Dubai/ Atlantis Palm end of month.
Discussion
At the advice of " chilli" Ive copied this from teh Holidays section, all advice appreciated....
Got a cracking deal via Voyage-Prive to go here on the 25th. I know it's going to be very very hot, and it's Ramadan as well. If any one has been, or has advice on Dubai culture in general,I'm all ears.
For starters..
1:My wife is a very nervous flyer, and is concerned that she won't be able to take into Dubai her Diazepam for the flight home etc. although she's going to contact the embassy, some real world experiences would be handy.
2:Does Ramadan apply to the Hotels during daylight hours,i.e would it be considered offensive to be drinking a bottle of water of the like walking through the public areas of the hotel?
3: Anyone been to the Atlantis Palm, we are there 5 days, anything we must not miss?
Any other info/ advice most welcome!
Got a cracking deal via Voyage-Prive to go here on the 25th. I know it's going to be very very hot, and it's Ramadan as well. If any one has been, or has advice on Dubai culture in general,I'm all ears.
For starters..
1:My wife is a very nervous flyer, and is concerned that she won't be able to take into Dubai her Diazepam for the flight home etc. although she's going to contact the embassy, some real world experiences would be handy.
2:Does Ramadan apply to the Hotels during daylight hours,i.e would it be considered offensive to be drinking a bottle of water of the like walking through the public areas of the hotel?
3: Anyone been to the Atlantis Palm, we are there 5 days, anything we must not miss?
Any other info/ advice most welcome!
Firstly, it is very very hot and very very humid. I rarely spend more than five or ten minutes outside at this time of year and was amazed at all of the bright red people in the bar at Jumeirah Beach Hotel when I was there last night.
Ramadan exists everywhere, though many hotels, bars and restaurants get around it by keeping shutters down or putting screens up over the period. You generally can't 'walk around' consuming though. No idea how this works when you're sweating next to the pool though - they must have a way around it. Everywhere is open after 7, booze served after 8.
Drugs - dunno.
Atlantis - nice, but heavily populated with Russians which is good for bikini spotting but less so when you're watching them eat with their mouths open.
If it's value then why not but the heat and humidity is bonkers in August. I felt like I swam from my car to the office door this morning!
Ramadan exists everywhere, though many hotels, bars and restaurants get around it by keeping shutters down or putting screens up over the period. You generally can't 'walk around' consuming though. No idea how this works when you're sweating next to the pool though - they must have a way around it. Everywhere is open after 7, booze served after 8.
Drugs - dunno.
Atlantis - nice, but heavily populated with Russians which is good for bikini spotting but less so when you're watching them eat with their mouths open.
If it's value then why not but the heat and humidity is bonkers in August. I felt like I swam from my car to the office door this morning!
It is certainly quite 'wet' at the moment. Sitting outside for fun is utter madness!
I'm not sure what someone on holiday would actually do here at the moment? To get some idea of what it is like, put a pan of water in your oven set at 250 deg C for an hour. Then put your head in it. It's actually remarkably close to reality.
I'm not sure what someone on holiday would actually do here at the moment? To get some idea of what it is like, put a pan of water in your oven set at 250 deg C for an hour. Then put your head in it. It's actually remarkably close to reality.
during the day isn't so bad, but it's bloody hot [44deg today]. at night, the humidity is so high that i was sat on my balcony having a cig last night whilst watching clouds form between buildings. the local shop is about 2mins walk from my lobby and i had a full sweat on by the time i got there.
it's my understanding that you can bring in drugs on the banned list if you have a prescription from your GP. i'd take advice though, and also wouldn't mention them unless asked. i've taken various pills & potions through in hand luggage and never been questioned.
as for hotels, not sure tbh as it's my first ramadan, best ask the others. it's a bit of an arse not being able to drink until 8pm at the end of the working week tho. you did say end of the month, so if you wait until after eid it'll be business as usual.
it's my understanding that you can bring in drugs on the banned list if you have a prescription from your GP. i'd take advice though, and also wouldn't mention them unless asked. i've taken various pills & potions through in hand luggage and never been questioned.
as for hotels, not sure tbh as it's my first ramadan, best ask the others. it's a bit of an arse not being able to drink until 8pm at the end of the working week tho. you did say end of the month, so if you wait until after eid it'll be business as usual.
Thanks for all the advice so far.
Having just come back from Turkey where it was generally over 100 degrees the heat although even hotter/more humid hopefully won't effect us too much. We are unlikely to venture out of the Atlantis Palm in the 5 days we are there,as it appears there's a sackfull of things to do in amongst the hotel itself, which is why we grabbed it as a 5 day break.Bit concerned about getting enough water down the kids during the day, but I'd be amazed if the hotel doesn't have provision for that,it's just a shame they won't be bringing it to us! Beer at a tenner a pint in the Palm means I won't be drinking that much either.
It's quite likely I'll lose weight for the first time ever on a a holiday!
Having just come back from Turkey where it was generally over 100 degrees the heat although even hotter/more humid hopefully won't effect us too much. We are unlikely to venture out of the Atlantis Palm in the 5 days we are there,as it appears there's a sackfull of things to do in amongst the hotel itself, which is why we grabbed it as a 5 day break.Bit concerned about getting enough water down the kids during the day, but I'd be amazed if the hotel doesn't have provision for that,it's just a shame they won't be bringing it to us! Beer at a tenner a pint in the Palm means I won't be drinking that much either.
It's quite likely I'll lose weight for the first time ever on a a holiday!
sjc said:
My wife is a very nervous flyer, and is concerned that she won't be able to take into Dubai her Diazepam for the flight home etc.
Benzodiazepines are controlled drugs in the UAE. I would not bring diazepam into the country unless you are absolutely certain that you have all of the right paperwork to satisfy the Ministry of Health.If your wife absolutely won't fly without medication, it's possible to obtain a prescription for diazepam from a doctor in Dubai.
sjc said:
Bit concerned about getting enough water down the kids during the day, but I'd be amazed if the hotel doesn't have provision for that.
Kids are exempt from Ramadan, just be a little discreet.As far as things to do are concerned, I stayed at Atlantis when I first came over here and there are plenty of activities to occupy your time.
Don't miss the water parks on site, the aquarium is good fun too, swimming with the dolphins is (perhaps) a little tacky but kids love it.
There are a couple of good restaurants on site, Seafire does a great steak and the Italian place makes and cooks pizza whilst you watch.
If you can get away from Atlantis for a day then do so, Dubai is relatively geared up for the heat and humidity, everywhere has decent a/c and the malls are generally quiet through the day at the moment.
Depending on how old your kids are then ski Dubai is a great way of killing a couple of hours.
There's a very good bus tour of the city using buses with good a/c, it stops at the main malls as well so you can combine a bit of sightseeing with shopping.
If you enjoy a beer in your room at night then make sure you visit the duty free shop on arrival at the airport as the hotel bars will not sell you alcohol for your room.
If you've a club level room in Atlantis then you have free access to the club lounge, the breakfast is excellent, the canapes in the afternoon less so.
Any more questions... fire away.
Currently staying in the Atlantis Palm and I am sorely disappointed.
OK the building / pools etc. have plenty of potential but the pricing is unfathomable.
I would say I understand a thing or two about premium pricing and have no qualms about high prices - even when value might be questionable.
Here at The Palm a bottle of water costs £8 and a soft drink £5.
A burger and a couple of pizzas and a round of soft drinks costs £135!
The concept seems to be modelled on better Las Vegas hotels in that they have very transient customers, day trippers etc., so there’s lots of process, queueing and ‘organisation’ / herding. I appreciate Vegas is subsidised by the gambling but I don’t understand the commercial approach at The Palm?
Literally no one is ordering by the beach / pool etc.
I would have thought that lowering the prices would inspire some demand and somewhere lies a the optimal balance between volume and profit. I don't expect it to be cheap but a bit more accessible pricing would be nice - I’m assuming for them as well as for me!
OK the building / pools etc. have plenty of potential but the pricing is unfathomable.
I would say I understand a thing or two about premium pricing and have no qualms about high prices - even when value might be questionable.
Here at The Palm a bottle of water costs £8 and a soft drink £5.
A burger and a couple of pizzas and a round of soft drinks costs £135!
The concept seems to be modelled on better Las Vegas hotels in that they have very transient customers, day trippers etc., so there’s lots of process, queueing and ‘organisation’ / herding. I appreciate Vegas is subsidised by the gambling but I don’t understand the commercial approach at The Palm?
Literally no one is ordering by the beach / pool etc.
I would have thought that lowering the prices would inspire some demand and somewhere lies a the optimal balance between volume and profit. I don't expect it to be cheap but a bit more accessible pricing would be nice - I’m assuming for them as well as for me!
This is my point, for the first time in over a decade I’ve had to radically change my spending behaviour to avoid spending or rather wasting absurd amounts of money.
Normally I’d motor on with a few adjustments to ensure my spend wasn’t absurd; but ultimately accepting the pricing is too high and somehow within someone’s boundary of acceptability; and just voting with my feet next time.
Obviously I had to go through one lunch and one set of drinks by the pool before working out the prices and then modifying my behaviour - which is now frankly embarrassing.
Walking out of breakfast with pockets full of pastries and fruit from the buffet - waiting like a rabid dog for the afternoon tea / snacks that are put on in Club lounge in the afternoon. Took me right back to being a student.
We instigated a policy of ‘stay put at the hotel’ last year (Jum Beach) to avoid charging around Dubai in taxis and hotel cars and going to places like Legoland etc (where cost wasn’t the ossue but perhaps quality was).
Now we’re going to instigate a policy of leaving the hotel every day!
Normally I’d motor on with a few adjustments to ensure my spend wasn’t absurd; but ultimately accepting the pricing is too high and somehow within someone’s boundary of acceptability; and just voting with my feet next time.
Obviously I had to go through one lunch and one set of drinks by the pool before working out the prices and then modifying my behaviour - which is now frankly embarrassing.
Walking out of breakfast with pockets full of pastries and fruit from the buffet - waiting like a rabid dog for the afternoon tea / snacks that are put on in Club lounge in the afternoon. Took me right back to being a student.
We instigated a policy of ‘stay put at the hotel’ last year (Jum Beach) to avoid charging around Dubai in taxis and hotel cars and going to places like Legoland etc (where cost wasn’t the ossue but perhaps quality was).
Now we’re going to instigate a policy of leaving the hotel every day!
It's the most common scam in Dubai and one I always hated....
Wherever you are (from Costa to Atlantis) make sure you ask for local water. If you just ask for water then you'll get sold evian or voss imported water at anything up to twenty times the cost.
Arwa or Masafi are both just fine and usually about 1aed for a 500ml bottle in the shops and 4aed or so on a menu
Wherever you are (from Costa to Atlantis) make sure you ask for local water. If you just ask for water then you'll get sold evian or voss imported water at anything up to twenty times the cost.
Arwa or Masafi are both just fine and usually about 1aed for a 500ml bottle in the shops and 4aed or so on a menu
K50 DEL said:
It's the most common scam in Dubai and one I always hated....
Wherever you are (from Costa to Atlantis) make sure you ask for local water. If you just ask for water then you'll get sold evian or voss imported water at anything up to twenty times the cost.
Arwa or Masafi are both just fine and usually about 1aed for a 500ml bottle in the shops and 4aed or so on a menu
Good tip. Scam indeed.Wherever you are (from Costa to Atlantis) make sure you ask for local water. If you just ask for water then you'll get sold evian or voss imported water at anything up to twenty times the cost.
Arwa or Masafi are both just fine and usually about 1aed for a 500ml bottle in the shops and 4aed or so on a menu
K50 DEL said:
It's the most common scam in Dubai and one I always hated....
Wherever you are (from Costa to Atlantis) make sure you ask for local water. If you just ask for water then you'll get sold evian or voss imported water at anything up to twenty times the cost.
Arwa or Masafi are both just fine and usually about 1aed for a 500ml bottle in the shops and 4aed or so on a menu
I guess now I’ve tuned into it, I’m finding a lot of things in Dubai are a bit of a scam - read the small print - not quite as advertised. Caveat emptor from now on I guess.Wherever you are (from Costa to Atlantis) make sure you ask for local water. If you just ask for water then you'll get sold evian or voss imported water at anything up to twenty times the cost.
Arwa or Masafi are both just fine and usually about 1aed for a 500ml bottle in the shops and 4aed or so on a menu
sjc said:
Did you not find that out before hand ?
Certainly I did not check the restaurant / poolside prices in advance; mainly because I have never been ‘caught out’ like this before.I’m not saying I’m Tamara Ecclestone rich, but have generally taken the life’s too short approach.
Tell a lie, I once got charged £40 for 2 gin and tonics in Courchevel once; however that was in a bar that was clearly trying to make the point of how expensive it was. Took it on the chin, giggled and moved on. The bar wasn’t there the next year. At the right time / circumstance I’d pay £35 for a couple of cocktails. But the same poolside for soft drinks?
Edited by sasha320 on Saturday 21st December 11:10
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