Dubai – The Bees Knees or The Dogs Dinner? [Part One]

Not long back I was out in Dubai for a short break with my other half and not  unusually we both came back with totally different opinions, so I figured it would be a good idea to voice our thoughts and let you know whether it’s for you or not.

Now firstly you have to understand that having worked in the cruise industry for  number of years, staying aboard some of the finest floating accommodation at sea, whilst indulging also in some of the  best cuisine money can buy, I have become what my fiancee refers to as a ‘Bed-Snob’. She on the other hand has travelled to various corners of the Far East & Africa with a rucksack twice her size, exposing herself to the more cultural side of things. So holidays are always a difficult topic in our house as you can imagine!

So now I am going to hit you with what we consider to be the pro’s and cons to Dubai. I’ll keep it straight forward, almost like a dummies guide, any further info you need just get in touch with me.

PRO’S

* Weather: Sunny for the most part of the year. Even in the winter season when the cruises run it’s an average of about 28 degrees centigrade, so make sure you pack your sun cream! When we went out there for the cruise, we had near enough a week of constant sunshine until the last day when the wind picked up, causing a rare sandstorm, something I had never experienced, it was like swimming in pea soup but i guess when you go to a desert for a holiday its almost to be expected!

* Accommodation: To be honest you cannot walk more than 100 yards in Dubai without coming accross a Five Star Hotel, indeed they have become synonymous with the landscape with amazing hotels such as the famous Burj Al Arab (the sail in the sea), and the magnificent Atlantis on the Palm which has its own waterpark! But even the more recognizable household names such as The Hilton, The Marriott and The Sofitel are all exceptional types of accommodation and in my opinion all great value for money.

* Shopping: I lost count of how many shops and malls there are in Dubai. Essentially it is the Disneyland for many a shopaholic year round. The bright spacious feel inside is almost like being on a giant cruise ship, and the air conditioning is awesome after plodding around in the desert heat. Yes Dubai is certainly up there with the Milan’s & Cannes  of the retail fashion world, whilst it also keeps up with the bigger malls more commonly seen in the USA.

* People: What a lovely set of people. Extremely courteous, polite and mild mannered. Similar to the Far East, the Middle Easterners are another bunch of people that make us Westerners look like knuckle dragging ogres when it comes to being treated respectfully. Very attentive in the hotels and a friendly aura about them in public. While I was in Abu Dhabi, a short distance from Dubai, to make an example of how good the locals are, she told me that if you dropped your cash filled wallet on the pavement in full view, you could leave it there and go back to it a few hours later and it would still be there! Amazing. Can’t see that on the streets of Britain can you!?

* Entertainment: Like a lot of big bustling cities, Dubai is great for modern day landmarks, and being a fan of architecture new and old I figured it best to highlight some of the unmissable photo opportunities on offer. First off, the tallest building on the planet, The Burj Khalifa. This beast is something else, don’t bother trying to see the top, you’ll likely have fallen on your backside before your eyes get half way up!  You can get up there in the high speed lift and walk around the viewing platform at the top, hope you like heights!

Next is the Atlantis Hotel, at The Palm. Now the Palm itself is a wonderful creation but if you are wanting some activity to keep you busy, there is a water parked called the Wild Wadi within the hotel itself. Here you can splash about to your hearts content with your family and friends, and even swim with dolphins!

One other brilliant facility in Dubai is Ski Dubai – a real winter wonderland with real snow! It has a ski slope, tobogganing and even is home to real Penguins! A fabulous place really if you are into that sort of thing! And you wonder why the price of petrol is so high in the UK? That’s right, so the Arabs can go skiing in the desert! Makes you really ‘piste off’ right? Seriously though it’s a great idea and tremendous fun for all the family.

Anyway…..

So far so good eh? By now i’m sure you are getting a fairly good picture of Dubai and to be honest I’ve not even scratched the surface here, like most places you have to see it to fully experience it.  However, it’s not all good. Read Part Two of my blog next week to find out what I didn’t like about the jewel in the UAE’s crown.

Interested in a cruise to Dubai? Get in touch with me!