4 cheapest last-minute holidays from Dubai in August
With schools back next month, there's a short period of time for UAE-based families to squeeze in a quick last-minute holiday.
And for those who like to leave it late, travel app Skyscanner has revealed the best bargain destinations and how far in advance you should book to get the best deal.
The flight price comparison site has crunched the numbers and picked out the four most affordable airfare prices for August.
Destinations are between one hour and four-and-a-half hours away from the UAE, so there's no need to use up long periods of annual leave to make the most of your trip.
Cheapest last-minute holiday destinations from Dubai
Colombo
With a flight time sitting at around four and a half hours, you can explore the beaches, temples and historic landmarks of Colombo and Sri Lanka in no time at all.
Take a boat ride around Beira Lake, where you'll also see the Buddhist temple (Seema Malaka) on the water. The National Museum of Colombo and the Gangaramaya Temple are also places you should stop at.
Skyscanner has indicated that flights to the Sri Lankan capital are at their cheapest around 11 days ahead of travel and are priced at an average of Dhs1,209. Bookings for 17 to 19 days are also reasonably priced, varying between Dhs1,295 and Dhs1,385.
Muscat
(Credit: Shutterstock)
Hang out at Al Qurum Beach if you've got the time – it's draped in golden sand and offers stunning views of clear turquoise waters. If you are on the lookout for traditional architecture, we suggest a trip to Al Alam Palace, which was built by Imam Sultan Bin Ahmad. Another must-visit is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with its tall arches, lanterns, domes and chandeliers.
Skyscanner says the cheapest time to book flights to Muscat is around 26 days before the scheduled departure, with flights priced at Dhs398 on average. But if you leave it a little later, then your flight will still be on the cheaper side, ranging between Dhs403 and Dhs437 on average when booked between 21 and 24 days out.
Mumbai
Credit: Shutterstock
Mumbai is a city rich with history, cool architecture and exciting things to do. The birthplace of Bollywood is dubbed the City of Dreams, and it's easy to see why. It's home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites and some spectacular tours.
Skyscanner says that airfares to Mumbai are approximately Dhs825 on average when booked within eight or nine days of departure.
Kuwait
The Kuwait City Marina is a must-visit spot. (Credit: Shutterstock)
The Kuwait Towers are a defining landmark in Kuwait, where you can grab a bite to eat while looking out onto the city. Another must-visit is Kuwait's oldest market, Souk Al Mubarakiya, where you'll find Arabic handicrafts, traditional clothing and even perfumes.
Travel to Kuwait is priced at Dhs253 on average when booking 25 days ahead of departure, a contrast from the Dhs436 figure when booking 13 days out.
Ayoub El Mamoun, Travel Expert at Skyscanner, revealed that people surveyed by Skyscanner liked choosing destinations where their Dirhams go further.
He said: 'The summer is a busy period as people look to maximise their vacation time and travel to different destinations and our data shows that there's still time to get the best prices for flights to Colombo, Mumbai, Kuwait City and Muscat for the month of August'
'Not only are these locations short-distance flights from the UAE but our survey shows that 48 percent are choosing destinations where their money goes further.
'Also, 85 percent said they would be willing to change the day or week to save money on their summer vacation, making these cities popular due to the reasonable exchange rate of the UAE Dirham against local currencies and better value for their vacations.'
UAE travellers need to be wary that those with local bank cards are set to pay more when making transactions abroad.
Starting September 22, UAE banks will raise the foreign transaction fee to 3.14 percent on all international purchases and ATM withdrawals made using credit or debit cards.
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