Dubai

[FlamingoFlamboyance]

Looking to possibly go to Dubai next May half term, 2 adults and one 12 year old. She loves swimming so hotels with an onsite water park would be a huge advantage.

Also would prefer all inclusive or full board, it seems hard to find all inclusive in Dubai.

Any recommendations welcome! Thanks all

If you want full extravagance and the biggest water park then stay at Atlantis on the Palm, we didn’t stay there but did go to the water park and it’s amazing. Another water park is Wild Wadi but I haven’t been there. Dubai is so easy to get around, the last time we stayed on the Palm at the Hilton and it was amazing, the food was the best we have ever had, kids were 15 and 9 and they had the best time. The time before that we stayed off the Palm at The Habtoor Grand and again that was beautiful but I’d go for the Hilton again over the two.

We could not find AI in Dubai so ended up going half board but looking back we should have done full board because we spent a fortune on lunches for the kids, it’s not cheap!!

One thing I would avoid is Motiongate theme park, it was pretty empty when we went and there was a good reason for that which is that it’s pretty rubbish 😂

Don’t go to Dubai in May. The temps are too high, you’ll be stuck indoors all the time and some outdoor things will already be shut. If you’re going to go to Dubai go in autumn or spring when the weather is perfect.

Also, it will be a bit boring doing AI as there's so much international food around. Try Little Bangkok for a good all you can eat offer, or see if the dates of the Dubai Food Festival match with holidays as there are some really good deals in restaurants: https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/food/2024/04/18/dubai-food-festival-2024-guide/

May/June is too hot. It's a winter destination. Autumn half term onwards .

You might just be okay in May if you like and are used to extremely hot weather - likely high 30s to low 40s most of the day and not below 30 at night. It is brutal if you’re not used to it.

Would you consider Easter or February half term? February is often lovely - low 20s at night and high 20s during the day.

Thanks all for the input regarding temperature, will consider Easter instead, feb would be a bit too early in the year for our main holiday. Can anyone suggest anywhere that would be around 30 in May? I did look at Greece but seems like it can still be cool ish, low 20s and I'd be cold. I remember shivering in Tenerife in August a few years ago!

As for not going all inclusive/full board, we can't be too adventurous with DD as she is an extremely picky eater so wouldn't be able to go out to try different restaurants etc like we would on our own as she just wouldn't try anything unfamiliar. Hence why the same buffet type hotel food each day would be best for us.

Have looked at the Atlantis but prices are a bit eye watering! Maybe a hotel closeish to the water parks but with its own pools and a few slides will have to do!

It is worth having a look at the weather records online for Dubai for the time you’re going to be going - that will give you better info to decide if it’s just too warm in May.

Some other options for May:

Morocco - likely to be 30ish inland, a couple of degrees cooler on the coast. Somewhere like Pickalbatros Aqua Fun Club might fit the bill or Aqi Aqua Mirage Club.

Caribbean - but depending on the island and when exactly you’re going in May, it might be just going into wet season.

West coast of Mexico - Nuevo Vallerta / Puerto Vallerta for example is usually around the 30 mark in the second half of May.

The Westin would be a good shout. Access to Wild Wadi waterpark. Does all inclusive and because of dine around youre not just stuck in the hotel. Dubai is hot in summer, no 2 ways about it but I always travel in school holidays as thats when it suits. You aclimatise fairly quickly to the heat. Also all inclusive in Subai is nothing like AI in europe. Chalk and cheese when it comes to food offerings and restaurant choice

Going all inclusive for Dubai really knocks up the price and its usually a reasonable deal doing half board. Have you looked at Turkey OP? Some excellent standard of hotels.

We like the AI option because our costs are fixed. We usually have an odd meal or a drink out no bother and do some shopping but you can easily drop 200 quid on a small lunch for 4 people. Over the course of 2 weeks that’s nearly 3K. In the height of summer we don’t want to be traipsing about looking for a meal deal. We want to relax in the hotel. 90% of our time we’re at beach or by the pool and let the kids have unlimited drinks, milkshakes, ice pops etc. AI means you’re never watching costs for this. And in Dubai the costs quickly add up