Countdown #1weektogo

So, here we are. Only 7 days to go until your arrival in Dubai :)
The countdown is officially on!
Remember to pack…

• PASSPORT
• ipod
• Sun cream Factor 25+
• Flip flops
• A good book to read
• Swimming gear

I can’t wait to see you!!!
ONE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ski Dubai #2weekstogo

As you are reading this, I am sure you are freezing cold at home and this is the last thing on your mind. Just so you are aware, it is a lovely 25 degrees here today :)

However, Ski Dubai offers an amazing indoor mountain-themed wintery setting. You can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, or just playing in the snow.

 

Plus you can now meet and play with Ski Dubai's newest residents; the Snow Penguins!

You don't have to worry about ski clothing or equipment either. Ski Dubai has thought of it all and offers guests the use of winter clothing, ski and snowboard equipment.

Cost: Depends of which package you pick. From 130 DH.

Friday Brunch #3weekstogo

A Friday brunch is a right of passage in Dubai. Every Friday, most hotels and restaurants host a brunch with all types of cuisine and drinks. Normally between the hours of 12.30pm to 3.30pm, you can gorge on an ‘all you can eat’ international buffet & unlimited drinks, including beer, wine and cocktails.There will be a wide selection of delectable dishes being served in an open-plan kitchen with busy chefs cooking on the spot. The trick is to pace yourself. There is so much to feast on and there is something for everyone! I have booked us into the Horizon restaurant at the Amwaj Rotana, JBR. It offers indoor and outdoor dining with great views of the Arabian Gulf.

“This brunch is not the sedate culinary experience it is elsewhere; in Dubai, it is an exercise in excess, with free-flowing booze and heaping buffets that would have even the most indulgent glutton begging for mercy.” Time Magazine

Cost: 249 DH. £45
Dress code: Smart Casual, (something with a bit of give)

Aquaventure Waterpark #4weekstogo

Atlantis the palm is home to the Aquaventure Waterpark, the no. 1 water park in the Middle East and Europe. A whole day can be spent here, enjoying the thrill of  the master Blasters, speedslide, rivers and rapids, lush tropical landscapes and a private beach.

Fancy a go at the ‘Leap of Faith Waterslide’? It’s only 27.5 meters, with a near vertical drop at 40mph, into a tunnel underneath the shark pool!!!!

Ahhhhhh! I am scared already!!!
Maybe just a float through a shark lagoon will do. Doesn't this look super cool!

Remember to bring sun cream (Factor 25+), a towel and a well fitted bikini or swim shorts.
Cost: 225 DH. £40
*I have one buy one get one free voucher.

Desert Safari #5weekstogo

A fun filled expedition out into the empty desert can’t go a miss when in Dubai. We will have a whole evening in the desert (3.30pm to 9.30pm) getting involved in an array of activities. These activities include cursing around the desert in 4x4 wheel drive and enduring a spot of dune bashing.

The driver usually stops at a nice little location to watch the gorgeous sun set, allowing for lovely photography opportunities.

Once we reach the camp in the middle of no where there is plenty to do. Have fun trekking around the camp on a camel or relax and watch a belly dancing performance with a buffet dinner & BBQ. Get your adrenaline pumping while sand boarding down a dune or relax while you get a henna tattoo. There will be a bar serving alcoholic drinks & a chance to try some flavoured Tabaco called shisha.

Cost: 80 DH with a groupon or a voucher. Around £15.
Dress code: Casual, comfortable clothing. Sandals or flip flops.

Abu Dhabi #6weekstogo

We will take a trip to the capital city, Abu Dhabi. (This is as close as you will get to where I actually live!) In a taxi from Dubai the journey is only about 45 minutes.

Whilst exploring the city, we will visit the luxurious 7* Emirates Palace. The interior is decked out in gold, marble and has large patterned domes. There is even a gold ATM available! Here, we can relax and have a lovely beverage that will most likely be sprinkled with 24-carat gold.

Here are some crazy facts about the Emirates Palace…

1. It cost approximately $3 BILLION to build.

2. It spans 1 km from wing to wing, 100 hectares total area.

2.  5 kg of pure edible GOLD is used per year for decoration mainly on desserts.

Abu Dhabi is home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It is open to the public for daily tours, including a sun set tour. The mosque is an architectural work of art that can not be missed. It is absolutely beautiful! The Grand Mosque's design and construction 'unites the world', using artisans and materials from many countries.

Al Karama & The Gold Souk #7weekstogo

In the city that sparkles, not everything is made of gold. Especially in the Karama Shopping Centre. Why pay mega bucks in the Dubai Mall when you can get high quality genuine fake handbags & purses at a fraction of the price in Karama? Whilst wondering the streets near the shops be prepared to be approached every second by shop owners trying to sell their replicas. Do not be scared to say ‘no’!

Brush up on your haggling skills and be prepared to bag a bargain! (Excuse the pun)

Did you know there are different quality levels of fakes? Yes, levels of fakness. The better the fake, the more dollar you’ll shell out. You will find the pristine genuine fakes in the “secret rooms”.

Chanel Hula-hoop bag anyone?

If you are purchasing a new handbag, you will NEED some new jewellery to go with it! Lucky for you, the Gold Souk (Markets) are not far away. Didn’t get enough of haggling in Kararm… consider that the warm up.

The Gold Souk is dazzling and well worth wondering around, even if just for a bit more window shopping. Here you can purchase gold, silver, diamonds and lots of other jewels and gems.

There are lots of opportunities to buy pashminas, abayas and cheap tourist souvenirs' too.