I know nothing about Dubai.... where to stay? 🤷🏻‍♂️

At home would be my choice over Dubai.

But then I am a miserable git in many ways!!

I'd stay somewhere else

At home for sure.

I’ve been there once - stayed at the Atlantis. Amazing hotel - most comfy bed ever and a huge room. Guaranteed weather pretty much - when we went early September it was bordering on too hot.

Has its own great pools and it also has its own water park. The water park is the best one I’ve ever been to.

Food in the all inclusive restaurants was decent - especially if you like a curry. Alcohol not all inclusive as Dubai is so expensive for that. Don’t look at the price of food in the restaurant that isn’t all inclusive with the enormous wall of fish tank down one side.

We thought we’d upgrade our all inclusive to eat from their fixed menu for one night (as we were on honeymoon) but literally just had cocktails and a main course - then popped back to the main all inclusive restaurant for dessert. Still cost about £200. Food was great though.

Dubai itself - I’m not fully sure on. Felt like in the posh malls people working in shops were constantly watching you like a hawk and it was a bit uncomfortable. I’m not sure if it was a security thing (we didn’t look rough, honest!) or a keen to serve you the second you wanted help.

The Burj is worth a trip if only for the mental lifts - and the view from the top is incredible.

Enjoy!

Marina area has some cheaper, but still nice hotels.

I wouldn't go back though...

At the risk of sounding helpful...

I normally stay somewhere on Sheikh Zayed Road or close to it. The end close to the Burj Khalifa is quite convenient and much easier to get to / from the airport. Traffic in Dubai is horrendous though so you might want to base yourself closer to where your daughter is. I stayed in the Emirates Towers a few times which is nice but I've not stayed there the last few years. I'm not so familiar with the Marina area.

I had a drink and a meal the other week with a colleague who lives in the City Walk area, lots of good places to eat around there but I'm not sure if there's hotels.

Wherever you stay, try to get a room as high up as possible. The views are cool. Also do go up the Burj.

At home would be my choice over Dubai.

Yeah I know, and it wouldn't be my choice either really, but it's either that or not see my daughter for another 3 months!

I guess it talks all sorts and we should embrace our differences....But no. If it was a toss up between Dubai, a cruise and taking a run at a metal spike, the spike might just make the cut.

Yeah I know, and it wouldn’t be my choice either really, but it’s either that or not see my daughter for another 3 months!

edit - ah. She works there?

We stayed at the Dar-Al-Masyaf for a few days on the return leg of our honeymoon over a decade ago. Right by the beach, lots of water, could go in and have a look around the Burj Al Arab. Think we got free entry to the Wild Wadi water park next door but might be mistaken on that.

Didn't really get to see the city (this was before the Khalifa was built) but the hotel was awesome.

We stayed at Sofitel on the Palm last October.

The hotel was empty, as was most of Dubai apparently. I would go back to the hotel as it was pretty nice for the money. It was great have our own almost private beech. The water is flat calm but not the cleanest or interesting

Booze is incredibly expensive, we paid for a lounge that included a happy hour for drinks when they were free, otherwise a glass of wine was about £20

The marina was just a marina nothing amazing IMO

Defo worth going up the tower, but pay the extra to go as high as you can or you are just in a massive squeeze peering from greasy glass. we went at night and I think it was better.

We hired a guide and went for a look round the ‘old town’  well what they call the old town

Overall it’s a very conflicting place. It’s glorification of everything that’s bad about humans, ie what we build and how we treat people as the place is run on poverty and oil

I’ve tried to post twice now mentioning possible LGBTQ+ issues and others, just checking I pressed the right button…

Calabria or Puglia in Italy would be my preference.

Word of advice, which i think is well enough known by now but anyway.

In airport, town, wherever and you see someone has left their phone, laptop,bar of gold. Dont ever think 'Oh, someone has left their phone,laptop,bar of gold, I'll just hand it into the cops lest anyone nick it'. Within hours you'll be in a prison cell charged with theft etc and looking at years of incarceration. And lets face it, the government has no balls anymore and will not be able to help.

.

If you see something lying, leave well alone.

Whilst I’m on a roll then, the rights of women, migrant workers and the fact that they make profit from alcohol despite being religiously against it… The spike has it!

Lots of hotels in JBR and it’s a nice area you can actually get out an walk about in. Lots of restaurants along the beach and a short walk to the tube stations to take you into various parts of the city.

If you say you know nothing about Dubai then it’s worth watching the 3 part documentary ‘Inside Dubai - Playground of the Rich’ on iplayer and draw your own conclusions

The conclusion I drew was that I’d rather remove my own kidneys with a teaspoon than spend 5 minutes there. The whole place looks like some hellish dystopian nightmare created by JG Ballard

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p09wvrxg/inside-dubai-playground-of-the-rich

Jesus people. RTFOP.
He gets it. He doesn't "want" to go to Dubai. He's going there to see his kid. Give him a bloody break.

As for 4 star hotels, no blummin idea. Both times I went to UAE we camped in a tiny little tent which we had to move every few hours to keep it in the shade of the one solitary tree.

Best weekend evah!

Perhaps should have encouraged “his kid” not to go there?

Perhaps should have encouraged “his kid” not to go there?

Really?
Do you know me? How do you know I "encouraged" her to go there?
I didn't by the way. She was suffering mentally at university and couldn't carry on, so she packed it in - with our blessing - and got a job with Emirates which happens to be based in Dubai.
We've not seen her for three months so we're going to see her.
I [obvs] know a little of what the place is like just asked for any accommodation recommendations - not a lecture.
Jesus there are some dickheads on here.

Sorry, this was what I put - Perhaps should have encouraged “his kid” not to go there?

 I realise life is complicated and apologise for any offence caused, genuinely. 

He gets it. He doesn’t “want” to go to Dubai. He’s going there to see his kid. Give him a bloody break.

I woudn't - see you in a few months. Shocking place for human rights.. she's an adult ! I'd never go.

Oh no wait, it’s just a beach holiday isn’t it 😂

Tory voter by any chance 😉

I know a family that imploded and had to find a workable solution over Dubai. Daughter 1 married a toryboy ****er banker type and was whisked off to be a rather bored housewife in Dubai. Daughter 2 is LBGTQ+ and as such the remainder of the family had heightened (some would call it normal) moral stance on locations such as Dubai. They ended up meeting in a third country where everyone felt safe and welcome. Apart from the toryboy who 'had important work he needed to stay at', much to his in laws relief.

A cautious fair play to the OPs daughter for taking decisive action. Not sure that would have been my choice, but there you go.

Jesus there are some dickheads on here.

Hi, you must be new here, welcome to STW...

I can certainly tell ypu where NOT to stay:

The CitiMax.

For reasons plentiful.

Kids eh? Personally, I'd crawl over broken glass to see mine. Don't care where, if it's their choice to be there. Hope you have a great time OP, rise above it.

got a job with Emirates which happens to be based in Dubai.

ah yep remember now. Maybe a couple of nights around the old town area/central Dubai and then out to the palm ?

Or ask your daughter I assume her accommodation is near the airport which is roughly 45 mins /1hr in the car the palm

Re all the exploitation stuff. Yep it’s there  and , it’s even in this country too.

Many people we spoke to said Dubai enabled them to have a much better life than if they stayed in their own country, and is providing a better life for their family

It’s one of those if you take the glitz at face value it’s a great place, scratch the surface and there are major issues

Just a nice  sunrise pic. I went for a run on part of the 13miles of plastic decking that goes around the palm. The soviet era white buses were quickly driving off before the tourists got out of bed, leaving the workers to work their 7 day a week 12hr shift (14-16hrs) if you include the travel as all low class workers in Dubai are forced to live in certain districts.

leaving the workers to work their 7 day a week 12hr shift (14-16hrs) if you include the travel as all low class workers in Dubai are forced to live in certain districts.

You could also be quite easily describing London. 

the fact that they make profit from alcohol despite being religiously against it

Not sure exactly what the translation is, but I always considered it it is 'frowned upon' much like alcohol was frowned upon by the Victorians for the working classes, and the point of the teachings in the holy Quran  were more to do about not letting alcohol take over your life.

Most of the Muslims I know enjoy a drink, though they are Glaswegians, so kind of goes with the territory 😆 Rum and coke is tipple of choice.

Besides, they cant be expected to hold an orange juice while playing roulette.

You could also be quite easily describing London.

So Long as they are not flying to London for their work.

#ironing

Traffic in Dubai is horrendous

It is, which is why I would recommend staying on the Metro which is great - clean, efficient and safe (or it appeared so) and infinitely preferable to getting involved in all that traffic even if someone else drives. Only problem is it only goes up and down the coast so if you want to go somewhere else you're a bit stuffed.

You could also be quite easily describing London.

Mm.. it's that aspect of London but about 100x worse.

Seems like we may be popping over to Dubai for 4 or 5 days later this week

I am sorry for your loss. (Toung in Cheek)

In All seriousness just go for something central. You will be getting a taxi most places anyway but may as well be in the centre

Gracious, what a thread. I hope your daughter's doing OK @sharkbait, that's she enjoying herself soaking up the experience, and making friends and I hope you have a good visit. No advice re hotels I'm afraid though, but, I'm sure you find something that suits. 👍

A cautious fair play to the OPs daughter for taking decisive action. Not sure that would have been my choice, but there you go.

She's not taken the job to be in Dubai and is now hardly there: she's already spent time in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Australia in her first month of flying.

I think she's happy with her life choice at the moment.

If you're an older bloke with a weak bladder, plan your hotel carefully. When I've stayed in the UAE the rooms were so big I had to set an alarm to make sure I could get from the bed to the bathroom in time to avoid soggy jim-jams.

She’s not taken the job to be in Dubai and is now hardly there: she’s already spent time in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Australia in her first month of flying.

I think she’s happy with her life choice at the moment.

It was not so much her choice of HQ (although mental health is still a massive stigma there), but her decision to locate herself far from family when in the midst of mental health concerns. That's unusual. But everyone's situation is different and deals with things differently. But it also makes your need to hold your nose and go somewhere you'd rather not instead of waiting just another 12 weeks more understandable.

It was not so much her choice of HQ (although mental health is still a massive stigma there), but her decision to locate herself far from family when in the midst of mental health concerns

Sometimes being at home IS part of the problem. Do what you need to do, somtimes that's getting away and starting something new. I can totally identify with that, despite the fact I love my parents.

Sometimes being at home IS part of the problem.

I believe being at university was was the problem (she started in the second lockdown and had a torrid time from which she didn't really recover) But I agree - sometimes you need to get away. (She is also a twin with all that entails.... which isn't always good)

but her decision to locate herself far from family when in the midst of mental health concerns.

Good point!  Thankfully her messages are now full of "My life is so good", "My job is amazing" and "I feel blessed" so I think it's working for her right now. She misses the dogs though!

Edit: Blatant proud dad indulgence - she's on the right 🙂

https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2023/10/emirates-crowned-apex-award-winner/

Glad its working out for her Sharkbait.

I think its massively underestimated how difficult things were for students during lockdown. Seems like they were just expected to get on with it!

I hate Dubai (having worked in an industrial setting over there) but traveling there and getting outside of the tourist trap stuff is a valuable lesson and one better learnt young. She will get life lessons on dealing fake everything from people to building and learn the meaning of all that glitters is not gold. Never leaving your little bubble is dangerous. Too many people don't.

Oh 100% Binners - students were completely 'effed over.  Chloe had a shocking time [at leeds] while her twin sister had a great time at Manchester.

Sadly it seems to have come down to the halls they were in.  Chloe was effectively locked in a flat in a multistorey halls with people she didn't really get on with while Laura was in a 'townhouse' (in Birley @ Man Met for those that know) and had a great time after they all got Covid very early and were allowed to mix with all the other townhouses in their gated compound.

That's a great photo @sharkbait, you must be ever so proud.

I was trying to come up with a witty turn of phrase to refer to the OP's daughter and almost googled "baby shark" to find out what their offspring were called. Caught myself just in time, lucky escape there.

This thread sums this place up. Don't get me wrong I quite like it here, lots of nice and helpful folk but also those that are so outraged at the title of the thread that they don't bother reading the initial post and that they are going to visit their daughter. 

I'd love to know if all the people that post about how others are living their lives wrong whether it's flying on holiday driving large cars and so forth as as virtuous in their own lives as they are when behind a keyboard.

OP I hope you have a great few days over there with your wife and daughter.

'TheBrick' sums it up above.  Going to live in any different country is a wonderful experience for a young person.  Of course Dubai has its problems, but it is an incredible melting-pot of different cultures.

It doesn't really matter where you stay as practically all upper tier hotels are amazing compared to the UK - I would say stay somewhere close-ish to your daughter.  Traffic is really bad at rush hours, especially around the Marina area.  It would be nice to be close to a beach though.  If you can, do a desert safari with Arabian Adventures.  And if you are a vegetarian, go to Karama, the Indian food is incredible.

I’d love to know if all the people that post about how others are living their lives wrong whether it’s flying on holiday driving large cars and so forth are as virtuous in their own lives as they are when behind a keyboard.

I'm not sure if the "some of you lot should be ashamed" thread sneerers are just the unrealistic or the Utopians. Internet forums, even ones lacking as much diversity as this one, are a hotch potch of people who would not choose to associate in the real world - because our values and beliefs would makes us incompatible company. In that vein, of course people are going to criticise other people's choices. To think otherwise is to be naive in the extreme. The alternative is a community purely of 'u ok hon?' platitudes - and no one wants that!

Long ago I made the decision to only type what I would say to someone's face - and that includes what you say about a third party too. Additionally, making and sticking to a moral code about my own life is also important to me. It must make me a fun guy to be around 😉

sharkbait
Free Member
A cautious fair play to the OPs daughter for taking decisive action. Not sure that would have been my choice, but there you go.

She’s not taken the job to be in Dubai and is now hardly there: she’s already spent time in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Australia in her first month of flying.

I think she’s happy with her life choice at the moment.

Good on her - I used to travel/work overseas a lot, seeing different countries and cultures will potentially give her a more expansive education than university would have.
Emirates crews were always positive about their employment/employees whenever I talked to them.

I’d love to know if all the people that post about how others are living their lives wrong whether it’s flying on holiday driving large cars and so forth are as virtuous in their own lives

Why would you like to know? Why does it matter? Flying is objectively bad for the environment, along with a lot of other things. It doesn't matter at all if the person telling you this flys themselves. It's still true.

Don't think that the eco thing is just about projecting virtue or trying to be superior to others. It's not about that at all.

Re Dubai - you can hire a road bike at Wolfie's and ride at Al Qudra for some desert experience, but it it has little to offer other than desertyness. If you want some MTB you can go to Hatta, which is cool in itself for a walk and/or a drive, but there's a proper UK style trail centre there and they hire bikes on site, but they're a bit knackered. Car required for both.