Holiday deals from Dh999: UAE residents look at last-minute travel packages

Travel experts say that many of their low-cost packages to countries with visa on arrival are seeing a huge uptick in demand

Nasreen Abdulla

Published: Fri 9 Aug 2024, 6:00 AM

Last updated: Sun 11 Aug 2024, 6:54 PM

With summer vacations nearing an end, UAE residents are rushing to make the most of it with last-minute travel deals. Experts say a huge spike in demand is seen for many of their low-cost packages to countries that give residents visas on arrival.

“All our popular August last-minute deals to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kenya have all been completely booked,” said Safeer Mahamood, general manager at Smart Travels. “People want to make the most of their holidays before schools reopen.”

There are just a little over two weeks to go for UAE school students to enjoy their summer vacation. Most schools reopen on August 26.

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According to Rikant Pittie, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, the travel platform has seen an uptick in bookings. “EaseMyTrip has observed a 20-30 per cent increase in bookings compared to the previous year, to destinations that are closer to the UAE such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia,” he said. “We have also noticed a significant trend amongst the UAE travellers seeking escapes to cooler destinations. Also, August is the cheapest month to book roundtrip flights.”

Rush to enjoy rainy weather and greenery

Many residents are opting to fly to Salalah to enjoy the weather there. “Khareef season ends soon so people are rushing to enjoy rainy weather and greenery,” said Safeer. “Our rates start at Dh999 and we are seeing a very high demand for it. Other popular packages are for Langkawi, Penang and Thailand, all of which start at Dh3,999.”

Photo: File

Other UAE residents seeking last-minute getaways in August are opting for Sri Lanka, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Balkans, as per Kunaal Nanik, director of Marcopolo Holidays. “Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan boast rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty,” he said. “All-inclusive 4-5 day trips to these countries can range between Dh4,000 and Dh4,500 per person. Combining two countries can cost between Dh5,500 and Dh6,500. Sri Lanka offers diverse landscapes perfect for couples and families. A trip there for five days can cost [between] Dh3,500 and Dh4,000 per person.”

Photo: AFP file

EasyMyTrip has rolled out special last-minute travel deals on flights and hotels. “We are offering up to Dh500 off on one-way and round-trip flights,” said Rikant. “Our holiday packages to popular destinations such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Singapore, starting at just Dh999.”

Popular destinations

There are several factors which UAE residents consider when picking a last-minute holiday spot which is including but not limited to flight time, costs and deals.

“Most of these destinations are short-haul flights from the UAE, making them perfect for spontaneous travel,” said Kunaal. “Combining neighbouring countries like Georgia and Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, or Serbia and Bosnia for a 7 to 10 day trip offers travellers a richer and more diverse experience. This approach allows them to save on flight costs by arriving in one country and departing from another, thus avoiding the need to return to the same region in the future. It’s an efficient way to explore multiple cultures, landscapes, and attractions in one trip, making the most out of their travel itinerary.”

Photo: AFP file

Rikant said that the platform sees several customers booking for last minute deals. “These deals are more for our holiday packages where our customers bundle up services to accommodate their last-minute travel plans, whereas advance bookings are more common in flights,” he said. “On our portal, top 5 destinations are to India, Singapore, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia.”

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