Any opinions on Dubai please?
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Soldato
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I’d argue there’s less to do in AD than Dubai. I was there last month, and due to landing early in the morning, I had the rest of the day to kill before work the next day.
I wandered around for a bit, went to a mall, walked out 10 mins later, and that’s about it.
Granted I have been there 10+ times before, so have done the big mosque and Yas Island.
Less to do, but can do a day trip to Dubai very easily, way less traffic, hotels are generally cheaper, equally as good beaches, just more pleasant overall IMO
If you're a self obsessed money motivated modern social media person where it's all image over substance then I'd say this was probably one of the best places on earth to try and fit into.
If you're not that then then it would be literally hell on earth.
The shops look like any mega London shopping centre(which in turn look like a US one) , it's bloody sad IMO.
If you're not that then then it would be literally hell on earth.
The shops look like any mega London shopping centre(which in turn look like a US one) , it's bloody sad IMO.
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I'd personally lose the thought of having to go from a local airport, or having to go direct, especially when you are travelling for 7h 15mins+ regardless if where you are travelling - you lose an entire day anyhow due to having to be there 2+ hours prior to leaving and then transfers at the other end after clearing immigration/customs.
Even if you wanted to go local only you could have loads more options and still end up losing the single day if going for an in-direct via AMS/CDG/FRA etc. and normally they'll come with a significant cost saving as well.
I went to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in December 2024.
Honestly, its safe and lovely to walk around and be in, but it is fake as hell and everything is very overpriced based on numerous issues with the region.
As an example, food is quite expensive as a lot is imported.
Going to Dubai in June, you'll be indoors in the air con for around 9 hours of the day as it'll be too hot outside to walk anywhere.
Honestly, its safe and lovely to walk around and be in, but it is fake as hell and everything is very overpriced based on numerous issues with the region.
As an example, food is quite expensive as a lot is imported.
Going to Dubai in June, you'll be indoors in the air con for around 9 hours of the day as it'll be too hot outside to walk anywhere.
Soldato
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Both far better choices. Enjoy!!
Associate
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Worked there in the late 90's before the Palm & Burj Khalifa went up & there was none of the attractions that bring visitors flocking in these days but the highlights for me, back then, would have been walking around the creek area and watching the dhows loading and unloading and then heading down to the gold souk. Taking an abra across to the other side always felt like an authentic Dubai experience & there are many restaurants worth exploring on the waterside.
If you hire a car, can definitely recommend driving across to Fujeirah on the East coast and stopping off at Hatta on the way for lunch at the Hatta Fort Hotel. I much preferred the beaches on that side as, in Dubai, the beaches shelve very gently so the water is shallow for a long way out & is like entering a warm bath in the middle of summer. Not really what you want, though I can only talk about the public beaches I used to visit; there may be better ones where the hotels are located. In fact, proably best to avoid public beaches, if you are female, as you are likely to get unwanted attention.
EDIT: Just seen OP's response above
If you hire a car, can definitely recommend driving across to Fujeirah on the East coast and stopping off at Hatta on the way for lunch at the Hatta Fort Hotel. I much preferred the beaches on that side as, in Dubai, the beaches shelve very gently so the water is shallow for a long way out & is like entering a warm bath in the middle of summer. Not really what you want, though I can only talk about the public beaches I used to visit; there may be better ones where the hotels are located. In fact, proably best to avoid public beaches, if you are female, as you are likely to get unwanted attention.
EDIT: Just seen OP's response above
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I've seen the OP has changed his mind, but I also have never really "got" the Dubai thing.
The usual response is "It's hot" and "the malls" but those don't really strike me as stand out things to go on holiday for - and lots of places are hot.
With that said, I'm in Vilnius right now where it's -3 and snowing so what do I know!
The usual response is "It's hot" and "the malls" but those don't really strike me as stand out things to go on holiday for - and lots of places are hot.
With that said, I'm in Vilnius right now where it's -3 and snowing so what do I know!
Worked there in the late 90's before the Palm & Burj Khalifa went up & there was none of the attractions that bring visitors flocking in these days but the highlights for me, back then, would have been walking around the creek area and watching the dhows loading and unloading and then heading down to the gold souk. Taking an abra across to the other side always felt like an authentic Dubai experience & there are many restaurants worth exploring on the waterside.
If you hire a car, can definitely recommend driving across to Fujeirah on the East coast and stopping off at Hatta on the way for lunch at the Hatta Fort Hotel. I much preferred the beaches on that side as, in Dubai, the beaches shelve very gently so the water is shallow for a long way out & is like entering a warm bath in the middle of summer. Not really what you want, though I can only talk about the public beaches I used to visit; there may be better ones where the hotels are located. In fact, proably best to avoid public beaches, if you are female, as you are likely to get unwanted attention.
EDIT: Just seen OP's response above
We do still fancy going, but at a cooler time of year, and probably 5 days instead of 10, just for a different experience, thanks for the info.
I've been a few times, only for a few days at a time though. When I fly Melbourne to Newcastle I always go emirates and generally have a stop off there. I don't mind it but don't do much but eat and drink. Wouldn't want more than 5 days there. Some good restaurants, Friday brunches are great in the big hotels. Quite like the marina area although its mega expensive. Theres a few cool things to do but once you've done them once there is little point in doing them again. Desert 4x4, top of the Burj, scuba dive in the worlds deepest pool. Last time I was there was during ramadam, went to the IMG world theme park, tremendous. There was about 50 people in the whole place and zero queues for rides. I was like a kid. Went on the front seat of the Velociraptor about 10 times. 
I have no intention of ever going back, was there for 5 days and i felt i did everthing i could have done unless you like shopping and had the money to do so. No substance at all there and i could think of many better places to go and for cheaper. Its the place that you spend a day or two at as a stop over.
Soldato
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Some of the stories I've heard coming out Dubai involving young women and wealthy Arabs are so disgusting it makes my stomach churn. If I was offered a job that would transform my life I would go there for a year but I doubt I could stay there much longer it's not the kind of place I would want to live compared to other places I've been to in the middle east.
I'll go against the grain here, I went last year for the first time in September and actually enjoyed it.
I don't mind hot weather so that wasn't a huge issue for me but I do recommend it if you want to go to a hotel and do nothing. There isn't much to do in Dubai and I can see it getting incredibly boring after a few days if you want to visit sites and explore go elsewhere but if you want to just relax and laze about Dubai is pretty good, I also didn't think it was that expensive for the hotel either
I don't mind hot weather so that wasn't a huge issue for me but I do recommend it if you want to go to a hotel and do nothing. There isn't much to do in Dubai and I can see it getting incredibly boring after a few days if you want to visit sites and explore go elsewhere but if you want to just relax and laze about Dubai is pretty good, I also didn't think it was that expensive for the hotel either
I went as part of a long business trip. Your point about fake feeling is spot on - if you have money to flitter then it's the place to be to wave your money in people's faces and for others to wave in yours. Taxis and the standard of driving is interesting. Ensure you have good medial cover and liability cover. Expect in June the temps to be hot enough to melt tarmac. It was soo hot when I went that simply going from the hotel to the taxi is a sweat inducing ordeal (and I was staying at the Hilton but wearing a suit and quite fit at the time).
Oddly I preferred Casablanca to Dubai.
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Fake hypocritical place, a mix of vacuous airheads and, at the other end, workers treated like ****
Definitely wouldn't go again and if you do go be prepared to leave your morals at home
Apart from that it's great
We loved Dubai and didn't step into one mall for two weeks, there's plenty of amazing things to do as long as you have money to do it, it's super safe, clean and laid back. Only concern I would have is air quality which is pretty poor if I went back again.