dubai - talk to me

[Super Slo Mo]

Fair point I guess. I've been to far more dangerous and dodgy places than Dubai though so perhaps have a slightly different perspective.

Generally I think people are fine as long as they don't behave like typical partying 'Brits abroad'. That seems to be when people get into trouble, but that could apply to lots of countries in the world.

[havoc]

Super Slo Mo said:

Fair point I guess. I've been to far more dangerous and dodgy places than Dubai though so perhaps have a slightly different perspective.

Generally I think people are fine as long as they don't behave like typical partying 'Brits abroad'. That seems to be when people get into trouble, but that could apply to lots of countries in the world.

Me too...difference being when going to most dangerous/dodgy places, your senses and the local reputation TELL you that, so you behave accordingly, even on holiday.

With Dubai people see it almost as Las Vegas-on-Sea (OK, minus the gambling and awful cabarets! To be fair though, it DOES market itself as a 'rich playboy' destination - bit of a mixed-message there?!?), so act as they would in the Med/Caribbean resorts.

[Baryonyx]

Mattt said:

The guy is after holiday recommendations, so don't turn this into a one man vendetta against Dubai.

You don't like it, some other people don't like it - fine, no point trying to change your mind. But, some people do like it, and it gets a bit tiresome when any Dubai thread asking for holiday tips turns into a Dubai bashing rant.

Surely though, it's not our fault that the place is a tip or that we didn't enjoy it? It's worth listening to the advice and thoughts of people who have actually been there, even if you wish to ignore them and discover how ste it is for yourself.

[insurance_jon]

for the purpose of further discussion can you assume I'm aware of the risks to my freedom.

I've narrowed it down to two hotels

1. Atlantis the palm - http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/

2. The One and Only Royal Mirage Palace - http://royalmirage.oneandonlyresorts.com/accommoda...

both half board, both on emirates flights. which would be the best to go to?

[Mattt]

IMO pros and cons for both, Atlantis is a landmark and you can have a go in the waterpark if so inclined - but you are out on the Palm - whereas Id say it's slightly easier to get around to various other bars and sights from the Mirage.

If they're the same money and you've not been before I'd lean towards Atlantis.

However it's been a while since I was there, so I'm sure one of the locals can confirm.

[insurance_jon]

atlantis is 300 quid more

[audidoody]

acer12 said:

Your source is the equivalent of the daily mail

http://bit.ly/1utpbM2

:YAWN:

[dxbtiger]

insurance_jon said:

for the purpose of further discussion can you assume I'm aware of the risks to my freedom.

I've narrowed it down to two hotels

1. Atlantis the palm - http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/

2. The One and Only Royal Mirage Palace - http://royalmirage.oneandonlyresorts.com/accommoda...

both half board, both on emirates flights. which would be the best to go to?

I'd go One and Only, my mates parents who travel here frequently and have stayed in all of the main hotels including Burj al Arab rate the Arabian Courts at the One and Only as the best hotel in Dubai, I've stayed at Atlantis it is nice but full of Russians.

Yes water park is handy but getting on and off the Palm is a pain in the arse if you'd have to do it regularly.

Stick the 300 notes in the beer kity and do the Saffron brunch for your Atlantis exposure

[Mattt]

I agree, £300 for the drinks kitty.

[insurance_jon]

Your words of wisdom arrived a little too late and I booked the Atlantis

As prices were changing while I dithered there was only 150 in it in the end.

[KarlMac]

We stopped over for a couple of days in Atlantis on the way back from a holiday in the indian ocean. I liked the hotel, we did a helicopter tour of the city, didn't feel like I was missing much outside of the hotel.

I'm all for chilled out holidays by the pool, but once we'd done everything around the hotel on day one it was getting a bit tedious.

The airport is also a joke.

[jontysafe]

I visit Dubai probably every 3 months and really enjoy it. I also visit Oman and Doha, all three destinations are, as you would expect totally different.

I had my stag do in Dubai and it was A LOT of fun. So long as you aren't an idiot it's a very liberal place. However if you can't handle your drink go somewhere else. It's all about respect or the veneer of respect more like!

I've been going for years and whilst it's changed a lot from the "rattlesnake" days it's still a city in every sense of the term

[Mattt]

insurance_jon said:

Your words of wisdom arrived a little too late and I booked the Atlantis

As prices were changing while I dithered there was only 150 in it in the end.

Don't worry, you'll have a great time there - it's a box ticked anyway!

[dxbtiger]

insurance_jon said:

Your words of wisdom arrived a little too late and I booked the Atlantis

As prices were changing while I dithered there was only 150 in it in the end.

Still an epic hotel, you'll love it.

[Guffy]

We stayed at the Atlantis last October for a week, it's an amazing hotel, although expensive and it's a 30min taxi ride to get to the malls etc, so that gets a bit of a chore if it's busy, took an hour one time. I loved the aquarium at the hotel and the water park is a lot of fun.

Dubai as a destination was a bit disappointing for me, a bit too much consumerism, although I didn't complain when I got an engagement ring at Cara Jewellers for a great price! The Dubai museum is better than it looks from the outside though!

Fine dining is also a stinger when you factor in the cost of wine, although the Pier, Buddha Bar and brunch at Bubbalicious stick in my mind as worthwhile, we had a good feed at the cheesecake factory too!

I preferred our previous holiday in Barcelona, which has a bit more depth to it, but the wife wants to go back to Dubai!!

[creampuff]

shirt said:

creampuff, have you ever been to dubai? sounds like you haven't so you should probably just shut up. everything you're saying is so misguided it is laughable.
.

Yes I have been to Dubai.

Here is an example of an ordinary Australian woman working in Dubai who was raped, then jailed. There are plenty more examples because it has happened many times.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_Gali

Perhaps you should do some research before you end up looking silly again. Or is getting raped and jailed by the UAE justice system just hahahaha didn't really happen hahahaha?

Or here is a simple question:
Have several women been raped when in Dubai then instead of or as well as having the crime against them investigated by the UAE police, also been jailed for reasons such as adultery, due to the alleged rapist being married?

Edited by creampuff on Thursday 14th August 22:32

[shirt]

since you're so concerned about me looking silly, fujairah is not dubai. its like going on about scottish law being corrupt for an incident which happened in wales.

compare miscarriages of justice between the uae and the uk. i would argue they are pretty evenly matched.

[TNJ]

I stayed at Atlantis last month on the half board deal for a week - trip was split with the first week at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. This was our fourth holiday in Dubai.

Atlantis was fine but we preferred JBH as the whole Madinat complex gives so much more choice. However, I am sure you will have a good time.

There are some things to watch out for at Atlantis.

First, the half board deal is very limited - choice of 5 restaurants, one of which (The Burger Joint) is little more than a McDonalds so avoid that. The Brasserie restaurant is good.

Also, make sure you join the Emirates Skyward scheme - free to join. You need to tell the hotel that you are a member when you check in and you will then get free wifi and 15% of food and drink. Otherwise, wifi alone is nearly £20 a day which is a rip off.

Everything is expensive but you don't need to spend a fortune - we spent about £150 a day for the four of us but that included a couple of scuba dives and the dolphin swim "experience". Without the latter, would have been about £100 a day which I think is reasonable in a five star hotel.

[e21jason]

creampuff said:

Or here is a simple question:
Have several women been raped when in Dubai then instead of or as well as having the crime against them investigated by the UAE police, also been jailed for reasons such as adultery, due to the alleged rapist being married?

Edited by creampuff on Thursday 14th August 22:32

So what you are say is don't go to Dubai because the criminal justice system is flawed especially rape cases, do you add India to list of no go countries.

That is a result of the justice system based on religious beliefs and being archaic, where sex outside of marriage is illegal,as is renting a room in a house with people of the other sex. Yes it has happened and also the defendant will also be arrested the crime is investigated, but if you read the local news believe or not they report rape trials where the women was not arrested and the defendant was prosecuted.

If you want to sit on a beach get a tan and consume food and drink i suppose Dubai is not a bad place for a week, what it does lack is cultural depth. A trip to bur dubai, the creek, desert safari and the grand mosque in abu dhabi and you are about down.

Dubai is pretty liberal, I was in the US in April and felt there was more rules and regulations than Dubai In Dubai the key is not to be an tt in public, hotel/bar club etc is ok and be aware it's there it's there city they make the rules.

The other thing is that Dubai is multi layered, it has free zones for manufacturing, very liberal finance and tax regulations and is one of the safest and most stable areas in the region so it attracts a lot of money and provides a lifestyle that a lot of new money, china, Russia, India etc wants to experience. As result a lot of the local are very wealthy and have a attitude. Then you have loads of white collar expats generally doing the management, followed by the service industry and construction works who earn less than $500 dollars a month who probably make up half the population.

So when you come as tourist you are sold the 5 star version of Dubai the rulers of Dubai want you to believe which seems to be about consumerism and 5 star hotels. When you live here you tend to be more grounded and leave the bling behind apart from the odd brunch, and if you want to experience real life you can go to an Indian cafe in the industrial areas where no ones speaks English and you can get lunch for a few quid

Edited by e21jason on Monday 25th August 20:39

[Rachie]

at this thread! I'm scared to leave my apartment now incase I get thrown in jail!


You'll have a great holiday OP, enjoy!