Page 16 | 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

LillyPJ · 25/02/2025 13:49

LittleBitAlexisLaLaLaLaLa · 17/10/2024 14:57

To each their own but I have no interest in going to Dubai ever. It just seems to be a collection of flash hotels and shopping malls in a desert, way too bloody hot (because of the aforementioned desert), very strict regarding alcohol and what women can do in general and none of those things equal a good holiday to me.

That’s without the slave labour it’s built and run on.

Yes - it's my definition of hell!

Wordsmithery · 25/02/2025 14:22

Been there and found it completely fake. Lots of 'the world's biggest/tallest/highest whatevers'.
At the market I was offered a 'genuine fake Rolex'!
Workers are effectively slaves from Asia, in contrast with the super rich jet set.
Not for me, thanks.

Caps44 · 26/02/2025 11:51

6-7 hour flight, incredible hotels at the same price as 3-star hotels in Europe, amazing service, pools, food etc. Don't get me wrong, I would prefer a beach holiday in the med over a beach holiday in Dubai, however for October-May, best place for winter sun, without a doubt.

TheConvalescent · 26/02/2025 12:47

Caps44 · 26/02/2025 11:51

6-7 hour flight, incredible hotels at the same price as 3-star hotels in Europe, amazing service, pools, food etc. Don't get me wrong, I would prefer a beach holiday in the med over a beach holiday in Dubai, however for October-May, best place for winter sun, without a doubt.

I find that baffling, that people will travel for a hotel. For me, hotels are just where you stay when you've gone somewhere you really wanted to see. Don't get me wrong, I love nice hotels, but I only ever stay in one because it's somewhere I want to visit. The food in Dubai is a disaster -- nothing much can be grown locally, so everything has to imported, at considerable environmental cost, and the UAE, like Saudi Arabia, has been landgrabbing in developing countries, displacing locals. What 'fresh' produce was in the supermarkets when I lived there was really old, and the high-end restaurants flew in all their produce daily.

Dramatic · 26/02/2025 12:57

Yeah I would like to go, although I didn't know about the modern day slavery stuff.

Caps44 · 26/02/2025 13:14

TheConvalescent · 26/02/2025 12:47

I find that baffling, that people will travel for a hotel. For me, hotels are just where you stay when you've gone somewhere you really wanted to see. Don't get me wrong, I love nice hotels, but I only ever stay in one because it's somewhere I want to visit. The food in Dubai is a disaster -- nothing much can be grown locally, so everything has to imported, at considerable environmental cost, and the UAE, like Saudi Arabia, has been landgrabbing in developing countries, displacing locals. What 'fresh' produce was in the supermarkets when I lived there was really old, and the high-end restaurants flew in all their produce daily.

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It's an easy option for Winter Sun, especially if you have young kids. Would I go there as a couple, probably not. But until my kids are under 14 etc...I think it's great. Warm, safe, clean and lots of choice for kids. Europe for city breaks and summer holidays where they can enjoy fresh fish, good culture etc.

AllyCart · 27/02/2025 10:29

Having spent plenty of time there over the last decade - on extended business trips and multi-day layovers - and having friends who live there because of work, I can't understand why people are suddenly so interested in going, other than 'influencer' nonsense making it trendy.