Dubai - An Oasis in the Desert

Dubai is full of interesting places to visit. Recently the government of Dubai has made an extra effort to preserve the past and even bring some aspects of it back to life. The Heritage Village along the creek (the inlet of water from the sea that is really the heart of Dubai) is an entertaining and informative place to visit. As well as the abundant shopping in both air-conditioned shopping malls and the more traditional souqs, there are plenty of fabulous restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Taxi is the easiest way to get round and with the introduction of meters, no haggling is required. There are buses but these are more difficult to get around on.

The Market Place has a different themed buffet every night. The price is Dhs. 125 ($30 ish) for an all you can eat AND drink menu. Food includes cooking stations, salads and cold dishes as well as desserts and cheese. Beverages include wine, beer, house spirits and soft drinks. It is always full on a Thursday night (our Saturday night), so reservations are a must. Other nights you should reserve if you want to be in the non-smoking section as this is a very popular Dubai venue.

Great value and a great night out. You won't be disappointed with this meal. Families and children are welcome.

This is Dubai's hottest night spot at the moment, especially on Thursday and Friday nights. Thursday night is like a Saturday night elsewhere so everybody is out and partying. Friday night is Karoke night and always packed; it starts around 6-7pm. Tuesday night is Ladies' Night and, again, expect it to get busy after about 10pm.

This venue is part restaurant, part nightclub and part pool hall. There are three pool tables and these are always busy. Three seperate bars make this an attractive venue although it's quite small.

Dubai has two big cinemas showing up to 10 different movies in each. These are both relatively new and very clean and well-maintained. Movies can be a bit old but they change each week. Tickets are about Dhs 30 ($11).

CineStar is located within Deira City Centre, on the Deira side of the Creek. Grand Cineplex is located just past Wafi Mall which is just over the Garhoud bridge.

Dubai has far too many hotels to mention by name. There is something to fit in every budget. This said it is mainly hotels here, no B&Bs or hostels. But as I said you won't be disappointed with the choice. You'll probably be better off coming here on a package deal as the hotel will be cheaper that way. I would recommend going to www.godubai.com and clicking on the "lodging" section. You can then to a search depending on the type of accommodation, budget, proximity to shopping etc. The info is pretty much up to date. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Burj Al Arab are two hotels that have received world-wide recognition in the past year. Rooms are expensive but there are a number of deals on at the moment. Check out www.jumeirahinternational.com for virtual tours, room rates and reservations. Emirates Towers Hotel and the World Trade Centre Hotel are part of the same group. The City Centre Hotel is attached to Dubai's biggest shopping mall, Deira City Centre. Reasonable rooms rates and facilities. Also has furnished apartments in the next building. JW Marriott, The Renaissance, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Bur Dubai have reasonable rates, are located in areas with easy access to shopping centres and nightlife. Slightly cheaper hotels include the Regent Palace Hotel, Sea Shell Inn and Ramada. Rooms are good and facilities and restaurants excellent. The best way to get a good rate at any of these hotels is through a package deal. During the off-season, you may be able to just turn up and get a good deal.

Safety is always one of the biggest concerns when women travel alone or in a group, rest assured that Dubai is very safe compared to other parts of the world. This is a city that you could travel to alone. I would recommend booking your hotel or furnished apartment before arriving as this will relieve any hassle when you get here.

Although this is a Muslim country, the rules regarding dress are not as strict as other countries. Keep in mind that the majority of local women will be covered up in an Abaya (the long black "coat", usually made of a fine material)and Shalla (the black or coloured headscarf). I would recommend light trousers, jeans and skirts for shopping, sight-seeing and wandering around. Shorts, swimsuits and bikinis are fine on the beach and in and around the hotel. You can wear shorts anywhere but you WILL get some stares (a lot probably). Personally, I find it uncomfortable to wear shorts around town but will wear a short skirt to a bar or restaurant at night. I guess you should judge for yourself and these are just guidelines.

Taxis are the main way to get around unless you rent a car. These are safe. There are three main taxi companies and you can flag any taxi down in the street. All taxis are clearly marked with the company name and the number of the vehicle should you run into any difficulties.

Shop. You can shop for just about anything here. It is a definite must in Dubai. Gold, electronics, fabrics, furniture, pearls, carpets, shoes and lots of clothes. You can find just about anything here even fur coats - a definite no in the summer!

There are literally hundreds of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. No matter what your taste in music, food or entertainment, you can find it here. You could take a least one culinary trip around the world in Dubai. I do have my favourite places to go, I'll put those in the next entry!