When to Go, How to Get Around
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| View from Deira side of the creek, across to Burj Khalifa (the world's tallest tower) |
The locals say that October through to January is the best for Europeans. So luckily the
Dubai World Games Summit was held in October (2009) and late-November (2010).
October was still a little too hot during the middle of the day, but this year I could walk comfortably for 20 minutes in 30 degree sunshine from meetings to the conference (a contrast to -2C back home). Dusk from 6pm - so I tried to fit in shopping or sight seeing either the day before the conference, or between the end of the conference and events in the evening.
Taxis are cheap (most 20 minute fares were around 20Dhs) and plentiful, and there is a new metro system being built. Beware Hotel Cars - look similar to Taxis, but are plain and their meters are set to be several times as expensive.
Currency is UAE Dirhams (Dhs). You can buy in advance in the UK, or use your cash card in standard cash dispensers. Rate has been between 5.5 and 6 Dhs to the pound. Coins are fairly rare - for taxis one tends to round up to the nearest 5Dhs. Tipping in general is like London.
Hotel Experiences
2009 - we stayed as a family in the
Crowne Plaza in
Festival City.
(Make sure you specify - there is an older (smaller) Crown Plaza in the centre of town, closer to the convention centre)
Upgrades always seem to be offered - sometimes worth considering, especially if you can get broadband or breakfast included.
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| View from our room at the Crown Plaza |
Pros:
- adjoins a mall, with a lot of reasonably priced restaurants either side of narrow canal (nice to eat outside durung the evenings)
- Mall itself is mid-level in quality (i.e. not outrageously expensive), with an interesting mix of US and European shops
- Nice views from most rooms over the creek
- Crowne Plaza pool adjoins a larger pool area from an Intercontinental (which you can use)
- Its fairly close to the airport, convenient for flights that arrive late and depart early
Cons:
- Festival City is on the outer part of town. Taxis are fairly cheap, but its a 30 minute drive to Jumeirah beaches etc. (It is on the same side of town as the World Trade Centre (perhaps 20 minutes))
In 2010, I stayed in the
Renaissance Hotel (i.e. part of the Marriott chain)
Pros:
- its pretty cheap (£80/night) for advance booking, although broadband was 100Dhs/day
- Its fairly close to the airport (5-20 minutes depending on traffic), convenient for flights that arrive late and depart early
- Some interesting and good value restaurants (eq Iraqi ) 10 minutes walk away near the Reef Mall - on Al Muraqqabat Street (parallel with the street where the hotel is based) where one can eat well for 50-100Dhs. A more upmarket Marriott is around the corner (reputed to have an excellent, if expensive, restaurant)
- Regular shuttles to the Dubai Mall (biggest one in the world they claim) and the closer Deira City Mall (which I prefer of the two)
- Pool here is small, with no real view - but generally empty
Cons:
- hotel is in the older (Deira) part of town, which is a little careworn now and a bit remote (World Trade Centre is perhaps 20 minutes by taxi)
- Closest Mall (5 mins walk) is the Reef Mall - which is a bit small and downmarket
- Views are poor
- Evening food at the hotel is expensive and not wonderful (and not really middle eastern)
Things To Do
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| Al Faidi Fort |
Al Faidi Fort (Dubai Museum)
The oldest building in Dubai, near the creek in Bur Dubai area. Entry is only 3Dhs. Take photos of the fort before heading into the museum part (which is underground and designed to channel you to the exit).
From the fort, its a short walk to the old Souk Area (has a feel of the original town) and thence to the Dubai Creek banks.
Take a river taxi (1Dhs) with the locals, but sit on the left hand side of the boat for the best photos. The five minute cruise brings you up the creek onto the Deira side. (During our first trip to Dubai in 2000 there were many local restaurants along the banks, but few remain - and mainly as Dhows for cruises).
Jemeirah Mosque
I'd like to visit - but for non-Muslims its only open at 10am on a few mornings a week (check in advance)
Burj Kalifa
"worlds tallest tower" - they provide a one hour ticketed view up the tower, but generally booked well in advance, so better booked online in advance. However minimum of 48 hours in advance (so I haven't had the opportunity to see the view). Note: entrance to this is via the lower level of the Dubai Mall
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| Kibbe at the Lebanese Restaurant |
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| Souk Al Bahar |
The Mall is physically big, but not as interesting as the Festival City Mall (apart perhaps from the ice skating rink and aquarium). However, head outside to the
Souk Al Bahar - in addition to touristy and local goods, there is a decent Lebanese restaurant with a view over the water. Every 30 minutes there is a water show synchronised to music.
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| Madinet Jumeira (2009) |
Madinat Jumeirah is a larger version of the Al Bahar, with very nice views of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel (the one that looks like a sail and is £1000/night - and you can't enter except as a guest!)
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| Carpet Shops at "Friday Market" |
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| Friday Market |
In 2009, we took a tour to East Coast in some holiday tacked on after the conference. It was perhaps a little too long for the children, but we did see some wonderful sights and a feeling for the rest of the country.
In particular
Friday Market, a little touristy strip of shops and carpet sellers, but a nice break.
At the end of the trip, it was nice to dip our toes into the Indian Ocean, although in October the sand was almost too hot to walk on !
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| East of Dubai - Indian Ocean |
GDC 2010, and the stunning weather on the day Paul flew back allowed him to take an eight mile stroll across the city, as well as pop into see his siblings and of course our new niece.
GDC 2010, and the stunning weather on the day Paul flew back allowed him to take an eight mile stroll across the city, as well as pop into see his siblings and of course our new niece.
We planned a day trip to Legoland in Windsor, and what was supposed to be the driest day of the week ... it wasn't, but fun was still had by all.
However, over in Japan, Paul experienced their 2010 heat wave during his last visit to SCEI's old offices - relieved a little by one of their beer gardens at the end of the week.
Once again, a fabulous Guy Fawkes night in the Tyttenhanger village green, thanks to a kind invite from our friends the Suttons.
We planned a day trip to Legoland in Windsor, and what was supposed to be the driest day of the week ... it wasn't, but fun was still had by all.
However, over in Japan, Paul experienced their 2010 heat wave during his last visit to SCEI's old offices - relieved a little by one of their beer gardens at the end of the week.
Once again, a fabulous Guy Fawkes night in the Tyttenhanger village green, thanks to a kind invite from our friends the Suttons.
