Emirates airline recently announced it would launch nonstop service between Dubai and New York on August 1, an inaugural service to the United States with the new Airbus A380 superjumbo jet of which they recently ordered 58 of the jets, making them the world’s largest customer of these amazing aircraft.

Through Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, the chairman and chief executive of the largest airline in the Middle East, Emirates airline noted that “the United States represent a key focus area in Emirates’ route development plans, and we are delighted to be the first airline to launch commercial A380 services to the continent.” The airline intends to offer twice daily service from New York.

“We are confident that Emirates’ customers traveling to and from North America will welcome the A380’s additional space and capacity, as well as our luxurious onboard amenities which will provide a very high quality travel experience previously associated only with private jets.”

In addition to the new non-stop New York –Dubai flights, Emirates has also announced that it will begin daily nonstop service from Los Angeles to Dubai on September 1 and from San Francisco to Dubai on October 26. Currently the airline has daily non-stop service from Houston to Dubai. Other routes on deck include London Heathrow and Sydney-Auckland to Dubai.

Among the other airlines serving US/Canada-Dubai include Delta, British Airways, Northwest, LM, Delta, United, Air France and a host of others.

After you have reserved your Dubai tour with us, if you are interested in special rates on Business-Class fares, please let us know since we can sometimes beat the published rates by 20% for our clients.

Looking for an undiscovered travel gem? By gem, meaning a serene locale with wide swaths of white sand beach, azure seas, and phenomenal cultural, historical and scenic treasures, all within easy reach of Muscat and even Dubai? Best yet, a Middle Eastern gem that is thoroughly comfortable outside, with highs in the 80’s even in the middle of summer, as well inside, with a nice choice of two 5-star hotelsLook no further than Salalah, the attractive Omani coastal city, Oman’s second-largest city and capital of the visually spectacular Dhofar province.

In summer, heat can be an issue for tourists throughout the Middle East. While many luxury destinations like Dubai do their best to accommodate tourists by offering air conditioning everywhere, pools in nearly every hotel, short day excursions, and other measures to refresh, the heat from June - September isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Oman’s Salalah is different. Here coconuts replace the ubiquitous dates and ancient tribals tongues heard nearly as much as Arabic. But what really sets the area part is the uniquely inviting summer weather. 

Enjoying a unique strategic location which allows it to benefit from regular cooling southwest monsoons, Salalah is sunny, dry and surprisingly cool. From June through October, average highs reside in the 80’s, with lows typically in the 70’s. In fact, in August, highs average a measly 81 degrees F. Most days are sunny, though August does see the highest precipitation of the year: a whopping one inch of rain for the month. While not very much by most North American standards, the one-inch of rain does foster a greening effect in the region, leading to lusher growth and richer colors throughout the landscape.

3 night/4 day land packages in the high season, from July 15- August 31, staying at the 5-star Hilton and including transfers, several unforgettable private tours to the surrounding area, breakfast each day and taxes start at about $1,100 per person.

Among the experiences you can enjoy in and around Salalah with us include:

* Exciting drives through the desert dunes of Khadaf, at the outskirts of Rub Al Khali, the famed Empty Quarter

* Visiting Wadi Dawkah, the UNESCO Frankincense Nature Reserve

* Camping overnight in Rub Al Khali, an area with sand dunes reaching 200 meters

* Touring the lost city of Ubar

* Paying your respects at Job’s Tomb, located on the outskirts of Salalah

* Peering into the astonishing Taqe, believed to be the longest cave in the world

* Journeying the beautiful coast, with stops in traditional fishing villages, complete with beautiful, old Dhofari style houses, like Taqah and Mirbat, along with the old frankincense port of Sumhumram.

If time and budget allow, an ideal Dubai & Oman summer itinerary from May through September would be 3 nights Dubai, 3 nights Muscat and 3 nights Salalah. While a 12 hour drive from Muscat, a better option is to fly on one of the several daily flights between Muscat and Salalah. Combining Dubai, Muscat and Salalah, the savvy traveler sees the best of the new and old worlds, highlights of history and the future both.

Hi Eric,

I want to reiterate and expand upon some of my comments from our phone conversation re our trip to Oman/Dubai.

Travel has been an important part of my life for the past forty years and I can honestly say this was one of the most fascinating, and well-planned,  trips I have taken. 

Visiting the Gulf states far exceeded my wildest expectations. I especially appreciated the opportunity to visit Oman on the same trip as Dubai. Seeing the two differing approaches to modernization has really expanded my understanding of the Islamic world and given me food for thought. This was a rare and timely glimpse into the changing world and I know I’ll be following the news in this part of the world with greater interest and comprehension.

Thanks again, Eric

PS. At first I thought this was an expensive trip but have since decided it was a good value and an experience I could have never organized on my own.

Virginia C.,
California

Nothing is more gratifying than receiving an e-mail from a guest who recently returned from a wonderful vacation we planned for them. We received this e-mail from Mary M. who toured Dubai, Oman and also attended the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race. We hope you enjoy reading her enthusiastic summary…

Assalam’alaikoom to family and friends,

Here is one of those wonderful roundabouts in Muscat.  It has a replica of the Mabkhara, the incense burner in the center.

The fish market was so interesting.  There are so many different kinds of fish and you can tell they were fresh and clean.

See, here is the Twin Dolphin statue for us in Muscat.

The Palace of His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos

Our hotel was so lovely in Mucast by the sea.  There were so many wonderful places to eat here and also wonderful music.  It was very romantic.  A great way to start our anniversary trip.

This is the view of our hotel from one of the top viewing areas.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and yes that is marble flooring.

There was a strict adherence to Islamic dress here and so my head was covered as well as my arms and legs.  We removed our shoes to enter.

A view from one of the many forts we visited.

In the countryside many choose to live the way they have lived for centuries, even though the Sultan has offered land and to build a home for all his people.

This is a better view of the outside of the 4th largest mosque in the world.  It was a gift to the people from HM, Sultan Qaboos.

Kids are the same everywhere in the world.  It was so nice of the teacher to pose the children for us at one of the forts we were visiting in the countryside.

In Dubai with the famous Burj Al Arab in the background where we had our anniversary dinner.  See that protrusion on the left side of the building? That is the sky bar and the is also a restaurant.  Since it was at night we chose to eat at their fish restaurant.  We wanted the experience of the submarine ride to it.

This is the view of the creek from our hotel room balcony.  We had sundowners right here as the sun set right in front of our room.  It was perfect!  I am all dressed up to go the the Burj Al Arab.

The Al Mahara was a wonderful fish restaurant.  Our table was the one right in front of the glass behind me on the left.  It was a very romantic evening, as it should be.  What a great way to celebrate our special occasion.

The hotel is definitely over the top when it comes to its decor!  This is looking down at the lobby.

Outside watching the hotel change colors, I couldn’t resist calling a few friends.

If you look closely, you will see I am in the front seat of the car….poor Patrick was in the back as we went crashing through the dunes of the desert.

Instead of camel caravan, it was a 4 wheel drive caravan.

The desert has it’s own beauty and the sand here is very light and fluffy. :)

What’s a desert without camels!

So off we went for a 20 minute ride to get to our desert camp where we were being served champagne and dinner.

This is definitely an Arabian adventure…Talk about romancing the stone!

Champagne and dinner in our Bedouin style tent.

High on that dune is Patrick getting ready to board down….

Here he comes!  He always surprises me.  I didn’t know he could board….just like I didn’t know he could ride a horse until he rode off in the Gobi Desert when we visited there.

Getting my first tattoo. (Henna of course)  It’s already worn off.

Smoking the sheeska pipe.

Wow that pipe was powerful stuff.  This belly dancer grabbed him to come dance with her.  I didn’t know he could belly dance too!

Holding a falcon and displaying my henna tattoo, it is time to say goodbye to our romance in the desert…..

So, as they lead the camels off into the night, we drive back to our hotel and go out shopping….can you believe that!

Next it was off the to the World Cup Horse Race.  I was surprised to see all the different areas where you could drink.  At the wine bar they were having a style contest and I was invited to participate.  I didn’t like the idea of walking across that stage with all these young gals and then I thought….why not!  No one knows me here!  Since this red hat was my only crushable hat, I turned out to be Queen Sparklin’ Mary of the Red Diamonds!

Come on don’t I get credit for being about 30 to 40 years older than the rest of you?

Since I didn’t win, Patrick and our new found friend tried to enter as best couple!  (I’m only kidding.)

What a fun event.  I will do this again.  It was a party!

The best part was hearing this band play our National Anthem.

By the way, we decided to make a style statement while we were in Dubai.

Hope to see you very soon!