Page 14 | Would you choose Dubai as a holiday destination?

Letshopenextyearisbetter · 2024-10-16T08:24:45+00:00

Colleague told me excitedly she has booked to go to Dubai with her family for two weeks. I said ‘Oh wow!’ But really I was thinking 😬 I realise we all like different things, but just curious if you’d choose to spend your money on going to Dubai? I can personally think of some really lovely places to go for that amount of money, especially over Christmas

Madrigal12 · 18/10/2024 21:03

Watch Doors Down, Cathy loves it - I'd rather lick my dogs arse !

mrshoho · 18/10/2024 21:11

YANBU - never been and no intention of ever going. A man made concrete hell hole.

Singinginthespring · 18/10/2024 21:13

Trashy.

HornyHornersPinger · 18/10/2024 21:23

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Mummamap · 18/10/2024 21:48

TheConvalescent · 16/10/2024 09:58

Yes, that's another environmental horror. For obvious reasons, you can't grow any food locally, so all food is imported at vast expense, even the bog-standard stuff in supermarkets. And for the UAE outposts of London restaurants, everything is flown in from the UK daily, at even vaster expense and airmiles.

It's the kind of climate and terrain that works with the light footprint of small populations of (sometimes nomadic) herders and coastal fishing communities, which is what the UAE (and before that the Trucial States) had until the discovery of oil. It simply isn't suitable for vast, water-guzzling cities with big populations that need to be fed imported food, and all the greenwashing in the world isn't going to change that.

Show quote history

https://www.samahomes.com/news/6-farms-in-uae-worth-visiting-by-nature-lovers
you may like to visit some farms in the UAE. We certainly have lovely fresh produce grown locally.

6 Farms in UAE Worth Visiting by Nature Lovers

Looking to shake up your weekend routine and try something new in UAE this weekend with your friends or family? Check out these uae farms… Continue reading!

https://www.samahomes.com/news/6-farms-in-uae-worth-visiting-by-nature-lovers

NaneePolly · 18/10/2024 22:35

It’s beautiful and very family oriented. Great temperature over our wintertime. Would definitely go there rather than Canaries/Egypt/Goa for winter sun.
Although I’m not religious at all, I loved to hear the call to prayer but that might not appeal to some.

Loopylizzie88 · 19/10/2024 00:54

I've been to dubai its an amazing place, there is so much to see and do if you have the money it is very expensive but worth it

Iloveautumnwinterchristmas · 19/10/2024 07:00

MeowCatPleaseMeowBack · 18/10/2024 11:55

That doesn't make any sense. The fact you think only "virtue signallers" avoid Dubai says a lot about you.

This is a thread about Dubai. Start a thread about fast fashion or cobalt mining if you want a discussion on those.

Show quote history

Lame...very,very lame

Iloveautumnwinterchristmas · 19/10/2024 07:04

Maria1979 · 18/10/2024 11:59

Owning a smartphone can hardly qualify as a choice today. And it's not about high horses. There are millions of places you can go so why choose one so rotten as Dubai? And ofcourse there are other things you can do like recycling, avoiding fast fashion, etc etc. But this thread was about Dubai not about smartphones so you're hors sujet.

Show quote history

People CHOOSE to go to Dubai just as you CHOOSE to support modern day slavery in the consumer choices you make. I'm criticising your choices and you don't like it. Maybe have a think before you criticise other peoples choices when yours are no better.

Maria1979 · 19/10/2024 09:36

Apparantly you don't work/have children since you insist on having a smartphone being a choice. Whenever I CAN I do make informed consumer choices buying second hand and local. Smartphones are a necessity (unfortunately). Going on holidays to Dubai is not a necessity. I don't know if you're really as ignorant as you come across, or if you're just provoked by people having values and trying to live accordingly. Nobody is perfect but if we all TRY to do what we CAN do surely that's a good thing 💁

Merida46 · 19/10/2024 13:22

I'd sooner go to the local recycling centre.

Judetiff · 19/10/2024 15:21

My daughter and I went there for Christmas after her father died. She couldn’t bear the thought of being around home for the holiday. It was fantastic! The level of service was second to none, it was so clean and above all safe. There is loads to do, including for children and the beaches are lovely. I would go back in a heartbeat.

TheConvalescent · 19/10/2024 15:29

Judetiff · 19/10/2024 15:21

My daughter and I went there for Christmas after her father died. She couldn’t bear the thought of being around home for the holiday. It was fantastic! The level of service was second to none, it was so clean and above all safe. There is loads to do, including for children and the beaches are lovely. I would go back in a heartbeat.

What is the 'loads to do'?

ToWhitToWhoo · 19/10/2024 16:28

No. Too hot; too misogynist; too lacking in human rights.

TheMamaLife · 19/10/2024 17:52

I’ve been.. too many times. Was forced to go by ex BF who was cohesively controlling… it was such a fake place. As fake and suffocating as the relationship was. I stayed at the Atlantis each time. So tacky. And the human rights abuse of the place.. PPs have already said a lot on this. Even if I won the Euro Millions, I will never ever EVER go back.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 19/10/2024 19:59

Late to party but @TheConvalescent , your post on Wednesday 15.35 is very informative, thanks.

I mean, I love to flop by a pool a bit on holiday but it's generally a destination where at minimum, there is beautiful natural scenery to take in. Plus of course incredible history, locally sourced seasonal food and all provided by staff who haven't had their passport confiscated. Dubai just seems so plastic somehow. Like something from a Barbie film

theriseandfallofFranklinSaint · 19/10/2024 20:02

Well I'm going for my 50th and cannot wait!

DH can't think of anything worse so he won't be coming with me! 😁

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 19/10/2024 20:33

Judetiff · 19/10/2024 15:21

My daughter and I went there for Christmas after her father died. She couldn’t bear the thought of being around home for the holiday. It was fantastic! The level of service was second to none, it was so clean and above all safe. There is loads to do, including for children and the beaches are lovely. I would go back in a heartbeat.

I've noted a few posters saying that Dubai felt 'safe'. Are you (or anyone else who said this) able to explain what you mean by this - and as a comparison where do you feel 'unsafe'?

Just trying to get my head round what people mean by this.

Judetiff · 19/10/2024 20:37

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 19/10/2024 20:33

I've noted a few posters saying that Dubai felt 'safe'. Are you (or anyone else who said this) able to explain what you mean by this - and as a comparison where do you feel 'unsafe'?

Just trying to get my head round what people mean by this.

Show quote history

As you can imagine, the UAE does not tolerate crime and punishment is pretty severe (that’s another topic though). I have never heard of tourists being attacked, robbed, etc. They are also very child friendly.

minicrocodile · 20/10/2024 06:22

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea if you want a real answer I'll try and explain.

When you live in the UAE, it's like a whole bit of your brain relating to personal safety can almost be turned off. I moved from London to the UAE and it was very striking. If I leave my mobile phone in public eg on a table in the mall or in a taxi, I will absolutely get that phone back. I can walk around with my bag open, leave my front door unlocked and once I accidentally left my car keys on the front seat in a car park. I didn't need to rush back, I finished what I was doing because I wasn't worried someone would steal the car. I leave my bag with my wallet and phone in it with everybody's shoes in soft-plays ...

When I go back to London I have to turn that bit of my brain back on and it takes a surprising amount of energy. I have to make sure I don't leave my wallet in the buggy in the park, turn my ring inwards when I go on the tube, make sure my arm is clamped along the opening of my tote bag.

I don't quite get how tourists get that vibe so quickly (it took me a couple of months), but from a resident this is what we mean by safety here.

Username056 · 20/10/2024 11:10

minicrocodile · 20/10/2024 06:22

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea if you want a real answer I'll try and explain.

When you live in the UAE, it's like a whole bit of your brain relating to personal safety can almost be turned off. I moved from London to the UAE and it was very striking. If I leave my mobile phone in public eg on a table in the mall or in a taxi, I will absolutely get that phone back. I can walk around with my bag open, leave my front door unlocked and once I accidentally left my car keys on the front seat in a car park. I didn't need to rush back, I finished what I was doing because I wasn't worried someone would steal the car. I leave my bag with my wallet and phone in it with everybody's shoes in soft-plays ...

When I go back to London I have to turn that bit of my brain back on and it takes a surprising amount of energy. I have to make sure I don't leave my wallet in the buggy in the park, turn my ring inwards when I go on the tube, make sure my arm is clamped along the opening of my tote bag.

I don't quite get how tourists get that vibe so quickly (it took me a couple of months), but from a resident this is what we mean by safety here.

yes There’s not the constant anxiety checking all through your day that you’ve got all your stuff with you as you know if you leave something somewhere it will just be there when you remember it. When we were first there my husband left his work laptop bag in a hotel lobby. We had that usual oh no feeling of dread that you get here but when we went down the bag was still there and everyone was just going about their business. Frequently see people leave open laptops in cafes in malls and they will wander off, come back 20 minutes later, laptop still there.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 20/10/2024 12:01

@Judetiff @minicrocodile @Username056

That does sound quite unusual, amazing even. Thank you. I can't say I've ever felt what I would call 'unsafe' anywhere I've been (although I haven't travelled outside of Europe) but I would always be wary of my belongings, even having had my car broken into at beauty spots in the UK, and experience has taught me to use a cross body bag for my phone/wallet etc .

liveyoungstayactive · 20/10/2024 16:06

minicrocodile · 20/10/2024 06:22

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea if you want a real answer I'll try and explain.

When you live in the UAE, it's like a whole bit of your brain relating to personal safety can almost be turned off. I moved from London to the UAE and it was very striking. If I leave my mobile phone in public eg on a table in the mall or in a taxi, I will absolutely get that phone back. I can walk around with my bag open, leave my front door unlocked and once I accidentally left my car keys on the front seat in a car park. I didn't need to rush back, I finished what I was doing because I wasn't worried someone would steal the car. I leave my bag with my wallet and phone in it with everybody's shoes in soft-plays ...

When I go back to London I have to turn that bit of my brain back on and it takes a surprising amount of energy. I have to make sure I don't leave my wallet in the buggy in the park, turn my ring inwards when I go on the tube, make sure my arm is clamped along the opening of my tote bag.

I don't quite get how tourists get that vibe so quickly (it took me a couple of months), but from a resident this is what we mean by safety here.

It's not really a good enough reason to go on holiday though is it?

Barbadossunset · 20/10/2024 16:29

It's not really a good enough reason to go on holiday though is it?

Do you think the high crime rates in destinations like South Africa, San Francisco and Barcelona are reasons not to go on holiday to those places?

Loopylizzie88 · 22/01/2025 18:06

I absolutely love dubai its a once in s lifetime place to go it's super safe and so many things to see and do that you'll never see anywhere else x