Dubai, family vacation (page 2 of 3)

Friday, March 9: chilling before departure 😎 Last day of this sunny holiday …. We head back to the Al Mamzar neighborhood to enjoy the beach before leaving. This time, we go to Al Mamzar Beach Park, which has a paid entrance. Since it’s Friday (the equivalent of Sunday for us), it’s packed—families, workers on leave, large green spaces under the trees with barbecue areas. It really looks like American beach parks, and the vibe is the same too, with families arriving loaded with coolers, tents set up on the lawns or the beach, and music blasting ….







We find a palm tree on the beach and settle in the shade. The plan: sunbathing, reading, and swimming ….







Laura set herself up a little away from us …a young guy of Philippine origin starts hitting on her in English while we go to grab some food!! I quickly shoo him away, and the little one comes running back to her dad!! Then we head back to the hotel to pack, take a quick nap, and have one last dip in the pool before dinner at an Applebee’s right by the hotel. Around 9 PM, we head to the airport—we’ve got plenty of time since the flight takes off at 1:30 AM, but we don’t want to risk it!! Of course, we miss the exit the first time, but we find the car rental agencies without too much trouble. The Hertz guy gives the car a thorough inspection—all good, everything’s OK. Overnight return flight went smoothly; we land at Roissy at 6 AM with all our luggage …. We struggle a bit to find the shuttle waiting area for the parking lot …turns out you have to follow the "hotel" signs. Finally, we find our car …and head home. After the nearly sleepless night we had, the drive back to Nantes is a bit tough …we’ll need plenty of breaks!!

So, the verdict on this week in Dubai: As I mentioned earlier, the whole family loved this vacation. Because it really was more of a holiday than a trip. I’d planned to visit a lot more places, like the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, the garden city (which also has archaeological sites), but the fatigue from the pace of the last few months, plus the fact that this summer’s trip wasn’t exactly restful, led us to take it easier than usual!! Sure, to take it easy, we could’ve booked a resort, but after two days, we’d have been bored to death. What we loved about this destination was the variety of places and activities while still being able to enjoy the beach and the sun …. Of course, it’s a city without much history, where excess often borders on madness …a kind of giant theme park …but all in all, it’s a great place for a vacation …when you know what to expect! And honestly, we’re already thinking of coming back next year, this time combining a few days in Abu Dhabi with a few days in Dubai …because there’s still so much to discover!

I went skiing in Dubai. It’s actually a pretty successful experience. You can even enjoy a hot chocolate on the slopes, on the terrace, under heaters.... A great memory.

hi there, I’m taking the liberty of answering your question by sharing a link that’ll let you book a desert safari outing if you’re heading to Dubai: www.arabiansafaridubai.com

I picked this agency during one of my many trips to Dubai, and I don’t regret it at all. As for your "concerns" about staying there, rest assured—I’ve been there six times, and I can tell you that safety-wise, it’s 100%. Nothing to worry about, no matter the time of day or night. Zero risk. Have a great trip!

😊 A BIG THANK YOU for your feedback! I think your trip and all the content are amazing. 😉 It’s so patient of you to take the time to detail and share your vacation like this🙂 Well done!

Thanks so much! I really like planning my trips based on other people’s experiences—it helps me get a better idea, and it’s true that there’s not much info out there on Dubai!! So if this can help...

Thanks so much for this really comprehensive account! I’ve been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi twice (2 days + 3 days) during layovers on my way to Asia. I’ve traveled all over the world, and I think these are really appealing places that aren’t too far away. My husband was hesitant at first, but he was won over. We’ll probably go back and keep exploring the area... Dubai is a mix of Disneyland and Las Vegas! It’s a great idea for a family trip—there’s something for everyone.

I loved the old Iranian quarter of Bastakiya (and the Arabian Tea House), and the museum is really interesting. I adore modern architecture, and there are some stunning buildings. We opted for the Big Bus (plus metro and taxis) and took a ferry tour around the sea (super cheap). You’ve given me some ideas for places to see if we ever go back...

hi stephfamily,

What a funny coincidence... We went on a family trip (with our 3 teens) to the American West last summer and... to the Emirates, but in the fall! After reading this travel journal, I feel like we took (almost) the same trip!! Just without Miracle Garden but with Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain instead. Same impressions, same surprises, and even more reactions from family and friends about choosing this destination.

Go take a look at my blog (sorry, I don’t double it with a travel journal here), it’s pretty amusing how similar our trips were!

https://clamaxjusabpo.blogspot.fr/

PO

So, what are your next destinations, by the way?!

You're right, it's practically a copy-paste! I had Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in my plans too, but as I explained, we ended up skipping them to take our time in Dubai. Your travel journal only made me want to go there even more!! And Oman will definitely be part of our future projects...

I also loved your conclusion!! I couldn’t find the words to express it, especially after all the negative reactions I faced that really threw me off!! I totally agree that every country has its dark side, and we’d stop traveling if we avoided every destination where there’s something we don’t approve of!!! And preconceptions are so hard to shake!!

Our next destinations: Corsica this summer, and Abu Dhabi is in the plans for next winter. Summer 2019, Canada... though that could change since we’ve got no shortage of ideas!!

Anyway, I’m keeping your blog bookmarked—this first read makes me want to see more! ;)

Hi, Thanks for the link. My concerns aren’t about safety. I’m convinced there’s less risk of having my wallet stolen in Dubai than in Paris! Have a great day

We were also shocked by these negative preconceptions about the UAE. It's a shame that so many people have such a narrow mindset. But we encourage our friends and family as much as possible to "go see somewhere else," near or far, it doesn’t matter. That’s also why I ended the article that way—it seems important to me to accept other ways of life.

We’re going on a cruise in two weeks (another case of preconceptions!), then the eastern USA (and a bit of Canada ;)) this summer, Jordan in October, and likely Malaysia-Singapore-Borneo in summer 2019. I see you’re planning just as far ahead as I am!

Back to Dubai—nice hotel!!

Happy trip planning,

PO

Cool plans ... I’ll check out the recaps on your blog ;)

Hi there, A big thank you for sharing! We were in Dubai for New Year’s and visited a lot of the same places—I felt like I was reliving our trip. As a family of four, we opted for the metro and buses with a super cheap weekly pass, so no regrets given the traffic and signage. You need to buy the transport card at a metro counter as soon as you arrive at the airport and ask for the rate for the number of days you want. We took the abra, the traditional boat that crosses the creek—it’s awesome for just 1 euro per person for the crossing. We also went to Jumeirah Beach, the spot called "La Mer" in French—very chic and full of expats, but we had a great time. We didn’t have time for Abu Dhabi this time, so next time for sure. Against all odds, we loved it for the sunshine, the beach, the safety, and the kindness of the staff. We stayed in the popular Banyas Square area at the Hyatt—it was great and budget-friendly (New Year’s week was a must!). We’ll definitely be back! Elsa

Hi Steph,

You’ve really made us want to take a trip to Dubai. Plus, several cruise agencies offer stopovers in Dubai, and the prices are great! Thanks for this beautiful travel story and amazing photos!

Hi Stéphanie, Another big thank you for this travel journal I followed with so much pleasure. It brought back memories (my journal is on another forum) and introduced me to places we didn’t know about (the arch, the gardens, your beach...). We’ll probably go back, as we want to spend more time in Abu Dhabi and see the Louvre. We only spent a day there (by taxi with a guide) from Dubai, and between the falcon hospital, the Grand Mosque, the new Louvre district, and the eco-city of Masdar, time was really short. We also went to Al Ain—so beautiful!

Thanks again, Best regards,

Thanks for your feedback!

I’m already starting to plan another trip, this time to Abu Dhabi, since I think you can definitely spend several days there...

We were also shocked by these negative preconceptions about the UAE. It's a shame that so many people have such a narrow mindset. But we encourage people around us as much as possible to "go see elsewhere," near or far, it doesn’t matter. That’s also why I concluded the article that way—it seems important to accept other ways of life.... PO

Uh, how to put this... narrow mindset... Shouldn’t we flip the perspective here? Even if the UAE is undoubtedly one of the most open countries in the Gulf, it doesn’t change the fact that you should do some research online to see what life is like for expat workers in the country (Emiratis make up about 10% of the population, the rest are immigrant workers, from laborers to senior executives). But this isn’t the place to discuss that.

hi Stephfamily! After reading your post, you inspired me to visit Dubai. And the decision is made—we’re going in July thanks to you ;) Could you let me know the name of the hotel where you stayed? Thanks so much!

thanks, I hope the heat won’t stop you from enjoying it because in July, the climate must be pretty stifling!!! (but hey, there’s AC everywhere 😉 )

Our hotel was the Al Salam Hotel and Suites, located in the business district.

I wish you a great trip in advance!

Thanks, I hope the heat won’t stop you from enjoying it because in July, the climate must be pretty stifling!!! (but hey, there’s AC everywhere 😉 )

Our hotel was the Al Salam Hotel and Suites, located in the business district. I wish you a great trip in advance!

In July, you literally can’t do anything on foot or outside. It’s over 45°C in the shade with nearly 100% humidity. And don’t count on pleasant evenings—the temperature only drops by one degree, maybe two at most. No terraces, everything happens indoors, even at night.

Thanks for the story! I’ve only read the first day of your trip so far... I’ll keep going because I’m leaving in 3 weeks, so I need to plan and follow your adventures (or not—I haven’t read the rest yet). I only booked yesterday... to be continued...