Dubai tips and help?

bernie115

Hello

I'm looking to book a holiday to Dubai sometime next year (maybe Easter) for a week to Dubai with hubby and DS. Which is the best/cheapest airline? Would prefer direct flights - Any advice on hotels would be much appreciated - we are thinking of probably half board cos we have heard it can be really expensive. Again, hoping we can be guided by you great people! Thanks:j

cheesypop

Hi,

Can't really advise you on the best airline (I've always gone with virgin as the times have suited me best) or hotel as I always stay with friends. However....
which hotel you choose really depends on what you plan on doing while you are there. Most of the beaches are privately owned by the hotel so if you fancy spending a week on the beach you should make sure your hotel has one otherwise you may end up paying extra (there are of course public beaches, but no loungers etc)

If you plan on being out and about I would not recommend staying on the palm as it just a bit out of the way and no metro.

With regards to food, this is one of the best parts about Dubai, the food is amazing and is good value, but you are right it can be pricey. I would not want to eat in the same hotel each night as I would feel I would be missing out on all the other restaurants . One way around the cost is to purchase an entertainer book. This has two for one offers on food and entertainment in hundreds of venues. There are a few books to choose from depending on what you plan on doing and where you like to eat.

Finally make sure you go to a Friday brunch. The most expensive ones can cost £80 a head, but are well worth the money!

Let me know if you need any questions

Cheesypop

teralin

Check out he Waterfront Hotel in Bur Dubai. It is close to the creek for evening strolls and close to the Metro for access to the rest of Dubai. It gets good reviews and is relatively cheap for Dubai. Eating out doesn't have to be expensive, if you are on a budget, you can get a cheap meal in any of the shopping malls and the choice of food is amazing.

Taxis are very cheap and the metro is even cheaper and the place is incredibly safe - just respect their customs and dress conservatively and you will have a wonderful time.

Search for a flight with fly dot com.

peachyprice

Agreed, it CAN be expensive to eat out because there are some of the best restaurants in the world, but it doesn't HAVE to be expensive.

Personally I wouldn't bother with half board, there are so many places to eat inexpensively that it would be a shame to eat in the same hotel every night.

As mentioned above, the malls have a great choice of food, both in the food plazas and individual restaurants. Some of the hotels also have great buffet dining at set prices, especially for Friday brunch as mentioned above.

The Entertainer book also has voucher for reduced entry to Wild Wadi and Wadi dune tours as well as dining vouchers, so well worth it.

bernie115

Wow thank you all so much for your replies. This site never ceases to amaze me with all the help you can get.

You mention the Entertainer book - where could I get that from? Is that for when i actually get there or could I obtain it in the UK?

Well definitely just look at going B&B now so thank you very much again.

peachyprice

You can't/couldn't buy it in the UK, but there was a copy in our hotel room when we arrived, so it's worth checking with your hotel whether they provide it once you've book, or you can order it online and have it delivered to your hotel.

cheesypop

The entertainer book is widely available in Dubai. If your hotel can't arrange one for you, you can get them from most bookshops, waitrose or spinneys.

joaniemerc

Try buying a second-hand one off Ebay like I did. There are hundred and hundreds of two-for-one vouchers in the book and there's no way you'd get through it on a one or two week holiday, so people bring them back and re-sell them.

You want to make sure tho' that the vouchers for venues/restaurants you want to go to are still in the book and not already used, ie - Atlantis Water Park, Wild Wadi Waterpark, Jeep Desert Safari - if they're your thing.

Or you can buy your own book online and it'll be delivered to your hotel the day you arrive. It's about £50 now but you'll save that and more with your first couple of vouchers - then you can sell what you have left when you get back.:D