A few years ago, I vowed to spend my Birthday in a new place each year. This year, I sought after a unique destination in hopes to really broaden my horizons. A “coming of age if you will.” A girlfriend of mine spotted a special with Emirates airline for $865 RT and that was it, I was going to Dubai! (Thank you Kathy xx)

I’ve never been to Middle East before and hardly knew much of their culture or religion. Sadly, the Muslim community is one that is constantly discriminated, so I knew I should expect some what of a culture shock, but I didn’t realize just how positive it would be.  Dubai is one of 7 Emirates in the United Arabic Emirate (U.A.E.), and as you can imagine it’s main source of income has been oil. However, in a few years they will run out of this resource entirely. As a result, they have focused on developing their city and beautiful beaches into a traveler’s retreat. With 80% of the world’s cranes in Dubai, I imagine this is how America was once viewed, as the land of opportunity.  I think what makes Dubai a powerhouse is that it’s literally a one-stop shop for everything. From the tallest building and mall in the world, to the beaches and desert, to the restaurant and clubs, it has it all!

One of the easiest decisions you’ll make in Dubai are your party plans 😉 The city has that covered!  Every restaurant and club follow the same schedule with ladies night, brunch etc. Dubai reminded me of Vegas- planted on a beach, mixed with a strong respect for culture, luxury and safety. Let me highlight SAFETY…Penalties are so severe that people don’t dare to break the laws. I asked a cab driver how they felt about not having certain freedoms and he said, “The best freedom there is, is safety.”

This emirate has become such a hot spot for a reason! Check it out soon; they have tons of great packages that make this trip affordable… It’ll be epic, Trust me.

Getting Around

Dubai is a large city, yet it’s very easy to getting around. If you can’t afford a lavish sports car (one day) like the locals, you can get to point A to B safely.

• Subway: They have a solid subway system. It’s extremely clean, and cost approx. 7 AED per trip (depending on the zone you travel.)
• Taxi: I was surprised at how reasonably priced the Taxi’s were (there were taxi stands located right outside of our hotel.) Since I’m used to crazy NYC cab drivers, I noticed how well (aka slow) they drove. Apparently, they have cameras on the road and automatically take photos of anyone driving above the speed limit or running lights.
• Uber: it’s always a plus when this is available ☺
• Rentals: If you really want your freedom, there are tons of car rentals. Maybe even get an exotic car. Take a trip to the desert or Abu Dhabi in style!

*Fun fact, in Dubai the licenses plate of a car is a reflection of their wealth or statue. Apparently one just auctioned for 14.3M! That’s Cray.

Where to stay

 There are a TON of resorts in Duabi. According to locals, Dubai’s oil was running out so they invested towards their tourism. So they built what I describe as ‘Vegas on a Beach.’  An architecturally beautiful destination.

The Palm: The man made Paradise Island. Home of luxurious beach hotels, including the Atlantis (twin to the Bahamas.) This is certainly for someone looking to veg out. It can be a bit of a drive to other areas of the city and restaurants and nightlife.

Dubai Marina: I stayed here at the Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa. It was a great option because you’re still on the beach, but it was less expensive than the hotel on the Palm and it’s not as far away.

Downtown Dubai: This is where you’ll be spending of your evenings out since most club venues and restaurants are located here. The hotels are beautiful, but it’s lacking the beach.

Jumeriah Beach: This is where I would stay next time I visit because it still has the beaches (a must for me) and it is a bit closer to the nightlife. It’s in between Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina. I went to a few resorts and thought the Madinat Jumeriah hotel was just beautiful and had all you needed -including gondolas that drive you around to different areas. Sold!

Things to do

We spent 10 days in Dubai and I still didn’t feel like we were able to see everything. Once we got there, we researched all the tours and activities in Viator and booked them around a few brunches and pool parties (Priorities, you know?) Check it out as well, there are a lot of awesome things you can find in Viator.com

Burj Khalifa: This is the tallest building in the world!! You can easily catch a glimpse of it while in Downtown Dubai.  If you’re interested, take a look inside. I recommend the observatory deck or go to enjoy High Tea Time at their restaurant, Atmosphere.  It’s a bit expensive, but certainly worth it if it’s within your budget. It you don’t have enough time, its an incredible building with beautiful fountains to check out externally.

Dubai Mall: Guess what? Again, the largest in the world! With every brand you can think of, along with aquarium and Ski Mountain! It’s just ridiculous…

Old Town Dubai: As I’m sure you imagine, this is the old Dubai area that has not been commercialized. We visited the Spice market, gold market, and the old fishing boats. There’s will be a ton of haggling! Don’t accept the first offer, this is a great place to shop for souvenirs. Just be aware of your surroundings, as you will certainly stand out.

Sky Dive Dubai:  Unless you have a fear of heights, there is NO reason you shouldn’t do this.  It. Was. Incredible.  What better place to skydive then over the famous Palm and Dubai skyline?! It was exhilarating and the staff made the experience so much fun… just takes my word for it.

Al Habab Desert– This is an absolute must! There are multiple tours you can take in the desert. I did a Sunset Safari ride. It included a drive around the dunes (more like a rollercoaster ride), then a dinner with camels, shisha, henna tattoos, and belly dancers!

You may also rent dune buggies, quads or go sand surfing! Next time, I’m totally doing one or all three!

Burj Al Arab: This famous structure is the only 7 star hotel in Dubai and is an iconic feature on the shoreline. It was designed to replicate the sail of a ship.  Unless you’re lucky enough to afford $2,000 a night you’ll need to either reserve time for high tea in their restaurants (Skyview bar /Sahn Eddar) or know someone staying there.  One of our friends happened to be in Dubai at the same time and invited us up.  With proof of our passports they allowed us in, then their BUTLER welcomed us with a box of chocolates EACH.  It was truly a luxurious hotel #GOALS

Spas: Basically, all resorts have spas, but if you’re in Dubai – the spas are unbelievable! We looked up a few top choices on Trip Advisor and went with Telisa Spa at the Madinat Jumeriah hotel.

Miracle Garden: Didn’t have a chance to get there since it is seasonal. Pictures look gorgeous though!

Rent a Boat: If you’re with a big group, it’s actually pretty affordable to rent a boat for the day. Take on Dubai- by sea.

I like nice restaurants & a good party…

I’ve heard in the past that Dubai had a lot of clubs, but what I wasn’t sure about was the food.  I am pleasantly surprised to reports that both were excellent. They had every type of food you could think of from French to Japanese and Italian. It seems that every chic restaurant has or is opening a new location there. I must say, I ate a lot of delicious sushi…Definitely, check out Zumas and Play Restaurant & Lounge!

As for the party scene Dubai has already created your social itinerary… Here are a few recommendations:

Tuesday: Ladies night (really every night.) If you’re in to the club scene, Mahiki or Toy Room are tons of fun.

Wednesday: There is the Cove day. $28 includes unlimited Rose (yes, Rose!). If you survive the pool party, get a delicious dinner at Ramusake, then Billionaire Mansion for some dancing 😉

Thursday:  It’s officially the weekend for locals! VIP Room and R & B are the best places to be.

Friday: Say, yes to a Boozy Brunch! Almost every restaurant has one on Fridays… Bubblicious and Saffron were highly recommended. If you’re looking for a classy brunch, do so while watching a polo match at the Habtoor Polo resort.

Saturdays: You can check out more pool parties like Blue Marlin, Zero Gravity, or Nikki Beach. At nighttime, White is a MUST.

Tips

• Currency: Durham or AED.
• 20 AED was equivalent to about $5 USD. You can easily get it from the Airport or any ATM.
• I used my UK converter in Dubai to help me when making purchased!
• Kandura –traditional male Emirati clothing. It’s mainly a white floor length dress with a white & red rope around the headpiece.
• Abaya- traditional female Emirati wear. It’s the same style as the men’s Kandura, but in all black.
• Clothing isn’t as big of a deal as I thought it might be. I actually was surprised at some of the outfits that people were wearing. You only need to dress conservatively when going to Abu Dhabi and around any religious area.
• A taxi can take you from one Emirate to another, but it cannot take anyone away from another emirate. I know, sounds confusing, but for example: If you get a cab from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, the cab driver from Dubai cannot drive anyone back to Dubai from Abu Dhabi. You would need to get a new driver from Abu Dhabi to drive you back to Dubai.
• There are tons of young expats living in Dubai… it’s very easy to get a working visa, but it’s nearly impossible to get citizenship.
• Incase you’re interested…Working in Dubai, you’ll have no income tax, 7 months of amazing weather, and a less competitive job market.
• Only resorts allow drinking, which is why most clubs and bars are located on their premises.
• Get some Arabic Jasmine Oil! I love mine and the scent stays on for a while.
• Fun fact, they say it’s “sandy” when it’s “cloudy”
• Public Display of Affection. One of the best things about this trip were that there was very few creepers!! A man had to ask if he can stand near me and talk to me. On the same token, if you’re a couple, you may not want to be making out on a street corner. You wont get in trouble, but will be kindly asked to stop (not from experience.)