I can t help but talk about Dubai, an emirate that has captured my soul so much that I m ready to return there again (although I usually prefer to see different places) Remembering still packing for the trip, I remember my joy and expectations – which were certainly justified! Before the trip to the Persian Gulf coast, I had not had a holiday for a long time, beach – a year and a half (which for me was not so easy:), and it seemed that a holiday on the sea or ocean – something very far away. Even while packing my suitcases, looking through the photos of those places, in which I will be photographed so soon, the feeling of coming holiday did not come. And with taking into account that the day before departure I sat at work with fever, you can imagine what mood I was in!
But here I m already in the plane, 4,5 hours and welcome to Dubai!
Passing through passport control, retinal scanning be prepared to stand in queue. And here I m leaving the airport and already rushing to audi to my hotel. (Or rather, the apartment… which turned out to be just huge! To my luck, I was given a double room (in which is at least equipped for four people), and my happiness from the huge room, the vastness, the great view from the 13th floor… Well yes what to list now:) I highly recommend Hotel Tamani. It is located in the Marina area, it also very much liked:
After checking into the hotel, I rush to the beach -though the sun was already slanting towards the horizon, I couldn t help but walk to the water, to enjoy the sound of the surf, which I hadn t heard for so long. Jumeirah Beach, sandy beach, blue sky, tall buildings looking out over the Persian Gulf, perfectly clear water… This is it – happiness.
The next day from morning, I travelled to my relatives to visit, housed on Jumeirah Palm. Crystal clear skies, bright rays of sunshine from the morning. I drive in a Lexus with light interior, the driver turns the music up, we approach the famous Atlantis Hotel, drive around its territory and head to the edge of the palm tree. I can say straight away that this neighbourhood is simply beautiful! Especially cute cottages at the entrance to the island, beautiful architecture and lots of greenery. The view from the palm tree on the town is very nice too:
But back to the palm tree. Hotels here have their own beach – and this is a big plus. There are few people on them, the holidaymakers have their own sunbeds and towels. This can boast not all hotels in the city. Therefore, if you have such a request it is better to look for a hotel on Jumeirah Palm. Here also crazy colour water, sand with shells.
For recreation there is another great area (I ve lived near it – JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) – the beach area, on which are located boutiques, cafes and restaurants, good hotels. The beach here is public, and most of the guests of even the first line hotels are equally with others on the sand, though under the umbrellas of the hotels. I saw sunbeds with umbrellas only at Habtoor and Hilton hotels. And up to tantalising water of the Persian Gulf you have to walk a little – you can’t put a sunbed near water, they stand at distance, and in front of hotel sunbeds there are people on towels (this is the advantage of own palm tree beaches). The sand here warms up not very quickly and not deep. Alas, the beach is not ideally clean – there are cigarette butts.
In general, I felt sorry for people who paid a lot of money for such a pleasure… Because hotels on the first line cost a lot.
I really liked the Jumeirah Beach next to the Burj Al Arab sail. It is not very wide, there is no “promenade” like on JBR, but to the left of the beach is a sail – a very beautiful building:) the beach is clean and there are not so many people on it.
It gets dark very early here – at six o’clock the sun already sets behind the horizon. At seven o’clock it seems that it is already deep night… But after four o’clock there are very few people on the beach.
Most tourists devote one day to a trip to Atlantis. This consideration did not bypass me as well:) Nice avcapark, I can’t t say that I ve had mad delight, but it’s worth a visit! You can buy a ticket in advance for 225 dirhams (2000r), or on site for 250. If you take a ticket with going to the aquarium – plus 50 dirhams. But I do not advise you to do this, as there is practically nothing to see there! We walked around it in 5-7 minutes. Renting a towel costs 10 dirhams (you can bring your own), renting a locker 40 dirhams.
You should come to Atlantis by the opening of the water park, i.e. by 10. The first hours are not so many people, closer to lunchtime there are queues for any slide. With sunset, i.e. after five o’clock, everything closes. And here there are huge queues in changing rooms, showers and for taxis (we stood for an hour), so it’s better to go out a little earlier and avoid it and save yourself time.
Although, of course, it is difficult to stop and leave when you can ride on slides;) they by the way not so many, but they are different – and just riding in tubes, including in darkness, and free fall, and riding in big plushka for 6 people, well and lazy river for those who do not like speed. There is a ride when the floor is removed under you and you re flying down with insane speed….
There are several cafes on the territory, but everywhere there are sandwiches and hamburgers (by the way, not cheap, but large portions – for two people lunch with salad, sandwich, drink and ice-cream.
Food in Emirates did not impress me at all… Seafood is not popular in Emirates. I didn t want to try camel:) I can t say that prices for food are cheap. But I ate mostly in the hotel and in the malls, sometimes somewhere in the JBR area. Had to look for Italian cafes or with European food.
Shopping. My trip was in November, velvet season, and this is the time of influx of tourists (as in this time is also school holidays), there were no discounts there were no discounts, prices – as in , and on many things, especially branded, even more expensive. Dubai maul, of course, is very big, with famous fountains and aquarium inside.
I would like to say about that there is a lot of construction in the city. For tourists – to regret, but Dubai is a construction site. A big, never-ending construction site. You drive along palm and see how future hotels, houses, skyscrapers are planned… In the city of Dubai itself there is also a lot of construction equipment. So be more careful when choosing a hotel – construction under the windows can spoil your holiday. But for the city it is an unconditional development, an opportunity to earn money in the future.
Abu Dhabi
I will very briefly talk about travelling to Abu Dhabi. It is also a very beautiful city, well maintained and clean. Must is a visit to the Sheikh Zayd Mosque.
To summarise, I would like to say that the UAE and Dubai in particular just amazed me. The Persian Gulf, the beauty of its water. Warm sand, small shells. Blue sky and shining sun. High skyscrapers on background. A kind of charm and refinement. Style and beauty. Wealth. Respect for your country, for the authorities. All this (and not only) is gathered in this marvellous city.
If you have such an opportunity, make sure to plan a trip to Dubai! And I hope to come back here many more times:)
