I had been toying with the idea of a vacation in Dubai for quite some time, but it always seemed like such an unusual destination and, admittedly, intimidating expensive. We started seriously considering it when we wanted to get away for a few days for my birthday, and all the options that came up seemed rather ordinary.
*Le husband took the plunge and started putting together a plan. And since his searches always start with newly opened hotels, he did the same this time, and that is how we ended up in Dubai. It seems to be becoming a rule that we choose our destination based on the hotel. 😅
We had a few days to explore and tried to combine different experiences that would show us several sides of the city: from luxury and spectacular restaurants to the beach, shopping and a little relaxation.
What we did in Dubai:
Lunch at Al Muntaha Restaurant in Burj Al Arab
As I mentioned, sometimes the hotel is what ends up choosing the destination for us, and this time we thought that if we were going to Dubai, we might as well have an experience at one of the city’s most iconic places.
We chose to have lunch at Al Muntaha, the fine dining restaurant located on the 27th floor of the iconic Burj Al Arab. The restaurant has one Michelin star and combines refined dishes with one of the most spectacular views of Dubai.
For me, the moment was even more special because we went there on my birthday. Besides the excellent food, elegant atmosphere and impeccable service, the staff surprised me with a special birthday dessert at the end of the meal. It was a small gesture, but it made me feel truly pampered and turned a lovely lunch into one of those vacation memories I will always remember.
I have to admit, it wasn’t just about the food, but about the whole experience. The combination of the location, the view, the attention to detail and the way we were treated made this one of the highlights of our Dubai vacation.
At the end, I thought I had nothing to lose, so I decided to push my luck a little. I dropped a little hint to one of the hotel employees who was in charge of guest transfers, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he might surprise us with a ride back to our hotel in one of the Rolls-Royces parked outside.
The guy, who I swear was easily 2 metres tall, gave me that unmistakable “nice try” look and very politely explained that the cars were reserved exclusively for guests staying at the Burj Al Arab.
Too bad! 😁 I guess next time we’ll have to stay there. We have no other choice (wink-wink *le husband).
Burj Khalifa Tour
Of course, we couldn’t come to Dubai without going up the world’s tallest building. But, as we like to do things a little differently, we chose the VIP experience at The Lounge, on Levels 152–154 of Burj Khalifa.
We had food, live music and plenty of peace and quiet. Being able to wait for sunset in such a peaceful setting made the experience even more special.
After enjoying the view and the atmosphere up there, we also went down to the more popular levels, 124, 125 and 148, where most visitors go. We hadn’t even properly stepped out of the elevator when we heard all the noise and commotion. A few seconds later, we looked at each other and both knew we wanted to go straight back to the peace and zen of the upper levels. 😁
I think that’s exactly the difference between the two experiences: it’s not just about the view, but also about how you choose to experience the moment.
La Perle Acrobatic Show
A show was definitely on our list, and La Perle turned out to be the perfect choice. I have to admit, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but within the first few minutes, I was completely captivated.
The show combines acrobatics, special effects, water, lights and moments that make you feel like the laws of physics simply don’t apply. It felt like the kind of experience unlike anything you normally see, and I think it’s worth including even if you’re not particularly into shows.
Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates
Anyone who knows us knows that we are serious mall people. This is mainly thanks to because of *le husband, who is a committed shopaholic. 🤦♀️
That said, I have to admit that in Dubai, malls are attractions in their own right.
Dubai Mall is not just about shopping. You’ll find an aquarium, restaurants, cafes, entertainment areas and, of course, the famous views of Burj Khalifa. You can easily spend half a day there without even realizing it.
We liked Mall of the Emirates for its different atmosphere and, of course, for the famous indoor ski slope. Seeing snow when it’s 40 degrees outside is one of those contrasts that just feels very Dubai. 😁
A Movie at the Cinema
It might sound a little strange to include going to the cinema on our list of things to do in Dubai, but we chose to do it for the experience itself. We wanted to try the IMAX with Laser cinema at Mall of the Emirates, which *le husband had read about. He insists you can tell the difference compared to a regular IMAX: the image is clearer and the colors are more vivid. I honestly can’t confirm that. 🙄 But I’m sure the problem is with me.
What I did enjoy, though, was the VIP experience. We had our own private box, and a dedicated member of staff escorted us to our seats and made sure everything was taken care of. At the end of the movie, the same person escorted us back out.
It might sound like a small detail, but it’s exactly this kind of attention to detail that makes a difference. I found it very Dubai-like that even something as simple as going to the cinema can be turned into a premium experience.
Relaxing at Dubai Marina Beach
We set aside one day of our vacation for some relaxation around Dubai Marina. The hotel we stayed at had two locations, and we chose the quieter one, away from the hustle and bustle of the central area. However, we also had free access to the facilities at the Dubai Marina location, so we took the opportunity to spend a day by the pool and at the beach.
It was one of those days when we didn’t make any plans. We spent some time by the pool, went to the beach for a bit and simply enjoyed the view. I really liked this combination: just relaxing on a sun lounger with the sea in front of you and all the skyscrapers of Dubai Marina in the distance. After all, this is exactly what you go on vacation for. 😁
Our Dubai Vacation: Final Thoughts
❤️ What we (well, I) loved:
- Safety. We felt safe everywhere we went. We could leave our personal belongings on the sun loungers without worrying that someone might take them.
- Transportation. We only used Uber or the hotel’s cars to get around, but we really liked the infrastructure. The roads are very wide, with multiple lanes in each direction, and traffic moves fairly quickly.
- Food. I probably shouldn’t generalize, and maybe this was more specific to the hotel we stayed at. Still, this was the first time (and the only one so far) that I actually felt the need to send my compliments to both the chef and the pastry chef. Both the food and the desserts were perfectly balanced, and I honestly couldn’t find a single thing to fault.
💔 What we (okay, I) didn’t like:
- If I had to be picky and find something I didn’t like, I’d say the temperature. It was quite hot outside, while indoors it was freezing (the air conditioning was set to 18°C). Sometimes I felt like I had to step outside for five minutes just to warm up enough to cope with the cold inside.
🏨 Where we stayed:
We stayed at Five Jumeirah Village and had half board. As I mentioned earlier, the hotel had only just opened, and we were among the first guests to walk through its doors.
Usually, when a hotel is brand new, I expect there to be a few little things that aren’t quite 100% sorted out yet. In our case, though, I got the feeling that being so new actually made everyone even more attentive to the details and more determined to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible.
And they really did spoil us. 😇 We got a room with a view of Burj Khalifa and, whenever we needed to get to a mall, we had the hotel driver available to us. There were also always little treats waiting for us in the room that made us feel truly pampered.
👣 Activities We Booked on GetYourGuide:
If you’re looking for more experiences to try in Dubai, here’s what else you can do:
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