Dubai was just as spectacular as we ever could of imagined. Here are some need to knows & things to do for you!
Where to stay
We stayed on the palm at the Five Palm Jumeriah hotel and it was absolutely fabulous. We were able to snag a great deal on booking.com and secure one of the only Villas on the property that is available for hotel guests. This 3 bedroom villa was equip with its own pool, kitchen, upstairs patio and 4 bathrooms.
The palm islands in Dubai has three artificial islands with many hotels and activities to choose from. Just a short drive from downtown Dubai, the Palm Islands have a completely different feel than the rest of the city. From Hookah, to beach parties, to clubs, the Palm Islands consist of a great night life and relaxing getaway.
With an abundance of hotels to choose from, you can’t really go wrong with were to stay but here are some of my suggestions
Things to do
Burj Khalifa – obvious must to go to the top! The lines take forever to get down if you go during busy season so be prepared to wait.
Eat dinner at Abd El Wahab overlooking the Dubai Fountain! It is a delicious Lebanese restaurant where you can’t go wrong with family style and they serve alcohol!
Day trip to Abu Dhabi – We booked our day trip through Viator, a tour company I mention quote often in my posts because they are extremely reliable and always great!
Dubai Brunch – Don’t expect your typical “Sunday funday” in Dubai! They do their famous brunches on Fridays & Saturdays and you wont want to miss some of the best brunches around! We spent our Friday brunch at Zero Gravity Beach Club, known for its huge buffet, beach parties and famous DJs who come to play! The cover charge will provide you access to unlimited alcohol, food and partying all day long.
Dubai Mall / Aquarium – The Dubai mall is one of the largest shopping malls in the world. You can easily get lost in this mall with the abundance of shops and luxury stores. The Aquarium is also a fun excursion you can quickly do while there, known for its underwater tunnel filled with sharks. Make sure to buy tickets ahead of time!
Desert Safari Trip – We booked our overnight in the desert through Platinum Heritage Desert Safari and I can not say enough great things about them. We were picked up in 1950’s vintage Land Rovers and taken through the heart of the Dubai Desert on a full day and night adventure. We watched the sunset over the amazing sand dunes after being entertained by a Falcon show! Arriving at the camp grounds we were welcomed with Arabic coffee, camel rides, henna tattoos and a four course meal.
Cultural Etiquette
Alcohol – Tourists are permitted to drink in licensed restaurants, hotels and bars attached to licensed hotels. It is unacceptable and punishable to drink in public places—even beaches. Dubai is incredibly strict about public drunkenness!
Attire – In public places it is best to dress more modest than you would in America. Although there is no “dress code” it is safe to be respectful of the culture – so don’t rock your short shorts to the mall! Everyone at the clubs and on Five Palm dress typical to our culture as if you were going to night club.
