How to... Dubai
Below is a guide for anyone who hasnt travelled to Dubai before.. I didnt know where best to post this! A long read but hopefully worth it!
Deciding on a holiday is often a complicated decision compounded by dodgy hotel reviews, weather forecasts and an endless choice of locations.
Below is some advice and tips which will hopefully answer some questions for anyone thinking of travelling there who have never been there before.
Ramadan:
My gf and I could only visit Dubai during the holy month of Ramadan. Being honest, I knew nothing about it before we arrived and I was slightly concerned at being in a country where temperatures would hit 40C and being arrested for having a bottle of water.
Needless to say, people who tell you that you can do whatever you like in the hotels are correct. There was no issue with ordering food at the pool or drinking water etc. This also applied to tourist locations that we went to including the Burj Al Arab, wild wadi water park and the desert safari.
The only place you couldn’t buy food was in the shopping centres until sunset. Side note... no alcohol is consumed during Ramadan expect in your hotel bar. After sunset, wait for the city to burst into life.
I would definitely recommend visiting Dubai in Ramadan if going to nightclubs and bars isn’t on your to do list. For us, it ment that it was quieter and also going to things like Burj Khalfia, Waterparks and desert safari were a lot easier and less crowded.
Although be wary of getting a taxi just before sunset and people are often in a rush!
Couples in Dubai:
My girlfriend and I are both in our early twenties and decided it was only after booking did I fully become aware about unmarried couples in Dubai.
Reality:
We had genuinely no issues whatsoever and couldn't see how anyone else would. Everyone from the guy behind the desk at Dubai airport to the person checking us into the hotel made any issue of it.
Accommodation:
After trawling through internet booking site we decided to stay in the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. I couldn't recommend this hotel any more for couples/ families travelling to Dubai, there are a lot of reviews on this hotel so here are my best parts and one potential negative:
Staff:
Staff couldn't have been nicer or more accommodation and welcoming. The doormen are incredibly courteous and always were keen to help, give advice and have a chat. Even when we were leaving, the doorman who we got to know a little bit stayed 3 hours after his shift ended so he could say goodbye.
Food:
There are a huge variety of restaurants to choose from in the hotel. Each is designed wonderfully and has so much choice. We were on half board which included one meal for the day.
We ate in two restaurants mainly – the pool side one which serves western food and the buffet restaurant. I would recommend people go to the buffet for your evening meal as there is a great selection available and if you don’t like what’s on offer you can choose your main course from an al a cart menu.
Hotel rooms:
The rooms were fantastic. We were upgraded to a suite and had rose petals on the bed upon our arrival. Needless to say, this was a great surprise after a long flight. The rooms were spotless, well maintained with a fantastic view and a magnificent bathroom.
Pool:
Pool was great, very clean, loads of staff who give you towels and buckets of ice and complimentary water. There is even a guy who comes around with ice lollies a few times a day.
Life Guards:
When I arrived I was taken aback by the number of lifeguards, there were four on duty at all times at the main pool, one at the kids pool and three of four on the beach. I couldn’t believe how many there was, however this is just to give parents ease of mind and they do exactly that. Only once did they jump in to assist some kid in difficulty when the parents were reading a book. I assume that can only be a huge bonus with families.
Location:
One slight negative in that it is a bit far away from things however this is actually fine as there is a free shuttle bus which runs to the water park/ shopping centre so you can get the bus there and grab a taxi from there to anywhere.
Activities:
Shopping Malls
Take a trip to the shopping malls, there are two main ones. The mall of the Emirates is the smaller of the two. This where you get the free shuttle will drop you off
I didn't know about this until I went to the shopping centre... absolutely brilliant! I have been skiing a few times so I wasn't expecting much. However, there is a blue, red and a black slope. It was 50 euro for 3 hours and you get a ski pass, suit, ski poles, everything except gloves. There is even a little halfway place where you can get hot chocolate etc if your hands get a bit too cold. Honestly great fun and definitely worth doing on a quiet evening.
Mall of Dubai
Don’t underestimate the size of this place... it is huge! It’s beside theBurj Khalifa and the fountains so you really should aim to do all three when you are there. There is an ice rink in the centre, a huge aquarium and hundreds of designer labels and shops.
Burj Khalifa:
Ok so... simply the world’s tallest building! It is something you should see since you are in Dubai and if you are at the Dubai Mall, book your tickets in advance through your concierge as it is much cheaper than buying on the day, more importantly you can book your time slot.
Book it for sunset so you can see the city as the sun goes down.. You will get the best photos of night and day. Head back into the shopping centre and then go for food in some outdoor places by the fountains and sit back and enjoy the fountain display.
Karama Market:
While on the shopping theme, you need to go to Karama market. If you have a girlfriend/ wife / partner they will have probably told you about it.
First off... it is NOT dodgy.
It’s basically a big square with shops all around and lads outside encouraging you to go in and check out the ‘genuine’ merchandise that they have.
Make sure you go from shop to shop and if you want to leave just say it. They are pushy but it is great fun. The shop we found with the best handbags etc is ‘green’ something... can’t really remember it. Anyways.. inside the store they keep the really poor knock offs, however ask one of the guys for a specific bag or brand and they will escort you out.
We were taken down a few alleys and into some dingy apartment block and up some stairs. My girlfriend and I were close to backing out and beginning to get worried however then we were taken into what can only be described as a shiny new apartment/ store with bags, sunglasses, wallets etc. Loads of brands to choose from e.g. Prada, Gucci, Hermes, Tori Birch.
Haggling:
One recommendation, do not go if you aren’t prepared to do a bit of haggling. They take the banter well and often seem to hang tough and leave the ball in your court. Rule of thumb... offer a third of what they quote and meet them half way.
Prices:
I read on some other threads how cheap certain goods are, this is true in comparison to what they would cost in a Hermes stores however be prepared to pay anything from 40 – 70 euro depending on the bag.
Burj Al Arab:
The seven star hotel in Dubai. There are plenty of reviews on this. We went for afternoon tea, I didn’t really know what to expect, however it was one of the top moments of the holiday. It is nice to dress up during the day and go somewhere special this is it.
Wild Wadi Water park.
If you have kids or you are just there with your girlfriend, I would definitely take a trip to Wild Wadi Water Park. As we were staying in one of the Jumeriah hotels we were given complimentary access and also had the shuttle bus which both dropped and collected us so there is no reason why you shouldn’t go to it.
It is a great way to spend the day, especially if it’s hot.
Desert Safari:
Ok without a doubt the single best thing we did on the holiday and anyone visiting Dubai should do this... I’m not going to spoil it for you but you should go on the most popular one which includes dune bashing and the Arabian campsite barbeque. Couldn't recommend this more highly.
Clothing:
You often hear stories of people getting in trouble for wearing short and revealing clothing. Basically here is the story:
Hotels, pool and tourist areas e.g. Wild Wadi, Desert Safari.
What you would normally wear on holiday.
Bikinis, shorts etc are perfect for girls.
Shopping centres:
There are signs to cover up Inc shoulders and no public displays of affection.
Most of the foreign girls we saw worse maxi dresses and a cardigan.
T-shirts for guys no tank tops in public.
Burj Al Arab:
Smart... no shorts, collarless shirts or trainers for guys. Basically its a 7 star hotel, you can make a bit of an effort.
Think thats about everything!
