Destination Dubai

-Barenese

Where do I even begin with this trip to Dubai…. From the moment I left New York on 9/20/17, till the moment I returned to New York on 9/28/17, it was the perfect trip. First and foremost, you must fly Emirates when traveling to the UAE (United Arab Emirates)! This airline was amazing and they really treat their passengers like Queens and Kings. The food was very tasty and plentiful, the seats were super comfy with a lot of leg room, they have lots of inflight entertainment, they even have duty free shopping while you fly, it was just an overall wonderful experience.

Although I would love to take the credit for planning this trip to Dubai, it was actually coordinated by a travel group called Destination Dubai, The Urban Takeover. So basically, all I had to do was pay and show up which was ideal for me!

I will start by saying, UAE has a lot of rules and customs so knowing what is appropriate before you arrive is helpful. With that being said, of course we arrive on “Dry Day”. Dry Day in the UAE means alcohol cannot be purchased or served from a given amount of time and most bars or clubs are typically closed. Luckily, my travel companions and I were prepared and traveled with our own “party favors” :).  

Accommodations- I stayed at the Atana Hotel in Barsha Heights, Dubai. The hotel was centrally located, modern, but the rooms were small and the food was not good. Believe it or not, I never actually made it in the pool, which is typically a must for me while vacationing but that’s how packed this trip was. This hotel was definitely not my choice and Dubai has some amazing hotels so I suggest you stay somewhere else. If you are a person who enjoys views and high-rises try the Marina area, that was my favorite part of Dubai!  

Atana Hotel

Dubai is obviously hot with very extreme temperatures, however believe it or not… it wasn’t too bad! Of course, this depends on your preferred type of heat, but since I am from Cali I prefer dry heat over humidity and that’s exactly what is was. By the grace of God I was able to maintain straight natural (non-relaxed) hair the entire trip! Hard to believe right! Also, air conditioning is readily available everywhere you go so worry not!

Day 2: We went on a Tour of the City, saw all the major landmarks like the Burj Al Arab, we stopped at the beach, we went to Palm Island, the Marina, we hit the Dubai mall which is the largest mall in the world, and we got a history lesson along the way. I would highly recommend you set up a guided tour, for the culture. Later that night we went to N’Dulge Nightclub at Atlantis The Palm.

Dubai Marina

Burj Al Arab

Day 3: We went to a beach day party at Rixos The Palm. The beach here is really good for photo ops because you can see the Dubai Marina in the back, super pretty! Warning, the bottom of the ocean was filled with rocks and I’m sure I punctured my toe trying to get a good picture in the water with the sunset in the back. Haha However, it was worth it! The sunsets in Dubai are to die for and I had to capture the moment at any cost!

Beach at Rixos the Palm

Day 4: Shopping, partying, fine dining and more partying. DDofLA Tip, give yourself lots of time for shopping. This may sound silly, but if you’re anything like me (a bargain shopper) it is sooooo much to see and so much to choose from. Allow yourself ample time to go from store to store bargaining, you can get some really good deals. The Souks in Dubai are huge and literally make you feel like you’re in a scene from Aladdin which is a fav movie of mine, so I really felt at home here haha. I went to the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk and the Textile Souk and I felt super rushed every time I went so I kept coming back whenever I had a few free hours. These Souks are easy to locate via a quick google search, and Uber.

After my morning of shopping, my friends and I went to Nikki Prive’ at Nikki Beach Resort & Spa for a day party. I am a day party girl so this was by far the most fun I had while partying in Dubai. The place is perfect! All white decor, dreamy vibes, lots of cabanas, food, everything you need! Loved this place!

I ate most of my meals on the go while in Dubai since my days were so packed. But this night I went to Catch which is located at the Fairmont Hotel. Of course, like the other Catch locations, it did not disappoint! After dinner I went to a nightclub named Billionaire Mansion. This place was packed, but the music was good and we had a good time. If you’re in Dubai on a Sunday night, go to Billionaire Mansion.

Day 5: I was worn out, so this day was kinda quiet. I went back to the Souks and back to the mall, and rested until night time. That night I went to a yacht party that was organized by the travel group which didn’t end until 4AM, *yawnnn*. But it was fun haha.

Day 6: I was literally walking dead, but ya’ll already know I went shopping AGAIN. HAAA. After shopping we went on a desert safari. The desert safari consisted of camel riding, ATVs, a belly dance show, some sketchy food and hookah. This is the time to get your good desert pics! I took some pics on the ATV knowing damn well I didn’t ride them because I am afraid, shame! On the other hand, you can’t come to Dubai and not ride a camel, so I did that. The dinner show was entertaining, but the food is another story! I am sooo picky about food and cleanliness so trusting food in the middle of the desert was not an option for me! I am so fake bougie :). But this safari trip is a must do, just pack your own snacks!

Dinner & Show in the desert

Day 7: My last day in Dubai, I got my second wind. This day was exciting because we were finally going to Abu Dhabi to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque! Set aside a full day for visiting Abu Dhabi, it’s about 2 hours from Dubai. The tour we chose took us to the Emirates Palace, Heritage Village Museum, Ferrari World and the most important stop at the Grand Mosque.

Emirates Palace

Local restaurant in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

Henna was a must

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was EVERYTHING! The pictures do this place no justice. This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen! I am trying to figure out how I can get a mini replica built in the states that I could live in. Haha! Anyways…If you buy any traditional Arabic style clothing, wear it or bring it with you this day. You will need it at the Grand Mosque if you are female. Queens (ladies) must be covered from head to toe at all times while at the Mosque. If you don’t have any traditional clothing your tour host should provide some. But verify this ahead of time!

Me being me, I thought I could slip off my head wrap and snap a picture and unfortunately, I was caught, and the security deleted the pictures off of my camera. They were really serious about this rule! So save yourself the embarrassment lol. Aside from that just prepare to take in all the beautiful detail this place has to offer. Prepare to be blown away!

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

DDofLA Tip, the other stops on this tour isn’t worth mentioning so save yourself the money and just go to the Grand Mosque :).

If Dubai was not on your list of places to go, add it. Trust me! It’s more than just a desert, it’s a mythical luxurious desert with beaches! This place was amazing and I am so happy I went and I cannot wait to go back! Next time I hope to pair a trip to Dubai with a stop in the Maldives since it’s nearby! I’ll be praying on that :)

Lastly if you are interested in booking this trip, here’s the link. https://www.destinationdubaivip.com/

½ of Double Dose of LA rates this trip to the AUE a 5/5.