It’s all happening in Saudi Arabia. The Red Sea development, one of the kingdom’s many ongoing megaprojects, has launched its first flights to Riyadh.
They connect the new Red Sea International Airport with the capital. Located on the country’s west coast, the development is one of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism projects, spanning more than 28,000 square kilometres of land, including an archipelago of more than 90 islands.
The destination is rapidly taking shape and some of the project’s upscale hotels, including an eco-friendly resort carved into the mountains and futuristic overwater villas with views to rival the Maldives, are now taking bookings.
This includes Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, which will be the first to open with stays from December 1. With the Hijaz Mountains as a backdrop, this luxury resort pays homage to Nabataean architecture and its desert surroundings while retaining its trademark wellness approach.
The openings of The St Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve are also part of phase one. When it’s finished in 2030, the project will have 50 resorts and 8,000 hotel rooms spread over 22 islands and six inland sites.
From one megaproject to another, it was also announced this week that W Hotels will be opening its first resort in Saudi Arabia. It will be developed in the snow-capped mountain destination Trojena in Neom, the $500 billion futuristic megacity being built in Tabuk. Several other hotel groups have already announced plans to open in Neom, including Minor Hotels, Four Seasons, Ennismore, Collective Retreats and GHM Hotels.
Like I said, it’s all happening in Saudi Arabia.
Keep up to date with all the latest travel news and stories online.
Katy Gillett
The National Travel desk
DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT: Venice
As Venice narrowly escapes being placed on Unesco’s World Heritage in Danger list, John Brunton asks how you can travel to Italy’s floating city responsibly. The answer, he says, is by not staying in the historic centre, but finding less-crowded destinations on the outskirts. He discovers three alternatives – a renovated fisherman’s house, an eco-friendly camping site and an opulent glamping hideaway – that are close enough to Venice so you don’t miss out and are worth every euro.
TRAVEL NEWS THIS WEEK
TOP TIPS
Hotels with Michelin-starred restaurants
- This week, Ca d’Oro at the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St Moritz was awarded one star in the Michelin Guide Switzerland. With chef Leopold Ott at its helm, the restaurant serves modern cuisine with Mediterranean and international influences, under high ceilings and chandeliers that add to the drama of the elegant dining room. The caviar selection is a mainstay, according to Michelin. The seasonal property will reopen on December 1.
- It may have only opened in March, but Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal is already home to one Michelin-starred restaurant. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal serves an ultra-contemporary take on old British cuisine that dates back to the 14th century, in the same way his London venue does. That includes “meat fruit”, a mandarin jelly-based coating with chicken liver and foie gras parfait in the shape of an orange.
- California’s SingleThread Farm Restaurant & Inn might sound unassuming, but it has three Michelin stars. It is led by chef Kyle Connaughton and his wife Katina, who is head farmer. The restaurant, which is also home to five farmhouse guest rooms, has 55 seats and serves an 11-course, Kaiseki-style tasting menu using ingredients from their farm. It’s known for inventive dishes, such as the Dungeness crab topped with miso-makrut lime foam.
THE LAST WORD
“I personally think revenge travel has finished and this is about that great demand, because through the pandemic people realised that connections with each other were the important part of travel.”
Edward Fotheringham, vice president of global sales at Etihad Airways
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