Quote:
Originally Posted by drmohitg Hi guys,
I am planning to go on a holiday to Dubai during end december, probably from 24-28 december,2012. Need advice on:
1. Places to visit: Am not interested in seeing museums or religious places.
2. Any recommendations for a Hotel: not looking at luxury chains but for a decent, not so heavy on your pocket, kind of place.
3. Is december a good time to visit Dubai? Would the trip cost me substantially more since its the holiday season?
4. I would be travelling with my parents and sister. Confused between going on our own or taking a package tour. I am more in favour of organizing it myself rather than relying on some pre scheduled fixed tour which becomes too hectic and takes the fun away from the holiday.
Waiting for some inputs. Thanks in advance. |
Hello drmohitg, you will be only too glad you chose to visit Dubai in December. The climate's awesome and so is the city in general since the year end festivities are just around the corner (X'Mas/NY), like informed.
I second with some of the comments out before that you should visit Dubai on your own. What with the world under your palm (read internet) booking hotels or obtaining visas or sight-seeing is a breeze. Let me answer one by one:
1) There are a lot places you should visit, but again these would largely depend on your tastes and time.
Generally, there are a lot malls around here and if shopping is in the agenda, must visit places are: City Centre (either Deira or Mirdiff), Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall (adjoiningly you would have the Burj Khalifa) and the Ibn Battuta Mall. You also have a lot smaller ones like the Oasis Centre, Al Ghurair Centre, Mercato Mall and what-not. But the first four are the big ones you as a visitor would find amusing.
If sight-seeing per se is your cup of tea, then you could visit: a whole lot of places like Hatta, Al Ain (you have a lovely zoo, a small amusement park and one of the world's best motoring road stretches on the Jebel Hafeet Mountains). You could arrange a Dhow Cruise, Desert Safari, Wid Wadi, Bus Tours and the generally talked about things in this city. There are a lot more to see like the public parks too.
As for auto freaks like us (I'll take the liberty here) you have this awesome place in Abu Dhabi which is called the Ferrari World, the largest Ferrari themed amusement park in the world. Must See. Then the Yas Island which hosts the Yas Marina Circuit (the F1 circuit boss!). In Dubai, you have the Dubai Autodrome where you could race in the some of the fastest cars in the world (provided one has the valid licence to!) and get some valuable lessons too for a fee.
2) There are lots of hotels here mate, and the on-going rates vary according to the status, location and season. And December would be peak season too. I reckon if you would want a decent sort of hotel, you could check-in to the Four Seasons Hotel Chain. Or the Fortune Group of Hotels. You would have to make up your mind as to where you would want to stay first. Some of the popular places would be Deira, Bur Dubai, Karama, Al Qusais (Old City) and the popular but upbeat ones would be any hotel on the Sheikh Zayed Road
.
3) Like I said earlier, December is the perfect time to travel to Dubai. Lovely weather and the general mood is so good. The whole city is vibrant with blooming flowers and all greenery. So its perfect. The cost incurred would certainly be more but it will be worth it. You wouldn't want to be caught in a holiday here during summer, thats bad bad bad! We (residents) try to get some place else during summer or just stay indoors.
4) And finally, like I said earlier, I would urge you to make arrangements on your own rather than tours. If all goes well, you might find it a whole lot cheaper too. There are pros and cons, but that fun factor would be missing if you come through tour operators. If you plan well, you should have a decent itinerary which should see you through the hols in all good spirits.
I hope I have covered most points here. You could always message if you have any doubts. Will be glad to cover it up for you. After all, its not everyday that we have a Tbhpian coming to Dubai (atleast not ones we are informed about
).
And, I might have perhaps overseen a few too. If some guys from Dubai could point that out, should help drmohitg.
Cheers
Champ