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Dubai The City of Gold
Want to experience luxury, a bustling city, and decadent culture? Look no further than Dubai. Often hailed as the most luxurious destination in the world, Dubai is the second largest state in the United Arab Emirates. While it may not be the largest city, it can boast having the World’s Tallest Building and the largest man-made islands in the world. The UAE is a relatively new country admitted into the United Nations in 1971, and Dubai used to be a small desert town but has since grown into a luxury playground for people around the world. The good news is that currently Dubai is on the travel corridor list which means no quarantine on return to the UK. At least now if it changes you can either do 5 days then have a test or 10 days quarantine rather than 14.
The city offers some amazing once-in-a-lifetime experiences that can only be had in Dubai. From world-class hotels, unique adventure activities, to high fashion shopping and amazing cuisine Dubai is a luxury traveler’s dream. Normally Dubai hotels are very overpriced but currently there are some amazing deals/
Here is your luxury travel guide to the “City of Gold”. Dubai
Best Way To Fly
Emirates is by far the best way to fly to Dubai at the moment in terms of service for a direct flight. They are one of the few carriers offering non-stop flights and also offer the only non-stop flights from the United States to Dubai. Emirates first class is one of the most luxurious experiences in the skies. They are offering a full service with a few adjustments for COVID. BA also fly direct but only offer a box meal with an economy style main meal. This is due to change on 20 January 2021.
Luxury Brunches and Restaurants in Dubai
Zuma Best 2020 (DIFC)
Zuma’s popular brunch is back in style for 2020 and won the best brunch in Dubai. Find an array of delicious fine-dining Japanese cuisine with drink packages. Enjoy fresh sushi, dim sum, and keep the drinks flowing at this award-winning brunch. The brunch is every Friday and Saturday between 12 pm and 4 pm, located in the Dubai International Finance Center- DIFC. Dhs473 (soft drinks), Dhs625 (house beverages), Dhs688 (bubbly). Fri & Sat 12.30pm-4pm. Gate Village 6, DIFC (04 425 5660).
Traitteur at the Promenade Best 2019 (Dubai Creek)
Traitteur at the Promenade won the best brunch in 2019 after it’s renovation that was a part of the Park Hyatt dining area revamp. This place keeps on stacking the accolades, as Winner of Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2019 and Conde Nast Traveller ME Awards 2020 as Best Brunch, Traiteur Brunch is an extravagant dining experience.
It is located on the water with views of massive yachts making this an ideal setting for a fancy brunch. Traitteur is known for its’ seafood buffet and you can taste a range of seafood from different regions from around the world here. My favorite part about this place is the cheese table and the massive dessert room! Come here Friday from 1 pm-4 pm for a relaxed ambiance, with live music.
Coya (Jumeirah)
One of the splashiest brunches in Dubai, Coya is located in Jumeirah and has been known for its’ party atmosphere. While it used to be a buffet-style, now servers bring you everything you could want to your table. The Latin American cuisine is some of the best in Dubai and leaves you very satisfied.
Coya is located in the restaurant village at the Four Seasons Resort and goes from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm every Friday.
Luxury Adventure Experiences in Dubai
Kite Beach
The best spot for some adventure watersports in Dubai is Kite Beach, located in Jumeirah. Want to hit the waves running, rent a jet ski to race along the coast of Dubai. However, if you want a new experience head to Dubai’s Kite Surf school.
Sky Dive Dubai
Probably one of the most unique places to skydive in the world is in Dubai and gives you one of the best views of the Palm Jumeirah. Sky Dive Dubai offers many adventure travel options. If you aren’t in the mood to jump out of a plane, there is also an option to take a Gyrocopter Flight over the city and water. The Gyrocopter will take you on a 12-minute flight over Palm Jumeirah Island, and 20 or 30-minute flights with a longer route. The longer flight will take you past sights like Burj Al Arab, Ain Dubai, and the Palm Jumeirah.
Cost: AED 400 for 12 min, AED 700 for 20 min, and AED 999 for 30 min flights. Tandem Sky Dive over Palm Jumeirah AED 2,199 and the tandem skydive package in the desert is AED 1,699.
Balloon Adventures
Almost everything in Dubai is done with luxury in mind, and Balloon Adventures in Dubai is no different. Imagine rising over sand dunes in the Dubai desert at sunrise, before embarking on a off-road adventure through the desert in vintage Land Rovers to an authentic heritage camp for a gourmet breakfast. Here you can also take a short camel ride around the camp to experience what life was like before supercars in Dubai. If you want to stay the night in the desert Balloon Adventures can make that happen.
Balloon Adventures go daily from September through May and cost AED 1250 for adults and AED 1,100 for children.
Heritage Dinner Safari by Platinum Heritage
Want to take a sustainable desert safari? Platinum Heritage offers an amazing desert safari that brings luxury to desert accommodation and dining. Ride in a luxury Range Rover into the desert and choose from a variety of experiences, from falconry and conservation drives in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve to a royal platinum desert experience.
From the unforgettable off-road drive in vintage 4x4s to cultural fun with henna painting and camel rides, and a feast of local cuisine under the stars, it’s an only-in-Dubai treat. With adventures ranging if from USD 177 to USD 3000, you can customize the experience you have with Platinum Heritage tours.
Unique Things to Do in Dubai
Burj Khalifa
Of course, a visit to Dubai would not be the same without a visit to the iconic Burj Khalifa. The world’s tallest building offers amazing views, a dizzying elevator ride, and a great view at the pool on the rooftop with brunch at The Burj Club. Want to go to the top? Get as close as you can with At The Top, Burj Khalifa giving you access to the 148, 125, and 124 floors for AED 359.
The Dubai Fountain is also an iconic spot that you must get a snapshot of. This water and music dancing fountain gives the Bellagio in Vegas a run for its’ money. It is 900 feet in length, equivalent to two football pitches, and is definitely not to be missed.
Palm Jumeirah
The largest manmade archipelago of islands shaped like a Palm Tree has become one of the most visited spots in Dubai. Palm Jumeirah is known for its’ luxury hotels, glitzy lifestyle with mouthwatering restaurants, and luxurious apartments. The trunk of the palm tree stretches 3 miles to the crescent road, where you can see sights such as The Palm where you can see Atlantis a premier resort and beach club.
One of the most unique experiences here is swimming and diving with sharks, dolphins, and sea lions at Atlantis.
Have a Spa Day at Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray where you can have one of the most luxurious spa treatments
New Adventures in Hatta
An outdoor lover’s paradise in the UAE sits at the doorstep of Dubai, Hatta offers scenery from deserts to mountains and lakes. A favorite past time for locals and tourists alike is to come out to the lake for sunset and take a boat or kayak rental out on teal blue waters. There are plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors, including mountain biking at the Hatta Mountain Bike Trail Center.
Hatta Heritage Museum offers an interesting glimpse of Dubai’s Arabian culture and is also a highlight for any itinerary of the Hatta region. For a luxury stay in the Hatta, desert check out Hatta Damani Lodges or Hatta Sedr Trailers, both providing chic glamping accommodations in the mountains.
Dubai Miracle Garden
Experience a colorful side of Dubai, at the Dubai Miracle Garden where from November to mid-May you can experience a decadent display of flowers over 72,000 sqm of space. Since 2013 Dubai’s Miracle Garden has been wowing with over-the-top floral displays. Recently, they have completed the largest flower display in the world a life-size replica of an Emirates A380.
Dubai Camel Racing
Camel racing in Dubai is a unique luxury travel experience that is not to be passed on. This has been not only culturally significant to the UAE, but it is also unique that the jockeys are not human, but robots! The races are held at the Dubai Camel Racing Club.
Shop and Play at Dubai’s Malls
Dubai Mall is the world’s largest shopping mall and is a destination in itself, with over 5.9 million square feet of shopping, entertainment, and also one of the world’s largest aquariums and aquatic zoos you are sure to find a day of entertainment here. There are also 1,000 plus retailers so you will probably not leave the mall empty-handed.
Another popular shopping mall is the Mall of the Emirates, which got its claim to fame for the giant indoor ski park called Ski Dubai. Ski Dubai has over 22,000 square feet of indoor skiing area and is kept at a constant -1 to 2 degree Celsius offering the perfect place to cool off from the constant 100-degree temps outside.
Want to know where to stay? Read Part 2 on the Best Hotels in Dubai tomorrow.
2 comments
We loved the Desert drive with Platinum Heritage, comfortable 4×4, good guide/driver, Oryx and breakfast at Al Maha.
Personally I find Dubai very boring, plastic, kitsch and expensive. However in Covid times it might be a destination to consider if someone is desperate to relax and have some sun. And I agree Emirates is probably the best airline to use right now.
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