November 22 marks the date upon which Lebanon secured independence in 1943. This years is the 68th anniversary of the event and, as with previous years, the date will be celebrated around the country.

The capital – Beirut – is home to some of the largest celebrations on this, one of the most important public holidays in the Lebanese calendar. Events usually revolve around a major military parade which makes its way through the city. Last year, fighter jets flew overhead while commandos demonstrated their training and skills whilst suspended from a hovering helicopter. Dignitaries from the Arab world and further afield come to pay their respects to those who suffered for Lebanon’s independence and to celebrate the continuing prosperity of the country.

Downtown Lebanon - photo by Abdallah K, Flickr

In addition the parade and top brass, the average Lebanese family also make a point of celebrating their heritage and love for their country on November 22. Flags are prominent, as are the national colors of red, white and green. Singing and dancing fill the streets, schools and homes of Beirut, and many families sit down to enjoy special meals together.

Visiting Beirut during the annual Independence Day celebrations will provide an angle on the city that view travellers get to experience. Most businesses are closed, so while the celebrations themselves are ongoing it’s worth just relaxing and trying to take in as much as possible.

If you are keen to take part, we recommend staying in a downtown Beirut hotel. This will put you in the heart of the action and will minimise the amount of time you need to spend moving around, which can be difficult due to the number of people present. The hustle and bustle of the festivities is all in good fun, but it’s also nice to be able to get back to the peace and quiet of a top Beirut hotel at the end of the day.

If you fancy venturing outside the capital, you’ll find Independence Day celebrations all across the rest of the country. Byblos, Tyre and Tripoli also play host to events.

If you’re thinking about planning a holiday in Lebanon toward the end of November, we’d advise you to be aware of Independence Day and, if possible, to build it into your plans. Celebrating Beirut style isn’t something that everyone gets to experience, so if you get the chance you should grab it with both hands!

Fans of factual films and documentary lovers from around the world rejoice! The annual Beirut International Documentary Festival – or Docudays – is nearly upon us again.

Celebrating its tenth year as a major event in the calendar of Lebanese cinema, Docudays takes place over 5 days. Starting on December 15 and running to December 20, the festival promises to bring together a number of thought-provoking and inspirational works from film-makers living and operating throughout Lebanon and the wider Arab world.

Hosted in the Al Madina Theatre, the event takes place in the heart of downtown Beirut. Located on the bustling and popular conduit of Hamra Street, the theatre will be showing the cream of the crop of films submitted for the judge’s approval earlier this year. As this is the event’s tenth anniversary, there is also expected to be a certain amount of reflection on some of the outstanding contributions that have been put forward since the festival’s inception, including some special showings of the most popular films.

Previous winners at the festival have included Aline Kouyoumdjian, who took the award in 2000 for her film ‘Black & White’, and Sandra Madi, who won in 2009 with ‘Perforated Memory’. The festival is a high point of the social calendar for arts lovers and draws celebrated individuals from across the Middle East.

If you’re a film fan or a documentary aficionado, you owe it to yourself to take in some of the works of art on offer from some of the world’s greatest emerging talent in the field of factual filmography.

The festival can be enjoyed as part of a winter break to Beirut, where balmy Mediterranean temperatures are sure to keep any blues at bay. The Al Madina Theatre and the bright lights of Hamra Street are within easy walking distance of some of Beirut’s best hotels, and the charming marina district is also nearby. A couple of days enjoying the cultural highlights of Beirut is also the perfect complement to an extended ski break in Lebanon.

Another of Beirut’s cultural highlights is the Beirut Exhibition Centre, located on the other side of the marina waterfront. This space houses conventional gallery displays, in addition to specially organised arts events.

We here at lebhotels.com aim to keep you updated on any and all major upcoming cultural events across Lebanon, such as the upcoming ART DECO fair that we recently profiled. Stay tuned to this blog, follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook to keep yourself in the loop.

We all know the feeling. After another hard week of work, all you want to do is crash out on the couch, maybe watch some TV and enjoy a glass or two of wine. Before you know it, you’ve slept all weekend and you’ve got a new wine stain on your living room carpet.

When you’re running on empty, there are only a few things that can really recharge your batteries and get you back on your feet. A relaxing spa break has to be one of the best options. There’s simply nothing quite like putting your feet up and being pampered.

The view from the roof of the Edde Sands Resort

Luckily, Lebanon has a huge amount to offer when it comes to luxury spa holidays. In addition to state of the art facilities and highly-trained practitioners, the deeply relaxing atmosphere and climate add significantly to any holiday experience. Imagine unwinding during one of the many wonderful treatment options available, before further relaxing on a beautiful beach as the Mediterranean laps at your toes. Bliss!

The tranquil waters of Le Royal, Beirut's indoor swimming pool

Hotels providing spa services can be found all over Lebanon. Locations close to the coast are popular, given the relaxing properties of the sea, but there are also plenty of inland options. Several of Lebanon’s famous ski resorts are also home to spas, providing some TLC to skiers tired from a hard day on the slopes.

Here are some of our favourite Lebanon Spa Hotels:

• The Edde Sands Hotel and Wellness Resort – located just outside the old town of Byblos, this large dedicated resort offers a wide variety of treatment options and other relaxing activities. It boasts a fully self-contained spa – including a hammam, or Turkish bath – several swimming pools and a number of bars. It also has areas catering specifically to children, allowing parents to relax in peace while their kids are entertained elsewhere.
• Le Royal – situated on a hill with grandiose views over downtown Beirut and the Mediterranean, this opulent hotel provides an oasis of relaxation in the midst of the capital. It offers various facial and body treatments, in addition to a number of water-based therapies.
• InterContinental Mzaar Lebanon Mountain Resort and Spa – this high altitude resort, superbly located on the slopes of Mount Lebanon itself, offers snow lovers a great number of ways to wind down and rest their sore muscles. Options include balneotherapy, pressotheraphy, massages, sauna and even a Jacuzzi.

The latest in a long line of festivals and special events to bring excitement to Lebanon this summer, Le Festival du Bonheur (or the Happiness Festival) has just kicked off in Ain Saade.

The town’s name can be translated as ‘Spring of Happiness’ and it certainly looks set to be bubbling with fun and excitement this weekend. Usually a fairly quiet suburb, tucked away in the pine forests that cover the hills overlooking Beirut, it now finds itself buzzing with activity.

Organised by local business UrbanArt, the festival promises to deliver something exciting for all the family. In addition to movies, music and art, it also offers special entertainment for kids and a parade of floats and performers. The more extreme option of bungee jumping is also on offer – something that’s sure to get the adrenaline pumping, even if you’re just thinking about taking the plunge!

Ain Saade is located just 10km outside of the capital itself, meaning it’s very easy to get to from any Beirut hotel in the centre of town. A trip to this picturesque little town can be the perfect break from city life and is definitely worth a visit, even when the festival wraps up this year.

We at Lebhotels.com love the idea of a festival dedicated completely to happiness! It’s truly a noble cause. For everyone attending, we wish you a taste of purest Bonheur!

If you’re interested in other festivals taking place in Lebanon, there are some other big events to be aware of. The Ehdeniyat Festival started a couple of weeks back and runs until August 28. The Mzaar Summer Festival is also well underway but wraps up next week.

If the idea of bungee jumping whets your appetite for an extreme experience, there are also plenty of ways to satisfy a craving for adventure:

• A Bird’s Eye View of Beirut
• ATV tours around Lebanon
• Boat Excursions from Beirut
• Paragliding Flight Over Jounieh
• Skywalking – Parcours Aventure

There are plenty of Beirut hotels available in the centre of the nearby city, which can cater to your every requirement. Whether you’re looking for a bargain hostel bed, or a pampered luxury experience you’re sure to find something for you at a price that’s right.

Summer is heating up, which means it’s time for great outdoor concerts.  An all-star line-up of famous musicians are slated to perform at this year’s annual Byblos International Festival.  The several week event is a celebration of live music, the fusion of international and Lebanese culture, and the magic of Byblos, which transforms itself into the ultimate seaside venue.

Stage on the coast of Byblos. Photo by byblosfestival.org/venue

One of Lebanon’s oldest port cities just 30 km north of Beirut, the city of Byblos has been designated as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. It was founded in 5000 B.C. in ancient Phoenicia.  Today, it is a beautiful modern city with a well-preserved historical district.  Iconic ruins such as Phoenician temples, Byblos castle, and the Crusader Fort still reminisce of ancient times.

The Byblos International Festival brings the city booming into the 21st century every summer.  Thousands of visitors, both Lebanese and international, flock to Byblos to take in the fun and music.  A huge concert stage, nestled between the monuments and the sea, lights up under the night sky.  The festival is famous for fusing the musical heritage of Lebanon with music styles from all over the world.

This year, the headliners are:

Don Quixote (28 June – 3 July)
Moby (5 July)
Scorpions (4, 6 and 7 July)
Florent Pagny (9 July)
Jamie Cullum (12 July)
Thirty Seconds to Mars (15 July)
Amadou Et Mariam (20 July)
Les Mysteres Lyriques (23 July)

Don’t forget to book your Byblos hotel in advance — accommodations fill up all summer long and especially during this spectacular event!

Dec 30 – Travelweekly.co.uk – News and Analysis

Lesser-known competitively priced destinations are attracting interest from British travellers in 2011, a new poll shows.

The beachside resort of Buzios in Brazil and Lebanese capital of Beirut are top of the wish list, according to research by a leading travel agency in Europe.

[...]

Interest in new and emerging city break destinations is also on the rise with Beirut experiencing a 115% increase in searches, fuelled by an influx of new boutique hotels and the launch of a second daily Bmi flight from London.

The research was based on hotel searches made on the company’s UK site between December 1 and 22.

A n agency spokeswoman said: “Our research reveals a more independent explorative streak from British travellers for 2011.We have seen a surge of interest in Mexico, confirming predictions that it could be a real hotspot next year, along with South America, India and Lebanon.Value is clearly still a key concern with many of the most widely searched destinations offering some very competitive hotel rates.”

What do you think about this article? What are your reasons for visiting Beirut?

Imagine Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory only with cotton candy instead. Now, imagine all that floating chocolate sauce is a lil greener going by the name, what was it again? Ah yes, Absinthe! Is the picture getting clearer? So, what if we were to tell you that there is such a candylistic-green fairy world out here in Beirut and not just the fruit of your imagination (or ours)?

Super glitter, k.o. cocktails, colorful pictures, yummy candy, absinthe shots, more yummy candy and a whole lot of more yummy candy are awaiting you this October 2nd at the old sugar refinery on the Zalka seaside for a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious parteeeeyy!

We know all that sugar rush and that fairy’s wand will supercaliyou out of your strengths and so to recharge, might as well check some hotels in Beirut for a serene, calm and relaxing after party stay.

Do you dream of a mind blowing trance experience?

Do you dream of uplifting vocals elevating you beyond rhythm and beat?

Do you dream of an unmatched and euphoric dance music crowd?

Then take a deep breath because Markus Schulz’s “Do you dream” tour will be hitting BIEL by storm to make each and every one of your dreams come true! Indulge yourself in a one of a kind dance exuberance that promises to unleash the sensational raver in you.

As for after hours cravings, no better place than Freddy’s hot dog joint and then why not re energize in one of the Beirut hotels, all promising to deliver premium quality and service.

The diva of the Arab World, the emblem of Lebanese pride, the voice of all hummingbirds, Fairouz, shall be performing live at BIEL on the 7th and 8th of October, with her legendary songs, giving many people chills and taking their breath away. Fairouz, born in the Cedar mountains has touch the hearts of many, and reached out to the Lebanese nationals’ souls. She performs again in Beirut for all those who believe in Lebanon and the Arab feel.
Many hotels in Beirut await to welcome you in before and after the concert, for a service like no other, and an outstanding ambiance. Be the first to book to such an exhuberant event, and don’t miss out on the ‘’ambassador of the stars’’ Fairouz.

You may have never visited the ancient Phoenician region, you may have never feast your eyes with the magnificence it has to offer, and you also may have lived in Lebanon your whole life and not known of a charming place surrounded by good energy, livelihood, yet still possessing that nature’s feel! Did you know that you could be living in a little batch of forest in the middle of a shopping center and coffee places hangout?

Well, thanks to LebHotels, you do now. An exquisite and modest establishment known as Almond Blooms opens its doors to new guests everyday, with the positively attractive word of mouth it has transferred, more people are now curious to have the Almond Blooms hospitable family at their service for some time, and enjoy an exotic almond-filled time.

Why Almond Blooms? Because it flourishes amongst an Almond tree forest in Zouk Mikael’s souk, where you can spend fun afternoons and evenings, eating fine food and shopping for Lebanese crafts and delights. A guesthouse that offers you a strange feel of being in the buzz of the city, yet in a nature’s loom both at once.