So, I'm in Dubai

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Smashed

Original Poster:

1,886 posts

211 months

Sunday 5th April 2009
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Staying at my uncles place in Dubai for 10 days.

What must I definitely not miss out on seeing/doing whilst I'm here. So far all I have planned is to go 4x4ing on the sand dunes which is meant to be like a bit of a roller-coaster ride so looking forward to that.

oh and I'm a bit jet lagged hence still being awake even though it's nearly 3am here.

Slagathore

6,003 posts

202 months

Sunday 5th April 2009
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Don't they race camels out there?

Go and watch them race the camels!!

Sheets Tabuer

19,891 posts

225 months

Sunday 5th April 2009
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Avoid sex on the beach, they get a bit pissy about it.

Dargie

637 posts

192 months

Sunday 5th April 2009
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Haven't been to it but the indoor ski slope is meant to be a bit of a weird experience.....

http://www.skidubai.com/

Chrisgr31

13,890 posts

265 months

Sunday 5th April 2009
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Could try the bus tour, helps get your bearings and ideas of things to come back too.

ipwn

2,920 posts

201 months

Sunday 5th April 2009
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Sand Duning is bloody awesome.

The one we did was an utter utter bargain !

Smashed

Original Poster:

1,886 posts

211 months

Sunday 5th April 2009
quotequote all
Dargie said:
Haven't been to it but the indoor ski slope is meant to be a bit of a weird experience.....

http://www.skidubai.com/
Looks a bit similar to the one in milton keynes! just that it's in a desert makes it a bit more novel I guess

Camel racing sounds interesting will look that up!

johnnywgk

2,579 posts

192 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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smashed, show us all yourgood piccys (good ones) when you get time, cheers
i think that place is amazing, not been there, but seen the islands
from a plane, coming back from thailand and goa

angryS3owner

15,855 posts

239 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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You must do the dune bashing in 4x4s and see the sunset out there IMO.

jamoor

14,506 posts

225 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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I used http://www.righttourism.com/ for my desert tour, I think we paid 130dhs each for three people.
we were quoted 250+ in some places!


Corpulent Tosser

5,468 posts

255 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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Dune buggies, do the dune buggies, I have done it a couple of times when visiting and it is really good fun.

Karting, do the karting at the Autodrome, best kart track I have driven - karts could be quicker but is that not always the case.

Also at Autodrome you can drive various different cars on track, including single seaters, did that once, that was fun.

Friday brunch at Mina a Salam (or somethinglike that) eat too much, drink too much at an all inclusive price.

Buy diamonds. buy yourself a nice watch. Spend money.

yorky500

1,715 posts

201 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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Do the Big Bus Tour - best way to see Dubai
Catch a cab to the Souk (market) in Bur Dubai, then get a water taxi over to Deira and walk around the gold souk.
Mall of the Emirates for the indoor ski slope, plus shopping
Try the Madinat Jumeriah for some nice surroundings and restaurants/bars
Shopping centre at Festival City is Ok too for a few hours mooching around
Kart track at the Dubai Autodrome is not bad (Al Ain is better)
If you are really stuck this Friday, we are having a bit of an AutoX session down at the old kart track in Jebal Ali (next to the Jebal Ali hotel), starts at 10AM.

feck , been here for 4 years and struggling to suggest something other than damn shopping! hahaha

oilydan

2,030 posts

281 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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yorky500 said:
feck , been here for 4 years and struggling to suggest something other than damn shopping! hahaha
....or drinking!

"Seawings" does a air-tour around the city in a pontooned Cessna. Best place to see "the master plan" from as most sites are boarded up out of sight.

I believe there is also a company (try BlueBanana) that does a hot air baloon trip over the desert at dawn - awesome.

And jet-boat thrill rides up the coast.

And a real PH wet dream - go to the used car market in Al Awir, head to Royal Motors of Al Ain and marvel at the Mirage Carrera GT's, Veyrons, LP640s, McLaren SLRs, Phantom Dropheads etc. The Gallardos/430's etc all sit outside as they are 2nd-rate motors!!!!


Mr Trophy

6,808 posts

213 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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The water park is a good laugh!

joncastle

251 posts

235 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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Coupla suggestions - go for a ride on an Abra, one of the open boats that ferry people across the creek, and have a wander around the dhow wharfage on the Deira side. Real traditional Dubai, and not the stuff you see in the brochures.

And if you're into cars, go for a wander around the second hand 'car souk' at Al Awir. It's an amazing place, with everything from 50s Americana to brand new exotics still in the wrapper. Check out the prices and weep!

And depending on your budget, get high. Go up Emirates Towers, or Grovesnor House, or even Rydges Plaza in Satwa. The views are amazing.

JCB123

2,265 posts

206 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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Mr Trophy said:
The water park is a good laugh!
+1 - The Wild Wadi though, not the one on the Palm (at Atlantis)......it really is the most fun you can have with your shorts on....unless you go on the wave rider, in which case your shorts will probably come off!

Other things to do.......dune safari which includes drivers trying to make you sick, some food in a bedewin (sp?) camp and a bit of arabic dancing.....also the city tour is good, only takes an afternoon and it gives you a good idea of what is about...the gold souke is well worth a visit....haggling starts at 50% off!!!!

Oh, I wish I was still there!

Edited by JCB123 on Monday 6th April 07:26

Asterix

24,438 posts

238 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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I like Wild Wadi as well. Only problem is I can only go on it when my nephew visits frown

When you live in Dubai you spend most of your time trying to find nice places to escape to for a weekend or a few days. Muscat, Mussendam, East Coats - Fujairah etc... all much nicer places.

PhillT

2,488 posts

235 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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If there's more than one of you doing stuff, go to a book shop and buy the big Entertainer book of vouchers. It's about 285dhs but you'll more than that back in savings - lots of discounts, two for one offers etc.
My favourite stuff to do:
Friday brunch - loads of places do it, but the Al Bustan Rotana in Garhoud is good value - 200dhs for unlimited food and drink. There's loads of variety and it's well tasty.
Karting - Kartdrome is good, Al Ain is better but a fair old drive to get there.
Skiing/snowboarding - SkiDubai is very good. They do lessons if you're rubbish.
Waterpark - Wild Wadi is ok, Aquaventure at Atlantis is awesome, but pricey - get a friend and buy the Entertainer book mentioned above. Dreamland in Umm Al Quwain is much cheaper, but a fair old drive.
Shooting - pop off a few rounds at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club. They have a variey of handguns and rifles, as well as archery and paintball.
Golf - It's pricey out here, but Emirates Golf Club down near the Marina is meant to be good.
Shopping - Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates are good, as is Dubai Festival City. If you want traditional stuff/tat/knock off watches, try the Souqs in Deira. Good for spices too (cheap saffron, anyone?). Karama is also a stop for fake goods.
Bars - there are loads. Barasti is good, although full of nobs at the weekend. 360 Degrees is also nice, but very pricey. Irish Village in Garhoud is a giggle, and cheap. Some decent and reasonably-priced restaurants around there too, all under the shadow of the tennis stadium.
Museum - Dubai Museum in Bur Dubai is meant to be interesting for an hour or so.
Beach - the public beaches are often a bit scuzzy. Better to go to a beach park at Jumeirah or Mamzar (entry is about 5dhs). They can still be busy though - you can often use hotels' private beaches (and facilities) for the day, for a fee. As an example, the Westin at Mina Seyahi charges 150dhs for full use of their facilities for the day.

Have fun!

Jgtv

2,129 posts

207 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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Get a load of your uncles mates to take you into the desert. Assume they all drive 4X4's, thats what I did out in Qatar.

Oh and out in Dubai there is a place called the Rattlesnake or Watering hole something like that.....That will provide you a lot of entertainment as long as you have the budget.

Merp

2,253 posts

262 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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You absolute Johnson, i forgot you were out there.