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Original poster

dubai holiday : spas and other stuff too!

55 replies

sis · 28/01/2005 13:23

At long last, dh, ds (aged 6) and I are due to go to dubai fo a week next month and we can't wait!

We are staying at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel (but not in the premier club bit) and know about the wild wadi water park and that we will catch the tail end of the shopping festival. What i am now after - if anyone can help - is info on what we really should do and where is the best place to get it. Examples of the sort of thing we'd like help with is:

  • planning a desert safari which includes sand buggying (where to book for value for money)

  • a relaxing spa session - I'd like a massage with a bit of oomph rather than feather strokes type massage. Would love a traditional arabic massage but is there anywhere I can do that which won't be too daunting as i won't have a clue as to what it involves?!

  • we are vegetarian and have a fussy ds to boot (pasta, pizza, not very spicy Indian food is his basic diet)- is there anywhere in particular that we ought to try or will most places cope? We are thinking of having afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab - is this the best thing to do or is the food/service/view better elsewhere?

  • If I want to have a couple of suits made, should I take material and samples with me or will they provide all this. Also, where should I go for well made clothes but that doesn't use slave labour?

  • Are there any tips for the shopping festival? I am not into shopping but I understand that the festival should be visited as a tourist attraction if nothing else! Are there any bits that are particularly family friendly? any times to avoid due to overcrowding etc?

All thoughts really welcome as we have waited a year and a half for this holiday and want to make it memorable by doing stuff that we would be either unable to do or unable to afford to do elsewhere!

OP posts:
gingerbear · 28/01/2005 23:32

lol, I was thinking of a few prime acres in the south of France!

How would you explain 10kg of gold in your hand luggage at customs? You'd get charged excess baggage as it is over the 5kg allowance anyway.

Only done a stopover in Dubai, Emirates were fab airline.

moondog · 28/01/2005 23:35

Yes Emirates fab. We did a trip to Malaysia with them and got off felling ok which says it all! Much better than Turkish Airlines to Dubai this time. Pretty grim...

SecondhandRose · 29/01/2005 13:42

What is the Burj? Dubai virgin here.

moondog · 29/01/2005 14:24

That ludicruosly OTT hotel off the shore of Dubai, shaped like a boat sail. Purports to be the only 7* hotel in the world..

Satine · 29/01/2005 15:21

I think it's the one in the Emirates advert where the old (er) woman flies off in a helicopter.

Original poster
sis · 31/01/2005 17:40

Bumping in case anyone has any other info/recommendations.

OP posts:
milge · 31/01/2005 18:21

We had 5 days at the JBH en route back from Australia last year, and i really can't recommend it highly enough. We didn;t do a lot really, as our dt's were 13 months old, and i'm not a great shopper. Can't help re clothes and jeep safari's, sorry. You book the babysitting at the kids club, and its very cheap. Worth doing for an evening sans kids. Wine is ridiculously expensive ( i remember rosemount chardonnay was £35), so we stuck to spirits and beer. You can go to the Burj on the little golf buggies, we went after supper one night for a drink in the bar right at the top next to the helipad. The fish restaurant in the basement is also recommended, if a little steep on the wallet. Cocktails were about a tenner each, iirc.
It may be worth your while enquiring about upgrading to PLC once your're there, as the seperate restaurant area for b'fast is fab, along with cocktails and canapes in the evening.
They meet you at the arrivals gate and whisk you straight to the head of the customs Q, shouting "Jumeriah International" to anyone complaining. Felt like the Beckhams!! Have a fab time, most jealous

hedghog · 31/01/2005 20:27

Hi sis, oooh we are going to the JBH about the same time as you (assuming your half term week is the same as ours). We fly out on the evening of February 8th for 7 nights. What about you? It will be our first visit to Dubai too. There are some Dubai tours available on the website here if that helps at all. We also plan to do the Wonder Bus or Big Bus tour which I'll probably book in the next day or so. A friend of mine went to Dubai last year with her dh and two ds to stay with a friend of hers who lives there. She said that camel rides and quad bike/buggy rides are available 'at the roadside' adjacent to open desert if your dh or ds would enjoy either and that facials, nails, massage and that kind of thing are really cheap in independent salons in the city. I guess it's like most things you'll pay a premium at the hotels. Have to abandon the pc now for dh. Maybe post again later.

Original poster
sis · 31/01/2005 22:38

Thank you Milge and Hedghog for those tips.

Oooh Hedghog, we may be on the same flight - we are flying out on the evening of the 8th and arriving on the morning of the 9th too! We are flying with Emirates from Heathrow, what about you? are you in the posh premier leisure club bit or slumming it like us?! Cat me if you don't want to give the details on the internet. Ds has got a bit of a cold at the moment and I am hoping that it will clear before we go so that he can be on form to enjoy himself.

I'll check out the site for tours and stuff - I want to try the sand buggies more than dh and ds at the moment!

OP posts:
hedghog · 31/01/2005 23:35

sis, sadly we are slumming it on BA (but the flights were heaps cheaper than Emirates) also from Heathrow but we do have Premium Leisure Club room at the JBH. I booked the flight and hotel separately (total £876 for flights - 2 adults, 2 kids and $3360 (£1,797 at todays exchange rate but I think a little more when I paid in November) for 7 nights incl breakfast for the four of us PLC room. Hope your ds gets completely better in the next couple of days. See you on the sand buggies

Original poster
sis · 03/02/2005 10:25

Hedghog, I don't know about you, but we are really excited - despite all of us now feeling a bit crap with colds and sore throats.

OP posts:
Original poster
sis · 05/02/2005 20:21

Ooops, just reaslised that flying Emirates was a mere fantasy - we are flying BA too so we'll be on the same flight. I'll try not to look too much like a mad stalker and you will spot us as our son will be the child who stays awake for the entire seven hour overnight flight!

OP posts:
hedghog · 06/02/2005 19:58

Hey small world sis! Our flight leaves at 9.40pm. Is that the same flight you are on? Just tackling the packing this evening but getting excited too . My eldest ds is also complaining of a sore throat and cold. I hope everyone recovers before we travel! Shall I wear a red carnation or will you . Wishing us all a peaceful flight.

Original poster
sis · 06/02/2005 20:04

Yep, we are on the same flight . We haven't even started packing - plan is to do it on Tuesday as I have a day off but I also have haircut booked, doctors appointment and loads of other stuff to do. Oh well, at least the forecast of thunderstorms in Dubai on Wednesday have gone and it is back to about 21C and hazy sunshine on weather.co.uk .

OP posts:
MABS · 07/02/2005 09:29

not wishing to be negative coz Dubai is my favourite place on earth, but make sure you pack a light jacket for the eve. Am also out there next week, and a friend of mine out there said it is quite chilly in the eve at the moment. They heat all the water in the pools at this time of year so it's really not a problem, but as you are both packin........!

Original poster
sis · 07/02/2005 16:37

Thank you - I will pack some 'layers' clothes!

OP posts:
gingerbear · 07/02/2005 16:47

No further tips, but wishing Sis, Hedgehog and respective broods a lovely holiday.

Am v

hedghog · 07/02/2005 18:33

Thank you gingerbear for your kind wishes and MABS for the tip. Will pack something a little warmer. Hope you too have a good trip.

Sis, see you at Heathrow, on the plane AND at the Jumeirah Beach! I'll keep an ear and eye out for a mad, cackling, 'layered' woman stalking every family of four travelling to Dubai trying to work out which one looks like a hedgehog!

RTKangaMummy · 07/02/2005 18:44

hedgehog and sis have a wonderful holiday

Having the first mumsnet meet up at 35,000 feet

Brill

moondog · 07/02/2005 18:47

Yes,bon voyage! Let us all know how it went!

Original poster
sis · 07/02/2005 18:48

Not sure about the meet up - she may be a bit prickly sorry, I just couldn't resist!

Thank you everyone for your good wishes - we are really excited!

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 07/02/2005 18:49

Sis I think you can tickle their tummies

MABS · 07/02/2005 19:00

when are you both going/coming back? not sure of our flight plans but will be next door to you at Mina A Salaam!!

moondog · 07/02/2005 19:08

Don't get lost then MABS like I did in there...twice!!! Bloody enormous!

MABS · 07/02/2005 20:10

thanx Moondog, but was there 3 times last year so know my way around fairly well. Can always find the premium lounge and the spa !!!

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