Anyone here been to dubai?
Discussion
The locals moaned that it cost £5 instead of £3 to fill up their cars with petrol 
Hotels and resorts are very nice, and very 5*, and the 4x4 dune bashing is
However, the problem is it's "too perfect", everything ticks the boxes, fags are £8 per 200, there is no major crime, everyone drives Cayennes or Nissans, and a taxi costs 6 times less than the uk, but IMHO it is missing something. In the same way as if you have steak everyday, sometimes you crave a hamburger, but hamburgers are not on the menu...
Hotels and resorts are very nice, and very 5*, and the 4x4 dune bashing is
However, the problem is it's "too perfect", everything ticks the boxes, fags are £8 per 200, there is no major crime, everyone drives Cayennes or Nissans, and a taxi costs 6 times less than the uk, but IMHO it is missing something. In the same way as if you have steak everyday, sometimes you crave a hamburger, but hamburgers are not on the menu...
Where to start? My Missus lived there for several years when she was a trolley dolly for Emirates, and my sister lived there for five years.
Its not as good now as it used to be (its being rapidly over developed and it's like a massive building site) but it's excellent for weather, best waterpark in the world, probably the best shopping, although it's not as cheap as it used to be. Watches are no longer cheaper there but gold and diamonds are, wifes engagement ring was valued at 5K more than we paid!
Go on a desert safari, go and have dinner in the Burj, try Vu's restaurant at the Emirates towers, eat at the fish restaurant at the Jumeirah Beach hotel, have a night out in the Irish village, go to the long bar etc. etc. you'll have an excellent week. DONT go between May and September its too bloody hot. Try to go in Feb/March when the shopping festival is on.
Its not as good now as it used to be (its being rapidly over developed and it's like a massive building site) but it's excellent for weather, best waterpark in the world, probably the best shopping, although it's not as cheap as it used to be. Watches are no longer cheaper there but gold and diamonds are, wifes engagement ring was valued at 5K more than we paid!
Go on a desert safari, go and have dinner in the Burj, try Vu's restaurant at the Emirates towers, eat at the fish restaurant at the Jumeirah Beach hotel, have a night out in the Irish village, go to the long bar etc. etc. you'll have an excellent week. DONT go between May and September its too bloody hot. Try to go in Feb/March when the shopping festival is on.
My brother lives there so been a couple of times.
There is a lot of development going on at present so careful choice of your hotel is required, although I always find building sites quite interesting to watch! You'll probably want to go to the beach a bit, and some of the hotels are quite a long taxi ride from the city centre, especially with the traffic jams that now exist! If you go for a city centre hotel try and go for one that gives access to the Jumeriah Beach Club, as that is nearer the city. Many hotels tend to link with the Jebel Alley Beach Resort which is a fair old hike away!
Gold Souk, Spice Souk are good, shopping centres fantastic and of course there is the new snowdome which just seeing is a surreal experience!
Alcohol is only available to non-residents at hotels, so you won't find it at restaurants not connected to a hotel.
The Wild Wadi waterpark does shut on occasions for maintenace so if that floats your boat check its not due to shut for routine maintenance whilst you are there.
There is/was paragliding off the beaches, take extreme care. When we were there in November the paragliding was going on despite poor weather being forecast. The end result being a 10yr old boy was blown away to his death over the top of our heads. Fortunately not witnessed by me, but was by my sister in law.
The airport is incredible, and duty-free fantastic. You can buy duty free on your way in to the country which may save on hotel bar bills!
Theres not a lot to do though so once you have done it thats that! So if relaxing by the beach is not your style you a week is the maximum stay you want!
There is a lot of development going on at present so careful choice of your hotel is required, although I always find building sites quite interesting to watch! You'll probably want to go to the beach a bit, and some of the hotels are quite a long taxi ride from the city centre, especially with the traffic jams that now exist! If you go for a city centre hotel try and go for one that gives access to the Jumeriah Beach Club, as that is nearer the city. Many hotels tend to link with the Jebel Alley Beach Resort which is a fair old hike away!
Gold Souk, Spice Souk are good, shopping centres fantastic and of course there is the new snowdome which just seeing is a surreal experience!
Alcohol is only available to non-residents at hotels, so you won't find it at restaurants not connected to a hotel.
The Wild Wadi waterpark does shut on occasions for maintenace so if that floats your boat check its not due to shut for routine maintenance whilst you are there.
There is/was paragliding off the beaches, take extreme care. When we were there in November the paragliding was going on despite poor weather being forecast. The end result being a 10yr old boy was blown away to his death over the top of our heads. Fortunately not witnessed by me, but was by my sister in law.
The airport is incredible, and duty-free fantastic. You can buy duty free on your way in to the country which may save on hotel bar bills!
Theres not a lot to do though so once you have done it thats that! So if relaxing by the beach is not your style you a week is the maximum stay you want!
Went earlier in the year. Fantastic place they are aiming to rebuild the economy to increase tourist revenue to supplant oil money currently they have loads of first class tourist facilities but not many tourists so it is idea.
Loads of development everywhere so agree with the building site comments, not really a problem.
I would recommend the tour of Jumeriha mosque which is the only one open to non muslims in the country.
Dune bashing also very good fun.
Did not find the hotel too expensive but booze was not cheap, although not in a different league to central London for instance.
Disagree with earlier posters comments about watches, I saved a tidy sum on a Breitling
Ace place for car spotting, stacks of interesting motors and always the top model, the reverse of the UK where every Cayanne is an S, in Dubai they are all turbos for instance.
Ben
Loads of development everywhere so agree with the building site comments, not really a problem.
I would recommend the tour of Jumeriha mosque which is the only one open to non muslims in the country.
Dune bashing also very good fun.
Did not find the hotel too expensive but booze was not cheap, although not in a different league to central London for instance.
Disagree with earlier posters comments about watches, I saved a tidy sum on a Breitling
Ace place for car spotting, stacks of interesting motors and always the top model, the reverse of the UK where every Cayanne is an S, in Dubai they are all turbos for instance.
Ben
benyeats said:
Went earlier in the year. Fantastic place they are aiming to rebuild the economy to increase tourist revenue to supplant oil money currently they have loads of first class tourist facilities but not many tourists so it is idea.
.............
I would recommend the tour of Jumeriha mosque which is the only one open to non muslims in the country.
I read somwhere thtat oil now only accounts for 7% of Dubais GDP!
And yes the mosque is very interesting and good backgrounnd to the muslim faith for those of a different religon.
>> Edited by chrisgr31 on Sunday 1st January 23:50
A night at he Buurj Al Arab, and a day at the Wild wadi is well worth the money. Good golf out at jebel ali... There are a huge range of hotels, from cheap and basic, to the fancy pants Burj... Excellent nightlife. Irish village definately worth a visit, and their central mall is Huuuugee! great cultural sights to see. head down to the market at the docks. Lots of loccals, selling local stuff, along with tat, but good to wander round. Plus, if you go around the back, (where we were alongside), there are all the fishing, and cargo dows. Well worth a good photo or 3... great place.
Hi gamer
I am heading to Dubai next week (9th) to visit my daughter who lives there, if there is something specific you would like checked out or information on I will try to get it for you.
I have never been but expect to be there several times a year while she lives there (she has only been there a couple of months).
Murray
I am heading to Dubai next week (9th) to visit my daughter who lives there, if there is something specific you would like checked out or information on I will try to get it for you.
I have never been but expect to be there several times a year while she lives there (she has only been there a couple of months).
Murray
Take a drive or taxi (i.e e or s class merc) up to abu dhabi and eat in and look round the Emirates Palace Hotel. I think the hotel cost around $3billion... it is awesome. Dinner prices for in the italian resteraunt (been there twice) are similar to a good london resteraut. I.e. not as cheap as the rest of the middle east but not expensive either. Or just go for a look around the hotel 
Shopping in AD is pretty average, though I did get a good deal on a chipped ps2 and 15 games plus bits
Dave
p.s. if your muslim and order the pepperoni pizza without the pepperoni - it comes with duck bacon and is great.
>> Edited by David A on Monday 2nd January 10:43
Shopping in AD is pretty average, though I did get a good deal on a chipped ps2 and 15 games plus bits
Dave
p.s. if your muslim and order the pepperoni pizza without the pepperoni - it comes with duck bacon and is great.
>> Edited by David A on Monday 2nd January 10:43
Corpulent Tosser said:
Hi gamer
I am heading to Dubai next week (9th) to visit my daughter who lives there, if there is something specific you would like checked out or information on I will try to get it for you.
I have never been but expect to be there several times a year while she lives there (she has only been there a couple of months).
Murray
Thanks!!
Although i'm not really into gaming at the moment (Despite my inmature username) I was wondering about the price of a PSP/Ipod and console games in general!!
Thanks in advance,
Paul
joncastle said:
Hi - tell us why you're asking, and can probably give you a better answer.
I love it - zero tax, petrol at 90p per gallon, year round sunshine. Yes, there are some downsides, but you learn to deal with them. And it gets HOT in summer.
Jon
Well, I'm sort of thinking of living there. I know going on holiday somewhere doesn't really tell you much about living there, but it's fascinating and useful all the same!!
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