Dubai - What to do, what to eat, what to see?

That's the question I've been asked by my very good friend and former flatmate who's off to the sun in late October with his wife and young son.

Now admittedly it has been some time since I last visited Dubai, I was in Abu Dhabi in the summer of 2015 during an unexpected 12 hour layover en route to Jordan.  However just for you "Mr S" and for anyone else who's interested, here are some of the things I would do if I was visiting this cosmopolitan city with the family.

Here's the legal bit - use my tips as a starting point for some research of your own before firming up any bookings as activities and prices may have changed.

What to see and do?

• Dolphin Bay @ The Atlantis - granted it's expensive but this was a truly amazing experience to get up close with these magnificent creatures. When I visited, only the person going into the water had to pay, in which case it was just me, and the Mrs observed from the shore albeit it wasn't a great viewing experience for her. I was staying the Atlantis so booked the interaction when I got there. Note - professional photos cost extra.

Some poser with a dolphin - get a room!

• And whilst you're at the Atlantis then definitely check out Aquaventure water park, hours of endless fun and a great way to cool off from the heat. The little one will absolutely love it here. Alternatively there's Wild Wadi which some argue is better.
• Dune Bashing - we did this when we went out back in 2003 and if memory serves me correct we used Alpha Tours. I then did this with the Mrs but this time with Arabian Adventures who were more expensive than Alpha however they had use of the Dubai Desert Reserve unlike other operators so it was a lot less crowded. I've been doing some research to see if there are any operators who don't make you endure the irrelevant and completely inappropriate belly dancer and apparently Platinum Heritage do, so it maybe worth checking them out. 

No shortage of leg room in this gas guzzler

• Falconry - when I stayed at the Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa one of the activities included was the falconry display and it was fantastic. Having looked at the Platinum Heritage website they do offer this so perhaps tie it in with a desert safari?

Falconry display at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa

• Burj Khalifa - people are generally torn about whether the World's tallest building is best viewed from the outside or from within? Either way definitely go there, I have been told by relatives who've visited recently that it pays to pre-book as opposed to buying tickets on arrival.
• Dubai Mall & Dancing Fountains - Once you're done admiring the Burj Khalifa then why not lighten the wallet further with a trip to the adjoining Dubai Mall and then round the evening off with the Dancing Fountain display. Avoid the weekend though (Thursday evening to Saturday evening) as it gets particularly busy which may not suit the Mrs and the little one.
• Bastakiya District - I'm torn as to whether to recommend this or not as it's a great example of heritage preservation and a glimpse into what life in Dubai was like before it joined the fast lane. However it's not really a place for kids as there's little to grab their interest...

Bastakiya District at night

• Dubai Creek - ...that said Bastakiya sits alongside the Creek and the Abra crossing will definitely be more enjoyable for him.
• Malls, malls, malls - too many to list, too many to see regardless of how long you stay in Dubai. However all have something for everyone be it food, entertainment or kids play areas etc. and despite your best efforts you will spend a lot of time in them.
• Big Bus Tour Dubai - If the weather's warm and pleasant then without doubt one of the best (but not the cheapest!) ways to get round all of the key sites of interest and marvel at the wonders that make Dubai is from the top deck of the Big Bus. However a cheaper option might be to take the ultra modern and gleaming Dubai Metro, so maybe do that first and then opt for the bus if you still want the feeling of the warm desert air in your face

These are just some of the things that came to my mind and there are plenty more that I have missed but it should give you a bit of a starting point. I haven't mentioned Burj al Arab, Jumeirah Beach, Madinat Jumeirah, Ski Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Walk etc.

What to eat?

Now there's a question! You're in Dubai and one of the key attractions for me personally is the fact that I can sample cuisine from around the World in one city and almost all of it is Halal. You do have to be careful as there are restaurants that use alcohol in sauces, it should be marked on the menu but the obvious places where this is likely to be the case are contemporary European restaurants.

From my trips to Dubai, if you had to ask where I had my best meal? I'd have to say at the Seafood Market at Le Meridien Dubai. It was the fact that the fish was fresh and selected by me and cooked to order, it was perfection!

Well Mr S, and others reading this blog, I hope that gives you some starters for 10 for planning your itinerary and hope you have a great time!

PS - not jealous at all :-)