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    Shelby's Dubai Dairy

    'Shop 'til you drop' only begins to tell the story of world's largest malls: Skiing anyone?

    Shelby Hodge
    Mar 9, 2015 | 5:55 pm

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Leave the stilettos at home. A shopping trip to either of this Emirate's mega malls means two things — credit card frenzy and, rather than shop 'til you drop, it's walk 'til you drop. The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates are the ultimate in conspicuous consumption play pens and they are enormous.

    Amid the myriad retail and culinary offerings, Mall of the Emirates, the senior of the two, boasts snow skiing and penguins while Dubai Mall with a vast aquarium and underwater zoo holds title as the largest mall in the world. One of my travel writing cohorts on this visit counted enough steps to equal no less than four miles trekking through the monster Dubai Mall.

    One of my travel writing cohorts on this visit counted enough steps to equal no less than four miles trekking through the monster Dubai Mall.

    You can spend millions on diamonds from Dhamani in Dubai Mall, less on silver plated flutes and piccolos from Sadek Music Centre and even less on costume jewelry sold in mid-mall kiosks. Dubai Mall houses the largest collection of fashion brands in the world.

    From eyewear to bridal, from exotic lingerie to sports attire, footwear, home furnishings, electronics, a florist, a day care center and even a dry cleaners — there is nothing left to be desired, except perhaps a golf cart to peruse the vast expanse of buying opportunities.

    On my visit, I dropped into famed French retailer Galeries Lafayette to pick up Laura Mercier cosmetics, founded by a Houstonian. In another part of the mall, I purchased — for a song — a ravishing, beaded silk caftan from India. And I window shopped for hours.

    Across Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates, which held first place as the world's largest mall until the opening of Dubai Mall, I checked out the skiing experience. You cannot imagine it until you see it. Some five and a half acres of ski terrain with chair lifts, ski instructors, snow boarding, a winter wonderland and a village of penguins — on the edge of the dessert. Mind-boggling, yes.

    But sitting in the aprés ski bar overlooking the slopes, one's mind could be tricked. The millionaire Emiratis suiting up and soaring across the steep terrain, kids learning the snow plow and others schussing down the slopes was Aspen all over gain, well, sort of.

    Dubai Mall by the numbers:

    1,200 shops and counting

    150 food outlets, ranging from food courts to fine dining establishments

    $20 billion, the cost of the Downtown Burj Khalifa development that includes the mall

    440,000 square-foot fashion avenue

    22 screens in the Reel Theater

    33,000 sea creatures live in the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

    Mall of the Emirates by the numbers:

    460 retail shops and counting

    90 places for food and drink ranging from food courts to fine dining

    $800 million, cost of building the mall which opened in 2005 (until opening of Dubai Mall, it claimed to be the largest in the world)

    14 screens in VOX Cinemas

    22,500 square meters (or approximately 5.5 acres) of ski slopes

    Every January, the Emirate celebrates the power of purchasing with the Dubai Shopping Festival, which includes major sales as well as musical entertainments, sports activities, fashion events and more.

    This is the last in a seven-day series. To start at the beginning of Shelby's Dubai Diary, click here. Shelby Hodge's trip to Dubai was hosted by Emirates Airline.

    Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai is part of the multi-billion dollar complex that includes Burj Khalifa, tallest building in the world.

      
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    Riverside Reno

    Fresh makeover turns Hill Country hotel into modern riverside refuge

    Brianna Caleri
    Jun 12, 2025 | 2:36 pm
    Hacienda Del Rio Hotel and Bar
    Photo courtesy of Hacienda Del Rio\u200b
    No matter how cosmopolitan the hotel gets, nothing can beat the trees around this pool.

    After a two-year renovation and rebranding, Hacienda Del Rio Hotel and Bar has opened in Gruene, a historic district within New Braunfels. Formerly the Gruene Outpost River Lodge, the property along the Guadalupe River now has 48 renovated rooms, new outdoor sports like pickleball, and updated amenities at the pool.

    The River Lodge's previous aesthetic was DIY and rustic, but the new Hacienda Del Rio has a much more cosmopolitan, contemporary design. The new look is full of midcentury styles, but with other eclectic elements mixed in. A press release declares the space was "designed in the spirit of Spanish colonial architecture," but don't expect anything old-fashioned.

    Hacienda Del Rio\u200b Hotel and Bar interiorThese earthy tones mellow out an otherwise energetic space.Photo courtesy of Hacienda Del Rio

    Texas-based hotel group French Cowboys was behind this major makeover, which started in April 2023. That puts Hacienda Del Rio in a family with Camp Comfort and The Meyer Hotel in the Hill Country town of Comfort; the Claire Hotel near Canyon Lake; the Gruene River Inn and Heidelberg Lodges in New Braunfels, and Webber East in Austin.

    The Hacienda can accommodate up to 178 guests in a variety of room layouts including kings, double queens, and suites. Bathrooms and showers are new, and rooms are outfitted with smart TVs, plus custom steel doors and windows. Photos of guestrooms, although they are colorful, show off a streamlined sensibility.

    A new clubhouse and cocktail bar draws guests who may not be staying overnight. Coffee and breakfast will be available in the morning, followed by daytime snacks, and finally a full bar in the evening. Anyone who stops by can enjoy beer, wine, and signature cocktails, plus shuffleboard, a pool table, and even some workspace. There will also be a new conference room for presentations, retreats, and more.

    Hacienda Del Rio\u200b Hotel and Bar interiorThis lounge is open to hotel guests and the public.Photo courtesy of Hacienda Del Rio

    Departing from the artsy interior to New Braunfels' beautiful surroundings, guests can play pickleball, beach volleyball, and basketball on a half-court, plus fire pits near the river and kayaks, paddleboards, and floats. River adventures will be facilitated by Paddle Texas, which will offer rentals and experiences. Finally, a renovated pool and deck provide more leisure space.

    “‘Del Rio’ reflects the area’s deep connection to the Guadalupe River, where guests can jump in, float, or just hang out by the water, whether it’s at the river or our pool," said French Cowboys co-founder Dylan Petrich in a press release. "And Hacienda captures our vision of creating a vibrant, social place where people can kick back, enjoy the outdoors, and grab a drink, all in one of the Hill Country’s most iconic destinations, without breaking the bank."

    Rates start at $125 per night, and the food and beverage space is open every day. Introductory rates are available for those who book through December 31, 2025.

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