Insight Guides: Explore Dubai

Insight Guides

• Editorial: Insight
• ISBN:
  9781786716781
• Categoría: Crescita personale
• Categoría: Viaggi

Unlike anywhere else on earth, Dubai is a dazzling, glamorous desert metropolis with and ever-changing cityscape. Find your way around with Insight Guide Explore Dubai, a brand new title and the ideal pocket companion for your trip: a full-colour guide containing 14 easy-to-follow routes around the Emirate and its neighbours. Inside Explore Dubai:Discover the cutting-edge architecture of Sheikh Zayed Road and the traditional charms of Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood. Experience a cruise across the Creek and excursions into the desert Insight's trademark cultural coverage sets the routes in context, with introductions to Dubai's cuisine, entertainment options, superlative shopping and key historical dates. Our recommended places to eat and drink are highlighted in each route, with even more suggestions in the directory section, which also contains a wealth of useful practical information including a range of carefully selected accommodation to suit all budgets.Pull-out map with useful plotted routes. Evocative photography captures Dubai's unique attractions

About Insight Guides: Insight Guides has over 40 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as picture-packed eBooks to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture together create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

'Insight Guides has spawned many imitators but is still the best of its type.' - Wanderlust Magazine

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Age restrictions

Car rental agencies require drivers to be at least 21 or 22 years old. This rises to 25 and 30 depending on the vehicle category. Children under 10 are not allowed to sit in the front passenger seat of cars. Entry to bars and nightclubs varies between 18 and 21. ID checks are often carried out (even if you look way older). On the water and in theme parks, the minimum age for some activities is seven or eight, but it also depends on the height of the child (often with a minimum of 1.2m/4ft). For diving lessons, the minimum age for junior open water training is 10, but kids can begin learning in a pool from the age of eight.

Dubai Marina in the mist

Shutterstock

Alcohol

Unless you’re a Dubai resident with an alcohol licence, you may only buy alcohol for consumption in hotel bars, restaurants and clubs, and in a very small number of mall restaurants. Drinking alcohol in public, outside licensed venues, is strictly illegal.

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Budgeting for your trip

Dubai is an expensive city to visit. Accommodation is probably the main expense, while fancier restaurants and alcohol all come at a considerable price. On the plus side, it’s also possible to eat well and very cheaply at many places around the city, while public transport, either on the city’s metro or in taxis, is also good value for money.

Accommodation: The cost for a standard double room ranges from around Dhs350 per night in a one-star city centre hotel to Dhs575–1,000 at a four-star hotel, and Dhs1,000–3,500 at a five-star hotel.

Eating and drinking: It is possible to pick up a filling sandwich in a street-level Lebanese restaurant or a curry (or thali set meal) in a no-nonsense Indian or Pakistani outlet for as little as Dhs15. Main courses in most decent Western-style, non-hotel restaurants are between Dhs25–45. For fine dining, budget upwards of Dhs55 per person for mains. For a three-course dinner for two with wine at a five-star hotel venue, budget for upwards of Dhs600.

Cans of soft drinks start at Dhs1 in shops, but are heavily marked up in restaurants. Freshly made juices cost between Dhs6–25. Alcoholic drinks are generally more expensive than they would be in the West.

Transport: Package deals arranged from your home country are likely to be cheaper than separately arranged air travel and accommodation. The best prices are found in low season (July–September), but that’s because it is the hottest time of the year in the UAE (and may be only for the hardcore sun fans).

Generally taxis are cheaper than those in Western cities, although the taxi fare from the airport comes with a Dhs20 mark-up. A creek crossing on an abra (water taxi) is just Dhs1, while fares on the city’s metro and buses are also just a few dirhams.

Bargaining

Don’t assume that because of Dubai’s tax-free reputation, everything here is cheaper than elsewhere in the world. You can bargain for deals in the souks, but not in malls, except perhaps when buying carpets or large souvenirs, and you are more likely to get a large discount with cash. The trick is to disguise your interest in the item you really want, then offer half of what you’re prepared to pay, and take it from there.

Jumeirah’s beach park

Getty Images

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Children

Childcare facilities are on a par with those in the West. Most malls have changing facilities in the women’s public toilets; many also have supervised indoor play areas.

Climate

Summers are very hot and humid. From May to September, daytime temperatures rarely fall below 40°C (104°F) with humidity up to 90 per cent. From October to April the weather resembles that of an exceptionally good European summer, with temperatures hovering around 30°C (mid-80s°F) and little or no humidity.

Evenings can feel a little chilly around January and February, so jumpers may be required. Annual rainfall is minimal (an average of 42mm/1.5in), but downpours occur from January to March – and when it rains, it pours. Inland, the desert and mountains are a little cooler (especially up a height), and particularly at night in winter.

Clothing

Comfortable loose cottons suit the climate best, with peak caps or sun hats for optimum protection during the heat of the day. In terms of culture, while the most daring swimwear is acceptable on the beach, around town visitors should be more modest and avoid wearing very short shorts and dresses, and tight tops. Outside Dubai, more care should be taken to avoid showing too much bare skin: upper arms should be covered, and women are advised to wear long skirts or trousers. Winter evenings can be surprisingly cool, so pack a cardigan or jumper.

Crime and safety

Dubai is a relatively safe city. Both petty theft and major crimes are rare and the level of personal security is high. Many women feel comfortable on their own in the evening. However, while you can let your guard down to some extent, it is best to avoid complacency; take the same precautions you would take anywhere else.

Tourists typically find themselves in trouble with the law because they are unaware of, or have disregarded UAE laws regarding alcohol, drugs and public displays of affection. Drunken or disorderly behaviour (including swearing) could land you a spell in prison. It is important to note that some medication (such as codeine and temazepam), available over the counter in other parts of the world, are illegal in the UAE. Check with your health practitioner before entering the country. The UAE also practises zero tolerance to drugs and drink driving.

The US-led ‘war on terror’ has caused increased concerns for the safety of citizens of countries associated with military activity in the region. The UAE is no exception and vigilance against terrorism is recommended. However, there have been no incidents to date, the country is an ally of the US, and Emiratis are generally friendly to Westerners.

Dubai Police has a Tourist Security Departm...