Travelling to Dubai?

Of late, I have begun to like giving free-advice. It is mostly this uncontrollable urge to tell people what needs to be done, how things need to be handled and what potentially works! Blame it on crossing the quarter life, I seem to have become a pro. The more I try to stop myself, the more I feel I am not contributing to the welfare of the society.

Coming to the post, I would like to go with the flow and give some free advice on planning a trip and travelling to Dubai. 

* Best time to travel is from Oct-Feb. Weather is lovely, but the package/hotel costs might soar. You can also consider travelling between March-early weeks of may. Temperature is somewhat bearable, and the package/hotel costs might dip a bit. Anytime after May, is not the best time to travel. It gets hot and remains deserted (??) throughout except in the evenings. But, the hotel/package deals are the cheapest.

* Package selection - depending on the days of stay/interest/budget, select the package wisely. In our case, we felt we could have skipped the city tour and spent more time at the beach, spice souk or Emirates mall.

* What clothes to carry depends on the time of travel. If you are travelling in the winter, the temperatures drop at night. It makes sense to carry a shawl or a sweater. In other months, opt for light colored, loose, cotton fabrics. Carry an umbrella or a hat whenever you step out. Dress codes are strictly followed in Dubai. Some malls may restrict the entry if you are not appropriately dressed and you might not be allowed for water sports or swimming in the Atlantis if you are not in a swim suit. 

* Where to eat? While breakfast might be complementary at the hotel you are staying, you got to look for hotels for lunch and dinner. Suggestion would be to do a bit of map work beforehand and explore zomato/trip advisor (for reviews, rating and pricing) and list down the names of restaurants you would want to go to.

* Setting realistic expectations will come a long way and help you keep a sane mind. Like - most hotels would provide free basic wi-fi for chatting on whats-app/messenger (no VOIP), checking mails (no, downloading of attachments is not possible) and browsing. If you want to do more with your wi-fi, you need to upgrade and pay for it. And since it is a tourist hub, there will be a lot of people at every place you go. Tourists can be noisy, with no concept of personal space and with crying kids. You might also have to stand in queues for long. It is not so rosy as the pictures on Instagram.

* On a final note, explore the place like a local. Take a metro ride; walk on the streets of Meena bazaar; be weary of people selling iphones on streets; do not forget cellphones in taxis; cross the road at the zebra crossing and MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

I hope I have benefited the world with the pearls of wisdom. Enjoy your journey to this beautiful city!