Free holiday

anything I don't mind

anything I don't mind

anything I don't mind

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I'm going to dubai on a free holiday :D

Technically i'm going to abu dhabi but will be going to dubai as well.

My dad works out there and he is paying for my sister and myself to go out there so its a free holiday in terms of plane and hotel costs. But will be spending a lot on going out etc.

Anyone have any suggestions on things to see ?

Already have on the list is the yas waterpark and the dubai mall.

I want to go on some jet ski and also go diving as i have my license, any good places to do that? any suggestions ?
 
Wow. I literally just got back from Dubai yesterday night after going out to visit my parents on a free holiday. Was such an awesome place.

If you are going to a waterpark, go to Wild Wadi, just next to the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, it is by far the best, even better than Atlantis, and the queues this time of year are minimal.
Dubai mall is amazing, I recommend checking out the aquarium, its the single largest pane of glass in existence, rather mind blowing. Also go through the tunnel and check out the tiger sharks, rather cool.
There is also a good indoor ski slope at the mall, again I think the largest indoor real snow one in the world. If you can't ski or board, you can just head in and go sledging and go for a hot chocolate half way up :)

Also fully on the list is of course the Burj Khalifa, simply a stunning building (again, tallest in the world). Check it out later afternoon, 4 ish. As you come down, the fountains will start up outside (at aprox 6.30 every half hour) and are actually really emotive and moving with the music and atmosphere of the place.

I would also HIGHLY recommend one of the Arabian Adventures companies in Dubai or Ab Dab, they take you in big 4x4s into the desert and do dune driving, then to a desert resort where they feed you traditional food and out on evening entertainment. A really great evening and you meet some interesting people.

The mosque in Abu Dhabi is also stunning and well worth a visit if you get time.
 
Arsonist said:
Wow. I literally just got back from Dubai yesterday night after going out to visit my parents on a free holiday. Was such an awesome place.

If you are going to a waterpark, go to Wild Wadi, just next to the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, it is by far the best, even better than Atlantis, and the queues this time of year are minimal.
Dubai mall is amazing, I recommend checking out the aquarium, its the single largest pane of glass in existence, rather mind blowing. Also go through the tunnel and check out the tiger sharks, rather cool.
There is also a good indoor ski slope at the mall, again I think the largest indoor real snow one in the world. If you can't ski or board, you can just head in and go sledging and go for a hot chocolate half way up :)

Also fully on the list is of course the Burj Khalifa, simply a stunning building (again, tallest in the world). Check it out later afternoon, 4 ish. As you come down, the fountains will start up outside (at aprox 6.30 every half hour) and are actually really emotive and moving with the music and atmosphere of the place.

I would also HIGHLY recommend one of the Arabian Adventures companies in Dubai or Ab Dab, they take you in big 4x4s into the desert and do dune driving, then to a desert resort where they feed you traditional food and out on evening entertainment. A really great evening and you meet some interesting people.

The mosque in Abu Dhabi is also stunning and well worth a visit if you get time.
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Actually Yas waterworld is much better than both Aquaventure and Wild Wadi.

Also Arabian Adventures is the last company I would go dune bashing with. Very tourist orientated, they drive POS tahoes on tame dunes. The smaller companies will give you a much more intimate experiance and some proper offroading in LandCruisers.

I'd recommend getting in touch with Al Boom diving http://alboomdiving.com/ and doing a day trip to Dibba in Oman. The Dhow trips on Fridays are amazing.
 
Ah Hamish might be right about Yas park, only opened recently so I've not managed to try it out yet.
Yeah Arabian Adventures is tourist orientated, but the dunes we drove on were far from tame, most of us got stuck at one point or another, and they were also Land Cruisers, not whatever the heck you mentioned lol.
 
If you're into watersports you can do jetskis and kitesurfing around Yas island. There's also a decent wakeboard cable park in the city. I don't dive but I'm sure you can do it somewhere nearby.

Def checkout the Burj Khalifa in Dubai at around sunset also the gold souk (market).

If your old enough and want to party then champagne brunch on Fridays at saffron @ Atlantis is a good way to start the weekend :)
 
Thanks for the suggestions. :D

I was looking at all the different water parks and each one has its merits.

I want to go to one of the high bars i think there is one called atmosphere or something like that. But ill look in to the saffron.

I was looking on trip advisor and there are some places where you can rent a 4 wheeler and go off on a ride in to the desert, will have to see if we can do something like that.

Ill have a look around the yas island as well for beach and water sports. I got my new camera as well so ill try take some good pictures.
 
groen said:
Thanks for the suggestions. :D

I was looking at all the different water parks and each one has its merits.

I want to go to one of the high bars i think there is one called atmosphere or something like that. But ill look in to the saffron.

I was looking on trip advisor and there are some places where you can rent a 4 wheeler and go off on a ride in to the desert, will have to see if we can do something like that.

Ill have a look around the yas island as well for beach and water sports. I got my new camera as well so ill try take some good pictures.
Click to expand...

Atmpsphere is overrated, just an average bar on the floor above Burj Khalifa observation deck. I think it's 400dhs minimum charge. Would rather go to the bar at the top of the address. Forgot what it's called but it's on the 80th odd floor and has amazing views of the burj khalifa.

Not sure what you mean by '4 wheeler', if you mean car I would definitely not go out without at least 3 cars, the right gear and someone experienced.
If you mean quads you can rent them from next to Big Red on the E44 (Al Khail road). Make sure you haggle or they'll rip you off. SHouldn't be paying more than 200dhs for an hour. These are a bit slow/tourist quads though.
If you want the real thing my mate runs http://www.emiratesbiketours.com/ . They will do you a half day tour for a similar price and they have proper enduro bikes and 700cc raptor quads.

And def go to Yas waterworld over the other two. By far the best, brand new and less busy when I went. Their slides are amazing. They have one with a loop in, and some huge ring rides which are way better than wild wadi's and aquaventures. The snake slides look tame but they are well fun too.

Oh yeah and for brunches Saffron is ok but very touristy. Lots of better options. Would recommend Yalumba or Westin for the proper experience. Grand Grille if you like steak. All unlimited food and beer/wine/champers in the sun all afternoon for 50 quid or so.
 
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