Glamming in Dubai
DUBAI IS A LOT OF FUN IN THE SUN, BE IT A STOP-OVER, ESCAPE FROM THE COLD OR TO SATISFY THE NEED FOR NON-STOP SHOPPING. STEFAN PERTZ SPENT AN EXTENDED LAY-OVER TO SEE WHAT THERE IS TO DO IN THE EMIRATE.
Positioned as a playground for the rich, Dubai may not be the destination for backpackers that seek the thrills of stretching their last dollar to the max, but if you can spare a day or two while passing through, Dubai offers a lot of fun.
TOP OF THE WORLD
To get an overview of the place, one can whisk up to the 125th floor of the Burj Khalifa, which currently is the tallest building on the planet. It is recommended to make a reservation, but in a place where money talks, spontaneous visitors will be welcomed to the express lift for a slightly higher admission fee.
MUCH MALL
Burj Khalifa can be accessed through the Dubai Mall. Having celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2018, the mall offers some 1200 shops that are open from 10:00 in the morning to midnight. An ice rink, cinemas, an aquarium and underwater zoo as well as restaurants and performances supplement the shopping.
The Dubai Fountain splashes around water several times a day and it is a world-class performance, only second to Las Vegas. Should you have a need to cool down, you could do so in Ski Dubai. It is an indoor ski resort with 22,500sqm of indoor ski area. The park maintains the temperature of -1 degree Celsius
to 2 degree Celsius throughout the year. It is a part of the Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest shopping malls in the world. Transiting from one place to another is easy as taxis are around in abundance and the main artery of Dubai is a highway with 6 (!!) lanes in each direction.
DO THE DESERT
If you want to experience the magic of the desert, you can turn to one of the operators for customised tours into the sandy emptiness. Platinum Heritage is one such provider that can set you up for a mystical tour of the desert. You can drive or take a hot air balloon over the dunes of the Emirate. It is recommended to take the wheel and drive into the dunes for an experience you won’t get in the city.
If the sun is too much, perhaps an astronomy tour at night is an option that will work for you. Or if gastronomy is your motivator, a dinner under the stars with belly dancing will get your mojo You will still get to bed early enough to recharge your batteries for your next adventure.
EATS & TREATS
Living it large, the Jumeirah Beach area has a string of the best hotels on offer. The Hotel Atlantis on The Palm Jumeirah is fabled for its aquarium and fine dining. If you ever wanted to try a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, the Bread Street Kitchen & Bar might wow your partner. Large is also the term that best describes the Jueirah Al Qasr, which boasts 40 restaurants, a souk and canals that you can tour with gondolas. It is so big a place that the staff will drive you to the gym in a buggy.
Repeatedly voted the world’s most luxurious hotel, this stunning destination offers you the finest service and experiences throughout - right down to an optional chauffeur-driven Rolls-royce, private beach access, a breath-taking terrace with pools and cabanas as well as some of the world’s best dining venues, including the highly acclaimed Nathan Outlaw at Al Mahara.
However, if you chose to choose to spend your money on excitement and shopping than opulence, there are plenty of hotels around that offer a good night’s rest while not breaking the bank. All household names of travel are represented and try to wow you with stunning architecture.
DO IT NOW
Should you plan to visit Dubai, 2019 might be a good timing.
With the upcoming World Expo in 2020, it was decreed that all construction would have to be completed within the next couple of months. This means that in 2019 you get all the glam, minus the cranes and ahead of the expo-going crowds.v