldives
The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives is offering free seaplane transfers for two as part of its Stowaway Long Stay offer this summer.
When you book five nights or more at the Raa Atoll resort, visitors will get this and a range of other benefits, including 20 per cent off on dining and selected spa treatments, plus access to its private airport lounge.
The package also includes free use of snorkelling equipment, a 30-minute complimentary paddle-board or kayaking session per day, plus a weekly snorkelling tour of the house reef.
The property features 115 villas that are overwater, in the lagoon or on the beachfront, each with their own private lounge deck and pool. There are six food and beverage venues, including a glass-bottom, overwater nightclub, plus a spa that has a hammam, aroma steam room and daily yoga.
Potential tax for passengers transferring through Schiphol
A new proposal from the Dutch government might see taxes imposed on passengers transferring through Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, including those travelling on private jets, Airline Weekly has reported. The move is part of the country's climate policy and funds would reportedly be used to lower energy costs for Dutch residents.
This comes weeks after the government said it was going to cut the number of flights allowed to take off and land at the airport.
In a lengthy LinkedIn post, KLM's chief executive Marjan Rintel expressed concerns over the new proposal. “The imposition of such a tax is incomprehensible and very worrying,” he wrote.
He said six out of 10 of the airline's passengers pass through the airport on connections. “With this you stack tax on tax and chase passengers away to airports abroad. That does not ensure cleaner aviation.”
Read more about the coronavirus
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Bournemouth 0
Manchester United 2
Smalling (28'), Lukaku (70')
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (All UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (11.30pm)
Saturday
Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)
FA Augsburg v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Werder Bremen (6.30pm)
SC Paderborn v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Monchengladbach (9.30pm)
Sunday
Cologne v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
Mainz v FC Schalke (9pm)
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
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