Discussion
Kermit power said:
Dubai is great for a couple of days in winter if you're on expenses. The only thing it has going for it in the middle of July, though, is that at least it's not Saudi Arabia!
ive done saudi in july, utterly horrible. i used to live in Oman, equally hot but everyone f
ked off to the UK for july/august. z4RRSchris said:
Kermit power said:
Dubai is great for a couple of days in winter if you're on expenses. The only thing it has going for it in the middle of July, though, is that at least it's not Saudi Arabia!
ive done saudi in july, utterly horrible. i used to live in Oman, equally hot but everyone f
ked off to the UK for july/august. By a couple of days later, I was seriously contemplating asking if we could go for another look, it was that dull!
We also went for lunch in a panoramic restaurant at the top of one of only two big skyscrapers there at the time (no, Riyadh doesn't look any better from up high) which had goldfish bowls with a couple of goldfish in them on each table as a centrepiece.
The next time we went back there was in mid February and the goldfish had vanished. When I commented on this, I was told that they take them off the tables around Valentines' Day in case the religious police thought they were encouraging lewd behaviour by having two of them in each bowl!!!
I always used to look forward with joyous anticipation to getting on the BA flight back, but without a shadow of a doubt, the only abiding good memory I have of the vile place was one one flight back when, as soon as the seatbelt lights went out, the two Burkha clad people in the seats opposite mine stood up, pulled off their Burkhas in unison, and revealed themselves to be exceptionally attractive 20-ish young ladies in crop tops and tight jeans.
I only ever had to spend a few days at a time in either Saudi or Dubai, but talking to people who'd spent time living in both, it always surprised me how many of them expressed a preference for Saudi, until someone explained that they're both utter s
tholes, but at least with Saudi, there's absolutely nothing to spend your money on, so after a few years, you've saved up enough to buy a nice detached house back home with no mortgage, whereas in Dubai, you end up spending everything in pursuit of not feeling like you're in a sthole, and never really get round to saving anything.Just to add some contrast:
Went to Dubai on holiday last year (September) for the first time, was there 7 nights before moving onto the Maldives.
Wish I would have stayed in Dubai for the full 14 nights, it's great.
We had a lovely beachside hotel by the marina, so sat by the pool or on the beach, you could be anywhere, its hot, sunny and quiet, turn around and walk 5 mins and your in a amazing city with lots to do, eat and drink, what’s not to like?
Considering going back again this year.
I assume most of the people that hated it were there for work, in a city centre business hotel, which would be a very different dynamic.
Went to Dubai on holiday last year (September) for the first time, was there 7 nights before moving onto the Maldives.
Wish I would have stayed in Dubai for the full 14 nights, it's great.
We had a lovely beachside hotel by the marina, so sat by the pool or on the beach, you could be anywhere, its hot, sunny and quiet, turn around and walk 5 mins and your in a amazing city with lots to do, eat and drink, what’s not to like?
Considering going back again this year.
I assume most of the people that hated it were there for work, in a city centre business hotel, which would be a very different dynamic.
sidekickdmr said:
Just to add some contrast:
Went to Dubai on holiday last year (September) for the first time, was there 7 nights before moving onto the Maldives.
Wish I would have stayed in Dubai for the full 14 nights, it's great.
We had a lovely beachside hotel by the marina, so sat by the pool or on the beach, you could be anywhere, its hot, sunny and quiet, turn around and walk 5 mins and your in a amazing city with lots to do, eat and drink, what’s not to like?
Considering going back again this year.
I assume most of the people that hated it were there for work, in a city centre business hotel, which would be a very different dynamic.
I was there for work, but got to book all my own accommodation, so I usually went for the Sheraton on Jumeirah Beach rather than in the city centre. Failing that, if memory serves, I think it was the Marriott in town which had a rather nice Japanese restaurant. I'd also usually have at least 2-3 hours a day to lounge around by the pool if I wanted.Went to Dubai on holiday last year (September) for the first time, was there 7 nights before moving onto the Maldives.
Wish I would have stayed in Dubai for the full 14 nights, it's great.
We had a lovely beachside hotel by the marina, so sat by the pool or on the beach, you could be anywhere, its hot, sunny and quiet, turn around and walk 5 mins and your in a amazing city with lots to do, eat and drink, what’s not to like?
Considering going back again this year.
I assume most of the people that hated it were there for work, in a city centre business hotel, which would be a very different dynamic.
The thing I really dislike about the place is the complete artificiality of it. It costs a fortune to put all that greenery into a desert like that, which means that they've got to find ways to recoup on their investment, so you have to spend an absolute fortune all the time to do anything other than being hot and bored.
To be fair, though, I can't imagine anything worse than lying on a beach in the heat, so that doesn't help!
z4RRSchris said:
it's a glorified disney land.
its fking expensive
it's fake
the locals are rude
What's Disney about it?its f
king expensive it's fake
the locals are rude
It's cheap as hell as long as you don't spend all your time in a hotel drinking. Hotels are cheap as long as you're not staying in the Hilton or burj al Arab. A taxi from one end of the city is around £15. It's around £3 on the train. A bottle of water is 20p, a bottle of Coke or Pepsi is 25p. A decent meal can be had in a local Indian restaurant for under £30 for 2 people. There are loads of bargains for shopping in karama and old Dubai.
What's fake about it? Are the palm trees made of plastic?
The local emirati are some of the most friendly and welcoming people on the planet I've ever met.
I've been there twice now and I'm planning to go back again at Christmas. I guess you're grumpy because you couldn't afford the plane ticket over there?
Mattt said:
Sorry, absolute rubbish.
Nobody goes to Dubai to pretend they're in Mumbai - it is expensive for everything, especially with the GBPUSD rate.
Correct, nobody goes expecting it to be dirt cheap, however people always scream and shout about how expensive it is, when it really isn't!Nobody goes to Dubai to pretend they're in Mumbai - it is expensive for everything, especially with the GBPUSD rate.
Like the last poster said, if your sat in a swanky hotel bar, then yes it's expensive.
Get out on the street and there are lots of very reasonable independent and chain places.
As an example, one day we grabbed a Nando's from the marina side, it came to less than it would have in Nando's in the U.K.
Eating out isn't expensive, it's just the alcohol that is. Last year the prices were on par with UK for sunglasses and watches etc I bought a pair of Raybans that were cheaper than I'd seen them In the UK. The value of the Pound will tip the balance now but the actual prices in Dubai havent really changed as far as I'm aware?
I don't understand the mentality of people who go to another country just to drink. To me, it seems like they have an alcohol problem. If I want to drink I'll get a few cans and sit at home and shout at the tv. When I'm on holiday I want to get out and see as much as I can, experience a new culture and get my money's worth.
Emanresu said:
I don't understand the mentality of people who go to another country just to drink. To me, it seems like they have an alcohol problem. If I want to drink I'll get a few cans and sit at home and shout at the tv. When I'm on holiday I want to get out and see as much as I can, experience a new culture and get my money's worth.
Very admirable but for most people I think they like to relax on holiday, or party on holiday and having a drink is often part of that. The fact that work pressures, early starts and having a clear head aren't present also frees up the chance to have a few alcoholic drinks. Whilst you may not understand the mentality, I think you are very much in the minority when it comes to willingly abstaining from a drink whilst on holiday. Suggesting these people all have an alcohol problem is absurd.
That being said, its hardly a surprise that an alcoholic drink is pricey in a generally dry country that gives a tolerance to drinking to appease a tourist industry and an ex-pat community. If you do want to go on a cheap drinking holiday then you'd pick elsewhere. At least the £10+ Peronis are usually served nicely cold and pleasant and not some half flat, moderately cold pint of Becks for £6 in a London bar. As others have said, meals in the non-hotel locations without alcohol don't have to be too pricey. And hey, if you cant fix your vices with booze just startt smoking - almost the same price for 200 fags as a pint and they would be £100 in the UK.
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