Escaping NYC: Opulence and Adventure in the UAE

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are unlike any place I had ever been.

I visited in 2015, lucky enough to catch a $300 fare deal on Etihad Airways during Christmas 2014. I research the heck out of things, and had seen a lot of complaints about Etihad… but I had a great experience, except for sitting in the middle seat for 13 hours each way. The attendants were pleasant and the food was… uh, edible. They served some fusion of Indian food. I normally really like Indian food, but I wasn’t particularly excited about this airline food; quite honestly, I’ve had better: Indian AND airline food.

 

I landed in Abu Dhabi, breezed through customs and then boarded the (free) Etihad shuttle bus to Dubai. The ride was about 1 hour and pretty uneventful; not much exciting scenery along the way. I should’ve used this time for a quick nap, but since I don’t believe in naps because I have FOMO. I don’t take naps so I can tell YOU what you’ve missed!

In Dubai, I stayed at the Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers. It’s a great hotel that features hotel rooms AND apartments, as well an infinity pool on the 11th floor. There’s a bar on the lower level called McGettigan’s that hosts a reasonably priced Friday brunch (however, pickings are slim when it comes to food)… and there’s Healy’s Bar and Terrace on the ground floor that has ladies night every Wednesday, which means that women get three free drinks.

I spent about 4 days in Dubai before moving on to Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, I visited the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, The Souks, The Desert, The Jumeirah Public Beach (to catch a glimpse of the Burj Al Arab, touted at the most luxurious hotel in the world), Dubai Miracle Garden and pieces of the Al Fahidi historic district. I made use of public transportation instead of taking cabs everywhere; the metro in Dubai is very affordable, on top of very easy to navigate.

In Abu Dhabi, I stayed at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr which provided the ultimate luxury experience and a fantastic view of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque from my hotel room.

Whew! Now that I’ve given you a basic summary of the trip… here are 4 places that are absolute must-sees in Abu Dhabi and Dubai!

1. The Souk

Whatever you want, they have it… clothing, shoes, housewares, spices, candies, souvenirs… gold. SO. MUCH. GOLD. The Souk at Deira is your one-stop shop for all your needs. I liked it so much, I went twice! I ended up purchasing tons of gifts for friends and family and some new fashions for myself… and delicious nougat pistachio candy. I also had the opportunity to try camel milk candy, which was actually pretty good!

 

Don’t let the size and the sellers of the souks intimidate you… many times your “no” just isn’t going to work and you have to just ignore the people trying to get your attention and keep walking. Also, don’t be afraid to haggle. Haggling is key here, or you’ll end up paying way more than you bargained for.

So… how do you get to the Souks? Well, check this out…

Live a little and don’t bother with cabs or public transportation on this one. Ok, well you have to rely a little on public transportation… but don’t take the metro directly to the souk. Take the metro to the Al Ghubaiba stop and walk along the creek until you come across the ferry terminal. There you’ll see a line of abras (water taxis) ready to take you across the creek to the souks. The fare is 1 dirham for a one-way trip. When you make the return trip, be sure to head on over to the Blue Barjeel (which is a few steps away) for some rest and relaxation (hey! shopping is hard!), shisha and delicious food!

You should know… there aren’t any “traditional” souks in Abu Dhabi, so make sure to get your shopping fix in Dubai!

2. The Desert

You can’t go to the Middle East and not go to the desert. That’s like going to Jamaica and not going to the beach! I can only describe the desert as epic vastness…

I booked a tour through North Tours; the first half of the tour included dune bashing and stopping for pictures. The other half included a sit-down dinner (with performances, henna, and shisha) and a camp in the middle of the desert. I believe that this was a great way to experience the desert. My guide was a lot of fun, and it was great bonding with the other people on the tour!

Check out some footage of my dune bashing experience…

3. Sheikh Zayed Mosque

I completed my trip with a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. My photos of the mosque may be great… but they do not do it justice. Truthfully, this is the most beautiful, peaceful place I’ve ever been! They have tours every few hours. Also, please make sure you are completely covered when visiting. My dress was a little too short (my ankles were exposed), so I had to go to the parking lot (located outside of the mosque and on the lower level) to borrow an abaya.

You should also note that the time best time to visit the mosque is at dusk. When I went, it wasn’t crowded at all and the lightning made for good pictures… truly a wonderful memory!

4. Dubai Miracle Garden

This may seem a bit cheesy, but I love colors, flowers, and artistic expression, so I absolutely loved this place!

The talented caretakers of the garden create intricate sculptures with flowers, which are simply amazing. Hands down, this place is a must-see for a wonderful morning or evening stroll. I made the mistake of going in the afternoon and it was sweltering… but I still had a great time!

All photos (and video) in this post were taken by me/with my Fujifilm S2100HD.