8/29/2016 04:18:00 AM
DUBAI: CITY OF THE FUTURE
8/29/2016 04:18:00 AMThis is it! As I promised to finish all 81 provinces of the Philippines before going international, for the second time around, I failed to...
This is it! As I promised to finish all 81
provinces of the Philippines before going international, for the second time
around, I failed to fulfill that promise. Anyways, I didn't regret this trip
and I will share what I love about Dubai and the must-have places to visit. As
much as I wanted to share the entire trip, I don't want to make this blog entry
a lengthy one. Having said that, let's begin with how it all started.
When other travelers started their trip with a planned itinerary, ours
started with a promo fare. Our air fare is only at P6,400 round trip tickets
booked 8 months in advance from our travel dates. Then, we started to check
what things to do in Dubai and places to visit. Be sure you have your passport
ready and request for a visa at least a month in advance.
We were there for 8 days
and 7 nights and have to stay at three different IHG hotels. Yes, as an
employee, we get to enjoy employee rate with our more or less, 5,400 hotels
globally. The very first thing we did was the city tour. Actually, you don't
really have to book it from a travel agency. What's included in the tours would
be the same malls and buildings you will be visiting when you hopped in a taxi
or their train.
We're four office friends (from L-R) Me,
Larry, Ate Jho (Jerome's sister), Garnet, and Jerome. Good thing, Jerome's
sister is based in Ajman and is very familiar already of the hustle and bustle
of Dubai. Viola! We got a tourist guide upon arrival at the airport.
Taxi in Dubai has a flag down rate of 12 Dhs (150 Php). You may also choose to buy a day pass for the train (they call it metro) and stop from each station. Each station is connected to either a mall or a must-visit attraction. On our first 3 nights, we stayed at Holiday Inn Express Jumeirah and our mode of transportation is taxi. Taxis from the airport have higher flag down rate and I believe it's 25 Dhs.
When traveling Dubai though, I suggest you
go there from October-April (winter season). June is already summer in UAE and
temperature would peak at 40-45 degrees Celsius and it's Ramadan. The downside
of our travel dates though is that you're not allowed to eat and drink in
public. We would usually stay for at least 4 hours and have to return to our
hotel for water and food. Also, we missed the Miracle Garden because it
is closed during summer as all plants withered and can’t sustain the scorching
heat of the middle-eastern summer sun.
With this trip, I learned a lot from their
culture and have a better understanding how they observe Ramadan. Most locals
would choose to stay at home and fast until Iftar; the evening meal when
Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset.
Dubai is an open city and they’re not as strict as other
Muslim countries. People can wear shorts and sleeveless shirts but still has to
observe modesty. The city is very organized and drivers are much disciplined.
They have flowering plants along the streets that are well-maintained and
sustained by water sprinklers. Though the weather is very hot, most establishments
are fully air-conditioned and the city is almost free from trash.
10 Tips in traveling to Dubai:
1. Secure
a round trip ticket, Passport and Visa.
2. Print
them out including itineraries and hotel accommodations. Immigration might
require them from you.
3. Book
your tours in advance. Check online sites similar to what we have here like
Ensogo, Metro Deal, etc.
4. Better
if you have a travel agent who’s based there to arrange the tours on your
behalf.
5. Airfares
are affordable during summer months and during Ramadan. If you prefer cold and
comfortable weather, do it from November to April.
6. You
can wear shorts and sandos/sleeveless but wear them modestly.
7. Metro
train is the best mode and affordable form of transportation to roam around the
city.
8. Try
their local food.
9. Dubai
has the tallest building and great infrastructures but the Old Dubai and its
history is equally as beautiful as the splendid modern city.
10. Book
at least a day-tour to Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Dessert Safari.
For our Visas, we used to have an office colleague who
arranged it for us. We did a day trip to Abu Dhabi which I will blog about
separately. Next, I will share the places we’ve visited and
activities we’ve done for this 8 days/7 nights adventure.
