Why Dubai?
Dubai might seem a world away from the mild climate of England but with the right schedule and itinerary it can make an amazing weekend break... and it doesn't have to break the bank. But, beware... Dubai is addictive and you will want to go back. This was our 4th visit and i'm itching to go back again this year already.
For me the attraction is good weather, great hospitality, fantastic shopping and extremely high standard hotels...where ever you stay!
The Journey
So, it all starts in the planning stage...good flights are crucial to a doable weekend in Dubai. As we live in Staffordshire, Birmingham was the ideal starting point for our holiday. The flight times from Birmingham to Dubai with Emirates are fantastic. They offer two fight times. A mid-afternoon flight and an evening flight. We like the evening ‘red eye’ flight that lands just before 8am.
By the time we’ve arrived at the hotel and changed into our swimsuit for a snooze by the pool it's time for lunch and we're raring to go. If you manage to catch some sleep on the flight you could easily power through to the evening. It's all about minimising the jet lag. Given the time difference there should be very little jet lag, but we are all different and deal with lack of sleep differently. As the time difference is only 3 hours, we found it to be minimal...nothing a ‘kip’ by the pool in the sun ‘IN NOVEMBER’ couldn’t solve.
Security checks at Birmingham Airport were excessively long doe to an accident on the motorway and subsequent chaos due to staff shortages etc.. so we went straight to flight check in. On return our go to airport Longe in Dubai is Marhaba Lounge. As always it didn't disappoint! Great lounge with plenty of comfortable seating, fabulous buffet with lots of options (Cold meats and cheese, salads, tasty Indian dishes and sandwiches). Very clean and well staffed with no queues at the buffet and views out to the main concourse.
The Hotel
This trip we purchased a hotel deal through Luxury Escapes. This was a stylish Sofitel Dubai The Obelix with Club Millésime access. This is their executive lounge on the 51st floor, exclusively for guests staying in Club Rooms and suites. With spectacular views over the Dubai skyline, its unrivalled services include dedicated check-in, complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails and canapés. The complimentary evening cocktails lasted two hours and we were never left with an empty glass.
The food was amazing. It was sold as canapés, but it was like a never-ending tapas experience...as a result we decided not to go out for dinner on several nights of our stay here. You could eat as much scrumptious food as you liked over the 'happy hour' food and drink period.
The Club Millésime room on the 51st floor overlooked Dubai on all sides. One direction was the Burj Kalifa and on the other side the green oasis of Dubai creek. If you are an early bird It was magical for sunrise and a peaceful breakfast and beautiful of an evening as the sun set to revel the dazeling night-time lights of Dubai. An oasis of peace and tranquility could be found in seating areas dotted around the lounge.
After our 'happy hour' experience we liked to wander down to The Nine bar located just off the main lobby....which is the most beautiful lobby we have seen. The bar manager and his team were very attentive to the needs of all Their customers. The nine bar is easy to find, just look for the Egyptian cat statue!
The Show
Before we left for Dubai, I saw there was a show called 'La Perle' which I bought tickets for during our visit. I thought it was amazing...my husband...not so much. La Perle is located in the heart of Dubai at Al Habtoor City within the Hilton hotel V Hotel Dubai curio collection. The show features a breathtaking fusion of immersive artistic performances, imagery and technology. The seating wraps 270-degree around the vast stage providing different perspective of the action. The show results in the stage flooding with water which drain in a matter of seconds as the artists perform mind-blowing aqua and aerial feats, such as diving from 25 meters high. The Hilton hotel has several bars and restaurant for pre and post show refreshments. We found sanctuary in 'The Rose and Crown' whilst waited for the crowds to dissipate.
The Golf
If you play golf then Dubai is a dream...I don't play...but my husband does so, this was the perfect opportunity for him to get his golf fix whilst I made the most of the morning sun...in peace...by the pool...and with a gin and tonic!! The golf courses are amazing, even if you don't play you have to admire how beautiful they are. This time he played Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club where I would join him for lunch at the club cafe Lakeview to hear about how hard the course is and the reason why he had such a bad round. The views from the patio are beautiful and it is so peaceful. The food here is amazing with an inviting Lakeview menu and such a beautiful relaxing setting. Although service was slow. We were relaxed with no real agenda for the day so it didn't spoil our experience.
The 'Big Sights'
As this wasn't our first time in Dubai we didn't do much sight seeing on this occasion. We did find time for a brief trip to see Dubai Frame located in Zabeel Park. We ascended in the high speed lift to the top of the landmark building. Once at the top Dubai Frames viewing platform provides panoramic views of the city. Dubai Frame is an iconic structure that ‘frames’ impressive views of Old Dubai on one side and New Dubai on the other.
The metamorphic 'bridge' across the top of the frame is a Glass Floor experience. As you make your way across the transparent glass floor stretching across the whole width of the frame, each panel reveals itself as you approach. Below are breathtaking views of the ground 150 meters below...Dubai from a whole new angle! Watch this Dubai Frame video to understand more.
We also had a wander around Dubai business bay where you will find the Burj Khalifa overlooking Sheikh Zayed Highway and the coastline of the Persian Gulf. Standing over 2,700 feet and 163 floors high, this record-breaking skyscraper in downtown Dubai is the tallest structure in the world. Burj Khalifa has several open-air viewing decks and swanky lounges which offer splendid views of the UAE and the Persian Gulf. The At the Top experience takes you to level 124 and is an amazing experience. If you have the time and mind the extra expense, then I recommend going VIP which allows you to go even higher to the exclusive Lounge, Burj Khalifa Level 154 +153 + 152.
We did do any of this on this trip instead we decided to wander and explore the splendour of the architecture and glamorous hotels. We then relaxed in the gorgeous bars and restaurant soaking in the much needed November sun before jumping in a 'Careem' (Dubais version of uber) back to the hotel for dinner. There are lots of restaurant to choose from Time magazine have an information piece 'read here'
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