Thursday, September 05, 2013

Top Travel Tips for Dubai(UAE) Travellers

Dubai, Known for its gigantic shopping malls, innovative architectural structures, wonderful sports facilities and luxurious holiday resorts, Dubai is truly a gem in the desert country. The city has become one the most popular playgrounds of the rich and famous, and has made many a statement with several of the world’s tallest buildings, man-made islands and even a huge indoor ski slope and all this in the middle of a desert. These fishing towns in the Arabian Gulf have gone through a lot of changes and, at present, it is one of the best tourist destinations in the world.


The summer months

Weather wise, the best time to come to Dubai and really enjoy the outdoors as much as you enjoy what’s inside the malls are in the cooler months of November to March. During summers, the temperature is often above 40 degrees centigrade. So be sure to discard any notion of visiting the city from May to October. The best time to visit Dubai is from November to May, that is, the winter season. During this time, temperatures only range from 25 to 15 degrees centigrade. There are lots to see and do here, not just the sun, shopping and modern buildings – you can go see the traditional (old) Arabic architecture down at the Bastakiya Quarters near the Dubai Creek or join a desert safari to experience the vast desert.


Rent a car


Dubai that is loaded with liveliness, fun, energy and excitement you need to experience every sight. In order to resolve this issue, you need to rent a car Dubai that suffices your demands, making you comfortable and easy. Once you have decided to visit Dubai as a tourist or for business purpose, you need to assure the following points:

1.       Make sure you have the international driving license. Of you do not have the license none of the UAE car rental will let you rent a car, because it’s a must. Every agency will ask you for international driving license; therefore leave the home town with it.

2.       Always keep in mind that you do not belong to the city of you not local and locals own this city more than you. Never get into any trouble by reacting harshly to any abusive gesture by the locals. It will causes serious trouble to you.

3.       If you are a first time driver in Dubai, it is must for you to take care of the lanes. Dubai is a crowded city with crowd all over, therefore it’s necessary for you to stick to your lane.

4.       While making your way to toll points, make sure you have change because most of these points do not have change. Giving extra money will either cause you the loss or will displease the officers there.


Go Mall Hopping


The last thing anyone would REALLY want to do is go to a country as a tourist and spend a major part of it traipsing through a Mall. Mall of the Emirates isn’t the only shopping centre in the UAE with a surreal twist. The Dubai Mall has a huge aquarium – one of the largest in the world, containing 10 million litres of water, sharks, stingrays and thousands of exotic fish – right there next to the customary high street fashion outlets, such as H&M and New Look. Visitors can take a ride on a glass-bottomed boat to admire all the sea creatures or, if they’re feeling brave, go diving with the sharks or take part in a little cage snorkeling. The Dubai Mall also has an Olympic-sized ice rink, where you can play hockey, take ice dancing lessons or just go for a sociable spin.

Tour the Gold Souk


Dubai Gold Souk or Gold Souk is a traditional market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. World famous Gold Souk is Dubai’s Gold Souk, where narrow streets are lined with shop windows glinting with ornaments made in 22 and 24 carat gold. Along the slightly larger lanes of the gold souk, each shop window is crammed with gold necklaces, rings, bangles, earrings and brooches. On display in one of the shops is the World’s Largest Gold Ring, certificated from the Guinness Book of World Records. Designs can be traditional or modern, bold or conservative, loud or sober, sturdy or delicate. Along with designs, you will find many different shades of gold like pink, white, yellow or green hues in one piece. Dubai Gold Souk is worth a visit even if you have no intention of buying. It would be hard to resist the temptation to buy them. Haggling about the price is like a tradition. Take your time and plan 2 to 3 hours for your visit.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Travel the ‘Emirates’ of UAE


Having grown from a quiet backwater to becoming one of the leading Middle eastern tourist destinations, UAE is home to some of the fastest growing and most dynamic cities of the world. You can find world’s largest man made islands, world’s tallest building, as well as some of the world’s best shopping centers right here along with traditional Arabic culture and a history that dates back to thousands of years. The place is full of crowded shopping malls as well as secluded sand dunes that will make your holiday memorable one. However, most of the people are aware of either Dubai or the Abu Dhabi regions of the country. The country has much more to offer than that. In fact, there are a total of seven emirates that make up the country. Though the most well known among these is Dubai, others are equally fascinating and are well worth a visit.

Umm Al Quwain:
 
Consisting of some of the most beautiful stretches of lush green mangrove forests dotting the Persian Gulf shores, Umm al Quwain is like a peaceful heaven with rolling sand dunes accompanying the fertile oasis surrounding the Falaj Al Moalla. Said to be one of the most peaceful of all UAE Emirates, the place is free from the hustle and bustle of city life. However, that does not mean that the place is devoid of attractions. The place is home to world’s largest aquapark known as Dreamland as well as the first UAE aviation club that is world known for its skydiving and parachute championships. There is also the Corniche for those who love to smoke shisha accompanied by the sound of waves. Not only this, you can make your holidays much more memorable with traditional Arabian adventure activities such as camel racing, falconry as well as sailing in addition to the regular water sports activities such as kayaking, jet skiing, wind surfing and water skiing.

Sharjah

Though a little dusty and chaotic compared to the other UAE Emirates, Sharjah has a unique charm for all the tourists. Being the third largest of all the seven emirates, Sharjah is the only one of all to have lands on both the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Located just next to Dubai, the place is much cheaper compared to its neighbor and has many attractions worth visiting for its tourists. There is the Heritage area located near the Burj Avenue that has some of the most exciting and interesting sites of the emirate. In addition to this, there are also various other museums and desert parks that you can visit. The place is also a treasure haven for those looking to sample some of the Middle eastern delights as delicacies and drinks are available all over the city at very cheap prices. However, the emirate, also known as ‘dry emirate’, forbids sale or possession of alcohol in any form.

Fujairah



Located on the easternmost corner of UAE, Fujairah is the youngest of all emirates considering it became independent from Sharjah in 1952. It is also the only emirate to not have a coastline along the Persian Gulf. The place has witnessed rapid growth in terms of social and economic development recently though the place is yet to be noticed much on the tourism radar. However, this makes it all the more attractive for those who yearn to escape the mad tourist crowds and look for peaceful places to unwind. The place is home to the oldest mosque of UAE that was built in 1446 with mud and bricks. Some of the other interesting places to visit in the emirate include the Fujairah fort as well as a museum located right next to it, though construction of a heritage village is underway. However, if you like to enjoy sunny beaches and practice sea activities, it is best to go to the city of Diba where you get to hire a boat to visit the islands that lie in the Gulf of Oman. All things considered, Fujairah is more suitable as a base stop from where you can go on to further trips rather than anything else. 

Ras Al Khaimah


Nestled between the Persian gulf and the Hajjar mountains, Ras Al Khaymah shares its borders with the Oman Sultanate. The place has a fascinating topography what with the clean white beaches fringing the calm beaches, dramatic sand dunes along with the majestic Hajjar Mountains, all at one place. With various beautiful wildlife conservatories and sanctuaries as well as numerous tourist landmarks, the place is fast becoming one of the leading tourist destinations of UAE. To add more to its appeal, with the completion of the new Emirates highway, the place is now just an hour away from Dubai. Some of the must see attractions of the place include the Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Khatt Springs, Prehistoric Shimal, Dhayah village, Ras Al Khaimah National Museum, the Old City, and various others. The place is well worth a visit if you like to enjoy camel races, camping, picnics, desert safaris, quad biking as well as various other adventure activities.

Ajman


Considered to be the smallest of all seven emirates, Ajman is located smack in the middle of UAE as a whole. This makes it highly accessible with roads leading to it from Sharjah, Dubai, Umm Al Quwain along with the main Emirates road. In addition to spectacular sunny white beaches with cool blue waters lapping, the place is home to many a designer outlets as well as dining options. There is also a traditional Iranian souq where you can buy some interesting domestic goods as well as pottery options that are sure to make your trip worthwile. For those looking for some historical fun, there is the Ajman Museum as well as an old fort that was built in 16th century where you can see the different artifacts as well as the reconstruction of traditional life. Alcohol is easily available in this emirate and is served in many hotels and restaurants.

Dubai


One of the most progressive and modern emirates of UAE, Dubai is a popular tourist destination that is essentially a desert city with exceptional infrastructure, liberal policies and excellent tourist amenities. With just 5 hours away from Europe, the place makes for a great place for partying, shopping, sporting events, sunbathing and various other sinful pleasures. If you are looking for the biggest, the fastest, the highest and the largest, Dubai is the place. In fact, with the largest immigrant population of the world, the place hardly seems like an Arab emirate once you land into it. The place has so many attractions that they can hardly fit into a list. The place is home to Burj Dubai, Jumeirah Museum, the Gold Souk, Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Fountain, Palm Islands and various others. In addition to these attractions, the place is also a popular shopping destination what with the spice souks, diamond park, Jumeirah Town Center and several others. There is also the Dubai Shopping Festival that has some of the top world brands coming in to present amazing deals to the customers. In terms of dining to, the place has many multi cuisine options with several leading world food chains having their outlets in the city. In short, the place is a world in itself with both international and traditional attractions on offer.

Abu Dhabi

Largest of all emirates, Abu Dhabi is also the capital of UAE. In addition to this, the emirate is also the first among its counterparts to export oil in 1962. In fact, its long coastline that stretches over the shallow waters of Southern Gulf and were once considered to be the world’s best waters for pearling. This emirate is also the most populated of all with some of the world’s largest sand dunes. These offer a great opportunity for Desert safaris and other sand adventures that make for a complete Arabian adventure. In addition to some of the finest hotels, the place is also home to delicious Arabic gastronomical delights that are sure to put your taste buds in a party mood. Though the place is much more conservative compared to Dubai, it does not lack in any way in terms of attractions. The place has Sheikh Zayed mosque which is counted amongst the most beautiful mosques of the world, Ferrari world which is the first theme park of its kind to be styled around the Ferrari cars, Al Hosn Palace which is one of the oldest buildings of the city and many others. The place has something for everyone from individuals to couples to families.

So come visit UAE and get to experience an Arabian Nights adventure that is full of palaces, sand dunes as well as beaches perfect for any person.



Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Some Luxuries Things Not To Miss in Dubai


Dubai one of the world’s most opulent destinations – are spoilt for choice when it comes to seeking luxury. The city has become one the most popular playgrounds of the rich and famous, and has made many a statement with several of the world’s tallest buildings, man-made islands and even a huge indoor ski slope and all this in the middle of a desert.  Here are five luxuries you won’t want to miss on a visit to Dubai.
The Gold Souk

Unlike anything you have seen in the world, Dubai’s Gold Souk is a market that showcases seemingly endless amounts of gold jewelry. Dubai is known for really cheap gold — but you'll have to haggle for it. Whether or not you're ready to buy, a stroll through the dazzling Gold Souk is a must. The stores also offer platinum, diamonds and occasionally silver, and the government keeps tight control over the quality of all the merchandise, so rest assured that your purchases will be genuine.(The same cannot be said, however, of the street vendors outside hawking "genuine fake" watches and "Guuci" handbags.) If something in the window catches your fancy, be sure to barter — persistent protest capped with a walkway will get merchants to drop their asking price by as much as half. Less atmospheric, but even cheaper, is the Gold & Diamond Park, where you can find unique designs or get jewelers to recreate pieces for you at a fraction of the cost of the original.


Dubai Hot Air Balloon

If you still have a head for heights, then why not see Dubai and the surrounding desert from a hot air balloon? Leave the glitz and glamour of Dubai behind and join this early-morning hot-air balloon expedition deep in the heart of the desert. Rising early to see the desert is something you'll never forget! Prepare for an exhilarating flight with unrivaled views as you enjoy a magic carpet ride over giant red sands, emerald green oases, gazelles and wandering camels. Wake up early and watch the sunrise on this one-hour Dubai balloon flight deep into the heart of the desert Unforgettable views. Personalized flight certificate for every passenger, signed by the Pilot-in-Command.


Brunch in Dubai

To brunch in Dubai is a way of life, the weekend starts early on a Friday with an all-you-can-eat and drink mentality. If you are holidaying in Dubai and visiting on a Friday, you must experience the traditional 'Friday Brunch' which has now become a standard feature across Dubai.  Friday is the first day of the weekend and a religious day; therefore you'll find most places of interest shut during the morning to allow for Friday prayers.  In the past, major shopping malls would only open from 1pm, but now laws are more relaxed and the malls do open earlier.  You will find many expats choose to stay up late on a Thursday and relish the lie-in and slow Friday start with a trip to one of the Brunch haunts in the majority of Dubai hotels.  Brunch normally starts at 12.30 and it is advised not to eat anything before you arrive.  You will be greeted with a feast of food - that will be hard to absorb, even with just your eyes!  If it’s your first time, go for one of the mid range options where you know the food is of good quality and variety and if with children, there are deals and of course activities to keep them happy.  If you really want to splash out, go for one of the top five star hotels that offer a champagne brunch with all the trimmings (non- alcoholic package will be available and cheaper), this will really be the icing of your holiday and will leave you so full, you'll be on salad and soup the next day! Be sure to make a reservation beforehand for any Friday Brunch venue.

The Beach

You'll definitely want to see the shore while you're in town. The posher beach hotels have partitioned off the majority of the sand, so if you're not staying on the Jumeirah beach strip, your best bet is Al Mamzar, a public beach near the neighboring emirate of Sharjah. The clogged artery of a road that connects the cities means it's frustratingly inaccessible during the work week. Other good alternatives are Jumeirah Beach Park with its small coffee shop and AED 5 ($1.30) entrance fee, or the free stretch of sand running the length of Umm Suqeim, known as Kite Beach due to its popularity with the city's kite-surfers. If you insist on a more luxurious beach experience, then a few hotels will allow you to sit on their sand for a fee