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I was checking popular hotels booking websites and found that Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa booking has started. It took them so long and opening was postponed several times but finally they are now open. According to Jumeirah official website the current best rate is KD55 for the 2 adults deluxe room (that’s a reasonable price per night if you ask me). I read in the room descriptions that it includes a king-size bed and walk-in shower with separate bath, bathrobes, toiletries, slippers and cable TV, sounds comfy.

The other facilities that guests can benefit from includes wireless internet access, DVD player with 42” LCD TV, minibar, tea & coffee facilities, automatic blinds, a writing desk and safe large enough for your most important belongings. There are also non-smoking rooms available and guests can request adjoining rooms, or a room with disabled access. The hotel houses 8 restaurants/cafe’s (Italian, seafood, International cuisine, healthy and light bites, Arabian and steakhouse). There’s also an exquisite SPA, I saw the pictures and it does indeed look relaxing. Outside there’s a nice walkway, chalets, tables overlooking the sea, and a private beach.

It’s great to see yet another 5-star hotel opening in Kuwait to offer tourists and locals more options. I’m definitely going to try book for the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel sometime this summer, I’m also planning to try their steakhouse next weekend.

Note: Pictures are from Jumeirah Messilah official website.

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What was your most exotic destination ever? How about the North Pole, have you ever thought about visiting it? Personally I only saw North Pole on National Geographic and BBC channel, yes all those blizzards and ice berg but nothing beyond that. I read an intriguing story about two young Kuwaitis Engineer Abdullah Nasser Al Husainan and Omar Faisal Al Omar who decided to embark on a very daring and risky adventure, to say the least, into the North Pole where ambient sub-zero temperature can get as cold as -20 or even colder (I’m in my room and i’m already chilling!).

Just seeing the vivid pictures they posted made me feel like I was there myself. Apparently, Abdullah and Omar were among a small European group that was going on an exotic and non-traditional trip to visit the nearest spot to the North Pole (as I understood) where they placed the Kuwaiti flag. Though I must say the part that I really liked was using Huskies to move around, I always wanted to try husky for transportation. I wish I could meet Abdulla and Omar in person so I could ask them how actually it was and what they felt being there (beside feeling cold of course)? I’d love to know how they planned this journey (as in time, cost..etc.) and also I wish if I can get more photos or possibly a video for their one of a kind journey.

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During my three-weeks-stay in the U.K., I observed some day-to-day things that I’m surprised I haven’t yet seen in Kuwait, such ‘simple’ things can greatly make Kuwait a better place to be.

Safe Road-Crossings: I wish to see traffic department taking action about this, crossing roads (or should I say racing tracks?) in Kuwait can be a one-way-flight with over-speeding and maneuvering cars. We read and hear about pedestrians being ran over almost everyday, add to this the numerous hit and run felonies.

Self-Service Check-Out: It’s year 2013 and I think it’s time for shopping markets and Co-Ops to include such service. This is a very simple thing to teach people be self-dependent, they don’t need to rely on others for everything, even day to day things! I wish Carrefour, The Sultan Center, Lulu Hypermarket, Géant, Gulfmart, Co-Ops Societies and others start installing these machines.

Pedestrians-Only-streets: Isn’t it nice to have such walking-only streets with shops and cafes on both sides without cars honking or hitting you when trying to cross to the other side, where you can enjoy outdoor seating for a cafe or fancy restaurant without having to breathe car fumes? ? Imagine Salem Mubarak Street in Salmiya was only for pedestrians where no cars were allowed wouldn’t it be magnificent?

More Greenery: Numerous scientific studies have found that color green brings serenity through our senses, add to this the pleasing view and the positive effect on our local environment and health benefits. I wish to see Baladiya and other govermental bodies in Kuwait pushing for more greeneries instead of concrete and asphalt pavings everywhere, the interlocking tiles in the streets can be replaced with natural grass and turf. Baladiya can issue a law for planting those open areas and courtyards for nicer landscaping.

New Smart Soda Machines: Last but not least, I wish if all restaurants start bringing those new soda machines that won’t make a mess when filling a diet coke! (see video above) “Kidding”.

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I was checking my e-mail and came across this article from CNN, and thought it would be of great interest to you guys:

Bolivia was ranked the unfriendliest country for travelers in the World Economic Forum report. The category ‘Attitude of population toward foreign visitors’ is just one of many used to rank countries in the new Travel and Tourism Competitive Index. Bolivia ranked 110th out of 140 countries in the overall index results. On the positive side, it performed well in price competitiveness due mainly to low hotel accommodation costs.

(CNN) — When traveling, some countries just don’t like you. Or at least, it can certainly feel that way.

A new report, put out earlier this month by the World Economic Forum, has ranked which countries roll out the welcome mat to travelers and which give the cold shoulder.

The “Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013″ ranked 140 countries according to attractiveness and competitiveness in the travel and tourism industries.

Unwelcoming

Among the extensive analyses, one of the most interesting rankings was how welcome tourists are in each country, under the category “Attitude of population toward foreign visitors.”

And the world’s most unfriendly country, according to the data?

Bolivia took the dubious honor, scoring a 4.1 out of seven on a scale of “very unwelcome” (0) to “very welcome” (7).

Venezuela and the Russian Federation were next.

Interestingly, despite their huge tourist arrivals, South Korea and China tied with four other countries for the eighth least friendly spot.

At the other end of the scale, Iceland and New Zealand were ranked the world’s most welcoming nations for visitors.

You can see a top 10 for friendliest and unfriendliest at the bottom of this article.

Strengths and weaknesses

The “friendly” ranking was just one aspect of the report, analyzing each country’s competitiveness in travel and tourism. That competitiveness is “based on the extent to which they are putting in place the factors and policies to make it attractive to develop the travel and tourism sector.”

In the overall Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, Europe was the top region with the first five positions all held by European countries. Switzerland, Germany and Austria were the top three in that order. Switzerland has headed the ranking since the index began five years ago.

Excellent tourism infrastructure and facilities, business travel appeal, sustainable development of natural resources and rich cultural resources were among the key factors in landing the highest positions in the rankings.

Safety/security, underdeveloped infrastructure and concerns about sustainable development were among the factors bringing down countries’ competitiveness.

Haiti scored the lowest on the competitiveness index.

The United States (6th) topped the combined Americas, Singapore (10th) just pushed out Australia and New Zealand to lead the Asia Pacific region, the United Arab Emirates (28th) was the highest performer in the Middle East and the Seychelles (38th) overtook Mauritius to head Africa.

The report emphasized the need for continued development in the travel and tourism sector particularly for its role in job creation in a relatively stagnant global economy. The industry currently accounts for one in 11 jobs in the world.

The report used data compiled from the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey and hard data from private sources and national and international agencies and organizations such as the ICAO, IATA, UNWTO, World Bank/International Finance Corporation, IUCN, WHO and UNESCO.

Attitude of population toward foreign visitors

(1 = very unwelcome; 7 = very welcome)

Friendliest

1. Iceland  6.8
2. New Zealand  6.8
3. Morocco  6.7
4. Macedonia, FYR  6.7
5. Austria  6.7
6. Senegal  6.7
7. Portugal  6.6
8. Bosnia and Herzegovina  6.6
9. Ireland  6.6
10. Burkina Faso  6.6

Unfriendliest

1. Bolivia  4.1
2. Venezuela  4.5
3. Russian Federation  5.0
4. Kuwait  5.2
5. Latvia  5.2
6. Iran  5.2
7. Pakistan  5.3
8. Slovak Republic  5.5
9. Bulgaria  5.5
10. Mongolia  5.5

Kuwait is ranked #4th Unfriendliest country in the world? Really CNN? Is that all you got? This article outraged me. What do you guys think? If Kuwait was to be rated, where would it fall? Waiting for your feedback.

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I promised to take you on a quick tour to M&M World in London, well I’m now in London (again) for yet another business trip and will stay for three weeks. I passed by M&M world on the weekend and took numerous shots and made a video (see above). I’ve been hearing nice stuff about it from several friends that made me decide to see it in person. It’s located at Leicester Square which just across Piccadilly Circus and nearby China Town. It’s a big candy store with total area of 3,250 sq. meter and built on 4 levels. Inside you get to see the history of M&M candies, actually everything inside was about M&M including accessories, kids toys, clothes, mugs, souvenirs…etc. Though what I liked about M&M World store is the design and decorations that were both magnificent.

So if you ever happen to visit London anytime soon, it’s a great place to be with family and kids, I suspect that M&M lovers will find this place a heaven on earth since they can customize their candies and for some reason their M&Ms taste sweeter than in Kuwait but maybe it’s just me. The store supervisor told me that there are other branches located in New York, Orlando, and Las Vegas. Now let’s begin the tour and I do hope that you like it through my lenses.

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