When it comes to stopover cities, there is no place quite like Dubai! A city with outrageously dynamic skyscrapers, the world’s largest manmade islands, the desert just a stone throws away and the dazzling Arabian sea. Dubai is even home to the world’s largest building: Burj Khalifa. It is a city constantly evolving. Even since our last visit (in May 2018), the skyline has developed with the addition of futuristic skyscrapers and there are even more things to do and see. There is plenty of reasons why you should leave Dubai Airport on your next trip. During our recent Dubai Stopover, we spent 3 nights, 4 days exploring. Below we will recap what we experienced with Dubai Tourism.
First Things First: Navigating Dubai Airport
Dubai Airport is a large place! You can be walking for a while to proceed through immigration and collect your bags. Our advice: organise your transfer before you touch down. We used Arabian Adventures and we were seriously impressed. The representative even met us before immigration (which no other company has permission to do) to welcome us. Our drive from the airport was in a stylish, clean 4WD. The entire process made our jetlagged brains think that much less. And who doesn’t need that when you are getting off a plane.
Where To Stay
If you only have a couple of nights, you need to be well located. Saying that Dubai is an easy City to get around. We stayed at Rove Healthcare City which we would highly recommend. It was a 3-star hotel well-positioned that we could reach any of the main attractions within 15 minutes. The hotel group currently has six hotels in Dubai, so there is a number to choose from depending on which area you want to base yourself. All are within easy distance from Dubai Airport.
We stayed in one of the Rover Rooms which was a spacious 26sqm space. Along with the large king size bed, there was also a desk space, ensuite with shower and high speed wifi. We also went for the rate which included breakfast! Within the hotel itself, there was also a swimming pool, self-service laundry, onsite restaurant and convinence store.
What to Do and See
For a Dubai stopover, you need to be diligent with timing. There is a lot to see and do (especially for first-timers) so let’s have a look at what we managed to fit in during our 3 night stay. Keep in mind, we are adventure lovers so chose some of the more adventurous activities. There is something for everyone in Dubai though!
1. At The Top – Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world at 828
Prices start from 149 AED (approx. AUD $60). And our best tip is to get there an hour before sunset. That way you can take in the view during daylight hours, at sunset and after sunset! We would have continued to stay up there much longer had we not had a dinner reservation.
2. Dubai Mall
Don’t immediately read on if you are not a shopper! Because Dubai Mall is not your typical mall. Not only is it the largest Mall in the world, it is one of the most visited places in the world. And for a very good reason!
Inside
3. Desert Dune Buggy Experience
As the Desert is only a 40 minute drive from Dubai City, we would highly recommend a day (or even overnight trip) to the Desert. Last time we were in Dubai we did an overnight trip which included a camel ride, 4WD experience, Bedouin Camp, cultural Emirati performance and dinner.
This time however we opted for the Desert Dune Buggy Experience with Arabian Adventures. If you are up for some high thrill adrenaline then this is the activity for you! They will pick you up from Dubai and take you to the sign-in office. From there, you will jump into the Dune Buggies and head out into the sand dunes. There are lots of mounds to manoeuvre and high speed turns. It’s a whole lot of fun even when you get stuck in the sand (which we did!!). Anyone can drive provided they show their driving license!
Prices start from AED 320 (approx. AUD $128) per person for a 2 hour experience.
4. La Perle (Show)
The aquatic-themed show, La Perle by Dragone is one of Dubai’s hottest attractions at the moment. Making use of 2.5 million litres of water, hydraulic lifts, fountains and high-powered winches, the show is mesmerising. From aquatic stunts, to trapeze acts, acrobatic feats and thrilling aerial displays, we were on the edge of our chairs at multiple times throughout the performance!
This makes for the perfect Dubai stopover activity for the evening. Prices start from AED 350 (approx. AUD $140) for Bronze Seats.
5. Hero Dubai Experience
The coastline of Dubai is seriously impressive with Burj Al Arab (named a seven star hotel) and Atlantis, the Palm. A fun-filled activity for the whole family is to take a scenic boat tour past these attractions with HERO OdySea. It is designed for the adventurous type, so get prepared to pick up some speed during the 90 minute tour.
There are two tours, one which is the Signature Boat Tour and the other which is the Sunset Tour. The main difference
6. Ski Dubai
When we said Dubai is a city like no other, we truely meant it. They even have an indoor ski field! How insane is that? Located in the Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai is a great place to go during your Dubai stopover. Particularly if you are visiting during the warmer months (June – August).
Inside, you feel as though you have entered winter wonderland. There are chalets, restaurants and chairlifts. You can play with penguins, ride the Bobsled or explore a snow cavern. You can also catch the chairlift to the top of a hill where you can ski all the way to the bottom. For beginners, they even offer lessons! All hire gear (clothing, skis etc) can be done there.
7. Atlantis The Palm
Atlantis The Palm is iconic! While it is a five-star luxury resort with 1,539 rooms and 23 restaurants,
If you are just visiting for the day, it is worthwhile spending some time exploring the hotel, visiting The Lost Aquarium and going to Aquaventure, the theme park. Our favourite ride was the Leap of Faith which is a waterslide nine storeys high. As you speed down a near-vertical drop, you pass through the centre of a lagoon that’s teeming with sharks and stingrays!!
8. Dine Out
Dubai is a foodie’s dream with some of the finest restaurants in the world. Being a multicultural city, the range of options can be overwhelming. From international food chains to local specialities in the souks, you could easily spend your time in Dubai restaurant hopping. You will find some of the
If you wish to read more about what to do during a Dubai stopover, have a look at some other blogs we have written here.
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