Anyone been on holiday to Dubai?

[princesspeahead]

Thinking about a week in Dubai in February with children (5yrs, 3 yrs and 5 mths). It has never particularly appealed to me because I prefer to go to countries which are a bit more interesting in themselves, but it is a short flight and a short time difference and I can't face going further afield with everyone just for a week. So what does anyone think about it? Is it nice or a concrete jungle in a desert?! And looking at the Ritz-Carlton specifically - any views?
Thanks!

[Tinker]

Not been myself (and have to agree, doesn't appeal to me at all) but know people who have been and enjoyed it. It does sound very organised and is full of ostentatious wealth. Suspect it is a nice concrete jungle in a desert full of Premiership footballers.

This doesn't really help you does it?

[LIZS]

We visited about 7 years ago and it has developed a lot since then. It was even then a bit of a concrete jungle but there have been loads of tourist leisure facilities springing up and there are some old parts to visit as well as trips on boats down the creek and to the desert.

Friend has just been with kids of 4.5 and 3 and had a great time. Think they stayed at a Meridien hotel on the beach which had free watersports and kids clubs. Also in the shopping centres (of which there are several complete with international brands) there are apparently rides for children open into the evening. Only thing is they are developing the tourist side on a really grand scale at the moment and there is building going on to make a whole island of hotels etc so may be worth looking into location of your hotel in relation to this.

hth

[tinyfeet]

Concrete jungle in a desert. I've been there a number of times for work. If you like to golf, then it might be somewhat palatable, but aside from that, I'd go somewhere else if I were you, unless you intend to spend the entire time in the hotel- in which case, why go all the way to Dubai? The weather will be nice though this time of year. But the 'beaches' are not so great. The shopping malls are supposedly the highlight, but even those are not great.

[princesspeahead]

hmmmm. both of you are echoing my instincts. but where else can you fly for fewer than 10 hours, direct non-stop, and have guaranteed sun at that time of the year?

most good hotels in the caribbean won't take children in feb by the way.

dilemma.

[princesspeahead]

I so am not interested in shopping malls on a holiday like this, tinyfeet.
want a good hotel, a nice beach to build sandcastles on, good food, no malaria, and no tropical storms!

[lou33]

My sister went recently. Her dh and her were invited to the opening of a new posh hotel, with the kids. They had a fantastic time, loved every second, and she goes away on holiday all over the place to the best places multiple times a year, so she has plenty of places to compare to.

[SueW]

Bells went a couple of years ago. Have a search and you'll find the thread. A number of families from school have been.

I was surprised at the reports I read here as all the families I know who have been had a fantastic time (inc Bells). Howwever, they all stayed at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel (the wave one) except one family who stayed at the Burj Al Arab (but I don't know them too well and only heard about their holiday from friends who were there at the same time and visited them in their palatial rooms(s)!).

Staying at the Jumeirah Beach gives you free access to the waterpark which seems popular.

We were thinking of going in December but are prob going to Geneva instead (brrr!)

[princesspeahead]

good to hear that some people have enjoyed it sue. but the jumeirah Beach is HUGE!!!!! hundreds and hundreds of rooms, I'm not sure that I can cope with that. and the burj al whatsit looks like it has been decorated by a very untalented arab interior designer on acid. very amusing but slightly unrestful I fear.

geneva sounds nice. maybe we should go and build snowmen somewhere instead of sandcastles...

[bossykate]

what about the canaries, cyprus or morocco? too cold in feb?

[Tasa]

Is Cyprus warm in february? Supposed to be a beautiful hotel on the beach there, not sure of weather tho' We were looking at Dubai too but on closer inspection I think it looks pretty dreadful in a manmade way and that new palm tree island looks sooo tacky.

[tinyfeet]

That's the thing about Dubai. The main appeal is the weather, which will be perfect in February. Everything else is really manmade, which makes it appealing to children, but IME, not adults. Shopping, golf, swimming pool, artificial beach - those are the attractions. I was in Cyprus in early January, and it was cold then. I can't imagine it will be much warmer in February. Maybe Canaries or Morocco, as bossykate suggests?

[codswallop]

south Africa?

[tinyfeet]

South Africa sounds fabulous! Never been.

[princesspeahead]

morocco sounds lovely and perfect but I'm a bit wary about taking a 5 mth old there who will still be on formula - the water -
cyprus is too cold sadly. you may be thinking of the Anassa, Tasa, which is lovely. went early sep a couple of years ago and that was perfect.

DH has an aversion to S Africa because he has been there so much on business - was weekly commuting at one point - but maybe he would be persuadable? If I could only find a decent cricket match on there at ethe same time... hmmmmm

[bossykate]

use bottled? bring pre-made up in cartons? too bulky?

back to work, bk, back to work and maybe you will get out of the office before 9pm!!!

[princesspeahead]

do you think I could? cartons for a week? don't see why not I suppose. hmmmm. north africa. opens up all sorts of possibilities....

hope you aren't here bk and have escaped the office but thanks for those thoughts....

[codswallop]

I use ready made sma hrh and altho he only has 2 a day a carton lasts me ages...

[princesspeahead]

unfortunately I'm on aptamil and they only do those tiny one shot cartons.
a week of those will be bulky!

[codswallop]

Oh switch ...I did with ds1 as I got pissed off with apta mil being hard to find. he will be a big boy then anyway

[codswallop]

You could hide them on your person!!

[MABS]

got back from Dubai last week with ds and dd - totally loved it , and yes - i have travelled a fair bit in my time!! Depends what you want... we spend days on the beach and in the pool doing little except sandcastles , eating and sunbathing. Couple of visits to shopping malls completed the trip.

The service was faultless as was attitude to kids, but I would NOT stay at the Burj Al Arab with children , despite what the guidebooks say!! We actually stayed at sister hotel to Jumeirah Beach Hotel this time - World Trade Centre Hotel - which was much less 'manic' The great thing was that we had total access to all Jumeirah facilities and Wild Wadi Waterpark, but then we escaped back to our own quieter hotel in the eve. We hope to go back in Feb half term . Any other questions, just ask.

[princesspeahead]

brilliant, very helpful, thanks mabs. you didn't happen to go to the ritz carlton while you were there did you? just that the recommendations I've had from friends or people who have been there with young children mainly suggest the ritz carlton. apparently it is low rise and pretty and as you say less manic than some of these 600 room monstrosities

[MABS]

No didn't visit it i'm afraid, though we are hoping to go to the Ritz Carlton in Abu Dhabi for new year. It's meant to be great so am sure the Dubai one would be similar. Have you made any definite plans yet?

[Mooma]

We lived in Dubai for a few years in the early '90's, and spent last October half-term there...what changes!
PPH, don't underestimate the cheering effect of lovely hot sunshine when we're all shivering in Feb!
I echo what others have said about the lack of local culture, although there is a museum and you can visit restored houses with wind towers near the creek. I think our (albeit slightly outdated) local knowledge helped us to get more out of it than if we had gone there for the first time. There are lots of really interesting streets behind the old Gold Souq - a veritable Aladdin's cave!
The service is amazing and so friendly. You really feel looked after and rested afterwards. I was a bit fed up at all the building work out to sea, as it used to be such a lovely open shoreline. It kind of sums up the attitude...we are developing tourism and wish our coastline were longer...oh, let's build ourselves a bit more!

[Naima23]

...what are the health concerns about Dubai though, i.e. is it malarial, etc? I personally always feel more comfortable travelling to Europe for this reason - Canaries or Maderia good warm options