Year round sunshine, beautiful beaches, the best attractions and guaranteed fun: CHECK, Dubai has everything covered. Here are 10 tips on how to get the most out of Dubai holidays and PLUS a video showcasing the many attractions of Dubai.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2IU-PxVOR4
What I got up to
- Sky Dive – Now ticketed off the bucket list, I wanted my jump to be over a famous feature or landmark so I choose The Palm to see it in all it’s glory from 13,000 feet. The views were immense, check out the video.
- Helicopter tour – We’ve used planes, metros, taxis and boats to navigate around, why not take a helicopter and see Dubai from 1000 feet?
- Waterpark – To keep the adrenaline flowing it was time to hit a few slides at Aquaventure at the Atlantis hotel on The Palm. This park has a good mix for younger kids as well as the adrenaline junkies.
- Ski Dubai – Me and my friend thought we could ski, despite having never been on the slopes in our life. When we reached the top of the indoor ski slope, we took one look down the slope and shamefully took off our skis and got the lift back down to ground level. There is tuition for those who want to learn with some easier starter slopes to get you going.
- Desert Safari – This is an essential when coming to Dubai, it would be a bit like going to Cairo and not seeing the pyramids. After bouncing across the desert in a jeep we relaxed at the Arabian themed evening.
- Burj Al Arab Experience – I was lucky enough to have a guided tour of the Burj Al Arab and it was stunning – see my other blog which includes a video. Then we went to the sky bar for a few cocktails but, at £25 each, we didn’t stay too long!
- Burk Khalifa – This is currently the tallest building in the world. The views were pretty impressive but they would look even better in the cooler months when it’s less hazy.
- Boat Tour – The Yellow Boat company is based on Dubai Marina and we took a 90 minutes tour around the marina, Palm Island and the coast off the Burj Al Arab. This was an excellent way of seeing the sites from the water.
Lastly here are ten of my top tips to follow when in Dubai
i) Don’t take a hotel taxi as they can be pricey. Opt for local white taxis which are extremely cheap and are charged on the meter – if the meter is not operated your taxi fare will be free.
ii) The metro is the cheapest way to travel and costs about 60p between each zone. This is perfect if you’re travelling on a budget, but it can be uncomfortable to walk the rest of your journey in 35 degree heat.
iii) Don’t eat in the hotels. It can be expensive and there are hundreds of places to eat in the malls and Jumeirah Beach Residence for excellent prices.
iv) On that note: Pick a hotel on Jumeirah Beach Residence, aka The Walk, then you’ll have hundreds of restaurants to choose from.
v) Buy the book ‘Dubai Entertainer’ if you are staying for more than four days and plan on doing some of the attractions featured in it. Although this cost about £65 it’s a great investment. It consists of thousands of ‘buy one get one free’ vouchers which helped me save over £300, and that’s without discounts on meals.
vi) Email the hotel before you arrive, they can let you know if there are any room upgrades available or give you any information about things which are taking places during your visit such as shows or festivals.
vii) When you land at Dubai airport buy some alcohol as it’s really expensive in the hotels and can only be purchased in the hotels. It is crucial you respect local laws for alcohol as penalties for breaking the law are severe.
viii) If you can’t live without the internet on the move, buy a local SIM card and use it for data.
ix) Book the Burj Khalifa in advance for a slot 1 hour before sunset. You’ll then have the best of both worlds by seeing Dubai by daytime and night-time.
x) Try an ‘all you can eat and drink’ brunch. Prices are usually between £85 and £100 for a Friday brunch but this includes unlimited premium drinks and food which works out as good value. There are different venues to suit your mood, such as an upmarket experience or a party atmosphere. I took the party one at Saffron in the Atlantis, which I highly recommend!
If you’re thinking of going to Dubai, call our experienced Travel Advisors on 0204 578 0977 for our best prices or check out our website.
Facebook
Twitter
Email 
