Just on the heels of our Eid Al-Fitr break, we are already in overdrive scanning multiple destinations for the October Eid—but where is the best place to go, and how should we prepare for it? The answers are simple as long as you know what kind of activities you’re looking for. Before opening 10+ tabs on booking.com with multiple hotels and destinations, pick your place first! To make your life easier, here are three sample Eid getaways:
CITY LIFE: London. Every Kuwaiti’s go-to destination. If you are a fan of the English capital and most of your BA miles have accumulated from round trips to London Town, then you know exactly where the difficulties lie in dressing for this destination. I have never seen weather as indecisive as London weather – so be prepared to layer! By October’s end the city will be well into wintertime chills so make sure to stock up on thick socks, scarves, a warm coat or two and plenty of sweaters! Don’t forget your fabulous dresses and tights for dinners at Le Petit Maison and Roka – which has some of the best sushi in town! Insider tip: my brother raved about the “Secret Cinema”. He saw a banner for it on Time Out London’s website and apparently this is how it works: you buy a ticket for a movie (you don’t know what movie it is—they are usually classics), then you begin to receive instructions in your e-mail (where to go, what time to be there etc). The instructions also include how to dress – this will have to do with the theme of the movie (this might require an extra trip to a costume store)! Once you get to the location in your attire, there will be a series of fun activities, clues, and tasks that when put together will help you guess the movie. The night ends with the screening of the movie itself and all the clues will finally make sense!
BEACHY LIFE: Dubai. You are probably rolling your eyes at this one because of how overdone this destination is, but personally, I love Dubai! It’s so great for a weekend escape and walking through the Dubai Mall is an event in itself. The best part? You don’t have to pack that much because the shopping is phenomenal. Take the basics – a pair of regular and colored jeans, some maxi dresses, sandals, flowy tops and enjoy! No need to worry about the chill in this town. Insider tip: When you go to Zuma for dinner, which you undoubtedly will, order the braised ribs. Everyone focuses on the sushi but after trying this waiter-recommended dish, I cannot wait to go back.
MIX OF BOTH: Barcelona. This Spanish destination is growing in popularity and there are many reasons why. There’s more than just mouth-watering paella in this dynamic city. Barcelona boasts a beautiful coastline, amazing hotels, and architectural wonders by the famous Antoni Gaudi. By October, the weather will have cooled down a great deal, so don’t expect sunny weather all the time. This is a good time to go if you are more interested in exploring the city, fine dining, and going for beautiful walks. Make sure to pack a big variety of layering options as you won’t be able to predict when it will be warm or cold. A light raincoat is a good idea as well as a comfortable pair of walking shoes, a match-everything scarf and some great leather heels for dinners. CAUTION: the streets of Barca are very bumpy so don’t try to walk around much in a pair of high heels. Solution? Wedges! Barcelona is also known to rain in October, so take an umbrella just in case. Insider tip: I have seen several different hotels in this city and by far the best ones are the W and Hotel Arts—they are worth the price tag. Also, be sure to go to CDLC for dinner – the black cod is delicious and they have staff that walk around and give you shoulder massages – now that’s what I call a vacation!
