My sister Shev was turning 30 and my hubby Will and I were celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary so what better way to celebrate both occasions than with a trip! At the behest of the group, I started looking at destinations that combined a bit of “city” with some “beach” and ended up deciding on Dubai and the Maldives.
The twelve and a half hour flight on Emirates Airlines to Dubai was pretty uneventful (except for the tasty pizza we received as a snack…yes, I asked for a second slice!) and in no time we landed in the ostentatious city. I would highly suggest changing at least some money at the airport as most (if not all) of the taxis waiting outside of the airport only took cash. We were staying at the Shangri-La Hotel which was less than a ten minute ride to the hotel but what was even more amazing to see was that all of the female taxi drivers…drove pink taxis! The 10-lane, Sheikh Zayed highway was a sight to see as well but personally I was more in awe of the pink taxis (which of course I forgot to get a picture of!). Anyway, back to the hotel… the Shangri-La Hotel was beautiful! In addition to its chic interior, the rooftop pool and bar were just as luxurious as the rest of the city. Since we arrived at the hotel a bit early for check-in, we had a quick snack (and a quick snooze) in the hotel lobby. Once we were all checked-in and had a chance to freshen up, it was time to hit the ground running.
First on the agenda was lunch at Zheng He’s. With spectacular views of the Burj Al Arab and prime seating right next to the water, it was the perfect start to the trip. Noted as providing a quintessential oriental experience, the mouth-watering food and impeccable service certainly lived up to that description. 
Afterwards, we had to quickly make our way back to the hotel for our taxi transfer to the dune buggy safari. It was about an hour’s drive away from the city and deep into the “true” desert so we took the opportunity to take yet another quick nap (jet lag is the worst!). First up was the off-road dune buggy ride. I was pretty glad I chose to wear sandals because the sand was flying EVERYWHERE. While most of us would say the dune buggy was pretty thrilling, I think Shev would state a different sentiment since her buggy kept breaking down and she was accidentally left in the middle of the desert. Needless to say, she was NOT a happy camper (and still brings it up to this day!). 
Next up was the [very touristy] camel ride. Of course no trip to the desert is complete without the obligatory camel ride shot! The most exciting part was when the camel knelt to let us off which felt like a steep drop on a rollercoaster (thank goodness I was holding on tight).
Soon after it was time for henna, followed by the dinner buffet which was filled with the worst tasting food I’ve ever had in my life. I’m an adventurous eater and will try anything at least once, but the food here was bland, cold, and completely inedible (which is why I didn’t waste my time taking a photo).
The last part of the tour included a belly dancer and tanoura dance show. The parts that I was awake for were mediocre so I didn’t feel too bad when we all fell asleep midway through the performances (double damn you jetlag!). The original plan was to go to QBara for drinks but everyone was pretty out for the count and called it a night.
After a late breakfast at the Dunes Café restaurant in the hotel, we headed to the Bur Dubai Abra Dock to take an abra (read: water taxi) to the spice and gold souks in Deira. The ride was really cheap (1 dirham), relatively quick (about 5 minutes), and provided a nice view.
After stopping at a map to figure out which way to head, it wasn’t long before we were being hounded to buy fake weave hair and ushered down sketchy back alleys to peruse cheap wares. Resisting the temptation, we headed back to the hotel in one piece and with all of our natural hair.
After a quick outfit change, we headed out to the Dubai Mall to pick up our tickets to the Burj Khalifa Sky Experience. Since we had some time before we were scheduled to go up to the top, we did the Dubai Fountain Lake Ride which was a boat ride to get an up close view of the Dubai Fountain. Similar to the dancing Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas, the Dubai fountain also “performed” for us and was even more spectacular. Having the opportunity to sit mere feet from the world’s tallest performing fountain and watch it dance was mesmerizing, breathtaking, and beyond special.
With tickets already in hand, we then headed to the Burj Khalifa SKY Experience in the Dubai Mall for our reservation. I was so glad we opted for the VIP experience as that allowed us access to the 148th floor of the iconic building (the highest that anyone can go). In the elevator, there was an interactive screen that displayed the world’s most famous landmarks as we ascended to Level 148. Standing on the world’s highest outdoor observation deck, we soaked in the breathtaking views of Dubai while enjoying complimentary (non-alcoholic) drinks. We also were able to go down to the 124th & 125th floors but of course, the view wasn’t as nice as the 148th floor (and was way more crowded).
By this time, we were famished so took a taxi to Buddha Bar at Grosvenor House. The ambience reminded me of Tao or Buddakan in New York: chic, sophisticated décor with an Asian-inspired flare. From the mouth-watering food to the delicious hand-crafted cocktails to the attentive service, everything was pure perfection. I still think about those grilled lamb chops from time to time (*runs to look up flights to Dubai*). Clearly, we had no room (or energy!) for anything else that night and called it a night afterwards.
First on the agenda for today was a visit to the Jumeriah Mosque. The tour cost 20AED and included water, dates, Arabic coffee, tea, and traditional pastries. Though newer and less ornate than other mosques, since it is one of only a handful of mosques in the UAE open to non-Muslims, it was worth the entry fee. There is an organized tour that begins at 10am Saturdays – Thursdays but you should arrive by 9:45am because the line definitely got long the closer it got to 10am! There is now also an opportunity to have a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch, or dinner with a guided walking tour of the historic Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood but this wasn’t an option when we visited. The tour we did lasted a little over an hour during which we learned more about the Islam religion and culture from a British White woman (go figure!) who did a wonderful job of explaining in laymen’s terms with a touch of humor. Definitely would recommend visiting!
Shortly after the tour ended, we made our way via taxi to the Burj Al Arab where we had the “Flight Experience” scheduled for lunch. There really are no words to describe driving along the private curving bridge and witnessing the Burj Al Arab come into full view right before your eyes. Even our taxi driver was gaping as we edged closer as he had never been that close and even wanted to get out and take a picture!
Upon entrance, we saw that the inside of the uniquely shaped structure was just as impressive as the outside of it. From floor to ceiling, every inch of the building could be described with one of the three O’s:ostentatious, opulent, over-the-top.
Since we had reserved the Culinary Flight, we were able to experience five different restaurants inside the Burj Al Arab; all with impressive dining views. Although the experience was on the pricier side (what do you expect from a 7-star hotel whose cheapest room is $2,000/night!), it was worth every penny! First starting at the Al Mahara restaurant with a floor to ceiling aquarium filled with multi colored exotic fish and even a shark; then on to Junsui (the Asian themed restaurant); after that was Al Muntaha which is the restaurant adjacent to the Sky View Bar; and then concluding with dessert in the stunning Sahn Eddar atrium lounge accompanied by a harp player. Each restaurant had its own unique flair but shared the same impeccable service and food (only Junsui’s food stood out like a sore thumb with underwhelming food).
The anniversary cake and bouquet of flowers were nice “parting gifts” but we were so STUFFED when we left that I’m glad we didn’t plan to do much for the rest of the afternoon! Note: while the experience was certainly memorable, I would instead recommend just booking dinner at ONE of the restaurants to gain access into the Burj Al Arab (or just bringing your own Tupperware for all of the leftovers you are guaranteed to have!).
I didn’t think I would ever be hungry again after eating so much but lo and behold, my stomach starting talking to me after a much needed nap. By this time, Lesley was back from her conference in Abu Dhabi so we all headed to Eauzone where we had reservations for the evening. With a breathtaking view, impeccable service, and exquisite cuisine, Eauzone should be on everyone’s list.
Since no trip to Dubai is complete without “skiing in the desert”, we spent our last day in the country at Ski Dubai in the Mall of Emirates.
There were a few different packages to choose from but since we wanted to experience a bit of everything, we opted for the one that included the penguin encounter, snow bullet, snowtubing, zorbing, and snowboarding. After getting suited up in our snow gear, we were ready to hit the “slopes.” Since we were first time snow boarders, we were carefully watching our guide giving a mini-tutorial before we ventured out on our own. After a few attempts (and a few falls!), we finally started getting the hang of it (though far from being a professional!).
We also tried zorbing (rolling down a snowy hill inside a ball), visited the snow cavern, and met a few gentoo and king penguins.
We were running a bit short on time so after a quick bite to eat in mall, we hightailed it to a taxi to meet for our Frying Pan Adventures “Short and Sweet Arabian Tale” tour…but we got stuck in traffic. Alot of traffic. The kind of traffic that makes you want to scream, cry, and laugh all at the same time because this much traffic shouldn’t even exist. Needless to say, we were over an hour late but thankfully were able to figure out where they were and actually met up with them toward the end of the first stop. Arva (our guide) was EXCELLENT, eager to share her knowledge about her city and have us experience “authentic” Dubai through food! Loved that she gave us all ear pieces so that we could hear her commentary even if we lagged behind (which of course we always did!). We were well fed throughout the tour, from falafels with tons of fixins’ to baklava to a traditional Emirati meal of chicken and lamb (and camel!) that we ate with our hands. Tip: I would highly recommend this tour for the opportunity to experience “the other side” of Dubai (the side void of the glitz and the glam) but would NOT recommend this tour if you don’t have a strong stomach and aren’t used to rich foods. I was good but my sister and hubby were in the bathroom for a couple of hours shortly after the tour (sorry for the TMI but you’ll thank me later!).
After getting through the next few hours wishing we had some PeptoBismol handy, it was time to head out for our 4:30am flight to the Maldives. After arriving in Male (the main island), we then took a 45 minute luxurious speed boat (complete with leather recliners and sleek decor) to our resort, Anantara Veli in the middle of the Indian ocean. Not sure how many of the islands of the Maldives are inhabited but it is actually made up of more than 1,000 coral islands. Needless to say, it was difficult to figure out which resort/island to book but based the decision mainly on 1) cost: the Maldives are definitely NOT cheap no matter which island you choose), 2) location: some islands are so far you would need to take a seaplane from Male to the resort), and 3) activities: actually, there was just one unique activity that caught our eye and sealed the deal for us (the underwater “rocket”). And we were happy with our decision!
Aside from the remoteness and tranquility of the island, one of the highlights of our time spent in the Maldives was the seabob aka “underwater rocket”! What the heck is that you say? Well I didn’t know what it was until I discovered it as well. In short, it is an underwater scooter that makes you feel like a dolphin as it allows you to glide through and under the water. It is a cross between a jet-ski and a body board, and boy was it powerful but so much fun too!
The food was average so we didn’t take many photos of any of our meals while on the island. There was hookah and plenty of drinks available (though REALLY expensive) so we were content enough with that!
Now back to Dubai…Here are a few additional tips if you are heading to Dubai:
- Dubai Connect: Not sure how I stumbled upon this but glad I did. Dubai Connect is available for eligible passengers who purchased a qualifying flight where the best connection through Dubai is more than eight hours and less than 24 hours. It provides free accommodation, meals, and ground transportation. Since our flight on the way back from the Maldives met all the requirements, we were able to take advantage of this perk. Although the plan was to go to the Dubai Miracle Gardens, we decided to instead get some rest at the hotel (which was pretty basic, of course).
- Since the work week in Dubai starts on a Sunday, the weekend kicks off on Friday. Friday brunches are often opulent, hours-long marathon events with mind-blowing spreads, making brunches in New York seem like child’s play. While we weren’t able to experience it ourselves since weren’t in the city for a Friday (we arrived on Saturday and left on Wednesday), this definitely looks like a must do for my next visit. Some of the hot spots seem to be: Saffron, Zaman Awal, Nobu, and the Al Qasr Brunch at Arboretum and Al Hambra.
- Since we already did a different desert safari on our first evening in Dubai, I opted to not do the Hatta mountain tour which was similar but hits both sandy and mountainous terrains in the outskirts of Dubai. Definitely something to look into to experience the more natural side of Dubai.
- Given the relative proximity of Oman to Dubai, I was really really tempted to do a day trip there. However, the sheer time we would spend on the tour (it would literally take ALL day, half of that time spent getting to and fro Khasab and the other half on a dhow snorkeling), it just didn’t seem worth it at the town as we were more interested in seeing all Dubai had to offer.
- Another day trip we considered was Abu Dhabi. While I would’ve LOVED to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center up close or visited Ferrari World, after doing a bit of research on the latter, we decided to pass on it but it is definitely on my list for the next visit!
- Also on my list for next time is taking a voyage around the World islands and to see the Palm Jumeirah on a luxury yacht. Since we were combining Dubai with the Maldives, we decided to pass on this excursion for this trip but definitely a “must do” for next time.
Toya's Travels 