EVER looked at a website for a hotel and wondered what lurks beyond some of those pretty pictures?
Well, two UAE resorts have become the first in the country to launch virtual tours of their facilities to show prospective guests more of what they will get when they check in.
Well, two UAE resorts have become the first in the country to launch virtual tours of their facilities to show prospective guests more of what they will get when they check in.
NET GAINS: New virtual tour gives fuller view of Rixos hotels in the UAE, such as The Palm above
Rixos The Palm, in Dubai, and Rixos Bab Al Bahr, in neighbouring emirate Ras Al Khaimah, have worked with Google to give viewers a great preview of their luxurious properties.
Using Google Street View, future guests can take a high-tech, in depth look across the entire resort, as if they were standing there in real time.
The Turkish hotel brand says it is “committed to providing a memorable holiday experience to each guest”, so the new initiative serves as a tool to assist Dubai or RAK-bound sun-seekers in planning their stay.
The clever link enables users to take a look across the entire resort and make an informed choice about the hotel they go for, the room they stay in, the restaurants they dine in and even the sun loungers they want to relax on.
When users of Google type the name of the hotel into the search engine, they can simply click on the photographs on the right hand information box and ‘enter’ the resort - clicking through to areas they wish to explore and navigating the resorts.
The Turkish hotel brand says it is “committed to providing a memorable holiday experience to each guest”, so the new initiative serves as a tool to assist Dubai or RAK-bound sun-seekers in planning their stay.
The clever link enables users to take a look across the entire resort and make an informed choice about the hotel they go for, the room they stay in, the restaurants they dine in and even the sun loungers they want to relax on.
When users of Google type the name of the hotel into the search engine, they can simply click on the photographs on the right hand information box and ‘enter’ the resort - clicking through to areas they wish to explore and navigating the resorts.
TURCA YOUR PICK: Cruise the brunch stations on the Eastern Crescent
Rixos The Palm general manager Alexander Schneider, for one, is impressed.
“We are really pleased to have this tool in place and feel that this will revolutionise the hotel booking process,” he says.
“As the first in the country to roll this out, we are setting a standard of pre-arrival experience which we are confident the rest of the industry will aspire.”
In addition, the hotel is now bookable through Google, making it easier for browsers to secure a room almost instantaneously.
One thing you cannot do online just yet is quite appreciate how good the food is at Rixos The Palm.
Must Do Dubai has indulged in the charm and tasty wares offered by L'Olivo, which offers classic Italian and modern Meditteranean-inspired cooking in sophisticated surroundings.
And more recently we dived into the delights of the Eastern Crescent resort’s fun Friday brunch and found enough choice to keep the fussiest palate satiated.
Served inside and on the terrace of the Palm hotel’s A La Turka restaurant, THE BRUNCH is a generous affair, without being over-facing.
There are various easy to navigate stations, including - as you’d expect of a Turkish-owned brand – a rewarding Turkish section.
That means regular favourites to start with such as a zesty Piyaz salad of onion, dry beans, sumac and parsley and Kisir, a spicy cousin of tabbouleh with bulgar wheat, parsley and tomato, all combining to deliver good, punchy flavours.
“We are really pleased to have this tool in place and feel that this will revolutionise the hotel booking process,” he says.
“As the first in the country to roll this out, we are setting a standard of pre-arrival experience which we are confident the rest of the industry will aspire.”
In addition, the hotel is now bookable through Google, making it easier for browsers to secure a room almost instantaneously.
One thing you cannot do online just yet is quite appreciate how good the food is at Rixos The Palm.
Must Do Dubai has indulged in the charm and tasty wares offered by L'Olivo, which offers classic Italian and modern Meditteranean-inspired cooking in sophisticated surroundings.
And more recently we dived into the delights of the Eastern Crescent resort’s fun Friday brunch and found enough choice to keep the fussiest palate satiated.
Served inside and on the terrace of the Palm hotel’s A La Turka restaurant, THE BRUNCH is a generous affair, without being over-facing.
There are various easy to navigate stations, including - as you’d expect of a Turkish-owned brand – a rewarding Turkish section.
That means regular favourites to start with such as a zesty Piyaz salad of onion, dry beans, sumac and parsley and Kisir, a spicy cousin of tabbouleh with bulgar wheat, parsley and tomato, all combining to deliver good, punchy flavours.
SWEET TRUTH: No shortage of colour on the dessert section
Of course, it would be all too easy to gorge on that or the well presented seafood and sushi section, but save yourself a space for the grilled meats outside, especially the well nourished prawns, and a light and flaky Salmon en Croute.
The desserts are a collection of artistic treats too, with flavours and richness to match the bright colours.
THE BRUNCH injects a bit of fun into its package names with The Driver covering soft drinks options and The Passenger and I Have A Driver engaging with the alcohol supply, the latter adding in free-flowing premium champagne.
With live music from a covers band and a family friendly atmosphere, this is another reason for going the extra kilometre around the edge of The Palm.
And then there's the fact the boutique hideaway has also just been named the World's Leading Lifestyle Resort 2015, at the World Travel Awards 2015 in Morocco.
GM Alexander added: "It is an absolute honour for us to take home this award, especially given the quality and calibre of resorts that were nominated from around the world.
"We are always striving to improve and innovate our service and facility offering – ensuring that we are one step ahead of the other ‘lifestyle’ resorts, so to have been recognized on this level is an incredible achievement for myself and the team."
DETAILS:
THE cost of those brunch packages come is as follows: 275AED per person for The Driver; 400AED for The Passenger; and 500AED each for I Have A Driver. Kids aged four and under dine gratis and those aged four to 12 get 50 per cent off.
To make a booking, call +97144575555 or visit http://thepalmdubai.rixos.com/offer-detail/The-Brunch/1978
FOR the virtual tour of Rixos The Palm, go to www.google.ae/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x3e5f6b2743decd8f:0x767bac202f081983!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname%3D104535213678614840386%26id%3D6189855370336503330%26target%3DPHOTO!5srixos+the+palm+-+Google+Search&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiW5Nv2qdnJAhVFDQ8KHRF5AicQoioIjgEwDQ
TO look around Rixos Bab Al Bahr, click on www.google.ae/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x3ef609fac1f3abdb:0x5e02a3e170c6c0fb!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname%3D117926084435523934942%26id%3D6223734564320763074%26target%3DPHOTO!5srixos+bab+al+bahr+-+Google+Search&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwinzsLCqdnJAhVBeg8KHbrpC_AQoioInQEwDQ
The desserts are a collection of artistic treats too, with flavours and richness to match the bright colours.
THE BRUNCH injects a bit of fun into its package names with The Driver covering soft drinks options and The Passenger and I Have A Driver engaging with the alcohol supply, the latter adding in free-flowing premium champagne.
With live music from a covers band and a family friendly atmosphere, this is another reason for going the extra kilometre around the edge of The Palm.
And then there's the fact the boutique hideaway has also just been named the World's Leading Lifestyle Resort 2015, at the World Travel Awards 2015 in Morocco.
GM Alexander added: "It is an absolute honour for us to take home this award, especially given the quality and calibre of resorts that were nominated from around the world.
"We are always striving to improve and innovate our service and facility offering – ensuring that we are one step ahead of the other ‘lifestyle’ resorts, so to have been recognized on this level is an incredible achievement for myself and the team."
DETAILS:
THE cost of those brunch packages come is as follows: 275AED per person for The Driver; 400AED for The Passenger; and 500AED each for I Have A Driver. Kids aged four and under dine gratis and those aged four to 12 get 50 per cent off.
To make a booking, call +97144575555 or visit http://thepalmdubai.rixos.com/offer-detail/The-Brunch/1978
FOR the virtual tour of Rixos The Palm, go to www.google.ae/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x3e5f6b2743decd8f:0x767bac202f081983!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname%3D104535213678614840386%26id%3D6189855370336503330%26target%3DPHOTO!5srixos+the+palm+-+Google+Search&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiW5Nv2qdnJAhVFDQ8KHRF5AicQoioIjgEwDQ
TO look around Rixos Bab Al Bahr, click on www.google.ae/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x3ef609fac1f3abdb:0x5e02a3e170c6c0fb!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname%3D117926084435523934942%26id%3D6223734564320763074%26target%3DPHOTO!5srixos+bab+al+bahr+-+Google+Search&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwinzsLCqdnJAhVBeg8KHbrpC_AQoioInQEwDQ
