Dubai: 1 City 3 trips - Part 2
This post brings up all sorts of emotions for me. It’s a special Wanderlust Wednesday because it highlights the first international trip Chris and I took AND it’s in honor of our 10 year wedding anniversary. In my previous post, I talked about trips I’ve taken to Dubai with family, but this post is all about my FIRST time in Dubai.
Before Bahrain and Dubai were realities, my heart was set on celebrating my 5 year wedding anniversary in Hawaii where we had honeymooned or Cuba, which was open to the US after decades of sour diplomatic relations.
As God would have it, we moved to the Middle East in 2015, so my anniversary trip options were limited to the region. When I realized Dubai was one of those lovely options, my face lit up, I did a little jig, and as soon as Chris got the green light, I booked our experience.
You hear about Dubai and you probably have seen the pictures or movie references. But there is nothing, I mean nothing, like physically being in Dubai. I still remember the excitement I felt when we landed and stepped off the plane in our new destination, walking through the tunnel to the most ritzy airport I had ever visited.
This airport was a bonafide mall with full-scale retail shops, beauty bars, restaurants, an upscale hotel and extensive real estate. If we had stayed at the airport, or even built in an night at the airport, I don’t think it would have disappointed, as there were endless things to do and the soundproofed glass made you forget you were even in an airport.
We hopped in a cab to our hotel located further from the downtown area near “The Beach”.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at the Sofitel Dubai Jumeriah Beach and, because we arrived early, had to wait an hour before we could get settled in our room. But it did not disappoint. Our hotel room featured a beachfront view of the Gulf and ample people watching opportunities.
Sofitel Jumeriah Beach is a luxurious 5-star hotel located in the Jumeriah Beach Residence and is right across the street from The Beach, so famed that it had its own Instagram and Facebook accounts. We enjoyed a balcony, comfy beds and breakfast included in our hotel package.
It’s also along The Walk, a strip of restaurants, residences and retail shops. But we were too far from the Dubai Mall and needed a cab or ride share to get to and from.
WHAT TO DO
Dubai is famed for having an endless supply of activities. From family friendly excursions to the high life for bachelors and single ladies, everyone will find something to do. We were there as a couple, on our anniversary and found plenty to get into.
Burj Khalifa
For starters, everyone must visit the World’s Tallest Building, the Burj Khalifa, which is impressive to say the least. The Burj glints in the light of the sun, like a giant silver finger pointing upwards, a symbol of mankind’s aspirations to exceed and excel. We purchased our tickets on the spot, but you can book in advance to help avoid long lines and wait times. While waiting, you’re queued through a timeline of the architecture, the team involved and of course the graph that shows the scale of this building in relation to other tall man-made and natural structures.
We zoomed up the elevator and enjoyed the panoramic views of Dubai from up top. The most entertaining part came while browsing the gift shop, where guests could take photos in front of a backdrop that appears as if they’re suspended in the air. The photographer had everyone shout on the “count of three” and we heard that every 10 minutes, which was both hilarious and annoying at once.
Dubai Mall
The Burj Khalifa is accessible via the World's Largest Mall, the Dubai Mall. Of course we did both. I shared it in my previous post, but I was legit awestruck and overwhelmed the first time we set food in the mall. I didn’t know what to expect and I still remember stepping out of the cab and staring, mesmerized, at the yellow Lamborghini parked out front.
The mall offers two distinct sections. The traditional side, which is modeled after a souq or traditional shopping bazaar with air conditioned boutiques specializing in regional wares. Then there is the globally recognized mall, the larger of the two sections. It features everything from Garrett Popcorn, to GAP and H&M to fashion row (Chanel, Louis Voutton, Dior, etc.) and Five Guys Burgers and fries.
I remember the moment when we saw little trolleys or carts that you could ride on to help you get around. I was both shocked and amused because I would have gladly hopped on one of those if I knew sooner. The mall also boasts an ice skating rink, which is probably a great place to cool down on a hot day.
Sand Duning
One of the more popular activities is to go sand duning. Some people rave about it, others protest it. I’d heard horror stories about people being so dizzy and bouncing around so much that they threw up from motion sickness. I’d also read about the threat of sand duning to the natural desert habitat.
After some sleuthing, I learned about the Platinum Heritage Desert Safari. This company takes guests on a desert tour in open air, 1950’s Land Rovers on their private grounds. We enjoyed a tour, sunset falcon show (where I got to hold a falco), camel ride, evening bedouin showcase and dinner. You can also pay for photos and a video, which they take of you during the tour. The company offers round trip transportation to and from the site back to your hotel.
The Beach and The Walk
For those moments when we stayed close to our hotel, we enjoyed relaxing at The Beach near The Walk (Ha!). I love how simple and yet, fancy they get with that. Anyways, this visit to the beach was the first time we enjoyed a beach since moving to Bahrain. Despite being a desert island, Bahrain doesn’t have many “beaches”.
You can rent a house with a waterway in your backyard (ahem Amwaj) or go to a few hotels and resorts with private beach access, but public beaches are not the norm.
So we took advantage of swimming around in the Gulf. Let me tell you, I was not a fan. For one, it was super crowded. But, outside of having a lot of people in the water, the water was so warm that it made me feel like I was sharing a giant hot bath with a lot of strangers.
I don’t like freezing cold beach water, I’m looking at you California, but I wasn’t ready for hot tub warm water either. So, between feeling like I was in a petri dish and a love fest, it wasn’t for me. But the nearby area has plenty of swanky things to get into. One evening we saw a procession of Lamborghinis driving along the stretch of road in front of our hotel and I even saw a Krispy Kreme Donut shop and got uber giddy!
Dubai Museum
On our last day in town, we trekked over to the Old Town area of Dubai to learn about the history of Dubai and how this once desert land became the tourism hub that it now is. It was a decent spot with artifacts, movies and and we walked around the area before heading to the airport to catch our flight home.
Honorable Mentions
Dhow Dinner Cruise: We looked into this option, which is popular and features live music, buffet meals and a night tour of Dubai along the Marina.
Burj al Arab: This is one of the most iconic structures and hotels in Dubai. It’s not the world’s tallest anymore, but this luxury hotel features beach access, an “underwater restaurant”, world class restaurants and tremendous photo ops.
Madinat Jumeriah Resort: I mentioned this in my previous post, but this series of hotels, connected along a canal, is reminiscent of a modern day Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
WHERE TO EAT
Our hotel included a delicious breakfast buffet and did not disappoint. We did, however, have a horror movie moment when Chris, interested in trying a mangosteen, peeled it open only for an army of angry ants to rush out. It really was creepy and unforgettable to see so many ants rush out of the fruit.
Our first meal in country was at this Turkish chain restaurant, Günaydin, which was pretty empty when we arrived. The food was delicious and I had eaten at their location in Bahrain, so I was familiar with the options.
Safari desert meal: The Platinum Heritage Safari included a traditional bedouin meal, including camel milk and meat. It was all delicious and in a buffet style, so I definitely enjoyed a second plate.
For our anniversary dinner, we went to Benihana, up the street from our hotel in The Walk area. I wolfed down the Sushi platter and because it was a weekend, we competed with the DJ, who played a lot of (US) music
The Dubai Mall has a full on food court with more options than one could imagine. So if you find yourself getting hungry whilst shopping, you won’t go wrong.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Dubai is an adult playground, minus visible options for gambling and adult escapades and liquor stores. In fact, (pro tip*) we bought a bottle of wine at the airport Duty Free shop because: a) we didn’t want to pay a ridiculous amount for the wet bar wine and b) didn’t know if we’d easily find a restaurant serving affordable wine options.
During a subsequent trip to Dubai, the tour guide mentioned that the “Gold City” aspired to become biggest and most iconic city in the world. In their quest to lead in the superlatives, they were trying to recreate the NY city Skyline, bring a replica of Big Ben to have the world’s largest clock, and there were talks of creating yet another mall, larger than the Dubai Mall.
With something for everyone, and plans to always “do better and be better”, you can never really complain about being bored and running out of things to do.
