Overview
Best Dubai Reviews: Honest Truths from Travelers
Green Book Global is the only website and app that has authentic Dubai reviews from the perspective of Black Travelers. If you want to know where to stay, where to eat, what to do etc. but also what it’s like Traveling While Black in Dubai, then these reviews and travel tips will be essential to your trip planning for Black Travelers and allies alike.
Quick Summary:
Dubai reviews often highlight the city’s dazzling blend of modernity and tradition, making it a captivating destination for travelers from around the world. Downtown Dubai is home to iconic landmarks like the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and the sprawling Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping centers globally. The Marina district is renowned for its luxury skyscrapers, bustling waterfront promenade, and vibrant nightlife, featuring trendy bars, clubs, and restaurants. On the other hand, the historic Al Fahidi district provides a glimpse into Dubai’s rich cultural heritage, with its narrow lanes, traditional wind-tower architecture, and fascinating museums. Dubai reviews consistently praise the city’s ability to seamlessly blend futuristic innovation with its storied past.
When it comes to nightlife and food, Dubai reviews often commend the city’s diverse and world-class offerings. The nightlife scene is electrifying, with numerous upscale nightclubs, rooftop lounges, and beach clubs offering entertainment into the early hours. Areas like Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) and Palm Jumeirah are popular for their lively beach parties and exquisite dining options. Food enthusiasts will find a culinary paradise in Dubai, with a wide array of dining experiences ranging from Michelin-starred restaurants to street food stalls. The city’s multicultural population ensures a vibrant mix of cuisines, including Middle Eastern, Asian, European, and beyond. For relaxation, Dubai offers luxurious spas, tranquil beaches, and serene desert retreats, providing ample opportunities to unwind and rejuvenate. Whether enjoying the dynamic nightlife, savoring global flavors, or relaxing in opulent surroundings, Dubai reviews frequently emphasize the city’s unparalleled ability to cater to every visitor’s desires.
Some interesting facts:
- Tallest Building: Dubai is home to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, standing at 828 meters (2,717 feet). It boasts 163 floors and offers breathtaking views of the city from its observation decks.
- Man-Made Islands: The Palm Jumeirah is an iconic man-made island shaped like a palm tree, housing luxury hotels, residences, and entertainment venues. Dubai also has other artificial islands like The World Islands, which are designed to resemble a world map.
- Rapid Growth: Over the past few decades, Dubai has transformed from a small desert town into a global city and business hub. Its rapid development and futuristic skyline are a testament to its ambition and vision.
- Ski Dubai: Head to the Mall of the Emirates to experience Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort offering skiing, snowboarding, and even encounters with penguins.
- Desert Safari: Experience the thrill of a desert safari, including dune bashing, sandboarding, camel rides, and a traditional Bedouin camp dinner with cultural performances.
Want to see reviews for more cities? Click this link to see destinations reviews for other cities in Middle East
OK so in Dubai I went to a club call OB bye it�s on the highest floor in the building. I think of the 49th floor has nothing but awesome dancers a dress up and their costume is there with the LED lights on at the best service, and they have excellent food as a full menu if you can Order from and of course they have like top Chef high-level before request with your server. Wonderful experience if you want to feel like you are important in full life of luxury, then definitely go to older by club in Dubai Abu Dhabi.
I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit Dubai, and I must say, the experience left me utterly amazed. From the moment I landed at the futuristic airport, I knew I was in for a treat. Dubai is a city that seamlessly blends modern innovation with rich traditions.Have you ever been abroad and wanted to indulge in luxury? Not the regular luxury, I’m talking about 7 star gold on the pool luxury. We’ll take it from me, the Burj Al Arab hotel is something you have to experience. I went to Gold on 27 at the hotel for drinks and it was LUXURY! Each cocktail was curated to take your taste buds on a ride! For my 30th, I spent the day at Talise Spa that overlooked the Persian Gulf and it was everything you need to relax. The lemon tea was delicious and the massages were curated specifically for your needs. I highly suggest taking a trip there.
Next time you go to Dubai make sure you go with friends that you can make memories and joy the experience and make sure you stay at my hotel or the Maria hotel how much was it approximately $700 for three days. Make sure you dress appropriately so you can enjoy the weather.
10yr Wedding Anniversary ❤️
So we all know that 10years of being married is a milestone. I heard so much about Dubai and wanted to experience it with the love of my life. We have traveled around the world but has never used a travel agent. But for this trip I wanted to experience it all without nothing left out of our itinerary. Also, we decided to be adventurous and travel with 12 other couples that we had never met before. When I tell you every last detail was 5star. We felt like the celebrities we are (joking). From the airplane experience flying Emirates to the minute we landed was a jump start to what I knew was going to be great. It is true, you never know when you will be able to make a 2nd impression. We landed in the AM and immediately went to Dubai Frame and then took to river boat to the Souk. By the time we finished, we headed to checkin to hotel and then watched the sunset at “Dubai Dinner in the Sky”. The next day we went back to the Souk to purchase our attire for the and to buy 18k gold. We did a couple of tours to include Burj Khalifa, Dubai Aladdin, Souk, and the Dubai mall. I was in heaven with all the luxury stores. Everyone in the mall had on designer. Later that night we went to dinner/club at La Pearle. Next day, we went to Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque and then had tea (actually camel mik and dessert) at United Arab Emirates. The next day we had the morning to ourselves before heading to Dubai Marina for afternoon/ night Yacht Cruise. The next day we did Dubai: Flying Dress with Photography, Desert ATVs, Sand Dunes, and Desert Safari Dinner. We even got a chance to ride the camels. The last day of the trip we ended at the The Plam hotel to experience the infinity pool. So after all said and done..I know you are wondering who did we use to travel..we used Travel with Sparkle. Nadia Henry was our amazing agent. Our 10yr anniversary was epic and a milestone we will remember for years to come.
This would be the first time I entered into a sweepstakes but I will be visiting my girlfriend that lives in Dubai we only get to see each other every couple months so this would help a lot. I work hard and this would be a great opportunity to win a sweepstakes hope to hear from you soon
Dubai owes me nothing. Traveling with 22 of my Sorors spanning four decades earlier this year was definitely a bucket list dream come true. I had always wanted to visit this oasis in the desert, but didn’t want to go alone. After finding what we now know is a top notch, white glove black travel business , Sister Ventures, they worked with me to get this trip done with not one hiccup. Dubai was all it was hyped to be and more. Food, history, sunrise flying dress photo shoots, private yatch with world class service, Abu Dhabi Mosque, the banging bomb Saffron Brunch ( you HAVE to do this), the tallest building in the world , Burq Khalifa, ATV rides in the desert , the markets and on and on- do not wait to go! We were safe and embraced by the hospitality of everyone, everyplace we went. Definitely a 10plus on my list -and we’re already planning another trip.
Dubai is known for the luxury which, it definitely should be as there are flashy cars, luxury stores, and well-known names and celebrities frequenting the city. However, it can truly match anyone’s budget (if you aren’t like.. Mr. Krabs cheap). I went during college in 2019 with a friend and, by listing I was in college you should know what that means. But we were able to do so much! I spent about $1600 total including flights and everything else and we went to Abu Dhabi, desert tours, and so much more.
We did not do yachts and Atlantis and parties like that, we were also there during Ramadan which was beautiful in itself, so that made our budget easier to work with, but that’s also not something we were personally interested in.
This city is all about enjoyment and luxury!! The airport itself looks like a high end shopping galleria! I definitely had a blast visiting the city for my father’s birthday. We stayed at the Shangri-La. It had a roof top pool with a view of the Burj Khalifa. When it comes to nightlife, a lot of the high end hotels have lounges and clubs that are open almost everyday of the week. Not into partying, you could always hit up on the restaurants at the mall of Dubai to have dinner and watch the water show at the fountain as the Burj lights up! For daytime activities, we rented a yacht on the marina, visited the Dubai Miracle Garden, and visited the aquarium at the Atlantis. The best full day activity in my opinion is certainly the Desert excursion! We rented ATVs and rode through the deserts, drifted through desert in a 4×4 SUV, and ended the night with a dinner and show! All in all, we had a blast in Dubai!
Dubai is beautiful and extremely clean. It is easy to get around on public transportation. It was a great adventure. Just be mindful that this is A very pricey place to visit. Also please be respectful of the laws and culture. Not everything is has to be a turn up.
We visited Dubai twice but only as long layovers.
We did the hop-on-hop-off bus where you can see most of the city and get a really nice experience. It takes you around to all the different spots and you can spend some there and then catch the next bus to a different spot.
At night we went up the Burj Khalifa and saw the light and water show. There is an array of things to do in the city. Be mindful of when you visit as it’s really freaking out!
This was one the these cities where there were no days at all to sit and relax at a hotel. There’s just so much to do and so much to see. We dis not even complete our list. He only disadvantage is that you need to iber everywhere. I usually walk or take public transportation where i travel to. I feel it’s a way to also get to know a place. But this is not possible in Dubai, plus everything is far so you spend a lot in taxi or uber. Besides that, you won’t ever get bored. It’s also very kid-friendly. The best part of my trip was the desert safari. Hot as hell but worth every sweat. I really enjoyed this trip, lile really enjoyed it.
So you’re thinking of visiting Dubai for the first time and wondering what it has to offer? Well you’re in for a treat!! My wife and I travelled there for the first time in November 2019. It was always one of my to go to places but wifey wasn’t up for it at all. She had listened to too many negative things about what you could and couldn’t do in Dubai. Some of it warranted, after all, Dubai is an Arab country and like any other, it’s laws and ways should be respected. You are their guest! A little research yourself before venturing out wouldn’t go amiss!! Now, with all that said, my wife would be on the first plane back there in a heartbeat. With all year round weather to die for, well, you could actually die if you head there in the months of June thru September, the temperatures are insane so you can definitely trust that air conditioning will be your BFF. There are untold amazing places to eat too. One of our faves was a pre booked night out at NUSR-Et, fine Turkish dining. A little pricey but most definitely worth it, if only for the experience. Something else we pre booked before flying out was our Jeep safari. An absolute amazing day into night of desert fun. Included in your cost, you can expect a hotel pickup, dune bashing in said jeep, quad biking, camel riding, culminating with a great spread and a local dance show. It’s a really great idea to book the activities you like to do before leaving your country of origin. It’s also a great way to make sure you don’t miss out or over spend if you’re on a budget. We used the viator app to purchase activities, and the open table app to book specialty restaurants thus making sure we had our reservations in place. As Dubai can be very expensive, these are valuable tips to take on board. As well as sunning on the lush beaches, chilling around the cool marinas, and enjoying the various hotel terraces for drinks of an evening, the absolute must do is a visit to the spectacular Dubai Mall. You don’t even have to spend anything, there’s just so much to do and see there. Really lovely inexpensive places to eat there too. I deffo recommend Tea and delish cakes in the Cheesecake Factory and dinner at least once in Red Lobster with a seat outside overlooking the Burj Khalifa If it’s not to hot. You can’t fail to have a fabulous time in this country, and it all begins with your highly anticipated flight there with emirates. The best airline ever, but that’s another review!!
LOVED LOVED LOVED Dubai I spent 2 days which wasn’t enought I’ll def be returning!! OMG I was treated like a princess there! Stayed at the W Palms – Here are things I did while there!!
Things to do –
Dubai Mall
Burj Khalifa
Atlantis – The Palm
The Aquarium
Shisha
Grand Mosque
I booked to ride the camels but my flight change to an early flight so I couldn’t go nor get a refund.
The airport to the hotel was really close. Choose the Conrad. It was really nice. Good lounge service and spacious rooms. Typical amenities and service expected of a Hilton property. The staff is top notch and very attentive all around. We did have a few a little too friendly..lol! But I guess it will happens from time to time. One guy let us know he was “single and ready to get mingled”. We both looked and laughed. American culture and foolery spreads so far! The Conrad has a cool little bar called the Cave for watching sporting events and the like. We ordered sparkling wines and the bartender asked if we wanted “salted nuts or something else” as a snack. I immediately asked “what’s the something else?” He said “it’s actually nothing now because the kitchen is closed” my face ! The trip is off to a great start!
Day 2: we head to brunch at the Al Qasr and it was AMAZING! I mean I thought it would be like any other brunch…it took the cake! Only open on Fridays and pricey but well worth it! You are greeted immediately with water and prosecco! And as you walk your way thru the overwhelming food sections…there are cocktails! Yes you heard me right…so in the Spanish section with paella and all sorts of lovely foods were mojitos and sangria (white and red) of course! The food was divine and the service impeccable. Once we thought we had seen and had all the food our waiter says ‘did you try any of the meat section?’. There was a whole other side with chefs making all sorts of different meat things with a side of gin and tonic or a smoky old fashion with jack Daniels that they were smoking in front of you! The dessert bar was gorgeous…we never even had anything because there was so much food to be had. Also the seafood bar was wonderful! I highly recommend this place.
We departed for the second part of our adventure. Sand dunes, 4 wheeling and BBQ party. Our driver Amir was fantastic. We shared a car with 4 other people. We immediately went out to the desert area for 4 wheeling rides. Peep the cute head wraps! I definitely was told to slow down because I was flying and jumping hills! Lol! Always causing trouble. We left there for the ride along the dunes. The drivers were all very safe and rode in packs to make sure no one was left behind. I appreciated their attention to detail, fun but safety first! (I’m getting old lol) We headed out to the bbq site. There was hookah, henna, camel rides and a bit of shopping. They had 2 performers one guy who did some neat tricks and had a cool light up costume and a female belly dancer. The end to an awesome first day.
Day 3: We started the day with an awesome zip line! About a minute across the palm hotel and into the marina. This is the first time I’ve ever laid down to zip line. Fun and a good rush! We then shopped and hung out at various malls! We had a Cinnabon! Yessss! I miss America some days. For the evening we went to the underwater restaurant in the Atlantis, Ossiano! It was excellent. We choose a set menu with 4 courses. We were given seats right at the aquarium! One of the other guests surprised his wife with an anniversary surprise. So cool! Our waitress Anna was very good and the staff overall was very attentive. Stephan initially greeted us at the door but then we ended up seeing him at various times throughout our meal. Lastly Badar is the General Manager and he was very welcoming and checking in several times throughout the meal. Overall excellent experience. We went to a lounge/bar connected to the Conrad. If you go any night they expect ladies to wear heels! Be warned…most clubs in Dubai are like this. We had a few drinks, very specialty and fancy cocktails. We headed back in after a great day.
Day 4: Boat ride day…we met out captain at the Marina mall area. We set sail all around the marina area, to include views of the new ferris wheel, the palm hotel and over to the Atlantis for some fun photos! Fun times! It was super hot, so if we had it to do over we would take the cruise in the evening around 5ish. Noted for the future. After the ride we decided we wanted to shop around the mall a bit. We had to go in and change out clothes! Well…let me let you know there are “rules” for the mall and the first is that you are dressed covering your shoulders and knees. Clearly our swimsuits were not ok! lol! We got stopped twice and asked to put on appropriate clothes. Which of course we were headed to do in the bathroom anyways. But I wish someone could have seen us scurrying around the mall and trying to avoid security! Hilarious now that it’s over and we aren’t in jail! hahhaha! After we changed we saw the first security guy and got a copy of the mall rules. We immediately left and headed to another mall (they have about 6 in the immediate area)!
We shopped and found some good buys in the mall. Found my favorite popcorn place Garrett’s! Chicago style cheddar cheese and caramel mix! so good. We also had a Krispy Kreme donut! I love how the middle east is famous for bringing American things overseas! We also saw the indoor skiing place. Amazing how they make something like this happen for a culture that will probably never see snow in life! The next day was time to depart. We enjoyed a great time in this city and I would definitely go back. I am thinking once its winter in Europe it will be even better to visit UAE!
Definitely one of the safest places I’ve lived in as a black female
You can visit the top of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, gives a beautiful view of the skyline. You can go for a safari, but I wouldn’t choose the typical one as unfortunately they allow riding on the camels which puts a lot of physical stress on them. You can opt for the buggy/ quad biking option & camping out in the desert with friends, and see these beauties in their natural habitat, & even sneak a selfie with them ;)
The fountain show at the biggest mall in the world, Dubai mall, choreographed to music, is definitely a must see. If you have some extra time you can go for a tour of the famous 7-star hotel, the Burj al Arab, & end it with a drink or two at the rooftop lounge there. There are some lovely beaches and a water park in that area as well. For those who prefer to immerse themselves & indulge in the culture, there are plenty of souks, including gold, spices, textiles etc.
I’m not a huge party person, but when I do go out Miss Lily’s is most definitely the place to go ! Can’t go wrong with a hip hop, RnB, raeggaton playlist
Dubai really has something for everyone & there’s easy access everywhere as the transport system is so easy to maneuver :)
The Dubai Desert Safari Tour is a must! We actually booked it on Groupon through Luxury Tours for 150 Aed for 2 people (about $40 USD). This included transportation from our hotel to the desert, the SUV ride through the desert and dinner and a show and return back to our hotel. The ride through the desert is definitely Exhilarating and occasionally scary. Dinner consisted of traditional Middle Eastern Food and was fresh. They had free henna tents set up, camel rides also. The show included a belly dancer, fire show, sword show. Definitely a must do if you go to Dubai!
There is soooooo much to do here it’s unreal!!!! One thing I learnt about Dubai on the first day is that it is not as expensive as everyone would make it seem. Things like the Dubai Garden/the Dubai Frame Are less than 20 US….traveling was cheap as they have a taxi service even cheaper than Uber however the cars are poorly kept and sometimes smell so it really is up to you…. I mostly ate my hotel but I went to the Gold Soulk which is like Down Town Dubai lol and the locals took me to a local restaurant and the food was AMAZING we ate on the floor amongst other locals. I went with friends and we were often times scantily dressed persons stared but we never got arrested or anything however we couldn’t walk from the pool to our hotel room in our swimsuits. We had to be fully covered to cross the lobby. I had the best experience at the Five Palm Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai would definitely recommend anyone going to stay there
Dubai is a best place ever. Although many religious principles, there is still a ton to do a night. Their vision for advanced technology and infrastructure is easily the best in the world.
Dubai is a city like no other. Their vision for advanced technology and infrastructure is easily the best in the world. The vibes are very relaxing. I recommend staying in Media City at
Ghaya Grand Hotel. Very modern but quiet hotel. It’s about 20 minutes away from downtown Dubai but without all the chaos. Jumeirah Beach is Beautiful beach to grab a beach chair and just lay out. Very interesting to see camels causally strolling the beach within feet from you. This beach is only a ten minute drive in a taxi from hotel. I recommend consider renting a vehicle as Dubai is very broken up. We ubered everywhere but I can assure you we would’ve saved a few dollars if simply rented a vehicle.
The Desert Safari tours were also incredible. To watch the sunset on the beautiful hills covered in soft sand that mimics the ocean waves are priceless. Not to mention, they feed you and you get to ride camels, interact with falcons and immerse yourself with a full Dubain cultural experience. Can’t leave Dubai without receiving one of the relaxing massages at your hotel. Our 90 minute luxurious massage at our hotel was amazing. They certainly give Asia a run for their money. I can go on and on but long story short: GET TO DUBAI ASAP!
I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria. The hotel was situated at the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah. This resort was elegant and one of most beautiful hotel I ever stayed at. This imposing ivory hotel proudly faces the Burj Al Arab across the Arabian Gulf. While in Dubai visit the Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, Old Dubai and Dubai Miracle Garden
Dubai, was nothing short of amazing. There was literally too much to do there! Outside of how expensive it can be, there are a lot of things to do here. Definitely recommended from me.
I was in Dubai in September 2018. I had a blast and I would definitely go again. First of all the architecture speaks for itself…very impressive and modern. As a black woman tourist, you outstand obviously and for that particular reason you can get a free pass on what you’re wearing and or where you’re going (clubs, lounges) to a certain extend.
Day 1: my girls and I went to this hookah afro club in Za’abeel (yes there is an afro community in Dubai) we had a good time! Good Dj, good crowd.
Day 2: We went to Barasti beach club, you have an amazing view of Dubai’s typical tall buildings worth a capture!( Ladies, yes you can wear bikinis but only at the beach as soon as you step out you need to cover up)
Day 3: We booked a Safari tour ( A MUST) Gateway Tours.. this activity lasted the whole day. It includes ( Camel rides, sand surfing, motocross, dune diving, dinner, entertainment show in the desert to end the day)
Day 4: We went to Yas Mall, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the Heritage village in Abu Dhabi (there’s a whole lot more to do there)
Later at night we went to this very known club called White, believe the hype it was great. The music was good and the crowd was alive. The place is on rooftop and you get a beautiful skyline view while turning up!
Day 5: We went to the Dubai mall where is also located the aquarium. A very huge mall with a variety of stores and boutique for people with expensive tastes such Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint-Laurent, Gucci and many more.
We also saw the Burj Khalifa which is known as the tallest building worldwide. Very impressive. You can also have dinner at the last floor.
Day 6: We went to some “Souks” which means little market where you can find spices, jewelry, fabrics, pretty much everything.. definitely a must.
I have to say I was very surprised how Americanized Dubai was. It reminded me of Vegas/Miami. I cannot wait to go back. I went to Dubai for New Years 2020. I went out every night I was in Dubai too. I hung out with mainly Nigerians. Hanging with them you are always bound to have an amazing time. The nightclubs are open till about 5-6am. If you go to Dubai, looking for a lounge that plays Afrobeats and has great food & shisha, I recommend Orange Chameleon. If you want to hear trap music, they have Drai’s (which is outdoors). Tables were around the same price you would pay in America. My two girlfriends and me split a table at Drais. A bottle of henny and shisha with a couple round of tequila shots was about $250 a person. Toy Story was one of my favorites as far as the venue, the dj ran out of music to play. I heard the same song a few times lol and no shisha. It is def worth going! It reminded me of a club that would be in wynwood or on south beach. Lots of dope art and teddy bear chairs. Money bagg yo performed, it was pretty awesome. Secret room, which is at Five Palm hotel was a vibe too. This hotel is sooooo beautiful. It was kind of small inside but all the Nigerian ballers were in there. Ace of Spades everywhere. Besides secret room on Palm Island, all the clubs are in the same vicinity for the most part. Drais & Toy story were about 2 mins away from each other. Btw, Orange Chameleon is a great after hours spot as well. I was there a couple nights till the sun came up. For day parties, I would say Nikki Beach or Five Palm. I really enjoyed myself in Dubai, cannot wait to go back and explore more.
Dubai, U.A.E is truly over the top in a good way with plenty to do! We book the land portion through family friend. But we booked our own flights on Emirates which is absolutely the best airline! Prices are very reasonable! Keep checking for sales on flights! We loved Emirates airlines for the excellent customer service, the comfortable plane and to the delicious food!
When we arrived we needed to get tickets to visit the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world and a must see in Dubai! Somehow our trip did not include this option which is why I like to plan my own trips! So we were about to go online to get tickets but there was a tour booth at the bottom of the mall selling tickets for about $50 to visit the Burj Khalifa. The tickets cost more if you purchase them at the counter! The Burg Khalifa is inside of the Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world which could take a few days to see it all! There are many great restaurants and plenty of shopping. We watched the free beautiful water fountain show in the evenings which starts at 6:00pm and starts every 30 mins until midnight. Some days we took a taxi to the mall which was a few dollars or we took public transportation train from the mall to our hotel! It’s was very clean and well organized!
We also took a taxi to the Mall of Emirates and went to the indoor ski! Of course we did some shopping!
We somewhat enjoyed the Dinner DHow cruise along the Dubai Creek. Do your research and ask questions our cruise was not the best one and ran out of food! We went shopping at the gold souls to buy gifts and clothing. We were able to talk the vendors down on prices down.
The sand dune bashing desert safari was amazing and more than we expected! We had a professional driver come to pick us up from the hotel around 3:00pm and return us back around 11:00pm. We rode camels, got henna tattoos, ate good food and enjoyed the show! We took a half day Dubai tour bus around the city and one stop we visited the Dubai Beach near the Burj Al Arab luxurious hotel.
We visited the Dubai Marina on the last day and it was stunning! I would return to Dubai to do a few more things I didn’t get a chance to do such as zip line over the Dubai Marina! Traveling while Black: we felt very safe in Dubai and everyone treated us with kindness!
Dubaï Dubaï…. I went to this city with a lot of apprehension. I was not buying the Dubaï dream strass and giltter at all.. I came back with so much less apprehension. This city is has rules and as long you follow them you can leave without any issue. First, if you are not married you can not live together. Some hotel are picky on unmarried couple. You can be on a beach in bikini but as soon as you leave the beach you dress up! This is not MIAMI.
The only real problem I have is not getting into in lounge bar because my friend wear the veil. The country is still very conservative keep it in mind.
Let’s get to the fun part, this town is a big open leisure city, design for tourist. You won’t regret it , but let’s keep it real accommodation in best spot of the city is expensive, but food is not.
So start your journey by the Dubaï Mall. Shop and cacth the dancing foutain show in the patio. The best view is from the Apple Store shop outise terasse. The ride to the top of the Burj Khalifa is just in the same spot, enjoy the view is worth it. Make sure you are able to visit the Gold Souk and Spice Souk near the old town. You will be amaze by the work they do on those material. Stop at Marina Beach and enjoy yourself. It is also possible to get a day pass for the beach and pool in some bay hotels. There is a Metro sytem very efficient and clean , you could do all this main activities by usisng it. Visit Kite beach for a great view on Burj Al arab and a food truck Festival. Do not leave this town without making a stop at Sheik Zayed Mosque (Day car trip 1H30 ) in Abu Dhabi. The fish market in this city worth it, you can choose you meal (fresh and alive) and the will prepare it for you. The city offer so much activities, there is no limit to Dubaï. My last spot was the Dream Garden, it is Wonderland, and I was the Alice of the day. Just check my page instagram (@aduke.travel.journey) to understand, it was amazing. This garden is beatifull and colorful. It is also call the Butterfly Garden. The only question is how they maintain so much grass and flower in this crazy heat. This Garden is perfect even for a great date or proposal. It is so romantic and even children will adore it. Dubaï Dubaï, I am going back for sure.
Dubai is absolutely beautiful, the architecture there is unmatched! There’s a lot that you can do there. We visited the Burj Khalifa and the worlds largest mall. We also used the company http://www.thedesertsafari.com and went camel riding and saw a show in the middle of the desert with entertainment like belly dancers and fire throwers. My favorite part was visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.
I went from my younger sisters birthday and it was GREAT! Didnt spend much money being that we stayed at an air bnb and we brought groceries most of the time. We went dune riding through the desert which was a ton of fun, we also did dirt bike riding through the desert, rode camels, seen a fire breathing/belly dance show, toured the city, went to Abu Dabi, visited the Burj Khalifa, etc. Theres sooooooooooooo many things to do that you cannot be bored. Theres still some other things that we didn’t get to do that we would definitely have to do on our next visit back.
Dubai is amazing! You could never go wrong choosing to visit Dubai. I spent 7 days there and I wish I had more days so I’ll definitely want to see there again! There is a whole lot of things to do in Dubai.. you can never get bored.
I stayed at the Atana hotel. They had shuttles going to the mall and other places each day and that was very very helpful.
The hop on hop off bus is a very ideal way to see the city and you can purchase tickets at the mall of Emirates.
The dessert safari is a truly amazing experience from the rides to dinner to the belly dance show.
You definitely need to go to a waterpark! I went to the Atlantis the palm waterpark. There are many others that you can visit though. The dhow cruise dinner was also a nice experience. You could also do the ice skating at the mall. I visited a couple of malls… Mercato mall is a beautiful one. It is not as big as the Dubai mall. Visit the outlet village for some good shopping deals too. Dubai is the place where everyone with any kind of interests would definitely enjoy!
Great place to go during the spring time. This is desert climate so the weather can be very extreme, both really hot and really cold. Unfortunately you will have to pack for both in my opinion. I went during the hotter months and the temperature during the day was above 113 and at night it could drop down to below 60. There were days where even the beach was too hot to enjoy, so be prepared. We stayed in a great Airbnb located off Dubai Fountain St in the Boulevard Point condos. 10 min walk to the mall and about a 5 min drive from the beach. They have New Dubai and Old Dubai both are great to experience. Old Dubai is where you will get to experience the authentic foods and shops, be aware they the believes and culture are a lot stronger there so you will need to dress appropriate and be considerate of the people there. Great place to spend a day only, near the flea market (china town) area. New Dubai is where you will have the Malls and nightlife. Here you should tour the Burj Khalifa and Burg Al Arab Jumeiah. The 2 most famous buildings in Dubai, They both have great restaurants and views. Be aware they they do sometimes offer admission fees. Here they are very welcoming to tourist. When in Dubai you must get a day tour to the deserts by the Al Khayma Camp where you can ride camels, ATV’s and also enjoy a festival. Price of the tours are around 50USD and they will also pick you up and drop you back off to your hotel. Don’t forget to pack a jacket!
DUBAI!!!!!! Man listen I LOVE everything about it. I went About 2/3 years ago and of course so many people who never even traveled to Dubai had the most negative things to say. I’m glad I like To have my own opinion on things so I traveled there and it was amazinggg. I planned To go back because i was there for a short period of time and there are so many things to do in Dubai that you would need a week there . If you are thinking of traveling to Dubai please DO NOT hesitate and book that flight ! It is worth it
If you are a budget traveller, there are accommodation options for as low as $30 inspite of the fact that Dubai is known for it’s high-end, multistar hotels.
I would stay in a cheaper area called Deira, then took a train in order to visit the more expensive areas and sites.
Dubai has always been on my bucket it. It’s a beautiful country and so advanced! I’m an adventurous traveler so I like exploring different things to do once I travel! Must do’s I recommend in Dubai is skydiving, dinner in the sky, Burj Khalifa, dessert safari and visiting their gold souk! For skydiving there are 2 options. Skydiving on the dessert or on the palm. Google skydive Dubai and book directly on the website same as dinner in the sky. Book directly with the company. Dessert Safari I booked on expedia. Try to use Premium Red Dunes & Camel Safari with BBQ at Al Khayma Camp. They are awesome. They have their own camp on the desert. Also when you go to gold souk always bargain for their dresses! They’ll tell you it cost about 300 Aed. Tell them you’ll pay 100 Aed.
I don’t even know where to begin. My trip to Dubai literally felt like nothing short of a fairytale. We spent 5 days and 4 nights in country. In that short span of time, we were able to do so many excursions. We did the following:
Sand dune bashing and ATV rides
Camel riding
Abu Dhabi city tour (including mosque and Eithad towers)
Jet Ski tour near Burj al Arab
Top of the Burj Khalifa
Dubai Mall (literally felt endless)
And so much more. Dubai essentially owes me nothing and I can’t wait to go back!
I recently came back from a trip to Dubai and it was a really great place to go- if you are on the fence about traveling there… go. As for the night life I was worried but they played great music. From trap, Afro beats , to old school rnb. Some of my favorite places I went to were Miss.Lillys (Tuesday evening), 1OAK (sunday night) and Drai’s (Friday). I believe that the places pop other nights but those were the nights that I went out and they were all a hit. Drai’s often has American talent come perform I was able to catch Wiz Khalifas show. The prices for the clubs were priced well. It was often free or heavily discounted for me as a women. Tuesday’s seem to be ladies night there for the entire city. The night life there was NOT a miss as I suspected. There were no strict dress codes besides being dressy, wear heels. No one ever asked me to cover up. Dress style for the clubs mirrored US clubs. From those that wore pants , to some women who had lil to nothing on.
They make good use of their instagram pages. So if you want to know about any of the places listed above find them on ig all of their info is current.
Dubai was one of my top favorite places to travel. I went there alone with my 8 month old baby. I was very skeptical but also very excited. There are many things to do in Dubai. 5 days wasn’t enough. I went to the Burj Khalifa which is known as one of the tallest buildings in the world. I also went to the Dubai mall which has a lot of designer clothing but where you also find the Dubai fountain. They always have beautiful shows happening at night. I went to the underwater aquarium. I also experience the miracle garden where different themes where made out of flowers and grass. I also went to the palm. It’s like beautiful resort where you can relax and go to the beach. I also took my daughter to the water park. All of things were definitely affordable but your money can also run fast because they are so many things to do.
I traveled to Dubai a few weeks ago and I knew prior to traveling that it would be pricey. I purchased Groupons for the excursions such as the Safari, and Dubai aquarium, and dining. I paid $37 each for the 6 hour safari which included pick up from hotel, camel ride, henna tattoo, dinner and entertainment. I also purchased my Kaftan prior to my trip for $60 they had numerous colors to choose from! It was an experience I’ll never forget.
Dubai was great yet very strict. In certain areas you have to be covered. Even in the malls they may ask you to cover up if too exposed. The food in Dubai was good but their are no Americanize food. I had the chance to visit the temple which was amazing. I really enjoyed camel riding, atv riding and “desert roller coaster” Our money here in America is worth much more in Dubai so excursion pricing ranges between $30-$80. I didn’t get to experience much with the night life but when I do go back that is on my list because I know they party down there.
I stopped in Dubai 3 days, after my trip in Malaysia. It was an opportunity to see Dubai and i can tell it is everything that you see on instagram…A lot of glamourous places, incredible architecture, very sunny and hot.
The malls are interesting but not so affordable (Dubai and Emirats malls). I liked the Gold Souk, that is actually a great place for people who wants to buy some goods to sell in Africa (shoes, clothes,parfum, golds jewelries for weddings). Be careful if you buy electronics there. You can have good prices but its not worthy, i did and got some issue with my phone just few months after my return.
Now i must admit that i did not find the people very welcoming from the airport, shops, ect… Travelling while black was just ok. I guess the experience would be different if it was an organised trip with a guide.
If you’re looking for a review on affordability… DO NOT READ LOL. Dubai is the last leg of my two country excursion . I traveled from Maldives ?? to Dubai via Emirates. I got to the airport early due to my early morning flight & to my surprise I was able to upgraded to business class for an extra $600.00 which was AMAZING & totally worth it . To date my favorite airlines. Once I landed in Dubai we were stopped by customs for carrying a drone in our carry on. In UAE you need a permit to carry a drone… YES, a permit which should be completed weeks prior to your stay. Once we handled the drone matter… we walked miles to baggage claim ?. Dubai airport is BIG. Prepare yourself. Once we retrieved our bags we were on our merry way to uber to check into our first of two hotels. Yes, I stated in two hotels while in Dubai. I love hotels. First hotel was FIVE JUMEIRAH PALM. 400.00 + tax. It’s about 30 minutes from the Dubai international airport. Our uber ride was about 40.00 US. The hotel architecture is amazing. The entrance is breathtaking & the rooms have the perfect color pallet of gold , beige & grey. The hotel is pretty much a party hotel. Pool party, roof top lounge, club , etc… It’s a mixture of family & party. Now… the restaurants at the hotel are expensive (someone told me Dubai was cheap, they LIED). There is 5% Vat & 10-12% tourism rate added to everything unless you work for Emirates , NO TAX . Total savings of about 25-29%. I ate at there Quattro Passi Italian restaurant which had amazing cheese bread, but that’s it. I ordered a avocado salad which cost about 50.00 full of tomatoes & lettuce. Clubs and lounges at the hotels are free of you are a guest & you don’t have to wait in line. I visited the penthouse club which was pretty cool. Loved the ambiance & old school house music. They have tables that start off at 300.00 is which includes drinks & hookah. If you’re planning on staying out of the downtown area near the beach this is the place. I give the hotel 3 stars. Serve was ok. Hotel amazing but not worth $500.00 a night with tax.
Next stop… Waldorf Astoria Financial District. I chose this hotel because it looked beautiful and I wanted to stay downtown for a bit & the tour guide companies pick you up from hotels in the area. I decided to do all my touring and things my last two days. Ok, ok… this hotel is AMAZING! Omg! The service is impeccable, the location is great, walking distance to the big Dubai mall. The view & rooms are to die for. However, it’s going to run you $600.00 a night including tax but I think it’s worth it. The hotel is brand new, opening April 2019. They have a roof top pool, restaurant & roof top lounge. I ate ate there Bull & Bear restaurant… over priced & the food was ok. Breakfast was included in my stay. It’s a whatever you want, they make type breakfast ? which includes a buffet. Totally worth it. I only stayed two days here wish it could of been longer. I purchase my day excursions from getyourguide.com. The dessert safari was 60.00 & the Abu Dhabi mosque 40.00. I was picked up by the guide company and dropped off. The safari was too long & too much shaking for me. It was. 7 hours, included desert, camel ride, bikes & a small bbq & performances. It was just too long for me. The Abu Dhabi mosque ? was a 1.5 bus trip, 2 hours at the mosque & 1.5 bus trip back. Easy breezy. The tour guides were very knowledgeable & easy going. Overall, I enjoyed my trip to Dubai. I was able to scratch some things off my bucket list .
I went to Dubai for a girls trip last September. We bought a Pacific Holidays Groupon for $1300. This included Crest Savoy Hotel with breakfast. Emirates flight, 3 days of tours with lunch, and airport transportation. We had a one bedroom suite equipped with kitchen and full living room. The staff was super friendly and attentive. My friend was I’ll the 1st night and they took us to an urgent care.
The tours were awesome! Day 1 was to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and other sites. Day 2 was a boat ride on traditional show from Dibba to Mussandam where we swam and snorkels surrounded by limestone mountains. Day 3 was a dessert tour with drive through dunes, belly dancing, camel rides and a delicious dinner.
For the price and quality service, I highly recommend Pacific Holidays.
What surprised me even more was that women can get more bang for their buck. All of the clubs we went to had ladies night drink specials. We went to Armani Lounge on Sunday and it was free wine all night for ladies. There were no cover charges at any of the venues. All were upscale and trendy. We stayed under budget and had a blast!
My best part of Dubai was the miracle garden. The largest natural flower garden on earth. Super beautiful and its available, access to this venue is easy as you can get a bus every 20-30minutes. The creativity and passion that goes into the work is worth all the hype! My photo people where are you ….. this is the place. The scenery is to die for.
We also have the desert safari; I hate to say i loved it but it seemed a bit overrated. However after seeing the sunset and my pictures I appreciated the safari. Having an overnight there seems interesting and something I didn’t get to do.
Other things you will love about Dubai;
1. Swimming with dolphins
2. The Dubai Mall – never a dull moment. Make sure you do some skating and the underground sea aquarium ??
3. Gold souk – although very costly it’s amazing to see all that gold in one place
4. The Duabi Creek – best place for Arabian sweets and local ‘local’ food
Tip: don’t miss the water fountain show it mind blowing plus Dubai is costly plan accordingly to enjoy your stay.
My recent trip to Dubai was okay.. yes just okay.. it was a trip planned by a travel agency who had advertised a beautiful 4 day itinerary.. so hey why not jump on that… Apparently the trip was booked around Ramadan which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This is their month of fasting, During this time, most clubs are closed at night, restaurants are closed until unset, no eating/ drinking on the streets before sunset and your shoulders must be covered or you heighten your chances of getting a ticket.
Upon arriving we decided to catch a taxi to our hotel. The cab driver quoted a price before leaving the airports and upon arriving to the hotel he asked for a TIP! At this point I’m hella confused because he literally didn’t say one word to us the whole time, didn’t remove our bags from the car but wanted a tip. After disagreeing he decided to throw the change in my hand. So just to be clear I then asked, “are you throwing this at me?” And his response was a resounding YES.. Moving right along….
We stayed at Movenpick Jumeirah Lakes tower hotel. The hotel was really nice, very friendly staff and our room was very spacious with basic amenities.
On the first night we did a night tour with audio commentary. We visited popular attractions such as Souk Madinat, Burj Al Arab, Dubai’s Water canal and the Burj Kalifa (outside).
The next day we did a half day desert safari ride where we able to ride a camel for two minutes literally and snap a picture. This tour also included dune bashing which made me very SICK… literally motion sickness killed my day. On our own time we took an u Er which was much cheaper than a taxi to Dubai’s Gold Souk where we wanted to purchase Abayas for our upcoming tour to the Grand mosque. Here you are bombarded by tons of vendors, selling unauthentic goods. Fortunately, we’d met an African guy who took us under his wings and ensure we got reasonable prices for the items we wanted.
On the second night we decided to catch an Uber to the largest mall in Dubai and while there we were able to tour the Burj Khalifa (inside). The view from 126th floor was priceless. Even though we took picture with our phones, there’s a photographer who would take hundreds of pictures for you but for a hefty fee. We tried bargaining but there was no winning and they ensured us we can only get printouts and not electronic copies. Upon leaving, there’s a desk downstairs with persons trying to sell your pictures to you for the last time.. AND GUESS WHAT? They offered us an electronic copy with all of our photos for just $50.
Day 3 was a full day trip to Abu Dhabi.. here we visited the popular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque… please ensure that your abaya isn’t transparent because you will be stopped.. The mosque was very nice but with a lot of restrictions as it relates to picture- taking.
Day 4, we visited Dubai’s Marina where we hopped on board a “luxury”yacht for a sail-away. The boat ride was literally 30 minutes including the stops and we were served cold sandwiches as “dinner” which was advertised- total waste of money.
Some of the activities we intended to do includes
-Dinner in the sky
-Skydiving over the palm- ensure that you are less than 90kgs
-Dubai’s Miracle Garden- which was closed until November to preserve the flowers
Please visit my ig page @Dachea.Elle for beautiful pictures and snippets of my trip to Dubai!
Dubai is a rapidly growing city that offers an array of activities and things to do. The possibilities are endless. We will suggest some activities based on what we did during our three days there. Our first day we booked a day trip to Abu Dhabi. Unless you plan on coming back to UAE, we suggest that you at least see Abu Dhabi while in Dubai. We booked our tour with Ocean Air Travels via AirBnB. Here is the link: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/395953. It cost about $95 for two people. Our guide provided us with information illustrating the city’s brief history. We went to the Grand Mosque and the Presidential Palace. We later did At The Top which is the Burj Khalifa observation deck. There are many different packages for this activity but just be mindful that it gets really packed so go early. We suggest paying extra for the sunset time slot. The downtown fountain and Dubai Mall are also right there. Be sure to get some shopping in and stay for the fountain show. The Burj Khalifa also has a light show with music.
The next day we did a Quad Bike safari package which included a 45 minute ATV ride through the desert, camel caravan, and BBQ dinner with multiple shows. We did this in the evening time so it would be cooler at night for the show. This was also booked via AirBnB and here is the link: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/643042. This price was lower than most found on other sites and included better activities. Your guides to a great job taking pictures throughout the entire tour. We were thoroughly impressed.
A few additional activities that you can partake in are the fountain show ride, Dubai frame, gold souq, beach pool parties such as Zero Gravity (Amazing Brunch), Friday/Saturday Brunches, Yacht parties, skydiving to name a few. Be on the lookout for more in-depth information regarding our itinerary and a breakdown of each activity on our blog at http://www.weaventures.com. COMING SOON! #weaventures
So my review is merely about where to stay. I lived in Abu Dhabi for three years and ventured to Dubai on numerous occasions. Hotel prices range from 50-2500USD/night. First, the hotel tonight app is the best option. Example: The Armani hotel is the Burj Khalifa is around 555USD for the cheapest room. The Armani has a secret passage to the Dubai Mall and and Top of the Burj view. The hotel tonight app reduces that to 385USD. The grand Millennium is 65USD and is a really nice hotel in Barsha heights. The dusitD2 kenz Hotel in Dubai is a very neat and tidy for about 54USD. You can go high-roller and stay at the JW Marriott Marquise, or Ritz-Carlton-DIFC. There is a tri-hotel setup in the Al Habtoor neighborhood consisting of the V hotel, Hilton, and Habtoor Palace. They are adjacent to the Dubai canal and the V hotel host the La Perle show-cirque du soleil equivalent. The Address is another top-notch hotel located near the Dubai Mall. The Rove downtown Dubai is another cool option that is light on the wallet. The Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road is a good option with a nice rooftop bar. Other options include Airbnb and Keysplease on the Palm but can be pricey if you are not with at least three people. If you are really on a budget you can stay in Sharjah and commute to Dubai. Overall-Dubai has hotels for every budget. The fancier the hotel, the better the bars and nightclubs in that hotel. DO NOT be inclined to go all out in my opinion. Save using the app and spend money on brunch, cabs (Uber is available-not in Abu Dhabi-Careem), drinks, and entry fees. You will need it.
Dubai is a glamorous and beautiful city! I went there for 4 nights with my girlfriends and has a blast! I stayed at an Airbnb which is right by the marina and had amazing views !!! It was very cheap compared to hotels. The link of the Airbnb I got was: AirBnB Link
Beach clubs are a MUST! Make sure you go on ladies day as it’s either free or discounted! The beach club I would recommend are Barasti beach club food was 50% off for ladies and unlimited frozen rosè ? not to mention shisha on the beach and a cool swing in the sea to get that perfect Instagram photo !
Visit the Dubai Mall! It is HUGE and will take you at least half a day to walk around. There’s an ice rink inside the mall, cinema, hundreds of shops and restaurant sand make sure you see the light show in the evening. It runs every 30 minutes from 6pm.
Desert safari was one of the best experiences of my life. The views are amazing and there’s loads to do such as camel riding, dune bashing, quad biking, watching belly dance shows and eating amazing local food. (Also get that perfect Instagram photo in the desert lol!!) Wear something flowy and light coloured as it is very hot in the desert.
Why not visit the night gold markets and purchase a lovely necklace ? Or just eat local food ! Night markets are really cool and you can exercise your negotiation skills !!
Night life was interesting… most clubs have ladies nights but free drinks are only until a certain time (like 11pm) so get there early! and if you are a woman you need to dress up in your best outfit and your highest heels because it’s all about looks here unfortunately ! I Didn’t think it was fair but if you don’t look like their ‘type’ you won’t get into the fancy clubs. But don’t worry you can always go to piccolo mondo which is a nice / bar open 24/7 !!
Enjoy!
Dubai, wow! Where do I start? If you enjoy thrills, adrenaline rushes, catching dope shots mixed in with relaxation and luxury this is the city for for you! Possessing the world’s tallest building (Burj Khalifa), fantastic places to dine, the 2nd largest mall in the world and also some of the best views and scenery to check off some amazing excursions; Dubai has it all.
While in Dubai, I stayed at the Taj Dubai hotel. Taj Dubai is a very nice, clean and quiet hotel with a direct view to the Burj Khalifa; as well as a free running shuttle to the mall. As far as food is concerned, the mall has countless places to eat, however Dubai itself has some of the best restaurant one can ask for depending on the type of food you are in the mood for. They have a Scalini (Italian), Nobu (Japanese) as well as a Miss Lily’s (Caribbean) just to name a few.
While in Dubai make it your business to take part in some excursion and activities. Check out Atlantis and their water park: AquaVentures. Test your skills and balance on the quads and sand boards in their sand dunes, catch some major speed and salt water to your face as you jet ski on the Persian gulf and don’t forget to check out Skydive Dubai where you will hop on a plane, reach 13,000 feet and jump out to over look all of Dubai, the Palm Jebei Ali and catch a feeling you’ve probably never felt before. Test your fears and sore past your limits!
With that said, remember this is still a vacation so it is imperative that you find time to relax and rest. Check out the mall, where you can get lost for hours while keeping cool and shop at just about any store the world has to offer. After that head over to Drift Beach Club for a sun bed by the pool with some finger foods by your side and just relax for the afternoon. Take another day and hop on a yacht for a couple of hours and take a tour of the beautiful waters of the Persian Gulf, while getting a perfect view of the Burj Al Arab, Dubai Ferris Wheel, and the city’s sky line. Lastly, take about a 45 minute to an hour ride to Abu Dhabi and go see the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The white and gold structure is breathtaking and calming to the eye. Just be mindful that you must be covered from head to toe to enter the structure. You can purchase the native wear at the mall or rent it at the mosque.
I didn’t get a chance to go old Dubai, but will do so on my next visit. The people in Dubai are very kind and the city is extremely clean; so be mindful and respectful of their culture. Dubai is an exciting place to visit and the weather is very warm to very hot all year around. While there life has a funny way of creating multiple smiles throughout your stay. I hope you have as much fun as I did. IG: __Sejiro__
What to do? There’s a million things to do in Dubai of all price ranges! I have had the luxury of visiting Dubai a million times, so I will list a few and also denote family vs adult entertainment. So fotlr tourism you have the Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world), The Dubai Mall (,biggest mall in the world), The Dubai Frame (largest frame in the world), Indoor Ski in Emirates Mall, JBR and La Mer Beach and shops, Dinner in the sky, the souks, sky dive dubai, Burj Al Arab (only 7 star hotel in the world, must have a reservation or room), Dubai Marina, Desert Safari Atlantis the palm (must have a room or reservation) these are a few of the top places and all family friendly. Now for the Adult only, Dubai is home to some of the biggest and boldest Brunches and you should do at least one while you visit! Also there are sone top lounges and clubs, BOA, Prive in Burj, Candy Pants, Ting Irie (only Jamaican owned restaurant with authentic Jamaican food), The Toy room, Club White (a fav), etc. There are slso a host of shisha shops and bars, Dubai has so much to offer I couldn’t possibly list them all, there are a lot of unique experiences as well, do thorough research and plan your itinerary accordingly!
Dubai has a pretty while nightlife similar to what you will find back home in the hot spots of the states. UAE. Is very superficial so they go over an beyond to make sure your club experience is that times 10. Clubs to try out: BASE, White Dubai, Drais.
Celebrating my 30th birthday in Dubai was definitely a dream come true. Dubai is a must-see holiday destination, with something for everyone. From shopping enthusiasts and adventure-seekers to foodies and families, this bustling city has an eclectic mix of activities and places to suit all tastes.
Our hotel ( JA OCEAN VIEW HOTEL) was located by the sea along the chic waterfront strip known as The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR). Along this fascinating beachside boulevard, there’s plenty of opportunity to shop and eat. At night JBR is one of the best visited areas in Dubai.
In 5 days I’d the chance to visit a lot of places. At our hotel you could book and make reservations for private tours and sightseeing. As it was my birthday week JA OCEAN VIEW HOTEL made me feel special. They even surprised me with a special happy birthday song in my room and showered me with cake, flowers and a free massage treatment.
As mentioned before I visited a lot of places but my top places would be :
1. Burj Khalifa
2. The Dubai Mall
3.The Dubai Fountain
4. Palm Jumeirah
5. Dubai Creek
6.The Walk and Beach at JBR
7.Dubai Marina
8. The Desert
9.Dubai Canal
10.Madinat Jumeirah
11. Dubai Frame
12. Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm
13. Burj al Arab
14. Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
If you have time left, make sure you visit Abu Dhabi as well.
I went to Dubai in October of 2017. This was my first time overseas and my first time traveling alone. It was an awesome experience. The nightlife was awesome and there was tons of things to do. All the excursions was affordable. They also had a lot of history. My favorite excursion was visiting the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. That’s definitely a must see. I also did camel back riding and rode RTV’s in the desert. I caught a cab and went to the local shops. That’s when it was kind of intimidating at first. The people all race to you and try to convince you to buy from their shops. It’s a big are with lots of outdoor shops but they do have actual stores as well. I asked 1 guy just to show me around for all the stuff I was looking for. All the people were nice and I met lots of people that I still communicate with since.This Dubai trip was $1200 with flight and hotel for 5 nights. I did 4 different excursions , 3 of them were about $50 a piece and the trip to the Grand Mosque was about $100. Well worth it. I stayed at the Palms on Jumeriah Beach.
I went to Dubai in February for five days. I flew Emirates and that’s truly one of the better airlines when flying internationally. I landed Thursday morning took a taxi from the airport to the hotel which cost $30. I stayed at the Hilton Dubai the Walk hotel. It’s steps away from Jumeriah Beach which was convenient. Also going to Dubai in February was good because it wasn’t too hot and at night it was nice and cool. Day One: I took an uber and went to the Dubai Miracle Garden which was breathtaking. The entrance fee was $8/pp. Later that day I had reservations for “Dinner in the Sky”. I opted for the “ Tea Break” service which was $136/pp. for 90mins. They served a few pastries and a non-alcoholic beverage. The food wasn’t great but the experience and views were really nice. If you have a go-pro or selfie-stick this would be the time to use it. If you go in February bring a sweater or light jacket because the temperature drops when the sun goes down. Also they allow whoever arrived first to choose their seats first so be early. Day Two: Went to the Dubai mall in the morning. The hotel has a free shuttle service to and from. The only thing is the shuttle leaves from the Hilton hotel directly across the street. In the afternoon I had reservations for the Classic desert safari. I booked this in advance via trip advisor. The cost was $90/pp. The company picks you up from your hotel and the drive is about an hour long. The excursion itself lasts about 6 hours and this includes Dune drive, BBQ Dinner, Camel ride, Falcon show, henna tattoo, belly dancing and sand surfing. Day Three: I went to Atlantis and enjoyed the water park. I also made advance reservations for the Shark Safari excursion. This is the excursion where they place a helmet over your head and you can walk underwater with the fish, manta rays and sharks. Although we were one level higher than the sharks so we didn’t get to see any which is unfortunate. The cost for this was $93/pp. it was cool but not something I would do again. Especially since we didn’t actually see the sharks. Day 4: This was my favorite day. We took an uber to the Emirates Park Zoo located in Abu Dhabi. The ride was about 40-45mins and uber cost $60. I made reservations in advance for the “Breakfast with Giraffes” experience ($52/pp). This was by far the highlight of the trip. When we arrived we were greeted by our personal tour guide. She took us straight into the area where we would have the breakfast. Immediately the three Giraffes started poking their heads into the large windows. They were so beautiful. We took so many pictures and videos. We fed them and learned about them and how they came to the zoo. The food served was good, when making the reservation they email you to select your meal so they can have it prepared when you arrive. After the breakfast our tour guide took us around to feed the some of the other animals. The monkeys, camels, a hippo, etc. There was also a brief drumming/dancing performance which was nice. The whole experience lasted 2hrs at which point we had the option to stay and walk around the zoo. In the afternoon I had a reservation with Hydro Water Sport to do the fly boarding session at Jumeirah beach. I paid $62 via Groupon for a 30 minute session. The water was really cold so I wanted to back out but the instructor was so nice, patient and made me feel comfortable. Once I was strapped in and ready to go it was difficult getting up each time I fell because the boots were so heavy. But overall the experience was super fun I just wish I had goggles because my eyes were stinging from the salt water. Near the hotel we had several different options for food. The only restaurant option I liked was called Blaze Burgers which is located down the block from my hotel. The food and drinks was really good and it wasn’t overpriced. There’s so much to do in Dubai and I plan on going again in 2020. One tip would be to change your money prior. They take credit cards but most taxis don’t. Some restaurants take USD but will provide change in dirhams.
Travelled to Dubai In May 2018. I went from the 24th to the June 8th. We didn’t realize we were going during the Holy month until further research. We were pretty worried because from what we’ve read online, you couldn’t dress how you wanted or eat outside, etc.. However it was not like that at all. Because it’s a tourist city, they were not as strict. I was able to wear my swimsuit within the hotel and also at the beach and there were no complaints
Dubai is a pretty expensive city. For a week, it is good to plan at least $1500 per person depending on the activities you decide to do. We went to the top at the burj, the underwater zoo, jet ski around the marina, went to the mall and went dune bashing in the desert
I visited Dubai in January 2017 for New Years. The first thing I remember is descending in the airplane and while doing so you can see the top of buildings poking through the clouds. Very cool! I Went with my friend who is from London. We stayed at Nikki Beach which at that time had just opened. We stayed in an ocean front room which had really nice views. Breakfast was included in our stay and was very tasty!
My favorite part of Dubai was the nightlife. We went to a club called Club White. My all time favorite club. It’s a huge club on a rooftop and everything in the club is white. The atmosphere is electrifying. My friend and I still talk about Club White even two years later. It’s an experience I will never forget.
I would recommend Dubai and if you’re into the party scene gonto Club White.
Dubai will make it on the list of one of my favorite places I’ve visited. One of most well-known tourist destinations in the world, Dubai is the biggest city of UAE, the city demands attention, with its impressive skyscrapers and diversity.
I recently visited Dubai to celebrate my birthday with a group of 6 friends. I planned the trip myself for $980 which included flight and hotel (Dusit Kenz D2 hotel in Bashara Heights).
We had 5 days to do everything we wanted which was a lot. We arrived at the Airport through Swiss airlines(Which I don’t recommend unless you plan on booking first class, leg room sucked even for a short person like myself).
List of Places we visited:
1.Abu Dhabi through a Small-Group Day trip with private Dubai tours -which included the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and Heritage Village(Excellent)
2. Premium Red Dunes & Camel Safari with BBQ at Al Khayma Camp- with Oceans-air travel (Excellent)
3. Private group tour for my group of 6, which was customized- Dream journey tours (Just ok, felt rushed)
4. Xclusive yacht tour- Customized (Excellent)
The rest of the sightseeing was done on our own. We visited Dubai Mall, Emarites mall, Global Village, Miracle Garden, Gold/ Spice Souk, Skydive Dubai(Amazing Experience),Marina, Banan Beach and a lot more.
We didn’t use the Metro, Taxis are cheap plus we were a group of 6 so it was cheaper to split the cost. I didn’t get to go to a club or party on my birthday, because it happened during a Dry day(Which means no drinks or music during that period) But I hear drinks and the party scene are plenty.
The Food was amazing, but I found that local based restaurants were cheaper compared to Franchise like Chills and Mc Donald’s.
I never at any point felt unsafe in Dubai, even late at night. Most people were really nice, in fact the only stares I got were from some Asia tourist who wanted pictures of us dressed up at the mosque.
I would definitely visit Dubai again, would want to see what it will look like in 5 years.
Dubai is so much fun ! During my stay I’ve visited the Burj Khalifa, Red Dunes Desert, The Dubai Mall, Skydive Dubai, The Dubai aquarium and underwater zoo and so much More. At red dunes desert you can go atv riding as well as ride on camels. However, you have to be very careful on the atv’s due to the sand bumps. Burj Khalifa you can go to the 125 floor and see an amazing view of the palm. The Dubai Mall is such a huge mall you can literally spend your whole day in there and not get bored.
I travelled to Dubai last November, during that time the weather wasn’t bad at all. I stayed for one week, at the Sheraton which was $90usd a night. Food and service there was excellent. I did the safari desert tour, which included atv, camel ride and dinner and a show. I also visited Burj Khalifa, imagine being in the tallest building in the world! It was amazing. Dubai is quite pricey compared to the other places I’ve visit in the past. It’s also very strict, so please dress appropriately and follow all rules and regulations. But it’s a place you must visit.
I currently live and work In Riyadh Saudia Arabia. I have to travel to Abu Dhabi and Dubai often for work. I have also traveled to many other countries. But let me tell you about Dubai. Dubai has broken the code on customer service and tourism. It’s my favorite city by far and I feel if every city followed what Dubai is doing the world would be a better place. If you want to splurge and feel like a celebrity for a day you can if you want to save and cite see eat good cheap food you can. Dubai has it all. Everywhere you go and eat you get the best customer service and respect. Living in the midwest as a black person you aren’t always received well but in Dubai that doesn’t matter you’re there guest and you’re treated as such.
Dubai is absolutely amazing! I flew on a direct 13hr non stop flight on Emirates Ariline. We stayed at the elegant Domac Maison Hotel in Downtown Dubai. I highly recommend staying in downtown!! Be sure to visit the Dubai Miracle Gardens, The Mosque in Abu Dhabi, and the Safari Desert Excursion (Ocean Air is a great host). For the night life, White DubI & Cavalli Nightclub is a must do! Oh also make sure to go to the Gold & Spice Souk in Deaira.
After long being a dream destination, I decided to visit Dubai for my birthday trip in November. Though it was my birthday, I went solo. I flew Turkish Airlines and got to Dubai closed to midnight. Despite the timing, it was easy to secure a taxi from the airport to my hotel in Barsha Heights (Somewhere Hotel). Taxis are metered, they have women drivers if you prefer that option, and Uber is available as well. my hotel was about 20 minutes from the airport. They accommodated my late check in and offered me complementary refreshment. I was beyond pleased with my first impression.
The next day, I visited the Magic Garden. I took Uber from my hotel to the Garden. There are more affordable ways of getting to the Garden, including taking Dubai Metro to Mall of the Emirates metro station, then taking bus 105 from there straight to the garden, but I preferred the convenience of Uber. the Dubai Magic Garden is usually open between November and end of April when it is cooler in Dubai. The name befits the garden as it is truly Magic. I spent about 3 hours exploring its beauty and capturing photos. I had lunch there, then took a taxi back to my hotel. In the afternoon, I went on a desert safari sunset tour. the tour included dune bashing, quad riding, camel riding, shisha, henna, barbecue dinner, belly and fire dancing. it was spectacular.
The following day, I went to the Sheik Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. That in itself deserves its own review. On my final day, I did a city tour. I visited the Palm island, Jumeirah Beach, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai Frame, Jumeirah Mosque, the Souks (Gold and Spice) among other activities. I needed more time to fully explore the city because there is a vast amount of interesting things to do.
Despite being a solo female traveler in Dubai, I never felt fearful or was ever intimidated there. the people were uber friendly and I always felt respected. I expected things to be ridiculously expensive, but things were pretty reasonable (I’m a New Yorker).
I went to Dubai for a graduation trip (June 2018). Dubai is a fairly new city… so if you’re going for history try another city in Asia. BUT if you’re going their for relaxation and great pics sprinkled with a little adventure this the place for you. The highlight of my trip was definitely the desert safari and the zip line through the company X-line. We stayed at La Meridian next to the airport. When we walked in it was a beautiful luxurious lobby waiting for us. When we got to our rooms it looked like an old cabin in Virginia. The hotel was in the process of renovations, and luckily we got moved into the newer rooms. Hopefully all the rooms have been updated by now. Everything else about the hotel was great and our new rooms were amazing and comfy. We booked most of our excursions through New Horizon travel and tours. They were ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I mean they took care of us (all the way to helping us bargain at the gold markets to being my personal photographer in that Dubai heat Chile! They took us on the dresser safari where we road ATVs posed in the sand and after road jeeps up and down the hills (if you are prone to motion sickness this is not for you!) later there was a huge commercialized night in the desert when we had performances like flame thrower. There was a buffet (I’m vegan) and I had a good amount of food to choose from. (Dubai is not vegan friendly). I did not ride the camels because it was obvious they were abused and distressed. Also there were hookahs and hennas for purchase. Now my favorite part was the X-line Dubai. They change locations but my location was the Mall of Emirates. They drove us to the building we were zip lining off of …. it looks terrifying but actually doing it was the most calm enjoyable thing I’ve ever done. It didn’t even tickle. There I zip line over the city of Dubai and parts of the ocean. I also highly recommend Ski Dubai. (Also located in the Mall of Emirates.) it is literally like you are at a ski resort. Don’t sleep on the little hills and slides… we sure did and when we got on our stomachs dropped so fast. It was so much fun. I also enjoyed the markets. We got beautiful gowns and necklaces. The man even drove to our hotel to dropped the necklaces off after they were made. The trip to get there was longgggg, but definitely worth it.
I just came back from spending 10 days in Dubai and let’s just say it is not short of things you can do. I would say if you have a shorter time frame the top 3 things I would recommend would would to go on a safari tour, head to Global Village and if you want that Instaworthy shot then you need to go to Dubai Miracle Gardens.
1.) Safari Tour – I booked my tour through Airbnb experiences and saved about 70% off this compared to what my friends who had gone to Dubai prior to me paid. I paid only $40 for a 8 hour safari that included hotel pick up, sand dunes, riding a camel, henna, belly dancers/fire show, dinner, and pictures with falcons. It was a GREAT deal. Most other tours on sites like Viator were more than double this price.
2.) Global Village is one of Dubai’s best kept secrets by the locals. Imagine a Disneyland but for FOOD. It showcases countries from around the world and each country has its spot for cultural food, treats, and goods if you want to purchase anything. Also, the entrance fee is less than $15.
3.) Dubai Miracle Garden – it is truly a beautiful site filled with bright flowers, some restaurants if you need to grab a bite to ear, and Disney characters made out of flowers.
My trip to Dubai was a lovely trip.
It was a 16 hours flight. I went first class on Emirates it was pricey but Worth it. I stayed at Al Jadaff…..I did the Abu Dhabi,Ferrari, Burj Khalifa tour. The desert safari was so much fun. The Dubai mall was amazing. I also went to Aquarium and also to palm Jumeirah(everything there is man made including the beach) I also had dinner in the sky it was so beautiful. The miracle garden was breathtaking and very peaceful……If you decide to travel to Dubai and don’t want to use your credit cards do get UAE money or a gift card because you will not be able to get a gift card from them unless you live there that was something I had to find out the hard way because I run out of cash. It’s very hot out there. If you visit the country during Ramadan or Eid you have to Cover up(it’s also a beautiful time to travel there because you get learn about their culture)But if you Decide not to go during Ramadan or Eid then you do not have to cover up.They don’t serve a lot of alcohol because it’s a Muslim country. The night life is just like New York City. Local food was very cheap and good. They do have Uber so you won’t have a problem going places…. I did not have any problems traveling while black
Spent 12 hours in Dubai on a Layover!
Arrival
When arriving at the DXB Dubai International Airport, I was given a visa (at no charge) to explore the city during my layover.
Luggage Storage
Luggage service is provided in the arrivals area (at terminals 1 & 3) where you can store your bags securely, for a fee. It costs 40 AED ($10 USD) for 12 hours or less. For those flying on Emirates: when arriving, you can take a stroll towards the exit and make a left around the first corner, towards the end of the hall — you’ll run right into it.
I booked a stopover tour through City Sightseeing Dubai. A hop-on-hop-off bus that takes you around the city, stopping at main attractions like the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, and Atlantis the Palm. The total cost for this was $72 USD, which included a guided tour, wifi on the bus, free entrance tickets, water on board, and over 40 stops around the city.
I did the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and other monuments a long the way. Although the time that I was able to spend in Dubai was very limited, the tour gave me a great overall look at the city, toppled with beautiful architecture and breathtaking landscapes. In the future, I’ll definitely have to find my way back and spend more time here.
If you’re looking for somewhere to go to buy gold Dubai is the spot lol. But seriously you don’t pay taxes, Dubai mall is the move,Burj Khalifa (check spelling because I almost typed wiz khalifa) is the tallest building in the world, hit up the dunes and Dubai mall is tons of fun. Went for a wedding with my mother because Nigerians Just love getting married in Dubai. Lol
I actually thought Dubai was more affordable than expected, from our hotel to our tours we had a great time and didn’t break the bank. See below for what we did.
Recommendations:
Hotels:Wyndham Dubai Marina and Atlantis Palm (We split our time for the week)
Dubai Miracle Garden
Dubai city tour (http://www.luxurytoursuae.com/st_tour/dubai-city-tour/ )
Dine in the Sky
Marina Dhow Dinner Cruise (http://www.luxurytoursuae.com/st_tour/creek-dhow-cruise/)
Abu Dhabi City Tour (http://www.luxurytoursuae.com/st_tour/abu-dhabi-city-tour/)
Desert Safari (http://www.luxurytoursuae.com/st_tour/evening-desert-safari/)
Table 9 Cooking Class
Spa at Fairmont
Atmosphere Burj Khalifa
Atlantis Water Park
Ossiano- Atlantis
I do recommend all of these experiences! We did all of this including flights for about $3000 each. (The dinners in Ossiano and Atmosphere not included though… so that was a bit of a splurge for us… my partner and I are foodies and all about the dining experience.) I also found some things on GROUPON!! Check it out!
Don’t hesitate to contact me I have itineraries of all my trips and happy to share with you: info@iamdrwanderlust.com
Dubai is a crazy desert theme park, crossed with an impressive sci-fi movie set, mega architecture, man-made islands and a money to burn attitude renowned as the middle east finest, a city of endless fun. Travel in November because Emirates Airline sell tickets for as cheap as £295, and the weather is perfect around 25° C, unlike in the summer month where the temperature will be too hot at 40° C. If you have a bigger budget definitely spoil yourself and stay in a hotel on the Palm, you wouldn’t regret it. At the safari which is a MUST do activity, during you dessert tour do not pay for extras as desert workers might try to make money off you. so go with your own desert outfit if possible. Do not visit during Ramadan months, holy month (early May to early June) as a lot of restaurants and attractions are usually closed. Except obviously if your main purpose of travel will be for religious reasons. Book and stay in multiple hotels in different areas if possible, so you can experience the city overall, AND stay in an hotel in downtown as accessibility to attractions and metro links is great. Use the metro as much as possible as it is very efficient BUT remember to stay out of the WOMEN & CHILDREN carriage or you risk a fine of 100 AED (£20). Do not get arrested in Dubai over silly things such as too much PDA or being intoxicated in public. Dress appropriately and wear comfortable light texture clothings as the weather could get quite hot and always walk around with a bottle of water to stay hydrated. Have a budget and DON’T get ‘lost in the sauce’ as people will try to rip you off being a tourist, know what activities you want to indulge in and plan way ahead. Not everyone has the privilege of free visa on arrival entry into Dubai especially visitors from 3rd world countries and if that’s the case you would probably need to apply for a visa, and the easiest one to acquire been the 14 Days service visa (£150). In a nutshell it’s a transit visa that allows visitors into Dubai for 2 weeks and there are a bunch of travel agencies out there to use but the cheapest and most reliable are iDubai Visa or Dusktours. However you could also apply through the “manage your booking section” on the emirates website when you purchase your ticket.
Dubai, Dubai, Dubai! Looking for adventure? Romance? Good food? An awesome trip? Save your dollars and travel to Dubai. I stayed at the jumeirah zabeel saray and sheraton. Both lovely places. Sheraton was a lot closer to the dubai mall and in the heart of the city whereas Jumeriah zabeel is a resort a bit of a distance from the inner city. Two completely different experiences of Dubai. Things to do gold souk market, dunes, shopping. The food is great, lots to do, and see!
Dubai is only an hour in a half drive from Abu Dhabi so you can fly into AUH or DXB if your looking to find a decent price in flights. The Burj Khalifa is a must being the tallest building in the world. You can purchase tickets to go up and see the beautiful view at the Dubai Mall. Dubai Mall has just about every store you could think of. Eat, shop, go ice skating check out the aquarium all inside the mall. Tons of options and once your done you can go outside and enjoy the water fountain show in front of the Burj Khalifa. You can also go visit and see Atlantis the Palm, Burj Al Arab(very expensive hotel 2000.00usd a night), Kite Beach, go on a desert safari tour (ride camels, sand boarding, see the sunset, henna, food bbq, night show, and of course hookah).
Great stay again at Hilton JBR, recommend the Exec rooms and choose the suite on the 9th floor, really good service by Shehroz and Clarissa and the team on the Exec Lounge. The location is great, so many eateries and the beach is good. the new development to the left of the hotel is great for couples and families
It seems as though Dubai was the destination for 2018! So, of course, my mother and I made it another mommy and me trip! However, our greatest mistake was going during Ramadan. So everything opened late and alcohol, nightlife, and all that was not allowed. But this allowed us to experience more adventurous things like the Dubai safari tours where we rode ATV’S, sand-duned, rode camels, and ate the best lamb ever! A great treat was stopping at the local market to get desert attire and souvenirs on our way to Rayna Desert Camp And of course, we had to visit the Dubai mall where we blew a bag at some of there local stores and F21 as well. Being that I was away from the states for over 5 months at this point I needed some fried chicken in my life so Dubai Popeyes was the choice and let’s just say that I don’t know what Louisiana it was from. Baskin Robbins was great though.
I’ve been to Dubai a couple of times and it’s always a great experience for me.
Things to do.
1) Dubai frame: this is a cheap inexpensive activity. If you can’t afford to go to Burj Khalifa, this is an affordable option. After going up and viewing the sights there’s a light show or whatever it is when you come down. Although it’s nice there isn’t much to do there.
2) Dubai Creek: take a taxi to Dubai Creek and take an abra for just 1dirham to old Dubai. There’s a nice market and the Dubai museum is located there as well. So many photo opportunities as well in old Dubai.
3) Dubai Marina: Dubai marina is accessible from Dubai marina mall. It’s a nice place to chill and relax and watch yatchs and speed boats go by. You can chill and have a few drinks if needed. There’s also activities available here such as the Zipline, boat cruises etc. great photo opportunities as well.
4) Dubai Miracle Garden: if you are visiting Dubai during the winter months October to April make sure you visit as it doesn’t operate during the summer as the heat doesn’t work well with the garden. This place is very beautiful and trust me has lots of photo opportunities. It’s 50AED per adult and 40AED for children 12 or below. Children 2 and below as well as disabled get in for free.the park is so huge and there’s food stations around where you can purchase food and drinks. There’s tons of place to sit down and relax under a shade just Incase your feet gets tired. My favorite section was the flower arches and the Emirates A380 plane structure.
Dubai was magical. Seriously one of the best places my family and I have visited. There’s so much to do here. Site seeing, going out further into the dessert, ATV’ing, riding camels. You wouldn’t leave disappointed!
Honestly, I had the best time here . My boyfriend an I enjoyed every moment of being there to the food the people it was amazing. I advise everyone to do the desert ride where u can have a joy ride through the desert have some cool entertainment an food is all included most are very different. But very affordable. I’m not sure on how the night life was because we were so jet lag we weren’t up for partying.but we did manage to hit barasti which like a pool area where u can purchase drinks an food an chill by the pool. I was there for a week so we did what we could in that week. We are planning on returning soon..
By far my favorite place to visit! So much to do. We stayed in a air bnb by the man made palms on a private beach. We went to Atlantas which was incredible! The best water park you can ever visit. Favorite ride there was the underwater slide where we went through a glass slide underwater surrounded by sea animals. We did safari desert and camped overnight, did hookah, watch a fire show and rode 4 wheelers. We visit the biggest mall in the world, wayyy to many stores to count. I didn’t eat anything bad there. The food was delicious. People are nice and respectful. Overall great experience.
Very beautiful city for tourism and shopping without taxes.
I don’t know if it’s how my boyfriend looks but everywhere we went in Dubai and Abu Dhabi the tourist all wanted to take pictures with him and the locals were always approaching him about something. Needless to say we never felt any type of discrimination towards us personally. The locals were very nice and down to earth. The staff at the places we visited we always professionally and polite. I can definitely see myself going back and feeling comfortable. We even walked around the rough part of Dubai at night and felt safe.
I visited Dubai in May, I stayed at the Hyatt Al Rigga, downtown. You can book to include daily breakfast or not. They just opened a night club in the hotel during my stay.
Dubai surprisingly had a huge night life. Clubs, rooftops, bars lounges and of course hookah. If you’re a night owl and a party goer you would love it. Drinks in most of the clubs were pricey starting at $20 a cup. I would definitely pregame. My favorite place was Cielo, a pretty rooftop lounge, good food, good music and friendly people.
Besides nightlife, shopping at the Dubai mall takes a full day to walk through. There weren’t many local companies that I can recall. I did all my local shopping at the souks. Spices, gold, souvenir and clothing. Here you can bargain shop.
Tourist attractions. The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Prices range from $40-$100 depending on what time of day you go. But the view is gorgeous it’s a must do. A desert Safari, I went in May it was 105 degrees every day. It felt even hotter in the desert. You must wear closed footwear. It is impossible to wear sandals on the desert sand. Depending on who you book with, traditional dance, hookah, sand surfing, camel rides and more are available. My advice even if food is included, Carry water. It is extremely hot.
Many local stores and shops are closed on Friday between 1pm and 4pm for religious practice.
I visted Dubai more than once. My first trip we did the Dubai Mall, Safari Desert Tour and Old Dubai. I suggest do the evening tour for the Safari. You will have great scenes to take pictures with a magnificent sunset. The tour also includes food and dune bashing and entertainment with the night time belly dancing. I suggest staying in the Dubai Marina area. You can walk around at night and do romantic things. For a romantic walk at night you can visit the Jumeira Beach Broadwalk. There is also a vibrant night life. If you like Jamaican and soul food you can visit Ms. Lily’s. They are orginally from NYC but has locations in NY and now Dubai. On the weekend it is a resturant but then it turns into a Hip Hop and Reggae club. Be sure to make reservations (Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Tel +971 4 356 2900 http://www.misslilys.com ) . Another club that has hip hop music is Tribeca. It is setup as a NYC/Brooklyn club. ( Ocean view hotel, level 1, jbr
tel: +971 50 345 6067 http://tribeca.ae/ )
I recently visited Dubai in July 2018 and stayed at the Steigenberger Hotel next to Dubai Mall. This hotel was excellent. The pool gives you great views of the city. I would definitely recommend this hotel. The hotel is not far from the airport either. Its a 5 star so it has the bells and whistles. STK was a nice place to visit for Friday Brunch. Brunch on Fridays in Dubai is a grand event so come dressed for the occasion. I visited the Palm in Dubai and they have great food. Their rooftop gives you awesome views of the Palm area. Hookah is provided there as well. While in Dubai , don’t forget to visit Abi Dhabi for the Grand Mosque. Visit the mosque early in the morning to avoid the crowds. If you want to ski dive in Dubai, please add that to the beginning of your trip instead of the end. I was not able to do it because the winds were too high but since I was scheduled to do it on my last day in Dubai, I couldn’t reschedule. The Palace Downtown is a great place to visit for great food and hookah. I absolutely loved it. Their lamb chops were excellent. Dubai was definitely the best place I ever visited and I will love to return.
My trip to Dubai was an action-packed 5 days, I traveled with a group of 9.
Day1: Visit to the Burj Khalifa (Tallest Building in the world; Dubai Mall (the world’s biggest mall); the evening Fountain Show at the Burj Khalifa and dinner
Tip: Stay in Downtown Dubai, it’s walking distance to many of the attractions. Our group was able to get an upscale, luxury AirBNB for an affordable price ($300 per person for 5 days) that had the Burj Khalifa and fountains as our backyard view- worth the money waking up to that view daily!
Day 2: Desert Safari #1 (Sand Duning, Sand Boarding, Camel Ride, Hawk Experience, Dinner in the Desert with a belly-dancing Show)
These is a must-do excursion. Surprisingly, the sandduning was lit AF, definitely not recommended if you hate roller coasters because it’s like a roller coaster on sand, some passengers experienced motion-sickness but the desert views and pictures you capture are one in a million, loved it!
Also on Day 2, we went to their infamous White Dubai Nightclub. You will see all the high-end exotic cars parked out front and since they have big money ballers there, they will try to force groups 4 or more to buy expensive tables, we weren’t having it. The drinks are very costly $25 a pop, so be sure to pack liquor bottles in your luggage to drink in the room for a pre-game because they don’t have liquor stores. Nonetheless, the vibe of the nightclub was fireee, great hip-hop music and you see all the cultures vibing, come dressed to impressed here.
Day 3: Booked the City Tour which is a bus ride all over Dubai. You can pick and choose which sights you want to see ( The Old Souk, The Gold Souk, Emirates Mall that has the skiing, the Jumeirah Beach, Atlantis, cruises, and much much more)
Day 3 we also went to The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, absolutely worth the 1.5 Hour drive from Dubai. It’s a gorgeous and stunning sight and fun to wear the traditional clothing. Women have to be completely clothed, with only the face showing. They have free traditional clothes for women to dress in but they’re ugly and boring looking. My girls and I bargained some nice looking bedazzled garments when doing the city tour in the Old Souk for about $50 which was a steal because many locations wanted $75-$100 for the bedazzled dresses and headpieces ( check out my IG _lisa_jae_)
Day 4: Desert Safari # 2 This was a morning tour to do the ATVs, camels, and sand boarding. This was the best excursion Dubai has to offer. The ATVs was a very lit experience that has you feeling a little gangsta riding through the desert, a MUST DO! You can see some epic videos and pics of my group on my IG _lisa_jae_
Day 5: The Atlantis Waterpark – AquaventureWaterpark. Typical waterpark but you get to experience the infamous “Leap of Faith” slide. They also offer swimming with the sharks and ziplining across the beach inside the waterpark. BEST PART, you get in for FREE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY OR THE DAY AFTER, It’s true because I used the free birthday coupon when I registered online
Overall, I freaking loved Dubai!!!
I enjoyed Dubai, there’s tons of stuff to do. Hotels can be pricey, we stayed at the Marriott on the marina. There is also the 7 star hotel, Burj Al Arab, shaped like a sailboat, on the beach. Go see it!
Take the Big Bus Tour, which offers both a city tour and a beach tour, both of which can be done on a 24 hour ticket. The tour includes a one hour ride on a dhow, a traditional Arabian boat, on the Dubai Creek. The Big Bus will drop you at various points throughout the tour, offering hop on, hop off service. You will visit the old city of Bur Dubai, where the traditional gold and spice souks are. The bus stops at Jumeira Beach if you want to do some swimming in the Gulf.
You will also be able to visit the Mall of the Emirates where they have the world’s only indoor ski slope. They provide clothing for the experience. End the city tour at the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest mall, with big name fashion designers in shops, from Stella McCartney to Vera Wang, and have lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. The mall also includes a huge aquarium, where you can dive…for a price of course!
Once you are at the Dubai Mall, don’t miss a trip At the Top, the 124th floor observatory, of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. The Palm Islands, the World Islands, and the rest of the city can be seen, a breathtaking view! The building is 165 stories, with the top 20 floors unoccupied at this time. You will see an amazing display of how the building was built with the base in the shape of a desert lilly. The display will explain how tests were done to measure winds, rain, earthquakes, etc. The building is an amazing work of architecture and well worth the entry price of less than $35 US.
Went here in May 2016 as a solo trip. Visited Fort of al Fahidi, took a ride on the abra boat, did some shopping at the gold and spice souk. Bought farashas, teas, camel milk chocolate, and dates covered in chocolate. Went sightseeing on Palm Jumeirah, Dubai mall, and top of the Burj Khalifa. Did a day trip to Abu Dhabi, to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque. Be sure to wear something to cover your shoulders and knees. They do rent out those items if needed. I planned on going skydiving, but the weather conditions weren’t great when I went. The Dubai Miracle Garden is a must visit also. I did a dsy trip for a desert safari. Went dune bashing, sandboarding, camel riding, falcon show, and to a dinner show. The sunset from the desert was the best I’ve seen, because the sun appears much larger and almost like you could touch it. Take a jacket, because the desert gets cold at night. Stated at Movenpick Jumeirah Lakes. They have a good breakfast and dinner buffet, rooftop pool, nice city views, and awesome staff. I would go back here to do everything that I did not get a chance to (Emirates palace, skydive, Ferrari world).
I went to Dubai in September of 2017. I was pleasantly surprised at how affordable my vacation package was for 8 days! Once you get to Dubai, things are priced similarly to the US except for the alcohol. Being that UAE is a predominately Muslim country, alcohol is extremely expensive. I advise buying your alcohol from the airport when you land.
Dubai had so much to do that I have to plan another trip to go back. The number of tours were endless. From desert tours, helicopter rides, camel rides, sky diving, trying delicious foods, water parks, there is something for everyone. It is also very easy to get around by taxis and they are actually affordable! I highly recommend Dubai!
Dubai had so much to do that I have to plan another trip to go back. The number of tours were endless. From desert tours, helicopter rides, camel rides, sky diving, trying delicious foods, water parks, there is something for everyone. It is also very easy to get around by taxis and they are actually affordable!
I was shocked to see how western Dubai seemed. Finding an authentic experience was not easy. I really enjoyed the desert safari, it was a lot of fun and there was hookah and authentic food. I highly recommend it and you get some dope pictures. Visiting the mall is not unlike a mall in the states, but it is worth checking out. I really enjoyed checking out Atlantis, The Palm. The water park was a lot of fun and the restaurants were good. I highly recommend checking out the local markets as well. The transportation is really clean and easy to navigate, just pay attention to signs which are gendered specific.
I went to Dubai with my husband and we had a great time! We visited the largest mall in the world which was amazing! We caught taxis, trains, and walked around freely. It’s a very diverse place. We went to Burj Khalifa which is accessed through the mall, it was a nice experience. However, I must say the desert safari was the best experience we had. From the dirt bikes to the camel rides, the safari was just an adventure! We also went to the Atlantis hotel because they have a water park and great restaurants to choose from. It was nice visiting the local temples as well.
I wasn’t really impressed with Dubai…but that could be because my expectations were so high…I see a lot of reviews saying they really enjoyed Abu Dhabi so I really wish we would’ve ventured that way, but my trip was short. I had to get as much out of Dubai in 4 days as I could!! I absolutely loved the flower garden and the lounge at the W but I can’t speak as highly about anything else. I don’t have to go back…
I went to Dubai last year in October 2017 after my Thailand trip. It was a combined package cost us $1040 per person, this package was inclusive of breakfast daily, airport transfers, accommodation and flights.
Dubai is a city of opulence, everything in Dubai is magnified and over the top in the most classy and beautiful way. Going through Dubai you feel like anything is possible.
Dubai is known to be an expensive city and I can confirm it is expensive, one night we bought McDonald’s which cost us $14 for two people. $14 is a lot is South African Rands, it’s about R200.
In terms of adventure, we did a city tour costing $220 for two. The city tour takes you across Dubai where you get to see the extremely remarkable architecture as well as a trip to the top of the Burj Kalifa (the tallest building in Dubai).
One of the greatest experiences was the cultural village located in the desert. You get to do a game drive on the dunes, ride camels , eat and dance and all this will cost you about $100 for two.
We didn’t stay long in Dubai , but next time I go back I’m going to shop.
I went to Dubai March 2018 and I will say it was one of the best trips of my life! It was just me and one of my female friends who traveled on this trip. I actually was able to catch a deal and my flight cost was only $798 round-trip. We stayed in a hotel and to our surprise there was a club inside the hotel. There was so much to do and see in Dubai and it was worth every penny that was spent. I will say that Dubai is not a cheap trip so anyone planning on going should be prepared to spend. My favorite part was the desert safari where are guide drove us through the dunes, we rode camels, and ended the night with a belly dance/fire show. Next, was the Dubai miracle garden which was absolutely breathtaking and a must-see! We also ironically went to there indoor ski resort which was so much fun! On another day we were driven to Abu Dhabi to visit the mosque which was such a sentimental moment. We typically used uber as our means of transportation and the prices seemed reasonable. Lastly, the nightlife was epic and each night we went there was a celebrity in house. I will say however, some of the hostess for the clubs were racist towards black people and that was disheartening to witness. Despite that though I got to meet some cool people from all around the world and overall had a great time!
By far one of the best trips I’ve taken. Dubai is one of the safest places to travel to in the world, and I most certainly felt this. There is so much to do from Dinner in the Sky, DubaiSkii, Miracle Garden, visiting mosques ?, everything is at the mall. There is literally a mall everywhere. So many great places to eat, and I was surprised to see so many American chain restaurants. Pack light, if you are a shopper, I had to purchase and extra suitcase ??♀️. If this destination is on your bucket list, make it happen.
A week in Dubai was eventful.
I started my adventure on a Zipline Yes a zipline over Dubai Marina. One of the Longest zipline in the world, speed of 80KM/hr and 170 metres above the ground. Soo for all the adrenaline junkies this was a pretty kool experience.
You also need to visit the desert when in Dubai, so much activities such as sandbording, camel riding, quad bikes and dune bashing. Which all four activities kept us busy of most of the day ( make sure you have your sun screen, hat and water……the sun doesn’t not take any prisoners).
At the point it was time to chill at the beach, Jumeirah Beach was a complete fail lol I mean with so much activities how can you “Just Chill”. We ended up flyboarding and soaring the water on jet skis.
Its a must to go to Zero Gravity if you looking for a party on beach type of day.
Following Day we drove to Abu Dhabi to Sheikh Zayed Mosque which was pretty amazing, basically once of the largest mosque in the country. You cannot miss this . The building is full of white marble, huge chandeliers designed in gold and crystals. Ladies are not allowed to enter without hiding their hair and covering their body until the wrists and ankle ( you will be given something to wear)
I went to Dubai in 2015. It was absolutely stunning! We stayed at the Atlantis Palm with the man made beach in the back. It was amazing. The hotel itself is huge. Our room over looked the aquarium and the waterpark. We have access to visit the aquarium at any day and time, free of charge. We had access to the waterpark any day and time, free of charge and it was an all inclusive stay. We didn’t have to pay for any meals, unless we were out exploring. The waterpark was excellent. It has two big waterparks and 4 or 5 waterslides on both. There was a lazy river. and also areas to just swim and relax. The manmade beach was in the back of the hotel. It was beautiful. the water was warmer than expected it was very calm and peaceful. I sat on the beach and read a couple of books and got in the water to cool off from the heat from time to time. There were serval restaurants to eat at, that were buffet style or dine in. all different styles of food as well. We did go the the biggest mall in the world. Also to the tallest building in the world. Unfortunately we didn’t get to go to the top floor of the burj khalifa as tickets were sold out for the rest of the day and we went on our last day. We had a desert dune dashing. It was surprisingly cooler in the desert then the city. You get into jeeps and they let the air out of the tires and surf around in the jeeps in the sand. So much fun. Then we had a BBQ, they laid out (maybe 100) carpets, and had buffet style indian food, belly dancers, singers, fire breathers, and a place to get henna tattoos. It was an amazing night to see the sunset out there as well. definitely a place to visit.
I went on this trip for my 25th birthday. It was amazing. This was my very first international trip outside of going to Mexico for spring break in college. This experience was so full of culture. I went in October and the weather was fairly warm. During my stay I visited and experienced the Burj Khalifa (world’s tallest building), Dubai Mall (If you like to shop this would be a great place to go), Desert Safari (food and entertainment were great but riding in the dunes were a nightmare because I get car sick), Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi (breathtaking and full of culture), we went to a big party on the beach for Halloween where they had hookah on the sand and that was amazing. This was an amazing trip.
Me and 2 friends traveled to Dubai as a present to ourselves for graduating with out Master’s degree. We purchased a 7-Day groupon for $1200 which included airfare, hotel, a day trip to Abu Dhabi and a desert bbq that included complimentary food, hookah, henna and camel back ride. We stayed at the Marco Polo Hotel in Old Dubai. It was not modern at all and we were a taxi ride away from the major part of the city, overall it wasn’t bad, but I would not stay there again.
The tour of the Jumeirah mosque was amazing. It is beautiful! As mentioned in many reviews, touring the mosques involves full coverage attire, which you can get on site if you do not have any. The evening in the desert started with a four-wheel drives through sand dunes. This activity also included transportation and belly-dancing entertainment.
On our leisure days we explored the city by visiting the mall and going to a night club. Though I can not remember the name of the night club, I do remember that I had to return to our hotel and put on heels because flats were not allowed! We had a great time though.
Fortunately, everyone was very friendly overall. For the price I think we definitely got a good deal.
I experienced Dubai with a group of 10 girls for NYE (December 2017). We didn’t really go with a set itinerary planned ahead but we did alot of fun things! We booked with a travel agent, but I honestly would book on my own using Delta vacations. That way, you have more control over where you stay and keep costs to a minimum. Our travel agent booked us in Old Dubai (Bur Dubai) at the Four Points by Sheraton. This location was a Taxi ride away from all the fun activities in downtown Dubai…..needless to say we ended up booking a whole new hotel in downtown Dubai and it was MUCH nicer and roomier than the Sheraton. TIP: Stay downtown Dubai and NOT BUR DUBAI,
We did a safari dune dinner and a city tour. We used the hop on hop off bus to explore the city and learn about the history of Dubai. We often went to The Dubai Mall. The aquarium inside was amazing. As well as the indoor ski resorts. We watched the biggest light show on NYE on the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
We also spent a day in Abu Dhabi. It was about a 2 hour drive from downtown Dubai. We used Uber the previous day and the driver said he would be our personal driver to take us to Abu Dhabi the next day. We went to a market and bought abayas to dress as the women in Dubai dress. The dress code was not as strict as I thought it would be. But, you do need to cover up at certain places. We visited the Sheikh Zayed Mosque while in Abu Dhabi. We wore our cover up abayas and had to take our shoes off. This is a must see. The mosque was so beautiful and serene. A very peaceful experience.
We found a bomb Jamaican restaurant that played the best music and served the best food in Dubai! It was called Ting Irie. Come to find out it is Dubai’s first Jamaican restaurant! They definitely looked out for us while we were there. We went twice on our stay!!
The highlight of my trip was the crazy turn up brunch at the Saffron Restaurant in Atlantis, the Palm. It was $150 USD but it was totally worth it! Unlimited food with almost every type of food options. Unlimited liquor. Great music and vibes. TIP: Make sure you dress up! I wore a dress and heels showing SKIN! They have no dress code restrictions (meaning you don’t have to cover up here, but do dress up!!)
I made some friends there and they invited our group to another after party/day party that we wouldn’t have known about to attend after the brunch concluded. They also took us out that night to a fun nightclub that night.
Dubai was SUCH an amazing experience! The 2 things that I was worried about before going was 1. Be covered up and not showing too much skin and 2. That is is very expensive.
The dress code was lax, at least where we went. Also, it was not expensive. Although, the Dubai dirham would be a lot, when you convert it to USD, it is comparable to things you pay for in the states. 1 USD = 3.67250 AED.
I highly recommend experiencing Dubai if you haven’t already!
Dubai is absolutey beautiful! The infrastructure is so unique some of which you will not see anywhere else. The food is amazing, best Jamaican food I have had ever was at Ting Irie. They paid to import actual Jamaicans to work there so everything is authentic. The Mexican food was great too.
Groupon was my best friend in Dubai, I did a full day desert tour, By passed the long line to explore the Burj Khalifa, dined at many different restaurants all through Groupon.
Britjam happened to be going on while I visited Dubai. It’s when Dj’s from all over Come together and put on these amazing parties that are melanin friendly. So that was soooo nice because we attended a day party and a few night events.
The biggest disappointment that completely ruined the trip for me was how the men treated my friend and I. We were extremely respectful and dressed as such but men were irate,argumentative, utterly disgusting to deal with. I would have to get paid to go back to Dubai. I am very open to trying new things and meeting new people but this destination made it extremely difficult for me. I couldn’t wait to go home!!
Beautiful place, ugly people and too materialistic.
Due to some pretty ignorant preconceived ideas about the place – visiting Dubai was not my choice, nor would it ever make it onto my bucket list but let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything there is sooo OTT but there’s really no need to break the bank. We stayed at the Palm Hotel in Deira, which doesn’t quite compare to the opulence that Dubai has to offer but we comfortable. Besides there is so much to do in the city we pretty much just used it to freshen up and pass out. It was walking distance from the Salah Al Din metro station, Al Ghurair Mall and the streets are literally flooded with cabs. So getting around was a breeze. Besides all the obvious things to do i.e Souks, museums, shopping, glow garden, Atlantis, beaches, waterparks, Burj Khalifa etc – be sure to check out El Chiringuito at Rixos. AMAZING cocktails, laid back beats and super friendly staff.
If you are considering going to Dubai…the answer is YES!!! It is an amazing city full of things to do. Despite what people think, it is affordable. English is commonly spoken. Most people that live in Dubai aren’t even from there. It’s a melting pot of people from all over the world. It’s a futuristic looking city with endless activities and adventure. Fly Emirates for sure. If you live in the South Florida area they recently started flying non-stop from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) airport. On my 1 week trip I was able to check out a few popular things to do:
1. Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world) ***Be sure to purchase tickets in advance.
2. Dubai Mall (makes our malls in the US look like a dollar store lol)
3. Desert Safari (amazing experience, if you get motion sickness bring medicine. The dune bashing will make you sick ?)
4. Sky Diving over the palms (I didn’t do it cause it was booked up, but when I go back definitely)
5. Kite Beach (great for families)
6. Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi (spectacular)
There’s a million more things to do, you won’t be disappointed.
***Side Notes: Be respectful to the culture. As a woman I dressed more modest. You don’t need to be fully covered. But I wasn’t rocking booty shorts and showing clevage like I would in Miami lol. You will need to cover up to go into the mosques. Don’t get drunk in public or be disorderly. There are women only taxi drivers that drive pink cabs.
Dubai is probably my favorite place that I have traveled. There is so much to do from visiting the souks to super nice clubs. My favorite was the desert safari tour. We road ATVs, camels, and had live entertainment with dinner. Other highlights include:
City Tour
Visiting Sheikh Zayed Mosque (Abu Dhabi)
Burj Khalifa
Palm Island
Burj Al Arab
Dinner in the Sky
The desert safari was my favorite experience in Dubai. Me and my boyfriend had a great time.While driving we started by sand duning , after 30 mins we was able to get out and takes picture. We had a bbq dinner, watched belly dancing, and rode camels. Most of the hotels in Dubai are great! Having a hotel within 10 minutes from Dubai Mall is a great location. Now that i live here i found out the best way to find great things to do is using this app called Viator
I enjoyed Dubai. It is definitely one of those places that you have to see for yourself. People act like the place is made out of gold but it is a regular developed city. It wasn’t like the rumors. But there also was not anything that I can complain about. I love the history and how it’s really a new city, about the same age as me lol.
A misconception is that it is really expensive. It is not. The train is less than the train in NYC and you can get there budget traveling. I flew from Bangkok, I randomly saw a flight for $150 roundtrip and took the opportunity, so glad that I did.
Getting such an inexpensive flight, I was able to splurge skydiving for the first at Sky Dive Dubai. Well worth the $500 (plus foreign conversion fees). You have a beautiful birds eye view of the marina and get a a wonderful keepsake video. I also did the touristy desert tour with ATV’s, camel riding, food, entertainment and henna.
Definitely visit the Grand Mosque, I am not religious but it is nice to pay respect to the culture you choose to visit. Dubai reminds me of most desert. Hot during the day and cool at night so remember to pack layers. I am a foodie and it was hard finding traditional food. It is like America with foods from different cultures. I went to mall of Emirates which was humongous! There is no taxes here and things are slightly less than shopping in the U.S. #Abventurous
I have traveled with Fly Emirates, the plane is just top and there is free wifi! The hotels are not super expensive, if you are there for adventure, do not take a crazy hotel, you will be almost always outside, the beaches are superb, they would be a shame not to enjoy. To do in Dubai:
-Visit The Burj Khalifa is the largest tower in the world if I remember correctly. Floor 148 offers an incredible view of Dubai, you will have the full view. A tip visit either in the morning or in the evening it’s more fun.
-Dubai Mall: for shopping, dining in one of their many restaurants, visit the aquarium of the Mall, go ice skating … Souk Al Bahar, to eat. It is also a beautiful place to observe the spectacle of the fountains.
-The spectacle of fountains is a must. You must not miss this! I still have the music in mind lol. You will have a great view of the fountain from the Apple store. Do not say that I told you! lol!
-Cruise on the Deira: you will have a view of the old Dubai and enjoy a moment of relaxation. Go there around 17h to enjoy the great sunset.
-Spice souk: it’s ideal for your souvenir shopping. If you are good at trading, you will do good business.
-Mall of Emirates: You will find all kinds of shops, luxury etc …, you will find especially one of the favorite attractions of tourists SKI DUBAI, a ski resort in the heart of the Mall. There is also a huge games room, you will have something to do! There is a small brand glasses stand, I could have Prada cheaply, negotiate they make you good price.
– Jumeirah Beach (métro: Dubaï Marina): it’s cream of creams! The beach is sumptuous, the water is soft and warm. Do not forget your hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. If you like the Beach Club atmosphere, take a trip to Zero Gravity, there is a glass pool overlooking the sea, a great atmosphere, a crazy decoration, in short! I loved! Many activities are proposed on the beach, jet-ski, buoy, camel ride …
– A safari in the desert: We took our ticket on “getyourguide” with Oceanairtravel. Then! It’s a trip I never forget. You will come back with magical memories. First, take a scarf or scarf to protect yourself from the sand (you’ll think of me when the time comes and thank me for this advice), take sneakers (for the quad) and sandals (for the remainder of the visit) . We started our trip with a stop on a quad tour in the desert, it was great, we went crazy and had a lot of fun. There are memories at this stop enjoy it! You will also find buggies.
-We are then directed in the heart of the desert in the high dunes, there we were treated to thrills, “you want adrenaline, you’ll get! We surfed the dunes with the 4×4. 2nd stop: We stopped to observe the camels and dromedaries in their enclosure and take some pictures, the view is magnificent. 3rd stop: on a high dunes, where you can take great shots and admire the sunset, you will sand-board, I fell after 3 seconds but it was great lol! 4th and last stop: Camp Bedouin, there you are welcomed with dates, Arab coffee, Arab donuts …, you will find on the camp many stand, tattoos henna, photo with a hawk, traditional dress, souvenir stand, Shisha space, an outdoor dinner-show area, you can take a camel ride, go on arrival at the stop before the sun goes down. Early dinner with show, (pastels were super good ^ _ ^). The meal was simple, do not expect a sick thing, you will have a drink and for dessert fruit and cake it seems to me. Tea and coffee is free and self service. 1st show: a dancer in light show, 2nd show: a belly dancer, so pretty ahah! She did wonderful service and set the mood. It was great!
-To go out: If you do not have a license or have not rented a car, By day take the subway, in the evening prefer taxis (take taxis from the city, it’s cheaper).
ENJOY GUYS
Skydiving over the palm is a must in Dubai!!! On average about £430pp for a 3 hour day (10-15 mins in the air). Best experience of my life, skydive Dubai have a cameraman jump out with you on your tandem fly and record amazing footage for you take away on your USB. DO NOT BE LATE AND BOOK IN ADVANCE TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. I was late for my own reasons and luckily was able to have mine rescheduled to the next day but this is not always a guarantee and you could loose your deposit. Another must to is quad bike safari which is amazing on average £70pp for a full day pick up, about 30 – 1 hour quad bike ride. BBQ is okay in the evening and the entertainment was much better than expected.
There are so many different things to do in Dubai!! It has to be one of our top 5 trips. We flew Emirates which was surprisingly inexpensive 800$ round trip/person. I believe it was a bit lower because we booked super early. We went in early June and the weather was steaming hot so get ready for heat if you’re preparing to go! We visited Burj Khalifa which is the tallest building in the world. The lines are long but for a few extra dollars you can pay and skip the line! We went to the beach next to Burj Al Arab which was beautiful and surprisingly not too crowded! We actually rented a car and drove to Abu Dhabi which is about a 45 minute drive from Dubai. We visited Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which is well worth the visit! The Mosque is breathtaking! Women have to be fully covered so if possible get something nice to wear beforehand! They provide you with gowns and head cover but it isn’t as nice as what you could get on your own! We went close to sunset so we could get day and night pics which are equally amazing! Back in Dubai We stayed in the Marriott Marquis which is about 5 minutes from the mall. The mall sits directly across from Burj Khalifa so you can get some good pics near the food court. Again Dubai is amazing and I would highly recommend!
To be honest, I didn’t loveeee Dubai. I think it’s a beautiful place with incredible architecture and I was definitely amazed by it but I’m a lover of culture and experience, I didn’t find much of that there because Dubai is a new city and the UAE is full of expatriates, nearly 90% to be exact. So, here I am coming for some popping middle eastern food getting met with Asian cuisine, American cuisine, Indian cuisine, you name it just not Middle Eastern. My favorite day was my last day because I felt like I like was finally able to escape all the glitz and glam and experience real people doing real stuff. I explored the old souk located in Bur Dubai. I got to talk to amazing people from all over who live and work in Dubai, learned what that experience is like for them, got to ride an abra across the Dubai creek for $.25, ate food that wasn’t Asian for the first time all week, cracked jokes, got proposed to, bought stuff from merchants instead of the same stores in malls that look like the ones back home, just on steroids lmao. Some tips though, take the metro! It’s amazing, it takes you everywhere and it’s extra clean. Just beware of all the rules. You can only drink and party in hotels, they’re very strict about alcohol. Madinat Jumeirah was incredible and so beautiful with an insane view of the Bur Al Arab. It’s hot, obviously, so drink water but everything is air conditioned and even if you have to walk a bit, you’ll never be hot for long. Ladies, I wore shorts one day and got some looks because thickums but no one arrested me for them, it’s not as deep as the articles say. For the most part, I was modestly covered (cleavage out, legs covered. Legs out, cleavage covered) but not walking around covered in a scarf. Find your balance. I took a bus, sort of like a greyhound up to Abu Dhabi for less than $10 round trip. That was fun! Go into the desert, for sure. Everywhere you turn you’ll see tours, I had fun out there! Saw a fire show, rode down some dunes, off roaded, took dope pictures! Definitely go watch the water show at the bottom of the Burj Khalifa, it was so beautiful I cried. Be sure to walk around that area, too. The walk around the fountain from the back of Burj Khalifa to the front is so beautiful. Also if you love cars, car watching out front is like going to a car show. Lastly, I watched a show called La Perle, tickets were over $100 and the show wasn’t all that, it wasn’t as acrobatic as Cirque Du Soleil, save your coin for something else! Have fun!
Also, for a more detailed summary of Dubai and my thoughts on it if you’d like more, I wrote about why Dubai isn’t topping my list and why I enjoyed it in a two part piece on my blog. You can find them below!
Pt1. https://www.irinajonaa.com/blog/dubai
Pt 2. https://www.irinajonaa.com/blog/continued
I traveled to Dubai via Emirates in July. Emirates staff was really good during inflight services. Once I landed and got out of the airport it felt like a sauna. It was sooo Hot. I would recommend the cooler months to travel to Dubai if you can’t take the heat. While there I stayed at the Hilton Sharjah which was located 25minutes from Dubai. The hotel was beautiful and the breakfast had a lot of options and was filling. I would recommend the dessert tours and the Dubai mall. Dubai has activities for everyone. Enjoy!!
Etihad airways was my travel to UAE. I had a chance to experience the world’s only 7 star restaurant. The price for food and drinks were extremely expensive. You can only get in withca reservation. Plenty of places to shop. Hotels are not too expensive. I stayed at the Sheraton resort in Abu Dhabi. Its about 45min away. We rented a car to drive to see much of w by at UAE had to offer. If you are into amusement parks Ferrari world is a great place to visit.
Oh my, where do I even begin? I still can’t believe I pushed off visiting the UAE for so long, but I guess better late than never! Dubai could possibly be best compared to Vegas for its unending glitz and glam, Venice for its romantic feel and bucolic palaces or Singapore for its futuristic skyline & impeccable white beaches!
Dubai is literally a world of its own where imagination, excess in all forms and fantasy surprisingly live happily side-by-side in a rather conservative environment. High lights of our stay:
– Dubai spice & gold souks
– Crossing the Diera creek in a traditional abra
– Downtown Dubai skyline at dawn and sunset
– The Palm Jumeirah, the Atlantis
– Shopping in the world’s biggest mall “The Mall of Dubai”, visiting the aquarium and watching the dancing fountains from Madeleine café at sunset
– Going all the way to the 148th floor of the Burj Khakifa – “Sky, at the Top”! OMG! Wow!
– Supping on iced coffee on The Walk at JBR and the Dubai Marina Yacht club
– Rooftop Cocktails at sunset at the trendy Buddha Bar, 360 at Burj Al Arab and Siddhartha Lounge, Grosvenor House
– A High street Tea at the world most expensive, luxury hotel – the Burj Al Arab
– Dune bashing, sunset safari and dinner in the Dubai desert
– Drive to Abu Dhabi to see the iconic “Sheikh Zayed” Mosque
I can write a whole book of things to do in Dubai! I’ve been going to Dubai for the last 4 years and lived there for a year. The fun list in this city is endless, so let’s get cracking!
First and foremost, do not go during Ramadan because everything is closed. This is a very respected holy time for the Muslim community. Ramadan is 30 days, google when is the next one.
The weekend in the Middle East starts on a Thursday. Barasti Beach Club is a place full of energy! They open early, so you can have breakfast with Mimosas. They just added a pool, they have a live band at night, a DJ on the beach, 2 bars on the beach with an amazing skyline view, a restaurant that serves good food for a reasonable price, shiesha (hooka) on the beach, and you can walk over a few feet down and rent any water sports. This place gets packed on Friday and Saturday nights, no need to dress up.
My all time favorite – Miss Lilly’s! It’s a Carribean spot in Dubai hidden underground at the Sheraton Hotel. If you’re into Reggae, Rum, & Oxtail, I promise you, you will thank me later. Such good vibes! It’s a bit small, but very retro and cool. The food is relatively cheap for the amount they serve. People just sit on the picnic tables inside the restaurant as their drinking and singing along to Bob Marley songs.
Kite Beach reminds me of California. It has a long board walk, fly kites (rental), food trucks, small shops, and kayaking/paddle boarding rentals with the Burj Al Arab as a backdrop on one end and the Burj Khalifah on the other – iconic pictures! This is the only beach where it’s open to the public 24 hours. They even have a little book/library section on the beach for the kids. They have volleyball nets and across the beach they got an area for the skateboarders.
If you want to go from summer to winter in a blink of an eye you can do so at Emirates Mall! I purchased a one day pass for $100 USD and included everything. You can meet and greet a penguin (if they got slots open), zip line, snow tubing, etc. The place is not that big, 3 hours here is plenty. Don’t worry about buying any winter gear – suit, boots, & gloves are included in the price. Just buy a cute skully.
Dubai Mall, the biggest mall in the world! From ice skating rinks, aquariums, shopping, a food court that takes up a whole floor, movie theatre, access to the Burj Khalifa, to the mesmerizing Dubai Fountain show! The water show is very 30 minutes, I recommend doing the boat ride $15 USD, you will enjoy the boat ride as the show is playing lights, music, and splashes of water in the background (you won’t get wet).
La Perle by Dragone is a MUST SEE! Don’t bother buying front row seats. Get the cheapest tickets because the arena is set up where the audience can see every angle from wherever they’re seated. The show is based out of the W Hotel. The show is breathtaking and nonstop. What makes this show unique and different from all others is that they use gallons and gallons of water – there is a pool in the center of the stage which is the focal point of the show. I really don’t want to spoil the show with too many details, but trust me you will be wowed and in complete awe. After the show or if you get get there early swing by Dubai’s river which literally runs next to the W Hotel. They have benches where you can just sit down and take a moment to be present.
I went to Dubai for 1 week in June 2017. I didn’t realize at the time of booking that half of our trip would be during Ramadan. I was so worried since eating/drinking in public is not allowing until sunset but it turned out to be okay. I actually preferred going during tourist “off season” since it was way less crowded. For those who travel to Dubai during Ramadan a lot of restaurants are still open during the day but you have to “carry out” and take food back to your hotel. I stayed at Sofitel in Jumeirah Beach and all of the restaurtants were closed during the day for dining in. Also during the time we were there it was HOT! Some days it got as high as 115 during the day. Luckily around the beach they arent too strict about drinking in public so we were able to stay hydrated and drink water. Jumeirah beach is a great location, lots of shops and restuants within walking distance. During our stay we did jetblading, waterskiing, desert safari, visited the The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Atlantis waterpark, and went SKI DIVING!!!! For those who are adventurous enough, its a MUST!! The view from above is INCREDIBLE!! It is pretty price around $500/pp but it’s a once in a lifetime experience. Included in the price are pictures and a great video the depicts the whole experience. I would definitely recommend it.
Dubai to me is like a mixture of Vegas and New York on steroids. This place is amazing. I can’t say that I had one negative experience. There is so much to do here. From desert safari, to visiting the mosque , the gold market and the food was amazing. I loved everything about Dubai and would definitely go back in the future. I also enjoyed wearing the attire and truly learning about Islam. Definitely a place I would recommend that you add to your bucket list.
This is my favorite place I’ve ever been. I went for study abroad and stayed for a month. You should visit would be the Burj Al Arab for sure, the world most luxurious hotel which offers tours. It literally had a gold ATM inside. The beaches are beautiful but be aware of cultural practices on certain beaches. The touristy beaches were fine but some beaches observe certain days for men and other days for women and children so don’t be surprised if you get some stares. Another must do excursion is definitely the desert safari. You can usually book it through wherever you’re staying and you’ll get picked up from your hotel. Then when you’re almost there, your driver is going to switch cars at which point you may think you’re being kidnapped but I assure you you’re not! You’ll switch into a vehicle that is equipped for the sand dunes where they will put on a show for you on a crazy ride you’ll never forget all the way there. You can ride camels and ATVs and get henna tattoos. There’s a BBQ dinner as well as live entertainment. Best trip ever!
Dubai is a very affordable place to visit. The tours are amazing. The desert safari was my favorite experience in Dubai. In the safari tour you start by sand duning which felt like a roller coaster ride to me.MNext they allowed us to ride ATVS . We then continued sand duning and ended up sand boarding and taking photos. After that we went to a camp where we had a bbq dinner, watched belly dancing, and rode camels.
There are many excursions available such as desert safari, boat tours and many more. Everyone is out and about at night as it’s much cooler and the mall is open till late. There are a variety of cuisines available and lots to eat and do
Dubai was all that it likes like on the internet. It was beautiful & there’s so much to do. We stayed at the Atlantis Palm. The property was full of things to do. A water park, aquarium swimming with the dolphins and zip lining with beautiful beaches. The concierge was great planning our daily excursions. We went on a desert safari where we had the opportunity to ride ATVs through the desert doing buggies there was shopping for souvenirs we had dinner in the desert with entertainment belly dancers great time we went to Apple dobby to see him on the malls were great the Ferrari museum with all of amazing. We attended a day party at zero gravity on the beach it was gorgeous so much fun we went back there the same night for more party and drinks food it was amazing they had skydiving they even had to the sky dinner. We were there six days but I would’ve loved to stay about two weeks there so much to do.
Dubai was insane!! In terms of the man made structures built and the amazing scenery the city had to offer. Plenty of things to do in Dubai from visiting the Dubai Mall to The Palm Island which has one of two Atlantis in the world to also visiting the largest building in the world, The Burj Khalifa. We also booked a day event to go to the Dubai Safari Desert which included camels rides, dun-bugging (which is driving around in the desert) belly dancing, dinner and also a chance at riding an ATV in the desert. This I’m my opinion was one of the highlights of the trip because it made you appreciate Dubai for what it really is and what the country has to offer. We went in January so the weather was very good around 77 degrees Fahrenheit but got a bit chilly in the night. The mosque in my opinion is the best structure I’ve seen since traveling. It’s located in Abu Dhabi and transportation by train and bus is needed to get here. It’s a prefect insight on their religious beliefs and makes you appreciate it and understand their culture a lot more. Dubai is def a country to visit and it’s top three in my favourite countries visited so far.
The name alone sounds adventurous. There is plenty to do, is say plan a day at the mall, walk the hotel strip at night by the beach, Ferrari world and the grand mosque in is a great experience. Beautiful. Burj khalifa, high tea or dinner is awesome