Beat the heat with some cool holiday options

Summer has almost set in, and we at e+ have taken a look at holiday options that'll help you beat the scorching heat. We've consulted a few travel experts to chalk out the best summer getaways that will definitely help you chill out.

From European festivals to travel deals, to undiscovered honeymoon destinations, we've got it all covered for you. So pack your bags and head out!

Here's a selection of exciting deals...

Magic at Switzerland's pinnacle

If there is one mountain that typifies Switzerland then it probably is the Jungfrau. A 7.1km long tunnel, takes you to the highest railway station in Europe. Here the glass-domed Sphinx Terrace sits in magnificent isolation on an icy outcrop overlooking Aletsch glacier (the longest in Europe). Hidden within the glacier is the blue-white world of the Ice Palace alive with ice sculptures.

Lower down the mountains, Interlaken sits pretty between two deep blue lakes. The landscape changes dramatically from snow to alpine meadows embroidered with wildflowers. It is a picture postcard landscape.

Interlaken and Jungfrau are among the many gems that stud the eight days Swisstours Swiss Highlights holiday package which comes at a price of Dh4,000. The package offers a choice of two nights in the Lake Geneva region (Geneva, Montreux, Lausanne), a night in Zermatt at the foothills of the Matterhorn, two nights in Interlaken with Jungfrau and finally two nights in Lucerne with an excursion to Mt Pilatus with its world's steepest cogwheel railway.

For more information on this and other Swisstours packages (not escorted tours) go to www.swisstoursonline.com or call Swisstours Dubai on 04 3351135. Swisstours can also custom make an itinerary to suit your budget anywhere in Europe. With a wide range of hotels, apartments, sightseeing options and the perfect European rail pass Swisstours can create the perfect holiday.

Early bird bonus at Anantara

The new Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa in Thailand, located on the private Changlang Beach south of Krabi, offers guests discounts of up to 40 per cent.

Guests reserving ten days in advance or more will receive a complimentary daily buffet breakfast for two. Children under 12 can share a room with their parents and avail a 50 per cent discount on breakfast.

From the resort you can access a host of natural wonders, from long sandy beaches and virgin tropical rainforest to incredible caves and beautiful waterfalls. If you are looking for adventure, try speed and long-tail boats, canoes and kayaks, or bicycles. A regular speedboat shuttle service enables guests to indulge at Anantara Si Kao's day resort on the nearby stunning tropical island of Koh Kradan with its rugged limestone cliffs. For more info go to www.anantara.com

Fabulous Singapore Stopover

The Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport have launched the Fabulous Singapore Stopover package offering transit passengers a chance to experience the vibrant Garden City for just $1.

The package is available for Singapore Airlines customers till September 30, provided tickets are booked by June 15. Travellers need to pay just $1 for the first night from a list of six hotels.

For a little more indulgence, visitors can also choose to stay in other hotels at first night rates of $20, $30 and $40. These special first night rates are per person on a twin-share basis.

The Stopover package covers exclusive deals on hotel accommodation, airport transfers and entry to some of Singapore's leading tourist attractions including Sentosa Island, Singapore Zoo, Malay Heritage Centre, National Orchid Garden, Peranakan Museum, Singapore River Bumboat Tour and Jurong Bird Park.

Guests will also be given Changi vouchers, which they can use to pay for purchases at the retail and food and beverage outlets at Changi Airport. They can also take advantage of free ground transfers to and from Changi Airport and unlimited use of the Singapore Airlines' "Hop-On Bus" an air-conditioned bus service that allows customers to visit over 20 major attractions in Singapore.

Other goodies in the package include a 50 per cent dining discount at food outlets at selected hotels, a free SingTel Prepaid Mobile hi!Card and Singapore Airlines Boarding Pass Privileges, which offer discounts on shopping, dining, sightseeing tours, tourist attractions and car rentals when customers present their Singapore Airlines boarding passes.

For more info, go to www.stb.com.sg or visit www. singapore.com.

Escape to Egypt with Hilton

Whether it's history and heritage, sun, sea and snorkelling, or dinner and dancing the night away, Egypt is a destination that offers something for everyone. And to make this beautiful country an even more appealing choice for the summer break, the Hilton Family of Hotels in Egypt have added a range of value added benefits that will ensure visitors and their families the holiday of a lifetime.

The options are vast. There are the sun-drenched beaches of Sharm Al Shaikh and Hurghada, where the choice of four Hilton Worldwide Resorts provides the perfect base from which to explore the region's stunning coastline and rugged interior. For the culturally curious, look no further than the awe-inspiring architecture in historical Alexandria where the Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza offers a heavenly haven.

For golf-loving guests, the Pyramids Golf Resort in Cairo offers the perfect respite but also convenient proximity to the colourful chaos of Egypt's capital city, Cairo. Here there are an additional three Hilton Family Hotels providing a 'home away from home' from which to enjoy the shopping, leisure, culture and nightlife of this vibrant city. Guests at any of the Hilton Hotels will be able to enjoy additional value added benefits this summer.

These include room service breakfast on offer until 3pm without charge, complimentary cinema tickets and an array of shopping discounts.

Guests in Sharm Al Shaikh and Hurghada can enjoy free entrance or special discounts at hot spots such as Pacha, Little Buddha and Soho, where the international jet set party the night away.

Families are offered free or discounted entrance to water and entertainment parks, and discounts on boat trips, desert safaris and go-karting, adding to the choice of activities and fun playground entertainment already on offer at each Hilton Hotel.

For more information, go to www.hiltonfamily.com or call 800 0200 0011.