Why is halal friendly travel becoming so popular?

Halal friendly holidays are gaining popularity in the UK as Muslim families seek welcoming travel destinations across the globe for modest dress, Halal food and other Muslim-friendly vacation activities. There are several Halal friendly hotels that provide facilities and services for Muslim travellers across the world.

The services offered by Halal friendly hotels differ – some may provide information on Halal services and facilities in the vicinity of the hotel, whilst others include Qiblah direction marked in hotel rooms and serve Halal food. Certain hotels even have segregated spas, open-air pools exclusively for women and Halal beaches.  There are some hotels that prohibit alcohol in their premises, so Muslim travellers do not have to worry about relaxing next to other hotel guests that are consuming alcohol.

Here are some Halal travel destinations worth visiting along with Halal friendly hotels and resorts.

Maldives: Located in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is made up of hundreds of islands, and is the ultimate getaway location for rest and relaxation. The islands feature a range of resorts and hotels, which are very private and luxurious. Bandos Island is a superb Halal resort, with stunning private over water villas. Other resorts which would cater to Muslims include Soneva Gili, Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi and Zithali.

Tanzania: This beautiful island of Zanzibar lies to the east of Tanzania, and has some of the best beaches in the world. The island has a dash of the Middle East, as several descendants originated from Oman. There are many resorts and hotels here that cater to Halal tourists including the Ocean Paradise Resort and for those looking for a safari experience, the Saadani Lodge offers halal friendly services.

The UAE: The United Arab Emirates is one of the most popular Halal tourist destinations. With towering skyscrapers, gorgeous beaches and expansive shopping malls, Emirates is a must visit country. There are several hotels here that have Halal facilities – these include the BurJumanArjaan by Rotana Suites, the Tamani, Taj Palace and the Six Senses at Zighy Bay in nearby Oman.

Serendipity provides great deals on Halal friendly hotels to tourists interested in travelling to Halal friendly holiday destinations across the world. Serendipity also offers information and bookings for Halal resorts.

Heading to the Middle East – Oman is the place to go!

When we first visited Oman, we were not sure what to expect, it is after all only a few hours from the cosmopolitan Dubai. However I guarantee you it’s a million miles apart.  Located to the east of the emirates, Oman is a vast halal friendly country full of beautiful heritage, stunning wildlife and truly hospitable people.  Muscat, the capital, is home to the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, a grand design on the outskirts of the city. The main musalla is perfectly square and contains the second largest hand-woven carpet. Alongside the manicured grounds are four flanking minarets, with the main minaret rising 90 metres. Over 20’000 Muslim worshippers can pray here, and is Muscat’s flagship attraction in this halal friendly destination.

Heading out of the city, Oman is a strikingly rich country for nature and the outdoors. From Caves to Lagoons and Canyons, Oman has it all with its rich and diverse biodiversity. Head towards Bandar Khayran Reserve where blue seas meet the friendly dolphins swimming alongside your boat. If you prefer to be land based, visit the cave structures at Abu Habban or head into desert for an overnight stay in a desert camp in a traditional bedouin camp. If you are visiting Oman during nesting season, the visit Ras Al Jinz where the amazing Green Turtles come to nest their eggs. If you’re there 55 days later, then you may just witness the baby hatchlings start their daring dash back to the waters.

After all that adventuring, if you need to recharge your batteries, then Muscat is home to an array of halal conscious resorts and hotels from the Six Senses Zighy Bay to the Al-Bustan Palace. As a Muslim country it maintains it’s long heritage, however has an open outlook which blends both the old and the new. So whether you’re looking for adventure, nature, Islamic heritage, history or just plain RnR, then Oman has it all. Go before everyone else discovers Oman

For more information on a halal friendly Oman holiday, visit http://www.serendipity.travel or call 0203 397 4397

Is there more to Dubai than Shopping and halal KFC?

I for one certainly hoped so, for a country with a huge amount of empty vistas, the monotonous Shaikh Zayed Road becomes somewhat irritating after the 89th kilometre.

Low and behold I wasn’t disappointed, but to avoid the cosmopolitan desires of the Middle East’s favourite hub, you have to leave Dubai city and head out into the desert (even though the Bastikia and Creek areas provide a small respite). I’m not talking about the customary four hour desert safari which takes in ten minutes of dune bashing, a stereotypical camel ride, and a rather uncomfortable display from belly dancer (not in our halal friendly list of attractions by the way), but I’m talking about discovering the real Emirates, the people and surprisingly the wildlife.

A short review on crescentrating.com (http://www.crescentrating.com/en/uae-attractions-for-muslim-travelers/item/1718-dubai-desert-conservation-reserve-for-muslim-travelers.html) got me thinking; on my next trip to Dubai, what can I do to keep me coming back. I love wildlife, and to be honest wouldn’t have given the Emirates a chance if it were not for the desert conservation reserve – who would’ve thought: from desert monitors to saw scaled vipers, a real effort seems to be invested into conserving some of the natural assets in the Arabian peninsular. Compared to the rest of dubai’s attractions, there isn’t that glint in it’s eye or a supercar parked outside the reserve, a bit of normality for us normal folks. Except of course when you get to the bedouin styled resort called Al-Maha, which shatters the hope of a rustic campsite with an open fire.

Dont get me wrong, Al-Maha is beautiful, one of the best luxury camps out there. The 37 bedouin tents all feature their own private 5 metre pool and does have a certain charm inside them. It’s so quiet too…not a sound except for a few birds humming around. It’s not cheap though, so be prepared to break the bank a little. Visit Serendipity Tailormade for more details on staying at Al-Maha

Heading further east, lies Hatta. You can get there the straight highway route, or through the mountains which is a little more scenic. Hatta is close to the Omani border where one missed junction and you’re met at a border post and you will have to do the customary formalities, even if you’re doing a U-turn. Hatta itself is a small town, but the rugged terrain makes hiking, and 4×4 trips well worth it. If all that’s a bit too much, then relax at Hatta Fort, one of the emirates first accommodations.

Keeping it halal friendly in the Emirates is thankfully not too difficult. Road trips are fairly easy with service stations providing decent meals mostly, and a mosque is only every couple of kilometres which is great. So for the ultimate in road tripping out of Dubai you can head to other emirate states such as Ajman, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, however a five hour drive east you’ll get to Muscat in Oman. Spend a couple of days exploring the Omani Sultanate which has the reality check Dubai probably lost a few decades ago, and explore Omani culture. With beauty spots such as the Musandam Peninsular only a couple of hours from Dubai, getting to Oman is not out of reach by any means. Comparable with Al-Maha, the Six Senses at Zighy Bay in the Musandam Peninsula is a haven for private pool villas, a stunning beach and cove and the ultimate arrival by paragliding into the check in desk if that takes your fancy. Visit the Oman page for more information on the Six Senses Zighy Bay

by Serendipity Tailormade – halal friendly travel

The Six Senses Zighy Bay Oman Top View

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