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Original poster

Hotels/Areas in Dubai to stay in for up to 3 weeks with a 4-6 week old baby

84 replies

roundtable · 14/09/2011 15:00

Hi, I originally posted this in travel but it was suggested that I repost in this topic for the attention of people who live Dubai.

Found out that my DH will most likely have to go to Dubai for work, possibly for up to three weeks at the end of October. I am currently 39+3 weeks pregnant so when he goes our baby will still be quite young.

I'm debating whether or not to go with him but wondered if anyone had any experience of travelling with a young baby and staying in a hotel. Is it practical so soon after birth? (He would be between 4 and 6 weeks old) Am I deluding myself and should I just stay at home? I would rather go with him and he would rather I came with him too.

What do you think? Any advice would be great.

OP posts:
barbie1 · 18/10/2011 09:50

If you google silver door they have a list of 23 serviced apartments in Dubai, not sure of the cost but what I can tell they look reasonable? Duty free is a tricky one, yes you can bring 4 things in each, but again be aware of being stopped. My friend was stopped and had it all confiscated due to not being a resident or having an alcohol licence...I think she was just unlucky though!

Original poster
roundtable · 18/10/2011 10:00

Oh I didn't realise that! Are there any places that sell it in dubai? I know in abu dhabi there were hole in the wall type places that my husband found.

I shall look up silver door now, thank you :)

OP posts:
barbie1 · 18/10/2011 10:21

There is a place called baracuda which is a little bit of a drive from Dubai, you don't need a licence to purchase from them. Failing that we have a licence and can buy from the local mmr and African and eastern which are licensed places to buy from. What do you drink normally? Liceneced places tend to cost more

TheBrideofFrankenstein · 18/10/2011 10:26

You should be ok with Duty free. Can get 4 "containers" each so theoretically you can get 8L of Vodka Grin Shd keep you going for a month.

Barbie, I think the OP shd be ok with DF as she's on a toursit visa so she's allowed to have it. The people that get into trouble (from my recollection- might have changed now) are the residents without alcohol licenses. Before we got ours we used to hide it behind the washing machine.

barbie1 · 18/10/2011 10:27

The Bride you could be right re tourist visa, my friend had a resident visa but no licence...doh!

barbie1 · 18/10/2011 10:28

Friends resident visa had run out too... Prehaps why she got stopped in first place

Original poster
roundtable · 18/10/2011 10:30

Grin at hiding alcohol behind the washing machine!

Thanks bride, I think we'll do that.

OP posts:
barbie1 · 19/10/2011 06:39

Spinneys and carrefour both stock cow and gate along with pampers (although I found them different from the uk ones) huggies and a few other brands. You can also pick up gripe water and infacol if needed.
Did you get different accommodation sorted? I was down that neck of the woods yesterday and I must admit I think you would be much more comfortable away from the diera area. If you need any more info just shout!

Wordsonapage · 19/10/2011 06:44

I've been living here over a year and have never been to Deira Blush

Original poster
roundtable · 19/10/2011 09:03

No nothing else, I'll have another look today if the baby decides he wants to sleep for any extended period of time! Is diera not very nice then? I've been to the mall I think but that's about it.

OP posts:
TheBrideofFrankenstein · 19/10/2011 10:11

Deira isn't "not nice"- it's safe enough- but it's the older, poorer part of Dubai, so the traffic is very heavy and there aren't the nice shops and cafes that you get in the newer developments along the coastal residential developments like the Marina or, inland, (my personal favourite) Old Town (built circa 2007 Grin).

barbie1 · 19/10/2011 10:42

Blush whoops, sorry didn't want to worry you about deira. Just meant that for the month you are here you might want to reconsider that are as there are most nicer areas to be!

words Shock never been there?! Have you ventured to the karama? My poor mother nearly had heart failure when we went there, she hated being followed and haggling
Grin

barbie1 · 19/10/2011 10:44

Grr I pad it changing all my words! Meant, that you might want to reconsider deira as there are much 'nicer' place to be....very much like what the bride said.

Wordsonapage · 19/10/2011 10:47

Karama once as it has a good cricket shop...

I'm going to expat hell aren't I ?

TheBrideofFrankenstein · 19/10/2011 11:25

I'm going to expat hell aren't I ?

Yup, but to be fair, I was on rails between my apartment, the Dubai mall, Stretch Yoga and Barasti, so I'm not judging Grin

Original poster
roundtable · 19/10/2011 11:38

I will get on the case and look tonight. Problem is, my husband is a bit tight so we're on a limited budget as he doesn't want to eat into the profits. Hmm The nicer places are more expensive.

I've ordered 10 cartons of milk from boots after security. Do you think that'll be enough? We've got a change over at doha. Why we don't have a direct flight I do not know. Nightmare!

OP posts:
TheBrideofFrankenstein · 19/10/2011 11:59

Should be enough- it's only 7 hrs to Doha and then 1 to Dubai I think. Assume it's because you're on Qatar airlines, which are great btw, but also cheaper than BA/ Emirates who fly direct.

Appreciate you're on a budget and you can always get cabs to the nicer malls. They are really cheap (or were 2 yrs ago).

TheBrideofFrankenstein · 19/10/2011 12:05

PM me your daily/weekly budget if you don't want to write it publically and I'll do a search. I just did a quick search and found a few places in the Greens which seemed similar to some places in Deira. The Greens is a residential complex to the south of Dubai (close to the Marina but on other side of the main road) which is very nice and has a lot of expats in it.

Original poster
roundtable · 19/10/2011 18:27

Yes qatar airlines. They seem nice so hopefully should be a good flight. I am being a bit harsh towards my husband, lack of sleep is making me grumpier than normal!

Our budget is up to 12000 dhs for 27 nights. Thanks for all your help, you've been brilliant :)

OP posts:
Cheerfulcharlie · 19/10/2011 19:05

Hello Roundtable

I very much agree that The Greens (not to be confused with The Green Community) is going to be much nicer than Deira area. Try Nuran serviced apartments in The Greens on booking.com or similar. You will be able to get taxis round there, there's a small shopping centre and a lake thing to walk round. Best of all there's proper pavements to walk on. The metro is not so far away if you are so inclined. There are also lots of serviced apartments in an area called 'Tecom'. This is adjacent to The Greens but no proper pavements and walking around will be difficcult. Greens, much better.

Deira will be a completely different experience. The Greens is part of 'New Dubai' and will feel much more westernised. If you stay in Deira you will experience 'Old Dubai'. Most people prefer New Dubai!

There are also loads of serviced apartments that are reasonably priced round the Barsha area (these are v near to Mall of the Emirates). The Greens will be better but I would still rather stay in Barsha if the other option was Deira.
It also all depends on where your husband is working.

Definitely buy your full duty free allowance on your way in. It's perfectly legal on a tourist visa but maybe take it discretely into the hotel.

Original poster
roundtable · 19/10/2011 19:14

Thanks CheerfulCharlie he's working at the airport whcih is why I think he went for Deira as an option. I've got booking.comopen at the moment as this is who we've made our orginal booking through so we should be able to swap if we find anything good.

Thanks very much for the info :)

OP posts:
TheBrideofFrankenstein · 20/10/2011 00:57

Phew- glad CC endorsed what I said re The Greens. It will be a longer commute for your DH but it's you who'll be spending whole days there so you get to decide ( I have decreed Grin).

Original poster
roundtable · 24/10/2011 21:27

Couldn't find anything in the greens within budget on time unfortunately. Hopefully diera will be ok. Leaving tomorrow morning so any meet up with dubai mums would be great. Especially if there's Starbucks involved! Thanks everyone for all the help and advice.

Feeling a bit apprehensive about flying and whether we've got all the right stuff but hopefully when we get on with it, all will be well!

Thanks again everyone Grin

OP posts:
escape · 24/10/2011 23:57

I think you'll be absolutely fine whreever you stay - if you stay in JBR area , you can literally walk around 'The Walk' - same for Downtown/around DXB Mall, Souk Al Bahar - Festival City Intercon is lovely , but Festival City Mall is quite dead during the day ... I'll see you there :) x

barbie1 · 25/10/2011 04:59

Have a good flight! Pm me and I will come and meet you...also let me know if you need any baby stuff

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