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I made notes every day when I was in Dubai last autumn, which helped me write this essay, “Dubai Travel Guide for First Time Visitors”! I don’t know about you, but looking up stuff online is one of the most annoying things I have to do while getting ready for a vacation. I go through a ton of articles to make sure I have adequate knowledge for that nation or location.
Since how many of us really have the time to read a whole Lonely Planet book? (Despite the fact that I still sometimes download them I shall therefore keep writing travel guides for my audience. My first post on Dubai summarized my five days there and included some of my favorite photos. You may plan your trip to Dubai with the aid of that post. This is a lengthy list of travel advice for Dubai that will address almost all of your additional needs. Here is my travel guide to Dubai, then!
How to Get There from Dubai
We flew straight from New York City to Dubai on Emirates Airlines. It was a wonderful bargain, two for one on airfare! I would advise registering on Emirates Airlines’ website since they often have offers and operate flights from a number of American towns. In Dubai, they also provide complimentary layovers. We saw other individuals who were using Emirates to fly to foreign destinations, with a stopover in Dubai on route.
Another option is to arrive in Abu Dhabi via Etihad Airways and travel an hour to Dubai by cab or shuttle bus. There’s also Qatar Airways. Before moving on to Dubai, they stop in Doha. Of course, you may also fly with US-based carriers.
The Summer is the Greatest Time to Visit Dubai! Of course I know. With highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s, the “winter months,” which correspond to our own, are colder. From November until March is this period. Given these temperatures, it seems like Dubai is experiencing its peak tourist season. If you schedule your vacation around this time, be prepared for more crowds and somewhat higher rates. But during the summer, which lasts from June to August, the average high temperature is 105!
The Greatest Locations for Accommodation
Dubai has an abundance of hotels, particularly those that are luxurious. You may also look via rental websites like Airbnb. The first thing you should consider while choosing a place is that Dubai is a lengthy strip. If you’ve gone to Cancun or Las Vegas, that’s where I compare it. We continued traveling up and down the same major route, back and forth.
Around the Dubai mall, which houses the Burj Khalifa, is the most central and hence busiest place. The Dubai Marina is located at the other end, and the Palm Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab are nearby. The Dubai airport and Old Dubai with its souks are at the further end of this “strip.” Jumeirah Beach, which stretches the length of this strip, is lined with eateries, boutiques, and beach resorts. You could choose to stay closer to one of these locations depending on your interests.
Navigating Dubai
In Dubai, like in every big city or tourist destination, traffic is heavy. And there’s traffic at rush hour. You should know that Sunday through Thursday is the work week in Dubai. Friday and Saturday are their weekend days. This has an impact on how long it takes to travel between locations in a vehicle or cab. Weekend traffic is much less.
Taxis Opt for a standard taxi rather than a luxury Lexus to get the greatest deals. Make sure the taxi has a meter, and find out how much it will cost to get from one place to another. For instance, we were not aware of the automatic fee that runs from the Dubai Mall to the Palm Jumeirah Metro station.
Metro Dubai has a very hygienic and user-friendly Metro system. Given the traffic, this could be your best option throughout the workday and rush hour. But on the day we used it, we discovered that it was packed (there were no seats available), that we had to switch trains and endure lengthy waits since it was a weekend, and that it was a long walk from the Dubai mall to the metro! We rode the Metro for about an hour to reach our destination, so allow plenty of time if you need to change trains. The trains operate more often throughout the week.
buses with hop-on/hop-off
There are two systems accessible, and this is an additional perspective on Dubai. Both may be picked up from the Dubai Mall and have separate routes that take you to all the major locations. Regretfully, we were unable to view as much on our bus as we would have liked because of Thursday rush hour traffic. So, if you’re going to do this, be sure you get an early start, do it on the weekend, or get a multi-day ticket.
What to Don in Dubai
Many visitors to the United Arab Emirates experience worry because of this, particularly women who are considering visiting Dubai. Before our vacation, I came across this really informative essay. In general, visitors and expats dress normally. I only ever donned an abaya and traditional hijab when I went to the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. That should apply to any mosque that you attend, I suppose.
I was truly shocked by how skimpy individuals were dressed, or not, while I was on the beach. In Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab restaurants, you are also requested to wear closed-toe shoes with slacks or, for women, long skirts with your shoulders covered.
PDA in public
My spouse read that it was possible for us to get arrested in Dubai for making public shows of love, so we decided against it before we got there. A kiss on the cheek and a handshake are OK, I discovered later.
What Would It Cost to Go to Dubai?
Money, Money, and More Money! I found Dubai to be expensive, or at least on pace with the US, while I’m sure there’s a more affordable way to visit. The Arab Emirate Dirham, or AED, is the name of its currency. It may be shortened to DH or DHS in advertisements. It’s helpful that the dollar note denominations have Arabic on one side and English on the other. Coins are also present.
As of right now, one dirham is worth 0.27 USD. However, once I calculated the equal or higher price for our accommodation, meals, excursions, and taxis than I would have in the US. Remember that I write about luxury travel, so I went on several private excursions, had high tea at the Burj Al Arab, and slept at a five-star hotel on the Dubai Marina.
Although you may exchange money at the airport when you arrive, we found that the exchange rates in the malls are somewhat better. And the number of malls is enormous. Most establishments only accept Visa or Mastercard when it comes to American credit cards. According to our experience, American Express was accepted at our hotel and at the Nike shop in the Dubai Mall, but otherwise not.
Does English Speaking Exist in Dubai?
The majority of individuals spoke English well, and almost all of the signage, including menus and street signs, was bilingual in Arabic and English. It was incredibly simple to navigate as a result.
Food and Drink
The cuisine is wonderful and freshly prepared! Dubai is well-known for its diverse food, and you can get almost everything you might possibly desire to eat here. I could not wait to taste real Middle Eastern food. While enjoying breakfast at Saffron at the Atlantis resort, I saw that there is a strong Asian influence, notably Indian influence, on Dubai’s cuisine.
You shouldn’t expect to find pork in the eateries here since this is a Muslim area. But there’s also an abundance of fish, lamb, beef, and chicken. Popular foods include marinated entire fish (I once ate a full sea bass instead of a filet while in Dubai), hummus, curried meals, shawarma (sliced beef like a kebab), and basmati rice. Dates are a huge hit too. Date markets and upscale date stores may be found in malls, and they are available in a multitude of variations. Try it with some Arabic coffee.
While in Dubai, please, please avoid all the American fast-food restaurants!
Alcohol: In Dubai, visitors are permitted to consume alcohol in hotels, pubs, and restaurants with a license. Our accommodation has a fully stocked fridge! But drinking in public—including on the beach—is prohibited. It’s also forbidden to be intoxicated in public (if only this were the situation in the US) In Dubai, you would need a license in order to buy alcohol. You may avoid this by buying booze at the airport duty-free store.
Things Not to Do in Dubai
See my post on my five days in Dubai to learn more about the “must-do” activities and sights. However, sometimes learning about “CAN miss” tourist attractions is just as crucial as getting travel advice. These are the Dubai attractions that, in my opinion, you shouldn’t worry too much about integrating into your vacation.
The Burj Khalifa’s summit
Even though it was packed, the operation was well-run. I was not, however, struck with the vistas from the summit. Although the day was a little foggy, the most of what we saw were the nearby buildings and the desert. I believe you will be let down if you have climbed other structures like the John Hancock Building or the Empire State Building.
Every Friday is Friday Buffet Brunch at Saffron at the Atlantis Resort Brunch in Dubai. Saffron was my choice since it seemed like a good daytime gathering. In actuality, it was brunch on steroids. A DJ was playing, and there was more food and drink than you could finish in three or four hours. This will be enjoyable if you are traveling with a group, in my opinion. This is not the place to go if you’re hoping for a finer or more private brunch experience.
The Palm of Atlantis
In relation to Atlantis, you may have spotted the resort situated at the end of the Palm Jumeirah in photographs. Despite having visited Atlantis in the Bahamas, I knew I wanted to go to the island and resort after staring at this man-made island for years. To visit the several islands that comprise the Palm, we rode the monorail to Atlantis. That was a very great section. But Atlantis was a massive hotel/resort with people all over the place. It took a long time to locate Saffron, and security officers were on duty to ensure that visitors did not approach areas reserved for the guests.
