Calling anyone who has ever been to DUBAI?!!!!!

[Debs Hill]

We are considering a trip to Dubai (me, hubby and son aged 5yrs)......so I'd love to hear from anyone who has been there!
Where did you stay? What did you do? What time of year did you visit and how was the weather? And for anyone who has been recently, how bad is the construction?!!!!

Help!!!!!!!!!!!
Debs xxx

 

[vernon]

I lived in Kuwait (3 years) and Bahrain for 6 years. I've visited Dubai many times (although a few years ago). It's an excellent place for a short break and most of the year the weather is excellent. I wouldn't advise anyone to visit between June and September however at it is exceedingly HOT.
IMHO the best time of year to visit is October/November or Feb/March/April. Dec and Jan should be OK, but you do run the risk of hitting the cold/rainy week. As it's an ideal 5,6 or 7 day destination I would go for halfterms or Easter instead of Xmas.

There are literally dozens of excellent hotels in Dubai and some truly astonishingly good ones. Things to do, great watersports (sailing paragliding), golf,horseracing,camel racing, big rugby tournemnet (in early Dec) great shopping ( a trip to the gold suq is a must and it's an experience to visit the local spice, cloth and antique market as well) , dune bashing in a 4x4 is great fun and many of the hotels run evening desert excursions for an arabic meal in a bedouin village and an excellent waterpark (Wild Wadi).

I don't think you'll get bored in a week there.

 

[wils]

I'm with Vernon - Dubai isn't the place to be in the summer! I lived out there for 3 years as a kid and all the Brits used to go 'home' for the summer.

I'd love to go back as so much has changed including the development of Jumeriah Beach which, in my day, was just a beach!

I'm sure you'd have a great time - let us know what you decide

Jo

 

[Debs Hill]

So, exactly how hot are we talking about in the summer? Is it humid too?
Debx

 

[wils]

Humidity can be 80%+ in the summer - couldn't find it by month

j f m a m j j a s o n d
Avg. Temp (degC) 24 25 28 32 37 39 40 41 39 35 31 26

Also found this:

Ramadan, the muslim month of fasting, is strictly adhered to in the UAE; that means no eating, drinking or smoking in public from sunrise to sunset. Places that normally serve alcohol stop serving it during this month. Ramadan is in December-January for the next couple of years.


Hope it helps

 

[vernon]

It's also worth noting that the labour laws in many Middle East countries state that if the temperatures go over a certain mark ( I think 42 degrees or 108 in old money) the outdoors labourers shouldn't be allowed to work, for that reason you tend to find there are about 6 weeks in a row when they say the maximum temp is just below that mark and I KNOW there were a few really SCORCHING days that were considerably hotter than the others. A cynic would say the government's thermometer stuck at 41 degrees so they could keep the workers digging up the roads. We had a thermometer near our house and in summer it regularly read between 45-48 degrees IN THE SHADE. Even lounging about near a chilled pool it was uncomfortable to spend more than a couple of hours in summer and that's for people used to living in the heat. IMHO, don't even think about going in summer.

 

[Debs Hill]

OK, you've convinced me that the summer is now a no go!!! We are considering either Dec, Feb, April or May..............

Has anyone stayed at either the Ritz Carlton or Royal Meridian?! Would love to hear your reviews of those, or anywhere else you;ve stayed! Anyone splashed out on Burj al Arab......and if so was it worth it?!!!

Debsxx

 

[Debs Hill]

What is the Wadi Wadi water park like....and where are the best places to shop!!!?!

 

[wils]

Sorry Debs - haven't been there in nearly 20 years!

Jo

 

[PAB1]

I went to Dubai in Feb half term - temperatures mid 70s. Stayed at Jumeriah Beach hotel, which is away from all the construction work and also has free entrace to Wild Wadi water park with special entrance just for hotel guests near the main pool. Also get in an hour before park opens to public so its really empty and get choice of sunbeds. They give you a different coloured wristband to wear so they know you are hotel guests.

Jumeriah Beach hotel wonderful hotel, lovely big bathrooms, walk-in showers, fruit in rooms, free bottled water in rooms, chocolates on bed at turndown. Great hotel - would highly recommend it. Covered pool for kids, kids club - kids are treated really well. Free ice lollies by pool - staff can't do enough for you - if they see you trying to adjust your sunbed they run over to help you.

Good choice of restaurants. Free shuttle to city shops - could go on and on.

 

[carolfoy]

Burj al arab is amazing but very ostentatious if budget allows to perhaps stay 2 nights you'd get the best out of it, wear sunglasses tho' as its very bright! construction work is horrendous at the mo and you can't really avoid the juggernauts and cranes so research carefully before commiting know for a fact that the area near the one and only royal mirage is in a very bad state, my clients who stayed there recently could still hear the building noise through their treble glazed windows!