Why Dubai?

It seems very strange to be writing a blog in these extraordinary times but for my own sanity, I thought, why not? So why not start with the one place our family call our happy place, Dubai

As a family we have now visited Dubai numerous times, in fact, our first time was as a couple where my wife simply fell in love with the place and I wouldn’t be exaggerating by saying she fell in love with Dubai quicker than I managed to woo her ?? The moment we left the airport in fact and it only got better and better. What I want to do here is maybe alleviate some miscomprehensions people seem to have about Dubai and maybe just let you know the good the bad and the ugly about it.

Weather

Dubai is hot all year round, the ideal time to visit is between October and April when temperatures are lower. Most attractions are best to visit then and the beaches are busy but not too crowded.

Hotel or Apartments? Now…… This is a tricky one and one that we disagree on at home. We have stayed in apartments and at The Atlantis when we have gone and I actually prefer staying in the apartments as the location is key for me. I love to get out and explore and although you can, of course, get the Monorail or taxi to explore a bit more of Dubai in the evening you know as well as me that sometimes it’s effort after a busy day with the kids.

The Atlantis despite what I have just said is simply WOW. It has everything, bowling arcades so many 5 star restaurants and burger joints for quick and easy meals and the water park and dolphins are amazing. I spent one full day laying on a lilo and going around the lazy river, what a day that was, make sure you pile the sun cream on though, another time my wife was right. All that being said I prefer to stay near the marina it is amazing, you can walk to the Jumeirah walk or simply take a nice stroll around the marina. When we go back next year with first-time visitors this will be where we stay, I am sure

Getting around Dubai

We found Taxis are the best way of getting around the city if you’re only going to a few places. For a family of 4, the cost so cheap, A 25-mile journey was just under £10 they are all metered and you won’t need to haggle. During peak hours do try and avoid as the roads like all major cities do get very busy.

What to do?

Burj Khalifa. One of The tallest building in the world in downtown Dubai. Each night it has a water fountain display at the base of the Burj. One bit of advice I would give is to look round or eat just after as it gets busy and waiting for a taxi could take a while.

Dubai Creek- Dubai Creek separates Dubai into two areas, Deira and Bur Dubai. You can take boats across the creek. A boat ride costs very little and is a nice thing to do when visiting the souks and Old Dubai.

Dubai Beaches- The beaches are so clean. The water isn’t as warm as you’d think but it’s certainly warmer than Weston Super mare. The beaches have shops and restaurants close by but we found there isn’t a lot of shade like you find at your private resort beaches.

Desert Safari – This was by far the best thing we did and the kids loved it. You will be picked up from the hotel and taken to the desert, stopping along the way for refreshments and to see the camels. Then you will spend the afternoon dune bashing in the jeeps and having the best photo opportunities in the desert. We then finished the night off with local cuisine and entertainment under the sunset. We have done this every time we go and it gets better every time

Day trip to Abu Dhabi -Abu Dhabi is actually the capital of the United Arab Emirates and tours are available from Dubai. These are well worth doing for trips to see the amazing Mosque alone. A truly amazing piece of architecture

These are just a few things to do. As many say you really need to visit a few times to see everything

Dubai with Children

Dubai is without doubt, one of the best in the world to take kids. There is so much fun to be had in Dubai. My children love the camel safari. Here are some of the attractions for kids below.

• Kidzania Dubai Mall • Aquaventure Water Park at Atlantis the Palm • Dolphin Bay at Atlantis the Palm • Dancing Fountains at the Burj Khalifa • The Ice Rink at Dubai Mall • Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Dubai Mall • Desert Safaris as mentioned • Legoland Dubai • IMG World of Adventure Theme Park • Bounce Dubai • Wild Wadi Water Park near Jumeira Beach

Now my favorite bit, FOOD

The food is delicious! Dubai is known for multicultural cuisine and pretty much anything you are want to eat you will find here. Dubai is a Muslim region, do not expect to find pork in the restaurants. There is so much seafood, lamb, beef and chicken though so you will not be let down. Popular dishes include a kebab like dish called shawarma and it is out of this world hummus, curried dishes, basmati rice, and marinated whole fish Oh and please try some with Arabic coffee. If you decide to go for a meal I would suggest eating out rather than the hotel unless you are ion a half board option, prices to eat in the hotel can actually be double that of nearby restaurants

There are of course so many American fast food places in Dubai! as you can imagine. Below is a rough guide to prices you can expect to pay

Street Food: £1 - £10

Restaurant £15 - £40

Luxury Restaurant: £50 plus

Also, I found that the supermarket prices were very comparable to the UK and in some cases cheaper

Finally and the bit I know that many people ask me is the rules on drinking and public displays of affection in Dubai. Tourists are allowed to drink at licensed hotels, bars and restaurants in Dubai. You are not allowed to drink in public, including on the beach. Public drunkenness is also not allowed If you want to purchase alcohol in Dubai you would need a license in any stores (if they sell it) You may want to purchase alcohol at the duty-free shop at the airport though as this is fine.

Public displays of affection with the opposite sex in Dubai can get you into trouble- so no kissing, canoodling, fondling in public whatsoever- whether it’s with your partner or not- it can still cause offense. A peck on the cheek or holding hands with your partner is fine! Despite what you may have heard

Well, that went on, didn’t it? Thank you for reading and listening to me go on but honestly, it is a wonderful place to go

Please get in touch if you would like me to help you book an amazing Dubai experience

Thanks for reading