The Traveller's Magazine
For some winter sun, Dubai is the top choice this year. Coming in at only £339 for a return trip, taxes included for travel this November, Dubai has never been cheaper!
Dubai is a city set on being the centre of attention. With the world’s tallest tower, an archipelago of man-made islands, and more. We have to give it’s PR team credit, Dubai is as popular as ever and the warm climes year-round make it the perfect spot to spend a week catching some rays and experiencing a foreign culture.
Fly from London Heathrow to Dubai for £339 (return, tax included) with KLM on your outbound trip on November 12th and Air France on your way back home on November 19th. Despite having one stopover, the journey takes 10 hours each way. Interested? Find the deal below.
Essential Dubai
Tastes of Dubai: the best place to tuck in to some local cuisine in Dubai is Al Dhiyafah Road, one of the city’s cheapest streets and where the city’s working class head for well-earned meal at the end of the day. Foods from Lebanon, Iran and India are popular here.
Shopping: Dubai is the shopping capital of this side of the world. The shopping experience here is something totally unique. You may find the shops are the same as you would find in London, Paris or NYC but have you ever been whisked from one shop to another in a canal boat inside a hotel? We’re talking about the Souk Madinat inside the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel of course. Go shopping at the Mall of the Emirates and you can take a ski break while you’re at it.
Bastakia Quarter: For a city that is so gleamingly new, you might be surprised that Dubai also has a historic district. The Bastakia Quarter is located between Dubai Creek and Bur Dubai and is a maze of small streets and tall towered houses that have been made into tea houses, cafes and art galleries. The textile souk is also worth checking out.
Gold: Whether you’re looking for some cheap gold jewellery or not the Gold Souk is a must. Dubai is known for its cheap gold but you’ll have to really haggle the price down. The government has a strong grip when it comes to merchandisers only selling genuine and high-quality goods so you can be sure you’re buying the real thing.
Burj Al Arab: You can’t ignore this place. It’s the world’s tallest hotel and dominates the city’s skyline. The hotel is 7-star rated (and that’s not even possible!). The Rolls Royces parked outside, the synchronised fountains in the lobby, even the fireworks display every time a VIP comes to stay make the Burj Al Arab something else. Want to get inside? If you’re not a guest at the hotel, the only way to get in is by booking a table at one of the many restaurants or lounges.
Could you imagine spending your winter holidays in Dubai?
For the record the aerial picture above is in fact mostly the Emirate of Sharjah, however Al Mamzar Beach Park (bottom right) and the lagoon behind are in Dubai …. not easy to distinguish between them unless you live here !!