Dubai Trip Report
 

Just returned from a quick 5 day trip to Dubai. Friendly Planet.com offered a $1500 hotel/flight to Dubai. We thought it was a deal and a great place to go.
Flew Emirates air direct from JFK. Flight ok not bad not great. Hotel was the Al Manzil. Nice hotel close to the Burj tower being built. Hotel was very nice with typical large buffet bfst. Weird thing about the room was that there was a large tub in the center of the room all glassed in. Odd, but nice for watching the big flat screen tv....Great friendly staff. Included was a 1/2 day city tour. Ok but not great. Enjoyed looking at gold souk and spice souk and the abra boat trip across the creek, however if you are well traveled, you'd like the spice markets in Istanbul and Cairo just as well. Spent the first night wandering around the hotel complex and the complex across the street at the Palace Hotel. Area will be fabulous in 6 months plus when everything is finished. Next day took a tour with Oasis tours (Friendly Planet's contact) to Al Ain. Interesting full day tour. Saw camel races, camel market and lots of other things too numerous to mention. Topography is very mountainous as you head further. We were feet from the Oman border. While the day tour was typical of that type of tours including buffet lunch at the Intercontinental (We don't like that type of thing) we felt it was a good way to spend the day since our time in Dubai was so limited. That night we went to the Madinet mall. had dinner at Zheng He chinese restaurant on the canal overlooking the Burj Arab hotel. Romantic and fabulous food. You must try the wasabi prawns. WOW! I must get that recipe. Madinet is interesting and a fun way to spend the evening. It was chilly though and we were still a little cold even with the heater near our table and we are wisconsinites
Next day booked our own guide through BelHasa tours at the concierge desk. went to Sharjah. Spent a really nice day in that area going to museums and just hanging out. Later in the afternoon we took the desert safari with desert safari dubai. Great fun. There were two other couples in our car, (older) who did not enjoy it. Be ready to be banged around and if you have a queasy stomach or don't like wild rides forgetaboutit. That ended with a typical desert dinner and belly dancing, buffet, arabic coffee etc. at an outdoor camp. It was really fun. If we had had more time another day my husband would have loved to take one of the driving courses they offer. (me too!)
Next day we had asked Oasis travel to provide us with our own guide to Fujairah which is the east coast and some fishing villages near Dibba. The Oasis rep dropped the ball and never scheduled it. So we spent the day at the pool and went to the emirates mall. In the evening we went to the Dhow dinner cruise up the creek. Totally not impressive. The only good reason to take it is it is something to do between 8pm and midnight since the plane back to JFK leaves at 2am. Bottom line: no matter where you stay you really need to take cabs. They are plentiful and reasonably priced. They only charge fare when they are moving. The Friendly Planet tour is a good deal from the standpoint of airfare and hotel. They have no rep and Oasis tours is pathetically disorganized. I do recommend their package, just book what you want to do through the concierge. You will have a great time. The 30 people in the group were all well traveled and though the only thing we did together was the first day city tour, we frequently met and compared notes and shared cabs and tours. Just don't expect that from friendly planet. But I don't believe you can do better with flight and hotels than their package. We enjoyed Dubai, the city of cranes, construction and massive traffic jams. Oh, many in our group paid $75. to either have a drink at the BurjArab hotel sky bar, or have tea there in the afternoon. Most were disappointed. But all agreed that the Tea was more fun, gave them a better look and was more enjoyable than the drink at the bar. We didn't do either so I am just relaying info.
I would have liked one more day, but it was a great way to see a fun city.

Nice report k. Too bad it was cold! I live in Dubai, its been quite a wet and chilly January. However its always interesting to get a tourists view of this city! Did you visit Jumeirah Mosque, or the Dubai Musuem or the Sheikh's old house? Diving would have been great at Fujairah/Dibba (not so much Dubai), and also Mussandam (also a nice day trip).

Yes, we did the Jumeirah mosque and had a cab driver swing by at night so we could see it lit. It is under construction though so not as pretty as I expect it would look. We liked the museum and spent some time walking in the old city. The museum is small but very, very well done. We also liked the old museum in Sharjah.
On our list to visit was also Mussandam and Abu Dhabi, but we didn't have the time. We are big snorkelers but not divers due to my husband ruining his ears diving during his college days. I was disappointed we didn't get to do Abu Dhabi or Fujairah, but we did get to the Wadi mall and Mall of the Emirates. No skiing for us as we have ski hills here in Madison 30 minutes away. It was fun to watch the little kids in their snow suits sledding. Though I didn't buy any jewelry or purses, I did notice that the Marc Jacobs purse I have been lusting after was just a little cheaper than home. I had also just bought a little Tiffany heart bracelet as an item to be sold for a silent auction Item for an organization I belong to and the $185. bracelet was $165. If we are ever on a flight to Australia, Africa or another place that has a stopover option in Dubai, we will definitely take another day or two and visit again. It was a great way to spend a week and now I'm back home with a huge snow storm and 8 inches of new snow UGH!

Many thanks for your trip report. I am seriously thinking of scheduling a very last minute trip with my 22 year old daughter there for 3-4 days and was wondering if it would be advisable to try it for just such a short time. We have a great deal on airfare and she has the time off from her job-she is well traveled and loved her time in Tunisia and Turkey. What are everyone's thoughts? Could we do this trip and see the highlights in 3/4 days without breaking the bank on a hotel? Thanks!

I was there for about 36 hours and it wasn't enough time for sure. Would love to go back for a few days. Very interesting place, friendly people and good food.

Yes, I do think it is enough time to see things. Could you use more time, of course, but most flights from JFk arrive in the morning leaving you a full day and you are well rested from the flight so you can use the entire day for sightseeing, and the flights back leave at 2am so you have that full day. That gives you extra time compared to a lot of places where you arrive in late afternoon and leave in the am. Go for it.

Actually the flight arrives from Atlanta at 705pm on a Thursday and then we would have to leave on Sunday night for the return so am thinking that it might not be feasible or reasonable.