Dubai – Travel Guide + Itinerary

We visited Dubai in December, 2013. I had my reservations about Dubai but Aarti always wanted to spend few days there. Also, i had a very close friend in Dubai so it was a win-win for both of us We stayed in Dubai for a total of 4 days, roamed around, ate at different places, checked out the magnificent buildings Dubai is famous for, experienced dessert safari etc. Luckily it was also U.A.E.’s national day while we were here, so we were lucky to get a glimpse of their celebrations. Its a nice place, warm weather, neat and clean surroundings, good food, people say its expensive but living in London makes everywhere else seem cheap <wink><wink> We stayed in Jumeirah Beach Hotel, their “Wild Wadi Park” (Water Theme Park) is a must visit (its complimentary if you stay there). You see perks of marrying a travel consultant It is normal practice for hotels to take a photocopy of your passport or other ID. You can’t stay in a hotel if you’re under 18 years old and not accompanied by an adult. Please note that few 5 star and Luxury Hotels do not allow guests to enter the property unless they are staying as well. They may get convince for few minutes or couple of hours after securing their Emirate Id card, if they have one. Burj-Al-Arab Experience – Repeatedly voted the world’s most luxurious hotel and who does not want to stay in one and only 7 star hotel in the world. So in my never ending bucket list for luxurious Hotels, Burj indeed falls in one of the top 5 Hotels. We so wanted to stay in this Hotel but £1400.00 per night cost was bit out of our range during that visit so we kept this in our list for next time but instead we decided to choose one of their restaurants for my birthday dinner. Out of their 9 signature restaurants, we chose Al Mahara though each of their restaurant is unique and would leave memorable experience which lingers in your mind long after the meal is over!! As we entered, we were first checked in by security guards to confirm if our reservation is pre booked. Al Mahara Restaurant caters Sea Food. Al Mahara means “The Oyster Shell” in Arabic. We sank into their gorgeous velvety seats and were mesmerized by the world of colourful sea around us. The Ceiling aquarium inside the restaurant will set the most memorable and romantic scene for your special day. Every split second spent in Al Mahara was truly memorable. Finally came our gorgeous 5 meal course from award winning chefs. We spent nearly 3 hours inside the restaurant and enjoyed our meal thoroughly. All chefs would prepare each and every meal especially for you so average time for dinner is between 3-4 hours which is quiet decent in order to enjoy every meal as well as the views. The finest quality seafood is definitely expensive but the restaurant lives upto its mark. We entered in this hotel with a WOW and left with a jaw dropping big WOW! I would highly suggest to visit this Hotel and treat your beloved ones to an unforgettable experience at world’s most luxurious hotel. We definitely wish to go again and stay this time for at-least 1 or 2 days and hopefully will have more to share when we return. If you really fancy staying in Burj, it will cost you app. £1200.00 per night (off peak season) but other way to enjoy Hotel is to book a Table in one of their restaurants or Sky Bar. We booked Burj Al Arab, Al Mahara restaurant which was definitely worth the visit. Costs app. £200.00 per person without alcohol. HumDono’s Favourite Places – Jumeirah Beach, Burj Al Arab, Deira & Souks, Bur Dubai, Wild Wadi water park, Palm Island, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain, World Biggest Shopping Mall, Dessert Safari. Religion – Muslim Country Visa – If you’re a British citizen, you can get a 30 day visa on arrival. You can extend this for a further 30 days by visiting an immigration office in the UAE and paying an extension fee. Don’t outstay your visa or you will be fined. If you are Indian Passport, you need to apply for Emirates visa at local embassy. If you need transit visa for 96 hrs, Please book Emirates flight and log into the website, manage my booking and apply visa online. Do’s and Don’ts – Laws and customs are very different to those in the UK/USA/AUSTRALIA etc. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times. Be aware of your actions to ensure that they don’t offend, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. Do plan carefully if you are travelling during Ramadan Photography – Don’t photograph people without their permission. Men have been arrested for photographing women on beaches. Offensive Behavior – Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and there have been several arrests for kissing in public. Cross-dressing is illegal. Drugs – There is zero tolerance for drugs-related offenses. The penalties for drug trafficking, smuggling and possession, of even residual amounts, of drugs are severe. Sentences for drug trafficking can include the death penalty and possession of even the smallest amount of illegal drugs can lead to a minimum 4-year jail sentence. The Emirati authorities count the presence of drugs in the blood stream as possession. Dress Code – Women should dress modestly when in public areas like shopping malls. Clothes should cover the tops of the arms and legs, and underwear should not be visible. Swimming attire should be worn only on beaches or at swimming pools. Spoken Languages – Arabic, English, Hindi & Urdu. Country Code – +971 4 Emergency Number – If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 999 and ask for an ambulance.