2 Days in Dubai

blued

We're flying to Brisbane in October and are stopping over in Dubai for a couple of days. We arrive on 3rd Oct at 0030 and leave on 5th Oct at 0245. So we'll need a hotel for the 3rd - 4th October. So long as we can find somewhere for our bags I dont think we'll need somewhere for the 5th, we'll just have a late dinner and then head to the airport.

Can anyone recommened the best district in Dubai and what the top things to see in 2 days would be? I've heard about the big bus tour, the desert safari and I think my girlfriend will want to see the mall of emirates so where is the best place to be situated for these? I'm guessing in October it'll still be too hot for beaches!

blued

Anyone got any advice?

daveyjp

Desert safari will need booking so you may need to do this on the 4th.

This leaves the 3rd to go to the mall and see anything else.

Remember Dubai is now very spread out and has horrendous traffic so getting anywhere can take a long time.

blued

I was looking and can book this in advance so think we'll do the desert safari on the 3rd leaving at 3.30pm with someone like this - http://www.desertsafaridubai.com/desert-safari-dubai.html

Then on the 4th get a 24hr ticket for the big bus tour and try to get in as many attractions and sites as possible. That just leaves something to do on the morning of the 3rd. Any ideas? Maybe Emirates Mall but I dont think I could manage all morning there! Could maybe get a hotel near a beach and relax for a while, then mall, then lunch then safari unless someone has any other ideas?

LEJC

Ski dubai is well worth a visit....we went in the middle of july..really hot outside...you hire the snow gear for a couple of hours and its the most surreal exprience going from the cold of snow inside the complex to the searing heat outside....

jcorbygas

Try asking your query on the Dubai forum on www.tripadvisor.co.uk - there are some very helpful people on there.
With regards to your hotel it depends what your budget is as October can be expensive for the beach hotels.
We normally stay at Le Meridien by the airport which has great restaurants and pools but if that is too expensive I have been reading good reviews of Premier Inn by the airport.
Taxis are cheap in Dubai and now the Metro has more stations open getting around is easier.
Although Emirates Mall is OK for looking at the ski slope the Dubai Mall has far more attractions and you really do not want to miss the fountain shows which are on every evening from around 6.00pm till 9pm - there is also the Aquarium and lots of good eating places and of course Burj Khalifa which you can go up now. If you are there in the evening you could have a drink at The Address hotel overlooking the lake/fountains - expensive drinks but a great bar - Neos. For good views of the Palm you can have drinks at The Observatory bar at the Harbour Hotel - open from 6pm.
The Big Bus tour I have heard is OK but it might be cheaper to get a taxi to drive you past the Burj and get out and take a few photos or take a taxi to the Madinat complex and you will get good views from there. If your timing is right you could do the afternoon tea at the Burj - it is quite expensive but it is a great experience.
I love Dubai and have been 4 times and will sometime go again. The Desert Safari is good fun.
If you want any more advice let me know or ask on tripadvisor.
By the way, Dubai is a place you will either love or hate!

Have a great time

Jackie

blued

Thanks, I had forgotten about ski Dubai.

Are the hotels by the airport close enough to the attractions and nightlife? It's hard to tell when looking at the maps. A beach hotel isn't really important, we'll have all the beaches we'll ever need when we get to Oz! Something with a pool would be nice though. I'll read up on what you have mentioned and go and check the prices of Le Meridien. What I will say though is when we get to Australia we'll be in budget hotels and hostels so anything to extravagant in Dubai is going to make the next stop a bit of a shock to the system!

jcorbygas

The Le Meridien by the airport is around 20 mins from Burj Dubai/Dubai Mall and around 45 mins from Jumeirah beach area.
A good hotel near the Dubai mall is the Qamardeen which is within easy walking distance of the Mall and Burj Khalifa.
With regards nightlife - there is no real area as such because you can only drink alcohol in the hotels so each hotel has its own nightlife/bars.
Another budget hotel is the Arabian Courtyard which is in the older part of Dubai and within walking distance of restaurants and the Dubai Museum and is recommended by those on Trip Advisor.

flutterbyuk25

blued wrote: »

We're flying to Brisbane in October and are stopping over in Dubai for a couple of days. We arrive on 3rd Oct at 0030 and leave on 5th Oct at 0245. So we'll need a hotel for the 3rd - 4th October. So long as we can find somewhere for our bags I dont think we'll need somewhere for the 5th, we'll just have a late dinner and then head to the airport.

Can anyone recommened the best district in Dubai and what the top things to see in 2 days would be? I've heard about the big bus tour, the desert safari and I think my girlfriend will want to see the mall of emirates so where is the best place to be situated for these? I'm guessing in October it'll still be too hot for beaches!

Is your flight all the way through to Oz from UK with the same airline? Did you choose the 2 day stopover or is it due to the way the flight is?

I had 26hour stopover in Dubai on way back from NZ in Jan due to the way the flight fell. The airline (Emirates) put me up in a hotel and provided 4 meals for me, plus transfer to and from airport. The hotel I stayed in was for Emirates customers and had lots of tours running from it, including desert safari and trips to shopping mall.

All I had to do was ring the airline to arrange the stopover.

HTH

x

blued

It is with Emirates but I chose to stop it wasn't booked as one flight if you know what I mean? I dont think this will apply but thanks anyway.

flutterbyuk25

blued wrote: »

It is with Emirates but I chose to stop it wasn't booked as one flight if you know what I mean? I dont think this will apply but thanks anyway.

There's no harm in asking! They may do a good deal on one of their hotels otherwise.

x