Dubai Hints & Tips! (Merged)

Joe_Millionaire

Has anyone got a cheap deal - Ie. Under £500.00

If so what site ?

fatboyonadiet

I got mine for about that by booking myself and direct, flights with Swiss Air (www.swiss.com) from Manchester, about £500 for both of us, Oasis Beach Hotel http://www.jebelali-international.com/1024/home.asp) again direct and paid abo(ut £75 a night for 7 nights half-board, also got an upgrade to a better room.

loveabargin

Hi Commjo
Sorry I can not include your post in this message (my Quote message in reply) does not seem to work, more like I am doing something wrong. My BA flight is from london and I bagged this deal back in Jan with lastminute. When booking my trips I ring round and barter, who ever gives me the best deal gets my hard earned cash. Here are a few I contact https://www.godubai.co.uk https://www.destdubai.com https://www.traveldubai.co.uk https://www.Voyana.com and https://www.dreamdubai.com.

Joe_millionaire I hope this helps you too

bigup

piltonvet

i will definately report back on my experiences for your info. There probably are cheaper/better offers out there, but as this is my first time going there im happy to pay the little extra and hopefully have everything run smoothly. will hunt for a better bargain next time

lovabargain

Thanks for that information. Is the shuttle bus free and drops and picks up from a set point in the city??

Also does any one know about this 'desert cruise/sand safari car ride?' ive heard about it, but only want the ride, dont want the whole meal/after event. do they do it separately or do you have to take the whole package? And where do you book these activities from?

loveabargin

Hi Bigup
Ask for the shuttle timetable it is a free service ran by the hotel for it's guest. You pick it up outside the foyer (ask the doorman they will tell you where to stand) and it drops and picks up from a set point in the city.

Near the gold souk there is a hotel Hyatt Regency, this has a restaurant called Al Dawaar " Dubai only revolving restaurant" which offers international buffet cuisine. I went in the evening and enjoyed both the view and food. If you decide to eat there, I would book a table. Also while there you could checkout the ice rink on the ground floor.

I have been on a sand dune jeep safari, but it was 7 years ago and it did include a meal. I booked this through the hotel.

Do let us know how your trip went

Tojo_Ralph

Dubai..... A place so devoid of history, culture, and it's own citizens.... It's Soulless.

That said, if you want a 5 star beach hotel holiday in July, Dubai is the place to go, however being 40 to 44 degrees, sunbathing is for die hard leather backs.

As you are going in July, then you should be able to get a dirt cheap deal direct, because it is off season. Conference season is over, so if you don't want to do the total beach holiday thing, be stuck out at jumeirah beach and pay through the nose for everything, why not cut a deal with one of the city centre hotels that cater for businessmen?

For a bit of class and good eating, try the fairmont http://www.fairmont.com

The "public beach" is excellent with some restrictions, Taxi's are cheap, so use them

As for what to do.... Thats a real toughy.

The desert Safari is as discussed a must, again its offpeak, all organisers seem to use the one desert camp, so bargain locally. try suntours@emirates.net.ae

Shopping.... Great shopping, apart from the obvious camera and electricals, I had a shopping list from her indoors for cosmetic stuff.

Golf..... Needs no introduction.

Bopping about on the Abra's or Dhow's (ferries across creek) amused my lad no end, and whilst Dubai is 90%+ expats, here you'll find it's more like 99.99%

The spice Souks are great so stock up.

Gold Souks are good, albeit with some rather garish offerings.

Dubai Museum in Al Fahidi Fort is worth a look, if for nothing else, the deceptive underground section.

Will try and dig out some stuff I took home and report back later.

Alcohol ... Due to the nature of the beast, there's no such thing as a cheap pint in Dubai. (even expat places)

Tojo_Ralph

Joe_Millionaire wrote:

What do people think of getting a hotel in the city and then travelling to the beach each day, How much would this cost in taxi's and is the night life better (Cheaper) in the city

This is what we did.

We had a twin at the Nototel WTC dirt cheap with Brekky and used the public beach which is excellent. Taxis are cheap, and as the city hotels are really quite at this time of year, you can negotiate a bargain. Don't forget also that the jumeirah beach strip is 10/15 miles out of town. City centre Hotels usually operate free shuttle buses to the town, beach, etc.

khizman

Tojo_Ralph wrote:

This is what we did.

We had a twin at the Nototel WTC dirt cheap with Brekky and used the public beach which is excellent. Taxis are cheap, and as the city hotels are really quite at this time of year, you can negotiate a bargain. Don't forget also that the jumeirah beach strip is 10/15 miles out of town. City centre Hotels usually operate free shuttle buses to the town, beach, etc.

This guy has the right idea
the beaches are geared towards tourists and are a rip

commjo

loveabargin wrote:

Hi Commjo
Sorry I can not include your post in this message (my Quote message in reply) does not seem to work, more like I am doing something wrong. My BA flight is from london and I bagged this deal back in Jan with lastminute. When booking my trips I ring round and barter, who ever gives me the best deal gets my hard earned cash. Here are a few I contact https://www.godubai.co.uk https://www.destdubai.com https://www.traveldubai.co.uk https://www.Voyana.com and https://www.dreamdubai.com.

Some very useful sights there - thanks

Jazzieboy

Hi

Public beaches ...... hmmmmm ! great, lovely, clean, huge..... however, if you are a lady or taking a lady friend beware the over friendly locals. Some of the residents of Dubai have been bused in by wealthy Arabs, most havent seen much female flesh !!.
I'm not saying they are threatening, they just sit awfully close and then their friends join them and before you know you have a fan club .... all watching.

Please dont assume I was in a bikini, I'm fair and burn easily, I was well covered up.

Any way, Dubai ... great place, wish I was going again but I'd wait until October.

Cheers