They say that
Dubai is a city of superlatives – and rightly so. Largest? Tallest? Longest? Most
expensive? Well, it’s all here in Dubai! From the big, to the bold and
over-the-top experience, Dubai’s got it.
Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates.
It is also one of the world’s most progressive business and leisure hubs.
And don’t
worry, even if Dubai is in an Arab country, it is a very much open city—with
the largest immigrant population in the world.
Last January,
I was able to visit this dazzling city. I must say that I instantly fell in
love with Dubai’s mix of old-world tradition and modern glitz and glamour.
So, here goes
my top picks for the must-go to attractions in Dubai and be dazzled by this
hotspot just like me!
DESERT SAFARI
What would
you do in a city that is in the middle of a desert? Of course, have some sand adventure! It‘s a sneak
peak at Arabian traditional culture while having fun!
There are
various travel agencies offering desert safari tour packages. They basically
have the same inclusions. Just do your research online and pick out the best
option for you.
I was
expecting an ATV-ride ala-Paoay sand dunes, but it was actually dune bashing
inside a 4x4 vehicle (they mostly use Land Cruisers or Range Rovers). I guess
this is better for me because it’s more comfortable and less frightening for me. There
are still tensed moments, of course. But I mus say that drivers here are really
experts in maneuvering over sand dunes.
There’s a sort of a stop where the riders can get out of their vehicles and
take some photo ops of the lovely desert. Just a word of caution tho-it’s
really hard to stand, much less walk over the fine sand! I’d also suggest that
you take this tour when the sun is about to set, so you can capture that lovely
color when the sun sets over the desert horizon.
I didn’t time
the ride, but I surmised it was about 30 minutes. After that exhilarating ride,
you can opt to have a camel back ride (which has a separate fee), or you can
lounge around the desert camp. At the desert camp, there are various stalls
selling snacks and souvenirs or offering various activities like shisha-smoking
and picture-taking.
Everyone will
then have an Arabian dinner whilst sitting on a pillow, under the stars. How charming,
right? And this is while watching performances like belly dancing, fire
dancers, and the likes.
It was a truly memorable experience of having that sand
adventure and a chill dinner with entertainment. Definitely, an authentic
Arabian experience that you shouldn’t miss!
DUBAI MIRACLE GARDEN
Didn’t I say
that Dubai is a city of superlatives?
Well, one of
them is the Dubai Miracle Garden, the world’s largest flower garden, featuring about
150 million flowers (whoah!). These are not just beautiful flower arrangements,
mind you, as the flower displays are such a spectacle and so extravagant.
Upon entering
the Miracle Garden, you’ll immediately feel like you’re in Disneyland—with your
favorite Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, etc greeting you as massive floral
structures. The 55-ft tall Mickey Mouse holds the Guinness World Record for
tallest topiary supported structure.
Set aside 2-
3 hours for you to be able go through the various sections of the 72,000 sqm
park. There’s a clock display, gigantic
floral felines, a floral castle, a ship adorned with flowers, and an Emirates
Airbus A380 that holds a Guinness title for Largest Floral Installation.
I can go on and on but there’s just so much to see! After
those hours of walking, you can have that much needed rest and meal in a really
nice area—it’s right under colorful umbrellas!
The Garden itself is a miracle--imagine having all these
flowers in the middle of a desert! So, definitely this park is not open the
whole year-round. Better check out their website: https://www.dubaimiraclegarden.com/ for
schedules and ticket prices.
QUEEN ELIZABETH 2
The world-famous cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2 permanently
docked in one of the world’s most eclectic cities sounds just about right?
Right?
This floating hotel on the docks of Port Rashid Marina, is one
of Dubai’s latest attractions, having just opened last April 2018. We included
this in our itinerary, as an overnight stay in a historic and legendary ship
sounds like a relaxing and unique experience!
Upon checking in, you can
ask for the free guided tour schedule. I would say that this is a must for you
to be able to appreciate the ship’s storied journey. Plus, you wouldn’t want to
get lost in a ship that has so many decks and about 960 ft long!
Built in 1967, they tried
to restore the ship back to its old glory. The cabins and suites were renovated
but they kept the original porthole. Of course, modern amenities were added,
like TV, phone and wifi. Across the ship, they kept period furniture and paintings.
 |
| how the rooms looked like back in the days |
Some of the original
restaurants were revived like The Chart Room (bar with the old world-maps still
in there), Gin Bar, Golden Lion (traditional British pub), Yacht Club (my
favorite is the al fresco terrace because it was a good place to just chill and—and
meet strangers, but oh, that’s another story, haha), Queen’s Grill (featuring
their 1969 menu prepared by QE2’s former chef! I’ve also heard that this
restaurant was also frequented before by the royal family), and Lido (where we
had our breakfast buffet of hearty continental dishes).
There’s also a spa, a sort
of convenience store, duty-free shops, a pavilion for events, and a cinema. The
terminal has a mini–museum and a library-slash-café featuring items from the
1960s.
At the time of our visit,
the floating hotels isn’t really complete yet, as other features will be rolled
out in phases (duh, no functioning swimming pool yet!) But, what can I say?
It’s the next best thing to an actual cruise—looking at the horizon feeling the
sea breeze on your skin—without leaving the port. It doesn’t hurt that this
ship is an iconic one at that.
LA MER DUBAI
Wind in your hair? Sand in your toes? Then Dubai’s got Jumeirah beach
for you! For that ultimate Dubai beach experience, we headed on to La Mer, one
of Dubai’s latest attractions.
We strolled along the walking paths and took in
the view of the beautiful beachfront, the refreshing landscaping with
artificial ponds, and the cool outdoor showers, among others.
You can rent umbrella and sun lounges, or just
bring our own towel and chill under the sun. You can also try the various
watersports (with a fee, of course) like paddling, boarding, etc.
This modern, sprawling development also has a waterpark,
mini-playground and an outdoor trampoline park.
I also loved that this fun hotspot also has cool street art and murals.
It also houses the trendy shops and boutiques like Sephora. The colorful buildings
are differently styled, giving a hip vibe.
And after hours of beach bumming, strolling or shopping, you can dine at
classy restaurants and cafes. There’s Italian, Greek, Turkish and so much more!
It’s quite difficult to look for an affordable place to eat, so we ended up at
Five Guys (which isn’t bad because hey, this is America’s favorite burger
brand!).
This one’s a truly #mustvisit where the serenity of the beach contrasts, but matches (paradoxical, right?) the sophisticated and chic
development.
BURJ KHALIFA
Of course, don’t leave the city
of superlatives without visiting the tallest building in the world—the Burj
Khalifa.
At a staggering 828 meters with
200 stories, the Burj Khalifa is probably the most iconic structure in Dubai.
The skyscraper is very accessible,
as it is just located in downtown Dubai, right beside Dubai Mall (which incidentally, is the second largest mall in the world by total land area). The ticket
office is actually inside the mall, but you can also buy tickets online (Check out
their website: https://tickets.atthetop.ae/atthetop/en-us). We bought tickets for the At the Top observation deck.
We walked towards
the elevator at the base of the tower. Along the way, there are interactive displays
giving information about the building.
I was quite nervous upon
entering the elevator. Imagine, having to ride up to 124 floors! But amazingly,
the ride took just a few minutes and I really didn’t feel anything. Perhaps, because
I was intently watching at the digital projections inside the elevator.
 |
| the view from the deck |
When we got off at the observation deck,
there were already plenty of tourists, so it’s kinda difficult to have an unobstructed
photo-op. Levels 124 and 125 are basically just the same, just different “mini-attractions”
on each floor. There are viewing telescopes, various “instagrammable sections”
and a souvenir shop.
Taking in the spectacular views
from the deck and just having those photo-ops may take you about an hour. On the way out, you’ll
pass a different area that also has displays about Burj Khalifa’s
history.
Indeed, Dubai is a city that seeks to impress and it does so with so much success! And these are just some of the reasons why this city of superlatives should
be your next #travelgoals
