Day 1
We are going to Dubai! Char booked this a while ago. It’s longer and more expensive than all our other holidays. It’s not in Europe, which is a first for the kids. Plus, it’s gonna be bloody boiling!
It’s also the first time not flying with EasyJet or Ryanair, which is nice. We flew with Emirates from Birmingham, on the biggest plane in the world, probably. It’s got two levels man! We went up top, which meant we had to board last.
On the flight, which took about 7 hours, we had all the entertainment we needed in the form of a touch screen tv, and a little remote thing, which was also touch screen. We packed our carry on bag with iPads and books, snacks and crayons and stuff for the kids. They didn’t use one of them. Well, Amelia got a magazine out for 10 mins.
I watched two films (Stockholm and Wonder). Oh, they also gave the kids some ace activity packs and a bag filled with more things, including a pair of socks! Well nice. Food was good. I’d defo fly with them again! Oh, we are, on the way back.
Landed at ridiculous o’ clock, because of a bit of a delay. Some numpty lost their passport between boarding and getting on the plane! They finally kicked them off, after finding their bags in the hold. They had to search the area they had been sitting, to make sure they hadn’t left a suspicious package. The numpty then found his passport, so was allowed back on again!
Got a taxi to our hotel. I had looked at ways of getting around, and taxi was the easiest at this time of the night. It was gone midnight.
We stayed in Le Meridien, which is just under the Palm. In the plant pot, if it had one. Turns out, this is a bit out of town, but there are easy options to get in and back.
Day 2
Woke up ‘late’ and missed breakfast. By the time we were asleep, it was about 0330. We woke at 1200. To be fair, this is only 0900 back home, so didn’t do too bad.
Today was a pool and relax day. Get acclimatised to the 40+ degree heat! It was cloudy so probs a good start to the weather.
Kids had a nice play in the pools. We got a sun lounger right next to the pool, they give you beach towels, and everything is happy.
We had some lunch. A mate said ‘make sure you take a loan out’, which we should have listened to! £5 for a can of Pepsi! Bonkers. Hotel prices, so expect this to be a lot cheaper in the ‘real world’.
Back in the room, we ordered a Deliveroo! Never done it before, but saw one come in, so did the same. McDonald’s of course!! Meal for all four of us was the same price as my pizza I ate in the hotel earlier!
Day 3
We left the hotel today! Had breakfast, and went for a walk to Dubai Marina, just around the corner from the hotel. It was scorchio! Got over one bridge, had a stop at a shop to get more drinks and sweets (bribes). Also saw a load of ‘booby tickets’ – cards advertising massages and that. Like the ones in phone boxes in London, but on the floor.
Walked under the next bridge, had a play on the park in the shade. Went up on top of bridge and recreated a pic I saw in another blog. Wasn’t as sunny though! Maybe it was filtered.
Got to a Metro station and bought a NOL card, basically an Oyster card. Taxis are easy, but would work out expensive compared to Metro and Bus, which are really good anyway.
Went to Emirates Mall. This is massive, but not as big as Dubai Mall. There’s a Ski place here, and you can play with Penguins! We couldn’t justify the cost, but wish we had now!
Got the kids some toys, had a traditional coffee (Starbucks) and ice cream (Hagen Dazs).
Left here after a couple of hours and got a bus to Burj al Arab. This is probs the most famous building in Dubai. Like a a Big Ben or Eiffel Tower. Got to the main gate, and turns out you can’t just go in! Ended up having a walk round the road to Jumeirah Beach.
This is a nice beach! Views of the Burj al Arab are good, and it was full of locals and tourists, but not too busy. A bloke took a pic for us, then gave the kids a star fish.
Kids had a bit of a litter pick on the beach. This is quite important isn’t it. If you can, do take rubbish off the beach.
Bus back to the hotel, and we jumped in the sea! Was so so warm! Almost bath temperature. I would happily go in every sea if it was that warm!!
Got out and then went into the pool until it was dark. Kids really enjoyed and topped off a lovely day. Apart from Stan’s legs hurting after 4 minutes walk.
Deliveroo brought us Pizza. Mmmm.
Day 4
Started the morning with breakfast, and then a trip to the beach. Sea was just as warm! Saw a couple of jelly fish! Blue Blubber apparently. Didn’t fancy getting stung, so caught it in a bucket and released it when we left.
Back to the room, showered off and headed off into town, after a snacky lunch. Dubai Museum and fort first stop, well, after the tram, and metro.
Stopped off for a (disappointing) KFC after getting near the Museum. I didn’t mind it, but kids and Char weren’t fans. Oh, I asked this guy at the metro for some directions, as Google maps said to walk 190 metres, but he said to get on a different metro and do one stop. He was a bit camp and said ‘oh, but it’s so far and hot’. I showed him the map and said it’s a 2 minute walk. He threw his head back in disdain and sassily said ‘it’s much further than that’. It took 4 minutes.
Arrived at the Dubai Museum and at first glance, it’s quite a small, old fort thing, but turns out it’s much bigger inside! Saw some old boats and rooms and weapons and things. Was a really good museum. Only cost 10 Dirahms too, which is about £2.50. That’s for all of us!
Left there and walked round the corner to the water taxi, or Abra. These have been going for years across the creek. 1 Dirahm a pop. It’s a boat with no sides, and you sit in the middle, facing out. Good fun.
Over the other side is where the markets are – Gold, Spice, and Utensils! Amazing. Some of the pots were massive! Usual mix of ‘come look in my shop, best price’ and ‘mister where you from’. I said Brazil a lot for some reason.
Stan bought some deodorant rock because it looked cool, and Amelia bought some dried flowers for her dolls. I bought one of those plants that dry up when not in water, and then bloom again when in water. Pretty cool. The bloke said I can make tea with it too, which I didn’t quite understand.
Nice guy in one of the jewellers gave us all some water because Stan looked hot. He did mind!
Back over the water, back to the metro, and tram, into Carrefour for dinner, and then bed.
Day 5
Pool day. Well, mostly. Plan was to spend a few hours in the pool, then get changed and go out for the evening, and that’s just what we did.
Our hotel shares stuff with the hotel next door – Westin it’s called, which is strange. We can use their pools and restaurants and vice versa. We went over there first and some geezer gave us a lift in his golf cart thing. Wasn’t even that far.
They have better pools there. Better kids pool, bigger adults pool. Had a good old swim and that. Ordered the kids some chicken nuggets and chips because they wanted some. They came and they were strippers, not nuggets.
Meelie played with the lifeguards, while Stan cried about water going in his eye. We had to get an ice cube and put inside a towel to rub on it to make it better.
After this, we went to Dubai Mall. This place is huge. So big, they have these dudes in golf carts that look like cars, to carry rich folk around in them. Wonderment on every level, and shops galore. Even has a Dyson shop!
First port of call was the Apple shop, because my mate said it was a god view of the Burj Khalifa, and he wasn’t wrong! There’s a balcony, that has security guards on the door to limit amount of people going out. It overlooks the fountain place too, which does a show on the hour. I thought it started doing them at 2000, but turns out there was one at 1800, and we were there at 1745, so waited for it! Place downstairs gets packed, and we had good views, so all good.
Went inside the mall, downstairs to the food court. We were enticed into a restaurant called Tinuaka or summat, by a Japanese Robot. Had some food, which was nice. Learnt about the specials and things as one of the workers was a newbie and was getting trained up. Not sure how she passed the interview as she was useless! Char knew more than she did by the end of the two hours!
Went back outside to see the fountains from street level. Was well busy. Heat was lovely, perfect temperature. Everyone seemed happy around us, a sense of excitement. Was a nice atmosphere. Probably wouldn’t have felt like that in a big crowd in the Bullring or Merry Hill!
Went home. Oh I forgot to mention-when you get off the Metro at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, you are no where near Burj Khalifa/Dubai!! You have to walk about 3km! It’s inside, and there’s floor escalator things, but my goodness!
We also saw the aquarium wall, and some storm troopers and that. Quite cool!
Day 6
Decided to spend a bit of money on a treat day out today. We went to the Green Planet, an indoor rainforest biodiversity place. Normal price to get in (or 20% off with an Emirates boarding pass), but they also do animal experiences, where you can feed them and stuff. We chose sloth. A blinking sloth! Amazing.
Bit of a whinge. The premise of the sloth encounter was that there was a maximum of 10 people could book, maximising time with the bear thing. Actually, what family is it from? I didn’t learn that. They let 12 in. Plus a dad who came in to take pics.
One of the guys was a bit weird and didn’t want to feed it as ‘he had done it a couple of months ago’. The keeper was a bit weird too.
I had a little complain to the cashier after, but to no avail. I have sent a strongly worded email too. 13, is more than 10. They replied and kindly offered a return trip, but I didn’t want to go back when we had things planned. I asked for a bit of a refund, but they then stopped emailing back, which was really great of them! Not.
Had a walk around city walk. It was weirdly quiet. I know it was their Sunday, but it was dead! There’s a load of street art there, some of it’s ace! Blek Le Rat, Someone else, and Slinkachu, whose book I bought years ago! Little people. Really cool.
Ended up getting a taxi to the mall for food. We had sat in a pizza place in city walk, but was well expensive! Went to 5 Guys instead. Authentic!
Saw a dinosaur. Had an ice cream. Went home. Good day!
Day 7
Up early to get breakfast before heading to a mosque! There are only two in Dubai that allow non-Muslims in. We walked past one near the Marina, and there’s Jumeriah Grand Mosque. They do a talk and demonstration every day at 1000, with registration at 0930. They give you some tea, coffee and dates, take you into the mosque, do a talk about Islam, and answer any questions.
Our guide was called Tracy. Classic Arab name yeah!? She was from London. Converted to Islam 27 years ago. Her other name is Latiffa.
She spoke about 5 pillars and that. A guy called Mohammed did a prayer, which was ace. Had a walk round and took pics and that.
Back to the hotel, had a chillax. Went to Westin Pool. Kids learnt to swim with no armbands. Win.
Had a Subway Deliveroo. Ate so badly on this trip, apart from breakfast. We added it in with the room. Gets us up and out! Really nice buffet with all sorts of nice stuff! I picked up a fruit I’d never seen before. Cut into it, ate half the flesh. I then asked a waiter what it was and he said ‘er, I’ll go and check’. Mangostin, apparently. Lovely!
Day 8
Started the day with a swim. Hot today. Well, it’s hot every day. Loads of sun cream used, and plenty left. We ran out in Portugal, and had to pay tourist prices for more! Not this time!
Went back to the room to get lunch before our day trip – desert safari and entertainment and that. Picked up from hotel in Toyota Land Cruiser. Drove an hour east, into the desert.
Started with us waiting around for half an hour while a few people did Quad biking. It was a shared trip with an agency, Ocean Air. We had an Italian couple in the back of our car, and there were 5 cars altogether.
Did wadi bashing, which was quite scary! Char hated it, kids loved it! I thought they would have been the more scared! Stopped for some pics, then back to the bashing.
Stopped to see Camel Rock. Looked a bit like a camel I suppose. More bashing, then stopped to do sandboarding! That was pretty cool. Kids weren’t so keen, but had a go. Me and Char did it too. More bash, then stopped at the campsite.
Really good set up they had! Did a camel ride. Bit scary the way they stand up and sit down! In the camp were given coffee and dates, which were lovely, tried on some Arab dress, had henna tattoo, held a falcon, had a bbq buffet, saw fire show, a man spinning for 15 mins, and a belly dancer. Oh and some pudding. Everyone had such a good time, and well worth the relatively cheap price of £35.
Drove home, still full of sand.
Day 9
Had breakfast, and then went into town. We had lunch booked in Dubai Mall, in the rainforest cafe. We know there are a few around the world, including London, so thought we’d give it a go.
The decoration and that inside was really good. Elephants and snakes and that, and a rainforest. Pretty sure elephants only live in Africa and India, so not really sure what they were doing in the rainforest. Oh, turns out there is a rainforest in Africa. My bad.
Kids meal was fairly cheap, but adult meals were bonkers. Char and I decided not to get food, but did spend £6 on a coffee, and £9 on a mocktail.
Food wasn’t great. Like a chicken nugget meal you’d get at your local soft play. Wouldn’t go back. Also, very dark in there. Like Holister, but a cafe.
Next we went to do mini golf on an ice rink. Obviously. There’s an ice rink in the mall, and a third of it has been changed into a mini golf course. Bit of fun. Stan is shocking at golf.
Had a frozen yoghurt which we made ourselves, then a walk outside to see some statues and that. We’d seen them whilst walking through the 8km tunnel thing for the Metro, and decided to get a closer look. Also had a good view of Burj Khalifa too.
Char found 50 Dirham on the floor when home. Add this to the NOL card that Stan found with 35 Dirham on, which made the trip slightly cheaper!
Day 10
Had our last proper breakfast at the hotel. Such a good spread they put on every day! Cooked, cereal, omelette to order, fresh pancakes, fruit, juices, yoghurts, pastries. You know, breakfast stuff.
Decided to have a final lazy pool day. I say lazy, it started off with a Pedalo ride in the sea. Kids found this quite boring though! Genuinely had more fun playing with seaweed when we got off for a swim in the sea later!
Had a quick dip in the baby pool then back in for some lunch. Couple of hour respite before going back out again to the main pool. Met a couple of families who come back here every year! Megabucks.
Packed bags. Booked taxi for 0445 (bleurgh) and had a Pizza Express. Thanks Deliveroo! 35% off too, bargain.
Genuinely had the best of holidays here, and would highly recommend not only Dubai, but also this hotel. I know it’s their job to be hospitable and that, but everyone was so kind and friendly. The only thing I didn’t like was the price of food and drinks at the hotel, which is why we ordered in when we were here. £5 for a coke is ridiculous. There’s a Carrefour over the road, we got a lot of stuff from there!
There is so much to do in Dubai. Yes, it is expensive and we could have spent twice as much as we did if we had bought drinks and that it went to the hotel bar, or got taxis every where. It was a much more expensive holiday that our other ones, but I definitely feel we had value for money. It was nice to go away for a bit longer, and relax, whilst doing things we hadn’t done before. I also watched Laurence of Arabia on the way back. That’s well long!!
I don’t feel the need to come back (mainly due to cost) but if someone gave us a free holiday here, I would jump at the chance! I felt safe everywhere I went, as if there is no crime here. Weather was boiling, and felt welcome everywhere. Thanks Dubai. Shukran.
