A monument in Sibelius Park dedicated to the composer Jean Sibelius, Helsinki Urban Tails Resort, located in Dubai Investment Park, offers luxury suites for dogs and cats needing a break from the grind. The recently opened pet resort offers a landscaped garden with fountains , an outdoor swimming pool and a fully equipped indoor gym where pets can work out. Owners can opt to send their pooches to bootcamp, or pamper them with a personal butler and a special pet limousine.
The resort\'s layout is designed to reduce noise and \"minimise stress\". The staff-to-pet ratio is high at 8:1, there\'s a strict vaccination policy to maintain safety and health standards, and on-call veterinary services. All suites come with a television, a garden view and a raised bed. Suites for dogs cost from Dh115 per night, going up to Dh395 per night for the royal suite. The en suite \"kitty condo\" costs Dh80 per night. \"Doggie daycare\" is available for Dh80 per day, or book a package (three days a week for one month) to avail of a discount of 50 per cent on collection and delivery charges (the prices vary depending on location). Urban Tails is open from Sunday to Thursday from 9am to 3pm and on Saturday from 10am to 3pm (closed on Friday). All prices include taxes. Visit www.urbantailsdubai.com or call 04 884 8847 for more information and to book.
Cox and Kings has a three-day, two-night trip to Helsinki. Visitors will enjoy a tour around the Finnish capital, go on a scenic coastal drive and stop at major attractions, including Sibelius Park, the Olympic Stadium, the Opera House, Finlandia Hall, National Museum, the market square and Uspenki Cathedral. The trip ends with a walk around Senate Square.
The package costs Dh1,194 per person, including accommodation in a four-star hotel, based on two sharing, local transport, airport transfers, all sightseeing and entrance fees to sites. International airfare and meals are not included. The offer is valid until October 31. Visit www.coxandkings.ae or call 04 3572 628 for details.
Take a \"wild walk in the Simien Mountains\" with Wild Frontiers\' eight-day trip to Ethiopia. Located in the country\'s north, the mountains were formed millions of years ago by river systems cutting through the sandstone rock. At the foot of the range are the remnants of ancient hills, now eroded into hundreds of pinnacles and buttresses. The Simien National Park is also home to all kinds of wildlife, while treks along the escarpment offer stunning views. Visitors will also explore the Unesco World Heritage Sites of Gonder and Lalibela. The tour starts and ends in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.
From £1,690 (Dh4,920) per person, with most meals, government passes and permits, entrance fees and all transport outlined in the itinerary. Departure on October 22. Visit wildfrontiers.co.uk or call 00 44 20 7736 for details.
The New World Saigon Hotel, in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, has a two-night \"all senses\" package for couples that includes a 90-minute spa treatment (a combination of a 30-minute Vietnamese dragon fruit scrub, a 60-minute aromatherapy massage and a sauna infused with five types of massage oils), two nights in a deluxe room, breakfast, a half-day guided tour of the city on a vintage Vespa scooter, and a two-hour dinner cruise on Saigon River in a traditional boat.
The package costs from US$430 (Dh1,580) for two nights, including taxes. The offer is valid on weekends until March 21, 2012. Visit www.saigon.newworldhotels.com or call 00 84 8 3822 8888 for more information.