Dubai - Anyone been?

Linoge

I can't help thinking of it as "the hip new destination" which is really putting me off. But the flights are reasonable, hotels are cheap and the city looks beautiful.

Has anyone been? What is there to do and is it expensive over there?

Thanks in anticipation:)

jonny68

Linoge wrote:

I can't help thinking of it as "the hip new destination" which is really putting me off. But the flights are reasonable, hotels are cheap and the city looks beautiful.

Has anyone been? What is there to do and is it expensive over there?

Thanks in anticipation:)

There have been several threads about Dubai on here before might be an idea to use the search function but anyway here goes.

Dubai is the best City ive ever been to,it's an amazing place,can be expensive but can also be cheap,you need to know where to go.

You'll get cheap flights and hotels now because it's so bloody hot there now that people tend not to go,well some do but only if you fancy staying in the shade all the time because of the extreme summer Dubai heat..winter time is the best time to go but it's also more expensive for flights and Hotels.

The Hotels and Restaurants are some of the best ive come across ever,if your loaded stay in the best Hotel in the World http://www.burj-al-arab.com/
Ive been there with my mate who lives there for afternoon tea/coffee,you have to book in advance and dress smartly,it's a sight to behold both outside and inside,stunning architecture.

There is lots to see and do,i recommend http://www.dubaicityguide.com/main/index.asp
Don't forget to visit my mates bar The Dubliners http://www.timeoutdubai.com/barsandclubs/review.php?id=32
best Irish bar in Dubai,you'll have a good time there,ill be in Dubai again this xmas,been twice already cant wait to go back,id move over there if i got the right job,unfortunately thesedays the Indians,etc will do the same job as us for a fraction of the wages.

Anyway if you need anymore info or wanna see some photos i took let me know

growler

great spot, but bloody hot in the summer, if you have a week or two you won't be bored, Dubai has everything you want for entertainment, great place and loads to do.

I'd recommend doing one of the "traditional" desert nights, good craic if you like smoking apple hookah pipes, a camel ride and a few kebabs, the 4x4 drives in the sand are a laugh, the wild wadi water park is good, the Irish village for a a bit of stew and a guiness and inevitably leads to a party somwhere, great beaches with jet skis, sailinng, snorkelling etc., plus there is (nealry) always something going on sport-wise . It can be expensive but its not a lot more than ireland. Don't touch a duty free til you arrive !!

MistyGer

Definitely worth a visit - its a shop til you drop destination! I was there with my husband and the prices (alcohol etc.) isnt much different from here and the cheap cost of everything else compensates. The only thing I found hard was the stares, all the women are covered up as we know so when they see an Irish blond walking down the street in a skirt and strappy top they stare big time!

Bring lots of shopping money, we were in the Dubliners also, great pub! The desert tour is brilliant (bring an inhaler if you have asthma!), we did the boat tour also, down the river at night seeing all the fabulous architecture lit up was unreal. And the price of gold..........need I say more!

Linoge

Thanks for all the replies!

GrumPy

I am going over *hopefully* for a few nights to check the place out, my parents just invested in an apartment. Always wanted to see the place.

Joeyjoejoe Jnr

Beware the heat!

I was there in march and a taxi driver told me that once the temperature goes over 47 degrees celcius (117 fahrenheight) they declare a public holiday due to amount of construction, but because they are under so much pressure to finish the construction they never declare a temperature higher than 47 degrees. He said it regularly gets to 50 degrees (122 F) and can get into the mid to high 50's (around 130 deg. F) during a heatwave so if you can, wait till october/november.
Apart from that, its a fantastic place. Makes our construction boom of the past few years look like a sandcastle building competition!