So you’ve finally made it on your dream vacation to Dubai…but now what? What do you do? Where do go? What should you see? What should you avoid? Well, fret not my fellow children of the earth, we’ve put together a nice little assortment of tips and information that will give you a well-rounded Dubai experience.
Dubai Creek Bridge
The Big Bus: Quick & Easy Tours
You’re a busy person right? So you may not have all the time in the world for extensive city tours but you still want get your feet wet with some of the sites without the debacle of riding around in a cab all day. The Big Bus! The Big Bus Tour is safe and extremely convenient alternative to check out the city.
The tickets are valid for 24 hrs which allows you jump on and off the Tour Bus at your leisure. And at around AED 175 (45 bucks) per ticket its not a bad price for an all day pass to go gallivanting around the city.
One ticket covers two routes. The best route to really see the sights is the Red Route which includes the Dubai Creek, Al Fahidi Fort and Dubai Museum, the bazaars and a few shopping malls.
Desert Safari
Looking to have a Desert experience and meditate on the mass expanse of nothingness, life and fly across some serious sand dunes? Then get your Safari on! Arabian Adventures runs a “Sundowner” tour that is a part of a caravan experience that takes you on a one of a kind adventure through the desert. Hopefully you don’t get car-sick because these six person 4wd vehicles will take you on some serious dunage among desert stops for photo ops and wildlife observation. The tour ends with a sunset dinner in Bedouin tents with belly dancers and other forms desert entertainment.
Off the Beaten Path: True Arabian Nights
So maybe the touristy desert safari isn’t really your “deal” and you want some real adventure to satisfy the vagabond in you. Hop in a Taxi and ask for “Dubai Creel, Al Seef Stree, near the British Consulate.”
Seef street comes alive at night and throws you into the true romance Dubai has to offer. Take a nice walk along the water and watch the Abras (water taxis) and Dhows (traditional wooden boats) and modern yachts cruise along the banks and the spectacular skyline across the shore.
Along this path lie several traditional eateries for your enjoyment, but note that these restaurants do not serve alcohol. Be sure to check out the Kan Zaman Restaurant past the HSBC Bank near the Sheikh Saeed house. This is a great size spot with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
Get Yo’ Shop on:
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Dubai is the massive expanse of shopping opportunities. Dubai is home to some of the most infamous shopping malls that can run even the most experienced retail maverick ragged and weighed down. With this in mind be sure to check out The Mall of the Emirates which has its own indoor snowfield. If you’re looking for that Egyptian vibe then check out the lavish Wafi City
There are plenty of designer shops with similar prices to that of stores in London, though you certainly wont find much of the local fare in these western catering monoliths.
Most the large malls are open 7 days a week so don’t be shy, crack your wallet and check it out.
