My Little Vacation

Here are some tips for your trip to Dubai, UAE

Visa
Apply online with Emirates Flight Ticket.

Airport
Dubai is served by Dubai International Airport, the main international airport, is used by all mayor airlines.
Airport is connected to the city by MRT.

When You can Travel
Dubai only has two seasons — hot and hotter. The months between October and April, known as the winter season, bring blue skies and perfect beach weather to the city. It’s also the rainy season, but typically rain showers don’t last too long so don’t let this factor affect your travel dates.

How to get around in Dubai?
Dubai is a small city. It is easy to get around because there are taxis, public buses, and the Dubai metro
Public transport is the best way to get around Dubai, get the NOL card. This will get you unlimited rides on a number of buses and trains. MRT and Public Buses are fast and reliable.
The Metro also has a separate section for women. Women can go in any section, but men cannot enter the ladies’ area, or they will get fined.

Money Exchange?
Dubai “Dirham or AED”.
ATMs are widely available. Carry some Dubai AED From Sri Lanka and you Can exchange at Airport. The exchange rate in the city is better than Airport.
Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, malls and supermarkets.

Dress code?
Dubai people dress moderately. You can dress in the same way you dress in your country.

Attraction Tickets?
Every attraction in the country has an entry ticket and needless to say, there are mostly long queues for buying the same. So, the best way to save your time & energy (also money) is to book all your entry tickets online, well in advance.
There are lot of places where you can wander for free and those are rewarding.

Eat cheap?
Save money on food by eating in Street Shops, not eating shawarma in Dubai is the most severe crime. Shawarmas are beef or chicken sandwiches wrapped in Arabic bread with hummus, garlic tahini sauce, pickles, French fries, and some lettuce and tomato.If you do not eat meat, you can opt for a falafel wrap instead. Dubai has some of the best falafels, and you will fall in love with every bite. Don’t forget to ask for a Karak or Zafrani tea to have with the sandwich.

Most Visited Places in Dubai
The Burj Khalifa – 125th viewing platform, reserve your tickets as it is busy, Dubai Mall – it’s not just about shopping! ,Dubai Fountain – light and water show, Jumeira – marina with plush boats, Dubai Marina – food, relaxing walks, views, Deira Souk – Old Dubai, The Dubai Frame – the biggest picture frame on the planet!, Dubai Desert

Tipping in Dubai
tipping is not required in Dubai, but it is always appreciated. A lot of the servers, staff, and taxi drivers are from low-income countries, and their salaries are meagre.

Dubai Itinerary
Here is a sample itinerary for Dubai 6days (5Night 6 Days) .

Day 1
Arrive in Dubai and check in at your hotel.

Dubai Mall , Aquarium and the Burj Khalifa

You can start your day in Dubai Mall, the biggest mall in the world with more than 1,200 fashion, food & entertainment options. Dubai Mall has its own aquarium, ice skating rink, and much more!

As per the Burj Khalifa, being the tallest building you will ever see, nobody can deny that this 160-storey building is actually impressive.

Watch the Dubai Fountain Show-Evening
There is a show every 30 minutes, from 6pm to 11pm. As it’s super touristy, try to get there early, else with all the crowd, you won’t see much!
At the bottom of the Burj Khalifa is the Dubai fountain show which takes place in the afternoons and evening.
This stunning spectacle of captivatingly choreographed water, light and music show is worth watching every time you visit Dubai.

Day 2

Dubai Miracle Garden
Miracle Garden is quite Instafamous – the flower park located a bit further from the other popular tourist attractions. You will see flowers – a lot of flowers, designed and decorated in a lot of interesting shapes and designs. It is Dubai, so of course, it is the biggest flower park in the world.The tickets are about 12€.Seeing all pieces should take about two hours.

Discover Old Dubai

Take an Abra Ride
This is one thing that you shouldn’t miss while in the old part of Dubai. An abra simply refers to a traditional wooden boat and a ride aboard them is one of the most amazing ways to experience Dubai Creek – the historic creek which divides the city into two: Deira and Bur Dubai. All you need to spend for this is just AED 1.

Explore Traditional Souks
The traditional Arabian bazaars across Dubai and Bur Dubai are real gems which let you experience the region’s authentic retail scene. Most popular among them is probably the Gold Souk which is definite to take your breath away with every store dedicated to gold jewelry.

Deira and the spice market souq
From saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, sumac and turmeric, Deira has the most traditional and photogenic souq, selling all sorts of spices, to the extent that any Indian can actually cook any curry they can come up with.

Day 3

Dubai Frame
You could start your day with a visit to one of the newer attractions: Dubai Frame. It is located in Zabeel Park, one of the biggest and lushest parks in Dubai.

Desert Safari
As you set out on an evening desert safari, it’s certain to deepen your Dubai experience. Take in the thrill of a lifetime on a dune bash ride and further participate in an array of traditional activities at the desert camp. Ride camel, smoke sh**ha, get your souvenir pictures snapped in Emirati attire, and have your hands adorned with distinct Arabic designs. Continue with a lavish BBQ dinner and watch stunning performances like Tanura show and belly dance, before your unforgettable desert safari ends.

Day 4

Dubai Marina Palm Jumeirah & Water Park

Wild Wadi Water Park
The water park belongs to the Jumeirah Group.Ticket prices start from around 25€ for adults. You will have great views of the Burj al-Arab from the waterpark, one of the most iconic buildings in Dubai.

Dubai Marina
It is one of the best places to visit in Dubai and should be on any Dubai itinerary.This area is full of skyscrapers and one of the best places to take in the awe-inspiring progress Dubai has made in the last few decades. Stroll along Dubai Marina and keep looking up to enjoy the grandiose views.

Palm Jumeirah
Your day three in Dubai itinerary is all about Palm Jumeirah and for all right reasons. Set entirely on a stunning artificial island that resembles a giant palm tree, Palm Jumeirah is the epicenter of the action, thrill, and entertainment in Dubai.

Day 5

Shopping and Beach

Mall of Emirates
Another mall that is filled with entertainment, fun, and incredible shopping experiences. You don’t just go to Mall of Emirates to shop, you go there to ski off slopes, go to ski bars, explore hundreds of stores, watch movies and play video games!.

Midriff City Center
Yet another mall, the Midriff City Center isn’t an ordinary mall. Sure, you can check out the 430 stores, go shopping or relax at a spa.

Kite Beach
If you are looking for a cheaper option to spend time in the water, go to Kite Beach – a beach with nice views of Burj al Arab, where you can cool off there. The beaches in Dubai are, in general, not very crowded (not to our European standard).The beaches are clean and safe.Always keep an eye on your valuables, but in general, I did not feel I have to watch my belongings like a paranoid (that I am sometimes).You can do all kinds of watersports – and rent equipment at the beach. Bring your own food and towels with you.

Day 6
Checkout from your hotel and heads to the airport.

Here is a budget estimate for your trip to Dubai, UAE

This estimate is for a couple for 6 days/5 nights. We estimated based on the cost in Dubai.

Please feel free to contact us for further information.

Estimate (Price in LKR for 2 people) :

Return Air Ticket - 124,000LKR
Accommodation - 60,000LKR
Food - 24,000LKR
Local Transport - 10,000 LKR
Tour/Attraction Fees - 40,000LKR
Miscellaneous - 10,000 LKR
Total - 268,000LKR
Per Person - 134,000 LKR

Our estimate target people on a budget but still want some comfort. You can save more than our budget if you are used to travel on a strict budget.

Notes:

1. If you are planning to visit more than one city, don't forget to include transportation ( Land transfers).

2. Return air ticket price is up to date. Expect changes in prices based on the date you choose and inflation

3. You can find accommodation even cheaper than what we estimated. Since you will be spending more time outside wandering, no point of spending much for accommodation.

4. We recommend to use public transport and the cost is estimate include few short taxi rides.

We will share itinerary based on our travel experience in the next post.