aussiedreamer

I am in the middle of my trip report of our 28 days in the UK (over in the Europe thread) but wanted to do my small bit for the Dubai thread, as there doesn't seem to be too many 'trip reports'.

We only had 3 nights but they were completely amazing. After our 7 hour flight from London (where it averaged 20 deg c each day) walking out the door of the Dubai airport was a shock to the system. It was so hot. We atually arrived on the 1st of June (first day of summer), which we time perfectly to miss the high season...............we were going to arrive in May but the saving was huge by arriving a couple of days later 'in June'.

So it was about 42 deg c. Our Emirates Chauffer driver (thanks to b/class seats) was waiting for us and took us to Jumeriah Beach Hotel. Now, we are fairly well travelled and have stayed in some really lovely hotels but nothing will ever compare with this particular one. From the moment we pulled up and for the full 4 days we were treated like royalty. and it was all so genuine. We did go to the Burj for a look (as guests of Jumeriah Beach you can) and I have to say as much as we loved 'looking' at it from our balcony each day we were very pleased we chose the Jumeriah Beach Hotel. The Burj felt very 'cold' and not that friendly. We had gone over with the idea of having a drink and maybe dinner. But after 10 minutes we were ready to head back.

So, after checking in and being shown to our beautiful room c/w balcony that looked over the Burj and out to 'The World' and the 'Palm' over to the left, we thought we should head out. We caught the free shuttle to The Mall of the Emirates. Pretty amazing place, but we were rather tired so probably didn't appreciate it as much as we could have.

Went back to the Hotel and had the yummiest fruit mocktail in the lobby bar and people watched for a while, then went and had a sleep. Had an amazing buffet dinner at the hotel. I wish I could eat more.......it was just so lovely. Really fantastic food, from every corner of the globe and most of being made in front of you.

aussiedreamer

So after a great nights sleep and an amazing breakfast (& lots of sneeky looks off the balcony all night just to 'check' that the Burj was 'still there) we cabbed it to the Gold Souks, down town Dubai. Great ride in as we got to see a lot of the city and the area along the 'creek'.

On pulling up outside the souk we were instantly overwhelmed by people trying to a) get into our cab and (b trying to 'sell us hand bags and watches.

a) we were worried about how on earth we were going to get a cab back if it was that full on and
b) hate being confronted with pushy sales people.

We needn't have worried as once we stepped inside the souk there were no 'pushiness'. I guess they aren't allowed in.

Had a great look around and bought our DD's some white gold and diamond earings and my GF a really cool little camel (c/w 'jewels'!!!) But we decided for any 'serious' jewelery shopping we would stick with the Gold and Diamond market.

As for getting a cab........there were cabs and people everywhere. We quickly realised the drivers were picking and choosing who they would pick up (based on how far they were going we imagine). So we very assertively put our hand up, an when he pulled up we yelled that we were going to Jumeriah Beach and we were in. Quite fun acutally.

So we headed back to the hotel and had another fruity mocktail ( I'm pretty sure it was called the Emirates)& club sandwiches for lunch in the lobby. Very interesting to watch people using the water pipes.

We then had to be in the lobby by about 4pm to be picked up for our Desert dinner experience, which we booked from home.

Before I tell you about our amazing night in the desert let me say to all the people who think its cheezy and touristy.........well we 'are' tourists! We had one of the best nights of our lives. Met a wonderful couple from the UK, (with promises to keep in touch)some very funny locals and laughed and talked all night. When we arrived back at the Hotel, we couldn't go to bed.....we were just too wired. We have not stopped talking about Dubai and 'that' night since.....so read on, or not........

divine54

sorry
amaing and dubain just excludes itself.

you might have had the time of your life / but nothing will ever attract me to dubai!

div

aussiedreamer

WOH..........theres a 'response'! I guess there must be a reason????

realoc

no reason devine, is what some call... the reason there was a village idiot? too many steroids, who knows but well known around here for childlike statements.. Keep posing and have a great trip.

realoc

sorry posting..

aussiedreamer

Thanks Realoc. I did have a look at some Devine54's other post and kinda got that vibe.......... sad to be bitter & twisted oh well, takes all kinds hey?

Grcxx3

I don't think I have ever agreed with anything divine54 has posted - and I generally don't like the "tone" of the posts either, so I hate to admit it....but I don't like Dubai either.

I've tranisted thru there many, many times and that is okay. I"ve been there twice for rugby tournaments. My younger son loves the malls but the place just has no appeal to me. It's new and clean and has everything you could ever want - but to me it's just boring. Now, I do admit to liking to shop at Spinney's because we could get things that weren't available in the places we were living. So, I always came back with a suitcase full of grocery items!!!!

I guess since we lived in Egypt for so long - we've "done" the desert/bedoin/souk stuff and so it had no appeal.

So, I can't agree with you on Dubai - but I'll be sure to check out your other trip report!!! Glad you had a good time!

thit_cho

I'm not sure if I'm in the minority (or the majority), but I spend a week (November 2006) in the United Arab Emirates, basing myself in Deira, Dubai, and had a great week, visiting each of the seven Emirates, and finding Dubai much more interesting than I anticipated. I stayed at a hotel in Deira, with very few Western guests (I was the only American during my visit), and it had a very pleasant "foreign" feel, and I took most meals at schwarma stands and other hole-in-the-wall restaurants (other than my one meal at Al Mahara in the Burj -- I couldn't travel that far and not visit the Burj). I didn't have to pay any fee to enter the Burj, but that was because I had a dinner reservation (and even at $200 per person, I thought it was very fairly priced -- excellent food, plus an amazing aquarium).

I am looking forward to a return visit, hopefully a short stopover on the way to somewhere else in that part of the world.

Thanks for sharing and I admit, I frankly, cannot understand why div would waste his/her time sharing that unhelpful post. But, I guess it takes too much effort for him/her to share anything constructive.

Dana_M

Ignore anything Div has to say. S/he tires to start an argument on practically every thread, and most of what s/he has to say is complete nonsense.

I've oftened wondered about Dubai, since people seem to really either like it or dislike it. There doesn't seem to be much in between. Thanks for your post. It's very refreshing.

aussiedreamer

I'm back.........sorry got a bit distracted with 'life'...ahh the reality of coming home...sigh.

So on with the report. We were promptly picked up by a very friendly guide. We, myself, DH, a couple about our age from the Uk and a father with his young son, got into a very modern 4x4. On the drive out of Dubai we were told of the 'adventure' we would be having and the do's and don'ts. I was actually a bit concerned at the time that it would be a bit long and drawn out, as he explained we wouldn't be back until about 11pm. I needn't have worried.

After about 30 minutes we were at our first stop, where we met up with the rest of the 'convoy' as all the vehicles let some air out of their tyres. There were 33 4x4's that night which looked pretty impressive but we were told in the height of the season there is well over 100!!

Then for about half an hour we 'dune bashed' through the desert, what fun. Each vehicle trying to outdo each other with their daring. We stopped for a photo op' amongst the dunes. It was about 45degs but surprisingly the sand wasn't too hot underfoot. The veiws were amazing, my photos all show smiling faces and laughing. Everyone was really enjoying it all.

So back into the car (and yet another bottle of water from the cars 'fridge') We managed to stop and see some gazzelles and a few Orynx (sorry if the spelling is wrong).

Then we stopped at a camel farm before heading off to another great spot to watch the sun set. WOH, what a great experience.

Then we headed to our 'camp' for dinner and a camel ride. Our car was the first one in, so we got to ride the camels first. Not sure in peak periods that I would line up for too long to do this, but boy it was fun. The camp was really well done, c/w flushing toilets and great low tables and cushions.

Dinner was fairly basic, the bar was well stocked and the belly dancer ok. But the best part was the laughing and fun we had with our 'group'. Both the men had a try of the water pipes, which was quite amusing.

They also had a 'booth' where you could purchase the photos that had been taken along the way. But although they were good, we had taken plenty, and they weren't pushy at all.

Had a great drive back in the dark. Lovely to come out of the desert and see the lights of Dubai in the distance. On arriving back at our hotel, we were too 'awake' to sleep. So after more laughing with our 'new friends' we had a couple of drinks in the bar and headed upstairs.

It really was a wonderful night, very memorable.

thit_cho

Sounds great (I did a similar trip). Did you actually see wild gazelles and oryx -- I would have thought they would all have been hunted out by now, but it would be nice if some small groups managed to survive?

patsy120

loved reading your report. I've been to Dubai twice and I know I will return again. I have stayed at the Burj and it was an amazing experience. I felt the staff and service was very warm and genuine. I never felt like it was too over the top. I have walked around the Jumeriah Beach hotel. This is definitely where I will stay next time!
I love Dubai, there's no where like it in the world (from what I've seen!) Thanks for writing such a good recap.

matnikstym

I too liked Dubai. Never made it out to the Burj, too much to see on the creek. Hoping someday to return. Beautiful place and amazingly nice people!

aussiedreamer

Had a lovely sleep in (have I mentioned how awsome our room was? & that it was serviced at least twice a day) and then an amazing breakfast, woh, actually wished I could eat more.

Caught the shuttle to the Gold and Diamond markets were my DH announced he planned to get me an eternity ring.........yay. So after much deliberation and in the end it was completely his choice and what a choice it was. the most exciting part was I also had my wedding and engagement rings 'remade'. They had thinned a lot (& they weren't that big to begin with) over 24 years, but I never did anything about it as I didn't want them 'changed' in anyway.

We were really nervous as we left them with the jeweler with only his business card. had to call back later to collect, we told him we were leaving the next morning and he 'promised' to have them ready. gulp.............

We cabbed it back to the Mall of the Emirates for a better look. As lovely as it was, really just like any other mall any where in the world. Although watching people ski was surreal.

Headed back to the hotel and got changed (long pants for him) and got a golf buggy over to the Burj. We thought we would 'splash'out and have lunch there. I know a lot of people wont agree with me, but we didn't like it. Loved it from the outside, but from the moment we walked in the door we felt completely out of place. None of the friendliness of the Jumeriah Beach.....enjoyed the view from the top, but the bar was closed so we decided we'd had enough.

And it was so hot we decided on lunch by the pool and a swim. Which was lovely but it was too hot to sit around. But we did go and also have a quick swim in the ocean beside the Burj. Just lovely, although the current was incredibly strong. Really felt like we 'ticked' off another first....swimming in the Gulf!

aussiedreamer

Just to finish up this report and thank everyone for their help.

After our swim we showered and rang the jeweller, the rings were ready. So we headed back to the Gold and Diamond market to collect them. We cabbed this time as we'd missed the shuttle, but it only cost a couple of dollars. Couldn't be happier with it all. The ring we chose is lovely and the re-do of my existing one is perfect. We even lashed out and bought a necklace and earrings too. Just as a side issue I am in the process of having the ring and the other pieces valued for insurance purposes. I'll be interested to know how they 'stack' up for what we paid. We don't really mind as we feel we got a bargain and I'm really happy with it all.

A work acquaintance recently went to Dubai and bought a lot of jewellery and when he had it valued here he was very impressed, we'll see. Don't like the thought of getting ripped off, but I guess that’s the chance you take. (I'll let you know)

So we cabbed back to the hotel and had our final dinner in the English Pub, which was kinda ironic, but we felt quite fitting.

So our holiday was over. The driver collected us at 6.15am and it was a smooth transition to the plane. Flight home was uneventful with a few hours in Singapore to stock up on DD's makeup (their favourite cosmetic shopping destination).

Used the chauffer drive again on arrival in Brisbane, although we only live 15mins from the airport it was just easy. Lovely to see the girls and be home.

Now we just have to try and use the Emirates points we accrued by paying for business class seats. We are thinking of securing flights to 'anywhere' anytime within a 6month period, to Europe and designing a holiday around that. Hopefully that will give us some chance of getting seats.........we'll see.

Below are a few snapshots of our amazing stay in Dubai

http://www4.snapfish.com.au/thumbnai...4321_143664321

And the link to our 28 Day driving in the UK report.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35140391

Mandilulur

So glad you enjoyed it! I was in Dubai for three days just the week before you, staying at the Jumeirah Hilton (I WISH the Jumeirah Beach!)Did my gold shopping and trading at the souk and had brunch at the Burj. And everyone was so friendly in Dubai, amazing for such a large and busy city. I live in Doha and get down to the UAE for a little retail therapy once in a while - it's also a great place to take Amercian friends for the "gee whiz" factor.

P_M

Thank you for so much good info aussiedreamer. I would like to visit Dubai someday--but not in the hot season.

Tropical_gal

Loved your report - Aussiedreamer - it brought back lots of memories and I too love staying in Dubai. We make it a stopover whenever we fly to Europe or Africa and, in fact, we leave this weekend and I cant wait. I have also booked a room at the Atlantis Hotel on the Palm which opens tomorrow! So excited, so that will be two days of discovery of this new island called Palm and then we fly to Zambia, Namibia and South Africa for a whole month. Can't wait.
Thanks for sharing!
Alison

emowens

After a cruise in the Persian Gulf we spent a night at the Burj. We really liked it. The staff could not have been more hospitable and attended to our every need even before we knew we needed it. We were met as we entered the hotel, called by name and escorted by our room by one of the hostesses. It was great.

We did the desert trip, sand dunes, dinner etc. Of course, the world, palm islands and other things too. I am glad I went.