Latest Travel News Daily Email from ASIA Travel Tips.com

Tuesday, 29 October 2013. News from last night Asia time and today.

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Notice: In the coming days and weeks we will be uploading some brand new and exclusive HD video
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29/10/2013 Starwood Opens Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2910-SheratonHuaHin.shtml


29/10/2013 Langham Place Opens in Guangzhou.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2910-LanghamPlace.shtml


29/10/2013 Asia Pacific Airlines Register 8.2% Growth in September.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2910-AsiaAirlines.shtml


29/10/2013 Qatar Airways Launches Flights to Clark, Philippines.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2910-QatarAirways.shtml


29/10/2013 United Airlines Makes Seats Available for Sale on Flights to Chengdu.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2910-UnitedAirlines.shtml


29/10/2013 Japan Airlines to Expand JAL New Sky Project.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2910-JapanAirlines.shtml


29/10/2013 ITB Berlin Gives Travel Technology More Space.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2910-ITBBerlin.shtml


29/10/2013 Airbus Releases Results from New Research into Importance of Seat Width.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2910-AirlineSeats.shtml


29/10/2013 Royal Cliff Hotels Group Appoints New GM.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2910-RoyalCliff.shtml


29/10/2013 Inaugural Fijian Tourism Expo to Take Place 6-8 May 2014.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2910-TourismFiji.shtml


28/10/2013 The Giving Bag Wins Cornell Student Sustainability Competition.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-GivingBag.shtml


28/10/2013 Preferred Hotel Group Reports Q3 2013 Results.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-Preferred.shtml











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Air Serbia names plane after Novak Djokovic Posted: 27 Oct 2013 09:55 PM PDT Revitalized national carrier lobs up new planes named after famous Serbs Rafael Nadal may have snatched tennis' top ranking from Novak Djokovic this month but the world's second seeded tennis player beat the Spaniard to attain a somewhat unusual accolade -- getting a commercial jet named after him. An Djokovic-named Airbus 319 is the first in a series of "Serbia living legends" to appear on the new Air Serbia aircraft. The series is part of a major rebranding for the national carrier -- from Jat Airways to Air Serbia. A total of 14 aircraft named after Serbian identities will be revealed over the next few months. Djokovic gets his name painted under the national flag on the livery. "He has shown over the years a competitive spirit and an enviable ability to overcome big challenges that is now legendary right across the world," said Dane Kondić, Chief Executive Officer of Air Serbia. "These are all values and positive attributes that we can closely associate with and will be at the forefront of what our new national carrier will stand for." The rebranded Air Serbia will be managed by Etihad Airways, the Abu-Dhabi-based carrier, from this month. The airline will serve up six new aircraft before the end of the year and four more in 2014. Tags:  Serbia aviation news

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Latest Travel News Daily Email from ASIA Travel Tips.com

Monday, 28 October 2013. News from over the weekend and today Asia time.

The ASIA Travel Tips Team
http://www.asiatraveltips.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++


28/10/2013 The Giving Bag Wins Cornell Student Sustainability Competition.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-GivingBag.shtml


28/10/2013 Preferred Hotel Group Reports Q3 2013 Results.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-Preferred.shtml


28/10/2013 Qatar Airways to Launch Flights to Sharjah and Dubai World Central.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-QatarAirways.shtml


28/10/2013 CWT Appoints New SVP - Central and Eastern Europe.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-CWT.shtml


28/10/2013 EVA Air Takes Delivery of First A321 Equipped with Sharklets.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-EVAAir.shtml


28/10/2013 PAL Launches Chartered Flights Vladivostok.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-PhilippineAirlines.shtml


28/10/2013 Smiths Detection Wins Award for HI-SCAN 10080 XCT X-Ray Scanner.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-AirportSecurity.shtml


28/10/2013 Emirates Launches Conakry Flights.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-Emirates.shtml


28/10/2013 Korean Air Finalizes Order for 12 Boeing Aircraft.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-KoreanAir.shtml


28/10/2013 AAHK's CEO to Step Down.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-AAHongKong.shtml


28/10/2013 New Dawn for Air Serbia.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2810-AirSerbia.shtml


25/10/2013 STR Reports Asia Pacific Hotel Results for September 2013.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-HotelsinAsia.shtml


25/10/2013 Fiji Airways to Increase Hong Kong Flights.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-FijiAirways.shtml


25/10/2013 GBTA Predicts China Business Travel Spend to Increase by 14.3% in 2013.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-ChinaOutlook.shtml








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Beyond bed and bath: Nanjing’s best hotels Posted: 24 Oct 2013 03:00 PM PDT Whether you choose to sleep in a former factory or an iconic high-rise, you'll be talking about these hotels long after you've checked out Booking a hotel based merely on its star rating is like judging a restaurant by its exterior. Big mistake. We've scratched beneath the well-trod surface to choose six of Nanjing's best hotels -- each comes with a great personality, substance and pleasant surprises. Kayumanis Nanjing This is the place for 24-hour zen -- and a butler. Kayumanis Nanjing is the Balinese luxury resort group's first overseas venture. Located in Tangshan, a popular hot spring resort area in a Nanjing suburb, Kayumanis isn't lacking for things to do. Dragging yourself from the villa to actually do them might be a problem.  With 20 villas ranging from 350 to 550 square meters, the resort is the most luxurious hotel experience in Nanjing. Best features: Privacy and service. "All of our villas feature the same facilities," says Martin Huang, Kayumanis Nanjing general manager.  "The highlight -- besides the spacious villa area -- is the private outdoor swimming pool and hot spring Jacuzzi." Most resort activities, including tai chi class, Chinese calligraphy class, cooking class or spa treatments, can be done inside your villa. Guess that takes care of the, "I don't want to go anywhere" problem.  Kayumanis Nanjing, 12 Wenquan Road, Tangshan Town, Nanjing; +86 25 8410 7777; from CNY 4,180 ($685) per night InterContinental Nanjing Zifeng Tower is the seventh tallest building in the world.When hotels advertise their rooms as having "urban views," beware. This often means you're an arm's length from the next building, staring into someone's kitchen. Not so at InterContinental Nanjing, where all 470 rooms are located above the 45th floor.  Located in Nanjing's tallest and most iconic skyscraper, Zifeng Tower, it's hard to miss this beauty. The 450-meter-high tower currently ranks as the seventh tallest building in the world. More than 60% of the rooms overlook Xuanwu Lake and Purple Mountain, the two most scenic spots in Nanjing. The hotel has eight restaurants and bars. What to do in the hotel: Breathe.  One thing travelers likely won't notice is the special design of the hotel's window vents, found in both guest and meeting rooms. The vents were designed to let in (ideally) fresh air from Purple Mountain and Xuanwu Lake. InterContinental Nanjing, 1 Central Road (Zhong Yang Road), Gulou District, Nanjing; +86 25 8353 8888; from CNY 1,100 ($180) per night Regalia Resort & Spa Qinhuai River What's lacking in space is made up for with service. Despite its pretty exterior, Regalia Resort & Spa Qinhuai River is set in a former military factory complex turned creative area that dates to 1865. This Chinese boutique hotel in the historic southern part of Nanjing houses 37 rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and the Thai-style Andaman Spa. As the name suggests the place overlooks Qinhuai River, the most beautiful waterway in Nanjing. The hotel is located next to the Ming City Wall, one of the largest and best preserved city walls ever built in China. It was erected during the Ming Dynasty, six centuries ago. Best room: The most extravagant suite is the Outdoor Jacuzzi Town House (CNY2,888/$475) with its own private garden and facilities for outdoor dining.  Regalia Resort & Spa Qinhuai River, E5, 368 Yingtian St., Qinhuai District, Nanjing; +86 25 5188 5688; from CNY1,113 ($183) EASpring What do wine, coffee and traditional Chinese medicine have in common? You can soak in all of them at the EASpring Resort.EASpring is a travel destination in its own right. It doesn't have lavish decor nor are its rooms all that luxurious. But EASpring is the best place to experience the local passion for hot spring soaking. Easily the biggest resort in Tangshan, it has venues for conferences and events.  Owning two of the five hot spring sources in Tangshan, EASpring goes all out when it comes to baths -- more than 50 pools dot the hill behind the 197-room hotel.  Best attraction: The outdoor hot spring area has become a Nanjing family favorite for winter day trips. Among dozens of baths are unusual flavors such as wine and floral-flavored pools. There's also a bath in a cave and a Roman-style bath. Entrance fee for hotel guests is CNY100 ($16), while visitors pay CNY218 ($35). Easpring, 8 Wenquan Road, Tangshan Town, Nanjing; +86 25 5119 0666; from CNY 580 ($93) Jinling Hotel Jinling has had its share of politicians as guests. Don't let that turn you off. It may no longer be the tallest, nor the most glamorous hotel in town, but Jinling hasn't lost any of its elegance. Opened in 1983, the state-approved hotel has served countless international political leaders. The 37-story hotel -- Nanjing's first business hotel and once the tallest building in China --  still thrives, offering excellent service. Best attraction: In addition to historical significance, the pride of this hotel is its salted duck, served in the Plum Garden restaurant.  Not your average duck dish, the restaurant has perfected the process through careful bird selection. It takes three days to prepare. "The duck has flawless white skin and pink meat soaked in an aged marinade," explains Nancy Xiao, Jinling's assistant director of marketing.  Jinling Hotel, Xin Jie Kou Square, Nanjing; +86 25 8471 1888; from CNY 1,048 ($170) per night Nanjing Time Youth Hostel The place to stay if you want to learn more about China's Republican era.Jiang Nan, founder of Nanjing Time Youth Hostel, has no shortage of historical stories to share about the 70-year-old building he transformed into a hotel. "The south-side guest room was a dance hall that famous politicians during China's Republican era (pre-1949) frequented," he says. "Commanders during the Republican era spied on the Communist Party through the attic's west-side window, which is facing the Meiyuan Xincun [former office of the Communist Party, now a memorial hall]." The neighborhood is great if you're intrigued by China's unique Republican-era (1912-1949) architecture, for which Nanjing is famous. The hostel also holds regular reading club sessions and mini-concerts, most free of charge. Best rooms: The most interesting room is the shared attic, which can accommodate 30 guests. Jiang calls it the "mad men's ward," a Chinese phrase used to describe a space that honors the freedom to exchange ideas and the spirit of independence. For guests who don't want to sleep with strangers, the hostel's priciest option is the private room, which comes with a 50-square-feet semi-circular balcony (CNY320/$53). Nanjing Time Youth Hostel, 6 Meiyuan New Village, Yongyuan of Xuanwu Area, Nanjing; +86 25 8556 9053 or email timehostel@hotmail.com; From CNY50 ($8) CNN Travel's series often carries sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However, CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy. Tags:  Nanjing hotels

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Latest Travel News Daily Email from ASIA Travel Tips.com

Friday, 25 October 2013. News from last night Asia time and today.

Have a splendid weekend!

The ASIA Travel Tips Team
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25/10/2013 STR Reports Asia Pacific Hotel Results for September 2013.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-HotelsinAsia.shtml


25/10/2013 Fiji Airways to Increase Hong Kong Flights.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-FijiAirways.shtml


25/10/2013 GBTA Predicts China Business Travel Spend to Increase by 14.3% in 2013.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-ChinaOutlook.shtml


25/10/2013 Hotelbeds Reports 50% Growth in MEAPAC.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-Hotelbeds.shtml


25/10/2013 HK's PolyU to Hold UNWTO Knowledge Network Symposium and TedQual Information
Seminar.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-TedQual.shtml


25/10/2013 Far East Hospitality Unveils Major Expansion Plans.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-FarEast.shtml


25/10/2013 Rugby: Stade Toulousain to Play Racing Metro 92 in Hong Kong on 9 November.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-StadeToulousain.shtml


25/10/2013 Thai Launches Flights to Chongqing and Changsha, China.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/2510-ThaiSmile.shtml









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Budapest's best ‘ruin bars’ Posted: 23 Oct 2013 11:00 PM PDT How derelict industrial spaces became hip Hungarian watering holes It's funny they call them ruin bars because for their founders it's generally led to good fortune. It started around 2001, so the story goes, with a bunch of young men looking for cheap places to drink. From their thirst and shallow pockets have grown some of the most lively and stylish places to drink in Budapest -- so-called ruin bars. Derelict buildings and unused outdoor spaces have been transformed into friendly, pleasingly chaotic bars where you can still get a large beer for less than $2. Road to ruin Szimpla Kert (listing below) was the first ruin bar -- it moved around before settling into its home in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest's seventh district in 2004. It has the classic signs of a ruin pub: willfully mismatched furniture that had seen better days decades ago, art that some visitors have an annoying habit of taking home without asking and, important in summer, a garden in which to catch the sun. Unlike other ruin pubs, Szimpla Kert has an old Trabant car in the garden that doubles as a table and chairs. Cigarette smoke takes the place of the exhaust fumes from the former East Germany's notoriously unreliable vehicle. More on CNN: Budget Budapest -- bargain city break We need more derelict spaces! Budapest surely risks running out.Sound too hipster? Don't worry. The day I went the table behind me was filled with locals in their sixties and seventies having an animated conversation over coffee -- not a pair of skinny jeans among them. "We have a discount for retired people," says Edina Mihaly, who looks after the bar's programs and PR. Good for gossip That's the key, I discover over the next few days of exploring Budapest's ruin pubs. Some might find them trendy and edgy, but they're really just relaxed and genial places to meet friends and have a drink. "Szimpla isn't so much a party place," says Juliana Szombati, who's paid by the bar every Friday to teach "pub Hungarian" to tongue-tied tourists desperate to learn how to say more than, "Two beers, please." "You come to meet friends and have a drink and a chat, and then go out to a club if you want. "Hungarians don't say, 'Let's go to a ruin bar.' I don't think it matters if it's a ruin or not. Most people just feel more comfortable in them." Once a car park A few minutes' walk away is one of the area's newest ruin pubs, Racskert (listing below), a big, ramshackle garden bar in a disused parking lot -- it's a plain spot, with none of the artful disorder of Szimpla. Three IT students have stopped by for a drink. "You can't keep up with all the new places," says one of them, Tomas Konscis. His friend, David Augusztinovicz, likes the cheap prices at ruin bars. Tip Top: ruin bar with a whiff of cleaning fluid, but the views are nice.The Tip Top roof bar (Kecskeméti utca 3; +36 70 333 2113) near Pest's center provides a more sanitized version of the ruin bar experience (along with fantastic views of the city). The latest lure isn't so much the place as what it serves. Craft beers are the newest thing, and the crucible of the craft beer revolution is a bar called Eleszto (Tűzoltó utca 22; +36 70 233 5052). The premises used to be a factory and then a parking lot -- perfect ruin bar territory. Ruin crawl The following places give a good taste of the range of Budapest ruin bars. Szimpla Kert, from which all other ruin bars evolved.Szimpla Kert Budapest's original ruin bar hosts a regular farmers' market and flea market, as well as live music and film screenings. Food includes pizza from a wood-fired oven. Szimpla Kert, Kazinczy utca 14; +36 20 261 8669; daily, noon-3 a.m. Kuplung Colorful paper lanterns hang from the ceiling of this former car repair shop ("kuplung" means clutch), where you can get toasted sandwiches. Kiraly utca 46; +36 30 755 3527; weekdays 3 p.m.-3 a.m. or 5 a.m., Saturday 4 p.m.-5 a.m., Sunday 6 p.m.-3 a.m. More on CNN: Top spots in Europe for 2013 Super 8's inside space: play area for kids despite 4 a.m. finishes.Super 8 Lurid green apartments overlook the cozy courtyard garden of Super 8. There's a play area for children in spite of the late opening hours, which range from 2 to 4 a.m. Kofarago utca 8; +36 20 452 4445; open from 4 p.m. daily except Sunday Racskert An empty parking lot has been commandeered by one of Budapest's newest ruin pubs. Water cisterns recycled as lamps provide the illumination, while a mobile burger van serves snacks from the Bosnian Serb owner's homeland. Dob utca 40; +36 20 776 0741; daily 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Ellato Kert ... little Mexico in Budapest.Ellato Kert There's a Mexican feel to this large garden filled with brightly painted tables -- helped, no doubt, by the tacos and tortillas on the menu. Kazinczy utca 48; +36 20 527 3018; weekdays 3 p.m.-2 a.m., weekends 6 p.m.-4 a.m. (Saturday) and 2 a.m. (Sunday) Instant A few minutes walk from the boutiques of classy Andrassy Street is this jumble of 23 strangely designed rooms sprawled across two former tenement buildings. First-time visitors usually do a double-take when they spot the giant flying animals and, in one room, furniture pinned to the ceiling. The menu of burgers and fries is the simplest thing about the place. Instant (Hungarian site only), Agymezo 38; +36 30 830 8747; Monday-Saturday noon-3 a.m. Corvinteto makes the most of a spare rooftop. Corvinteto A giant Spar supermarket sign forms a surreal backdrop to this rooftop ruin bar, but it doesn't detract from the views of the city. It's a fair trudge up about six flights of stairs, but if you can't make it that far, the floor below turns into a club at 10 p.m. On Mondays, when the club is closed, you can still watch movies on the giant rooftop screen. Corvinteto (Hungarian site only), Blaha Lujza ter 1-2; +36 20 772 2984; daily 6 p.m.-6 a.m.. Tags:  East European travel bars Hungary

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Tokyo company takes your stuffed animals on vacation ... without you Posted: 22 Oct 2013 08:13 PM PDT Sounds like the latest version of "Toy Story," but for some the service is proving to have therapeutic benefits We try hard not to promote the whole "Isn't Tokyo kooky?" cliché -- we really do. Then along comes a story like the piece on the Japan News website about a woman who runs a travel agency for people who want to send their stuffed animals on holiday -- while they stay home. No joke. For the last three years, Sonoe Azuma, 38, of Unagi Travel has been organizing stuffed animal tours throughout Japan, Europe and the United States.  The upcoming November Tokyo tour for plush toys includes visits to Shibuya, historic Asakusa and Tokyo Tower. "We've seen better Buddhas." There's also an onsen (hot spring) tour. Do the plush toys actually go in the baths? No telling yet. The cost of the Tokyo tour is $45, while the onsen trip is $55.  It's up to the client to foot the cost of shipping their stuffed toys to Tokyo, but Unagi will cover the return flight.  Sorry, no overweight toys allowed. According to Unagi rules, furry friends must be lighter than 250 grams/0.55 pounds.  If at this point you're thinking, "Where can my stuffed animals get some of that action," there's good news.  Azuma has an English-language site that accepts bookings, giving even more people the chance to travel vicariously through their cuddle toys.  More on CNN: Panda palace pushes plush perfection Who in the he-- sends their stuffed animals on a trip? So who is this service geared toward? Plushophiliacs? Agoraphobics? Adults who have seen "Toy Story" too many times? "I'm going to watch the waves wash away my footprints." Easy as it is to mock Azuma's clients as victims of a fiberfill-fueled ruse, it seems there's actually a therapeutic benefit to her service. According to the Japan News, one woman became reclusive after it became difficult for her to walk due to illness. That changed after she saw the photos of her stuffed animal on one of Azuma's tours. She worked to rehabilitate her legs and visited a neighboring prefecture for the first time in several years. "Seeing my stuffed animal traveling encouraged me," said the woman. "I began to think that I should do what I can do, instead of lamenting over things that I can't."  Other clients reported that seeing their toy on tour cheered them up after a family death, or inspired them to do things they normally wouldn't. A wheelchair-restricted woman is a regular client. If Azuma's service gives people the courage to get out and see the world themselves, or comfort when they can't, it's hard to fault her for what at first seems to be a ridiculous enterprise.  Would you send your stuffed toys off into the world without you? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.   More on CNN: Are these the world's cutest creatures?  Tags:  Japan travel Tokyo stuffed animals plush toys Offbeat

Best Dubai brunches: The good, the very good and the 'drunch' Posted: 22 Oct 2013 07:00 PM PDT The multi-hour banquet has become a Dubai institution. Here's why and where It's Friday in Dubai: the first day of the weekend (the break runs Friday-Saturday in the UAE) and the clock has struck midday.  The distant call to prayer forms a somewhat ironic soundtrack to the (mainly) expat revelers making for the week's main event: brunch. The best Dubai brunches are all-inclusive, multi-hour banquets frequented mostly by glammed-up expats and held at hotels citywide one day a week, every week. More on CNN: Penguins, golf courses, water slides ... six things that shouldn't exist in the desert The big come-down "People work so hard in Dubai they come to rely upon brunch as an extended come-down after a heavy week," says Sally (who only wanted to give her first name), an expat for six years. "Dubai is transient, there's a welcome party, a leaving party, a birthday party virtually every week," says British-born James Leetham. "Brunches are an easy way to get lots of people who don't necessarily know each other in one place." Risqué image Al Qasr, where the brunch drinks look like dessert (or the other way around).In the United Arab Emirates -- where only non-Muslims can drink alcohol, women are expected to dress modestly and it's illegal for anyone to be drunk on the street -- brunches retain a slightly risqué image. Come 11:30 a.m., all over Dubai, it's not uncommon to see gaggles of foreign girls in thigh-skimming dresses tottering out of apartment towers to flag down cabs to brunch. "Everyone always puts in more effort when going for brunch," Sally says. "It's a great opportunity to eat like a pig and have a drink or three while pretending to be classy." It's not uncommon to spend $100 plus on brunch -- the limitless drinks quota ups the entry price. The food spread put on at many of Dubai's best brunches stands up on its own. But when drinking, brunchers are always aware of the tight regulations around alcohol in Dubai and the UAE. Dubai has a reputation as a cosmopolitan city with Western influences, where visitors can drink at bars and restaurants and unmarried couples can share hotel rooms. But the country still adheres to Islamic laws and traditions. More on CNN: CNNGo in Dubai: The extravagant edition "Your Louboutins look cheap" Some brunch-goers handle the atmosphere better than others. "At Yalumba a fight broke out between two girls after one told the other her Louboutins looked cheap," recalls Belinda Harrington. "Everyone headed out to the terrace to see what the ruckus was all about, but first I remember stepping over a tattooed man who was sitting on the floor crying." While Dubai brunches often carry with them a less than appetizing reputation for mild debauchery, they also serve an important social function for lonely expats. What follows is a selection of the best Dubai brunches, presented in no particular order. Saffron Saffron has an excellent selection of desserts. A DJ blares out disco beats here while groups in party mode hit the food line (Time Out Dubai estimates 220 dishes) that's as abundant as the product at the manned drinks stations. The watermelons filled with punch give a taste of the mood. Saffron, Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 12:30-4 p.m.; +971 4 426 2626; 435 dirham ($118) More on CNN: Best falafel in Dubai -- and the woman who can find it Traiteur This is the classiest of Dubai's brunches. You won't catch any expat depravity at Traiteur, rather linen-clad Europeans swanning about the upscale food counters (eggs Benedict, snails, lobster ) with flutes of Veuve Cliquot. Outside, yachts bob on the harbor. Traiteur, Park Hyatt hotel, Deira; 12:30-4 p.m.; +971 4 602 1234; 495-670 dirham ($135-$182) Toro Toro The sit-down and a la carte menu at this slick Latin outfit make it one of the less raucous -- but no less glamorous -- brunch options. Fare spans quality ceviches and churassco-style meats, while drinks are limited to quality South American wine and cocktails. Toro Toro, Grosvenor House, Tower 2, Dubai Marina; 12:30.-4 p.m.; +971 4 399 8888; 400 dirham ($109) Al Qasr Al Qasr: Just part of the multi-restaurant offerings. For sheer La Dolce Vita scale and excess, Al Qasr can't be beaten as a brunch setting. Life-sized gold horses line the hotel's driveway. The colossal brunch spreads itself over three restaurants. There's also a chocolate room and a huge, sea-facing terrace where cocktails are an extra to the free-flowing bubbly. Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai; 12:30-3.30 p.m.; +971 4 366 6730; 525 dirham ($143) Double Decker Held in a British pub, the menu here appeals to homesick Brits: Yorkshire puddings, roast beef, sausages. The rowdy atmosphere and cheap-as-chips prices mean it's mainly a brunch for the young crowd or people with an undying appetite for tomfoolery. As James Leetham recalls: "At Double Decker, someone threw my flip flops over the wall, I tickled a fat man and stole a watering can." Double Decker, Al Murooj Rotana, Downtown Dubai; noon.-3 p.m.; +971 4 321 1111; 170 dirham ($46) Yalumba  The frenzy at Yalumba isn't always around the food. The action at Yalumba doesn't always take place around the impressive food counters.  A clue can be found on the back of Yalumba waiters' uniforms, where the number of bottles he or she's uncorked so far is recorded. Balloons, party hats and noisemakers line the tables, the less snooty variety of Brit makes up the crowd and a DJ gets under way at 3 p.m. Yalumba, Le Méridien Dubai, Garhoud, Dubai; 12:30-3.30 p.m.; +971 4 702 2455; 499 dirham ($136) Mina A' Salam Billed as "family friendly" (so, an indoor kids' zone packed with games, sugary snacks and manned by nannies), this waterside haunt attracts a mixed crowd. With fish and chips on the menu and a room dedicated entirely to pork (yes, really), the food is geared to expats. Drink perks include Slush Puppy-style machines spawning icy cocktails. Mina A'Salam, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai; 12:30-4 p.m.; +971 4 366 6730; 465 dirham ($127) Warehouse This good-time venue sells its brunch in one word: Drunch. Inside it's like a noisy nightclub. At 4 p.m. the post-brunch crowd spills over in more ways than one on to the dance floor. Warehouse, Le Méridien Dubai, Garhoud, Dubai; 1-4 p.m.; +971 4 702 2455; 299 dirham ($81) Tags:  Dubai restaurants Dubai brunches best brunch

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