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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Did you enjoy Dubai?

28 replies

bendmeoverbackwards · 29/11/2021 15:00

We had booked for Gran Canaria at Christmas but looks like we can't go now with the new rules.

Thinking of rebooking for Dubai if there is any availability as it looks like currently you can still travel with a PCR test if you're not jabbed (I'm aware this may well change though).

It wouldn't be my first choice of holiday destination as it seems a bit artificial but maybe I'm wrong. We have 3 teen dds who would love the water parks etc and the weather is good in December.

Please tell me your honest thoughts about Dubai, good and bad! Thanks.

OP posts:

TizerorFizz · 29/11/2021 19:16

Are none of you jabbed? Get jabbed immediately, have a second one and go in 2022.

Of course it’s mostly all modern. It sea, sand, swimming pools and hotels. I was bored but younger DC liked it. Food looked amazing but didn’t taste great. We stayed at Royal Mirage. It has a wonderful pool. Shopping malls are great and desert 4x4 trip was fun. I wouldn’t go back.

JazzyBBG · 29/11/2021 19:31

It's worth going and seeing it but I was disappointed by how small it was - didn't quite meet my perception but maybe that's just me! For sun and a decent hotel though yeah it's fine.

Piggyk2 · 29/11/2021 19:49

I went before having DS a while back now. Personally I loved it. The desert was amazing and riding on a camel was priceless. The shopping malls are out of this world just to even look around it's fascinating.

The standard of the hotel and food was one of the best. I stayed in the Sofitel.

Original poster

bendmeoverbackwards · 30/11/2021 08:34

@TizerorFizz problem is our 14 year old who is only single jabbed.

OP posts:

TizerorFizz · 30/11/2021 08:44

Well he can get another one and you can go at Easter.

Original poster

bendmeoverbackwards · 30/11/2021 09:05

We really wanted a Christmas holiday.

OP posts:

Frostytiger87 · 30/11/2021 11:13

Does anyone know what the restrictions fit Dubai are ?

Twizbe · 30/11/2021 11:34

We went with our son when he was 10 months old. We'd never been keen to go but DH had to go for work so we turned it into a holiday.

We had a great time!! We were very surprised about how much we enjoyed it tbh.

There's lots to do and with teenagers you could easily let them go and enjoy themselves in the malls while you do other things.

We were advised not to stay on the palm as it's a pain for taxis. We stayed near a metro stop and that was very easy to get around. They have women and children only carriages which my son and I enjoyed lol.

We took a couple of days to go to Abu Dhabi as well. It's only 45 mins away and a different feel. We went to the grand mosque while there which I highly recommend. They do free tours most days at 11am and it's one of the few mosques that lets non Muslims in. It's the most beautiful building I've ever seen and the guide was really informative and interesting. At the entrance they give tourists suitable clothing to wear if needed.

We'd go back for sure.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 30/11/2021 12:20

Have recently returned from there.

People have to wear a face covering on public transport, hotels, at the Expo exhibition and in shopping malls. Taxis and ubers will now accept more than two passengers per taxi/vehicle.

A RT-PCR test has to be presented at check in prior to departure to Dubai. Such a test also has to be done within 72 hours of flight departure. Other tests like antigen etc are not accepted. Be prepared also to show your negative test result on arrival.

LittleoldTERFy · 30/11/2021 12:24

Yes, I enjoy Dubai, my eldest DD lives there. We are flying out at Christmas.

LittleoldTERFy · 30/11/2021 12:26

@AttilaTheMeerkat

Have recently returned from there.

People have to wear a face covering on public transport, hotels, at the Expo exhibition and in shopping malls. Taxis and ubers will now accept more than two passengers per taxi/vehicle.

Hi @AttilaTheMeerkat, I have not been since covid and a bit confused about the PCR tests on the way back. Why do I get them from? ( if you don't mind)

MoonbeamSprinkles · 30/11/2021 12:29

I wouldn’t think Dubai was any more artificial than gran Camaria to be honest.

Water parks in a desert landscape, pretty similar If it’s a resort holiday you’re after.

It’ll be hotter too.

Frostytiger87 · 30/11/2021 12:31

Does anyone know if teens with one jab can travel to Dubai ?

Original poster

bendmeoverbackwards · 30/11/2021 12:34

@Frostytiger87

Does anyone know if teens with one jab can travel to Dubai ?

I THINK they can @Frostytiger87 It’s either fully vaxxed or a PCR test currently.

OP posts:

Frostytiger87 · 30/11/2021 12:38

Thankyou , our Spain trip is a no go now so just wondering if there’s an alternative

atribecalledquest · 30/11/2021 12:41

It's an awful place built on slavery. Completely unnatural and consumer culture. Don't support it.

Totalwasteofpaper · 30/11/2021 12:51

It's a gold plated toilet built on modern day slavery so in a non covid world I would never consider visiting.

However we were able to go to canaries in Nov this year so easy for me to say that.
If we couldn't have gone there, dubai was on my "If we get desperate" list as DH was approaching burnout in his hideous job and I was a bit worried about him. His key request was we went somewhere he could lie quietly in the sun.

I have had to go to a lot of work conferences there.
the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah rooms were out of control nice. So was mandarian oriental both were just stunning hotels.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 30/11/2021 13:24

Hi @AttilaTheMeerkat, I have not been since covid and a bit confused about the PCR tests on the way back.

As I understand it if you are fully vaccinated and arrive in England after 04:00 UTC Tuesday, 30 November, you:

must self‑isolate
take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after you arrive (lateral flow tests will not be accepted)
can leave self‑isolation if your PCR test result is negative
If the PCR test is positive passengers must self‑isolate for a further 10 days

Jabbinell · 30/11/2021 13:29

No I don’t enjoy places were women and gay people are second class citizens and Asian workers slaves.

Original poster

bendmeoverbackwards · 30/11/2021 20:42

@JazzyBBG

It's worth going and seeing it but I was disappointed by how small it was - didn't quite meet my perception but maybe that's just me! For sun and a decent hotel though yeah it's fine.

I’m confused by this @JazzyBBG Friends recommended an area called Jerimieh Beach. So I put that into my search and it came up with hotels miles from there which suggests it’s a huge sprawling place.

OP posts:

HermioneWeasley · 30/11/2021 20:47

If you’re OK with slave Labour and women and gay people having no rights, then enjoy

Puppylucky · 30/11/2021 21:01

Jumeirah Beach is pretty central. There are lots of hotels on the outskirts of Dubai and into not very nice areas but I think what the PP was saying is that the good /interesting bits of Dubai are pretty small.

atribecalledquest · 30/11/2021 22:03

I feel like there are two conversations going on here and they can't hear each other 🤣

JazzyBBG · 01/12/2021 18:48

@bendmeoverbackwards it's hard to explain it has everything of a big city but when you go up the towers and see how small it is - you can literally see the desert. In my head I was expecting it to be like New York and go on forever.

Iflyaway · 01/12/2021 19:07

Been to Dubai. Way before the high rise took place. The market was amazing...

Have some ex-colleagues living there, over 10 years now (tax free of course).

He's gay.

Can't have sex anyway there if you're not married... officially

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