Dubai Hints & Tips! (Merged)

fatboyonadiet

What's the cheapest way to call home? Do they have calling cards? And is there a lot of phone boxes?

littlereddevil

I thought you were away there in August. Not gone yet?

fatboyonadiet

End of August, off next Tuesday...:cool: can't wait!

littlereddevil

Have a brilliant time

bigup

Cheapest way to call home is to probably get a card for their phone boxes (not quite sure how they work) or to use your mobile. The Hotels really rip you off (about £3 a minute). Have fun Fat!

fatboyonadiet

What's the average price paid for a desert safari? And anyone got any recommendations? Someone's suggested http://www.arabiannights-tours.com/ to me so just sent them an e-mail.

xueta

Definitely worth doing the desert safari! On the face of it, it sounds terribly naff, but it's a great way to get a little of the Middle Eastern flavour of Dubai. It's too hot to sand-surf at this time of year (you'd scorch your bum!!) but you can try your hand at a camel-ride and in the cool of the evening you'd be relaxing at a BBQ in a huge Ali Baba type tent in the middle of the desert, with shisa pipes, henna tattoos for the kids and dancing girls.

Sadly, I can't tell you how much current prices are. I went 5 years ago and think prices were about £50 per person then. These events seem to be run by 1 or 2 companies only, so there's little variation in price. I stayed at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel where it's possible to book the safari without leaving the hotel! (Fantastic hotel by the way).

Have fun!

fatboyonadiet

Do I need an adaptor? What are the plug sockets like?

bluemorph

No adaptor needed, they use the same plugs as we do.

bigup

Arabian Adventures (part of Emirates Airlines) do the Safari (Takes you to the sand dunes about 30 minute drive from city, stop at camel farm, stop for sunset view, onto dinner, food etc and then back to hotel) i booked at the hotel but paid for the whole car which was 1200 dirhams. But for an individual person it is only 270 dirhams. Arabian adventures have a desk at the airport, or in most hotels (well there was in jumeirah beach hotel as mentioned above). Worth doing the trip if you have a spare day.

They have an office on Sheikh Zayed Road (1st Floor Emirates Holidays Building)
https://www.arabian-adventures.com
aadops@emirates.com
Te: +971 4 303 4888/ 343 9966