Concerns About Dubai

NewToTheUkAgain

With my partners job we only get limited dates we can go as a family on holiday and especially any school break dates are blackout dates for those holiday times. Term time is only time we can get off.

I am feeling rather attacked as a parent here and it’s rather upsetting, I was asking for advice on travelling to Dubai and my concerns, not asking if I was a !!!! parent or not.

NewToTheUkAgain

Also, I have spoken with the school. It is still the only school near to us though.

I do monitor the chat, but once things are said they are already said. I also have 3 children that require attention and cannot split all directions at all times.

I do the best I can.

stevie11

My main question would be why Dubai? Having just returned from there. Even staying in in a lovely hotel even some of the English adults were boisterous and OTT at times around the pool or in the hotel.

My experience is if you want to do it then that is your choice but I would not want to take a young child there in that heat and we are talking well over 100 degree F. In our 6 days we only ventured out twice and the heat just gets to you.

A 7 year old may get bored of just sitting round a pool all day or visiting a souq or mall etc. Why not consider likes of Euro Disney or Disney World which is geared up for kids and there is a lot to keep him and you occupied. Like another poster commented Canaries are nice with hotels geared up for children. Just my thoughts anyway. Good luck.

NewToTheUkAgain

Hi Stevie,

Thanks for the comments. We are doing Orlando this year, but this has been the theme the last few years and the kids are getting bored of that and to be honest they don’t really like all theme parks unexpectedly.

I regularly take the kids to Europe myself during summer holiday so they are use to that.

It was just meant to be a luxury different holiday that we haven’t done yet, many friends have given us raving reviews without travelling too far out.

We considered Cancun but felt they would be bored there too. We did kos holiday village and a few in Spain too.

Thanks

Socajam

NewToTheUkAgain wrote: »

With my partners job we only get limited dates we can go as a family on holiday and especially any school break dates are blackout dates for those holiday times. Term time is only time we can get off.

I am feeling rather attacked as a parent here and it’s rather upsetting, I was asking for advice on travelling to Dubai and my concerns, not asking if I was a !!!! parent or not.

Yes, but he was telling you the truth and I agree 100%
What happens if your son have a swearing fit on the plane, how are you going to control him on a light that is over 7 hours long. These are all questions you should be asking yourself
Your child is 7 now, what happens when he get to 10, 12, 14 and so. Are you still going to be making excuses for him.
Take the bull by the horn now and deal with this situation. This has nothing to do with the school, teaches can only do so much.
If children do not have boundaries before going to school, what do you expect the school to do, if you are failing as a parent to do your job.

NewToTheUkAgain

7 hours is not too much we go to Orlando regularly. When he is there he doesn’t play up, I am only worrying because of the laws in Dubai in case he plays up.

You are entitled to your opinion of me with your limited knowledge of our situation. However I do try as much as I can.

My boy has enough other issues I am always working with the school with his eating disorder, his learning difficulties and his social difficulties. We have private physicians and psychologist for him and I try and spend as much time as I can with him.

Thank you

Socajam

NewToTheUkAgain wrote: »

7 hours is not too much we go to Orlando regularly. When he is there he doesn’t play up, I am only worrying because of the laws in Dubai in case he plays up.

You are entitled to your opinion of me with your limited knowledge of our situation. However I do try as much as I can.

My boy has enough other issues I am always working with the school with his eating disorder, his learning difficulties and his social difficulties. We have private physicians and psychologist for him and I try and spend as much time as I can with him.

Thank you

You just answered your own question.
If I had a child with all those issues, there no way I would take him to Dubai of all places. There are certain things he may get away in the US, but all the problems you outlined above, I would not be taking him there.
Also with you attitude, trust me you have bigger worries because as he get older, his problems will increase exponentially - good luck, you are going to need it.

ratechaser

NewToTheUkAgain wrote: »

Never been to Dubai, wanted to take family to Atlantis hotel, I have not seen similar elsewhere with the water park and facilities that they offer to the same standards.

It’s these sort of things that you mention that totally throw me off going though.

Been to Atlantis, many times, always late May/early June. I know you say you know it's hot but if it's your first time, be prepared for a shock nonetheless...

Really can't see any issues here, Atlantis is a gated tourist bubble and so huge that we rarely leave it the whole week we are there. Yes there are some cultural options in the area but mostly it's a big bling city in the desert and we use it as a cheap week in the sun - and the water parks are great, no doubt about it.

So book and don't stress about it. The morality police don't patrol the hotel corridors for goodness sake...

NewToTheUkAgain

Ratechaser - thank you, our plan was to stay at the hotel the whole time. Enjoy the resort facilities. We have now emailed the hotel and they say that I shouldn’t be concerned about it. So that has put me at ease.

Generally speaking he’s good on holidays anyway, I just know how he can be when his frustrations kick in on not being able to communicate what he wants. Again just the different laws that had me more concerned.

Anyway let’s see what happens, hopefully nothing and I was over worrying with little reason.

Koala koala - I thought I said I do really want to go? Sorry if I made the post confusing but to reiterate I do really want to go

ratechaser

NewToTheUkAgain wrote: »

Ratechaser - thank you, our plan was to stay at the hotel the whole time. Enjoy the resort facilities. We have now emailed the hotel and they say that I shouldn’t be concerned about it. So that has put me at ease.

Generally speaking he’s good on holidays anyway, I just know how he can be when his frustrations kick in on not being able to communicate what he wants. Again just the different laws that had me more concerned.

Anyway let’s see what happens, hopefully nothing and I was over worrying with little reason.

Koala koala - I thought I said I do really want to go? Sorry if I made the post confusing but to reiterate I do really want to go

Ok good, have fun... you can get some remarkably cheap deals at that time of year through haggling with TAs, especially if you've researched specific days where there are cheap flights (and going into AUH works as well as DXB so plenty of options). This year they were running a 'platinum' half board where you got free drinks in the evening, which given the cost of alcohol made quite a difference. Just bear in mind the supplements on many of the restaurants - well worth it for most of them especially Locatelli and BSK, but all part of the budgeting process...

We usually end up with a £2k 'incidentals' bill at the end of the week so it's not just the headline cost to consider...