Dubai

Why we went…

Rick has always wanted to fly business class on a middle eastern carrier. He was excited to procure four business class seats on Qatar Airways and Emirates Airways. We were hoping to include Qatar on this trip, but due to Covid restrictions we couldn’t enter the country without having to quarantine in a government approved hotel for two days. We were only planning on staying in Doha for two days. We decided to fly directly through to Dubai. United Arab Emirates only required a negative PCR test to enter.

How we got there…

We flew Qatar Airways in their Q Suites business class for 330,000 Alaska miles. We had four middle seats facing each other for a true Q Suites experience. Since we couldn’t stay in Doha, we connected to Dubai that evening on Fly Dubai. Our connection was tight. We purchased the Al-Maha airport service. We were able to quickly navigate the airport, check in, print our boarding passes and made our flight with time to spare.

Where we stayed…

We spent the first two nights in the old part of Dubai at the Al Seef Heritage Hotel which is part of the Hilton Curio Collection. The hotel is woven into the Al Seef Heritage souk and across the river from the Gold Souk and Spice Souks. The traditional architecture and decor coupled with the updated bathrooms and modern amenities made for a wonderful and very comfortable stay.

We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeira for the remainder of the trip. It was fun to contrast the very modern resort hotel in Dubai with the more traditional city hotel. We loved playing in the pool and had fun at the beach as well. Staying out on the palm, you are a bit removed from the city for site seeing, but it is easy to get a taxi from your hotel.

What we did…

Gold Souk and Spice Souk…

The first day we explored the old town. From our hotel, we crossed the river on a ferry to visit the Gold and Spice souks.

Al Seef Heritage Souk…

The Al Seef Heritage Souk feels a little less hectic than the souks across the river. The kids enjoyed shopping and bargaining with the shop owners for their souvenirs. We also enjoyed the museum of illusions which is a fun little museum in the center of the souk.

Ski Dubai…

It was wild to ski in a mall. It was the kids’ first time skiing which made for an extra special experience. We played in the snow park and the kids took an hour-long ski lesson. I purchased the two-hour slope pass and skied for 45 minutes while the kids took their lesson. The ski park experience was very easy. They have all the clothing and equipment to rent, and they offer lessons for all levels. You can get a pass to ski the slope on your own for the entire day or just a couple hours. I would recommend bringing thermal parts and long-sleeved shirt and warm socks to change into. The ski suits are great, but it was nice to have the extra layer of warmth. It may be hot outside, but it is always chilly inside Ski Dubai.

Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park…

I am pretty sure that the kids would say this was their favorite activity in Dubai. The Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark is the biggest waterpark in the world, and it did not disappoint. We got the VIP skip the line pass and it was well worth it. We went on every ride that we were able to given weight and height restrictions for the kids and some two or three times. It was a blast and is definitely the kids’ top amusement park visited. It is important to note that many of the bigger slides have a height limit of 47″ inches or 120 cm. I also recommend water shoes in case the ground is hot. They give your feet protection and a bit of cushioning since you will be walking a lot.

Desert Safari Overnight…

This is a must-do! We loved our adventure in the desert. We enjoyed dune buggies, dune bashing, dune boarding, and camel rides. At the camp, we had a fabulous dinner and were entertained by the amazing dancers. My daughter and I got henna, and we all held falcons. We were one of only 14 people to spend the night at the camp. We were a bit concerned when 95% of the guests left the camp at 10 p.m. The accommodations were rustic but comfortable, and it was worth it for the sunrise camel ride.

Burj Khalifa and Mall of the Emirates…

You can’t visit Dubai without seeing the tallest building in the world. The Dubai Mall is fun to explore a bit as well. The Dubai Fountains are a sight to behold. They are located just outside the mall and the Burj Khalifa. They are biggest dancing water fountains in the world. Every thing is bigger, better and more spectacular in Dubai!

Where we ate…

Al Khayma Restaurant

Al Khayma Restaurant is a fantastic middle eastern restaurant. It is located in the cultural old town part of Dubai within walking distance of the Al Seef Heritage hotel. The pita and hummus were the best we have ever had, and all the meat dishes were fantastic.

Social by Heinz Beck

Unlike many of our trips, we didn’t focus too heavily on the culinary experience. Out on the Palm Jumeirah there are plenty of wonderful restaurants, but all were a taxi cab ride away. At the end of our long and active days, we chose to enjoy most dinners at our hotel during our three night stay. We were very lucky that Heinz Beck had a restaurant in the Waldorf Astoria. We had eaten at his restaurant, La Pergola, in Rome and were excited to try Social. We were especially pleased to find that his famous Carbonara was on the menu. These little explosions of flavor are definitely one of the best dishes I have ever tasted. The setting and the rest of the meal was wonderful too.