dubai
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And how do you beat the heat in Dubai? By skiing, ON SNOW, IN THE DESERT! Dubai blogs coming soon!
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eat:
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To get a taste of some local flavors without scaring the kids away, look no further than this yummy Lebanese restaurant. The portions are generous and eating family style is the easiest. Start off with one cold and one hot mezze (Arabic appetizers) to whet your palates before moving on to the scrumptious grilled entrees. There are various locations but the best by far is at the Mall of the Emirate overlooking SkiDubai. All menus are in English and baby chairs are available.
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This is one place you can't miss if you have come all the way to Dubai; its as much an outing as it is a meal. This dinner is set at a resort in the desert and includes a delicious all you can eat buffet, with plenty of kid friendly options and some exciting new foods for the more adventurous eaters, a small shopping souk (the Arabic word for market), a traditional Bedouin village replica, camel rides, a falconer, henna artists and a dinner show with amazing dancers and theater. Its a late night but the kids will be entranced, full and sleepy by the end.
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This is a lovely little cafe with locations all around Dubai. Its cozy, shabby chic design and food that tastes like it came from Grandma's kitchen will help you and the kids settle down from all the excitement of a new place. The mac and cheese is a definite crowd please-er but they have lovely sandwiches, salads and entrees, too. Save room for dessert because their cakes and pastries are to die for.
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This is hands down some of the best Italian food around. But what makes this particular place even better is that it caters to the smallest tummies as much as it does the grown up ones. Our boys love coming here because they get to play chef for the day and make their very own pizza. They can even pick the shape of the crust (heart, star or Mickey ears). While the pizza is cooking there is a pint sized table fitted with crayons and coloring pages to occupy those hungry tummies. Baby chairs are also available if you need them.
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play:
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Just like you can't visit NYC without a trip up the Empire State Building, you definitely can't miss a trip to the world's tallest building when visiting Dubai. The story of the buildings conception and its construction is told as you wind through the line to the elevators that will take you up to the 124th floor at an impressive rate (be forewarned, your ears will be popping). Then as you step off the elevator you are greeted with a 360 view of all of Dubai and then some. Two tips: First, buy your tickets online in advance to save a few dollars (or Dirhams as it were) and time standing in lines. Second, time your trip during one of the fountain shows at the base of the building, you'll be even more impressed with it from so high up and it will keep the kids occupied a little longer.
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Don't overlook this spot just because it says "mall", it is so much more. Sure it has all your favorite and a few new brands to take in but the real reason you come is to beat the heat. And how do you do that? By skiing, ON SNOW, IN THE DESERT! SkiDubai is located here and nothing says "I went to the desert" more than a Christmas card picture with the penguins in your snowsuit. No worries about bulky cold weather gear taking up all the room in your suitcases either, the whole family will get outfitted in cozy snow protection as a part of your entrance fee (mittens do come as an extra fee however, but they are yours to keep). One thing you should know before you go, they won't admit children under 3 into SkiDubai for safety reasons.
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As the world's former biggest mall, this place really has it all. You can make a day of it by doing the Burj Khalifa and the dancing fountains while you are here. Eat your heart out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Shop til you drop for all your favorite designers and hard to get European brands. Take in the Dubai Aquarium and underwater zoo. Let the kids imaginations run wild at Kid Zania, where they can try their hand pretending to be a pilot, chef or banker. Go ice skating at the Ice Rink.And on and on and on. Phew, I'm tired just thinking of all the fun you can have in one place!
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I almost hate to tell you about this little slice of heaven but its just too perfect for a family beach day for you to miss it. It gets its name due to its popularity with kite surfers, and, if you are interested, you can rent the gear right on the beach. We love bringing our boys here because the sand is soft, the water warm, the tide and waves are gentle and there are shells galore for collecting and decorating sand castles. There is also a boardwalk area with a wide variety of places to grab a bite and a proper restroom and shower facility just feet from the sand. But shhhh, let this place be our little secret.
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One of the very best things you can do when traveling with your kids is expose them to the culture of the place you are visiting, and the SMCCU has outstanding programs to do just that. The Emirati's who run the programs are very invested in teaching people about their culture and heritage, you and your children will learn so much and have a new found appreciation for Dubai. I also recommend doing the traditional meal but understand that the pickier eaters may not go for it, although the syrup soaked doughnut holes are hard to pass up. For the mamas this is a good place to remember to to dress more conservatively (cover shoulders to knees) and bring a scarf for the mosque tour that is included.
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Its a shame this place is only open in the evening from November to April since it is so fun, but honestly you don't really want to visit Dubai during the full heat and humidity of the summer. This is an amazing outdoor market with vendors selling traditional and kitsch merchandise representing their home countries. You can find tasty morsels in every country or some more tame places to grab a burger. There is also an amusement park for the kids, even the littlest ones can enjoy the enormous Ferris wheel. Bring the stroller here though because it gets packed and is a lot of walking for tiny legs.
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stay:
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Like its sister hotel in the Bahamas, its meant to be a destination not just a room. There is a beach, a pool, a water park (with admission included for all guests), dolphins, sea lions and sting rays to swim with, an aquarium, and restaurants galore. Not to mention that it is located on the man-made Palm Island (you've seen the images from Google earth)! It has spectacular views back towards Dubai and out over the Arabian Gulf. The hotel is designed to cater to families so you'll feel right at home with the little ones. Once you get here you might find that you never leave.
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Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
This lovely beach front hotel is right in the middle of the vibrant Dubai Marina scene. The location is great for getting out and about or perfect for jet lagged littles who need to lounge by the pool or build sand castles. While you are here take advantage of the kids club for the 4 and up set so mom and dad can get in that nap or read a few pages in a book (imagine that!?). And did I mention you can ride a camel on the beach?
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Movenpick Ibn Battuta
While on a map it looks like this hotel is on the edge of the desert it still is a great location. You'll always have a straight shot into town but will appreciate the quieter location when its time for the smallest weary travelers to rest their heads. The beautiful Arabic architecture of the hotel invites you to come and stay, and the inside is just as intriguing, maybe it will inspire your little ones to day dream of magic carpet rides. Also if you are in need of retail diversions my favorite mall is literally across the street.
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Vacation Rentals
While we are not yet able to recommend any specific properties, searching your favorite rental site for the following areas will put you right in the middle of some of the hottest places in Dubai. And by hot we mean exciting but also temperature hot, because its a desert. Did I say hot enough yet?
Downtown Dubai Dubai Marina The Palm |
general tips:
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Dress a little more modestly. Its unlikely that anyone would say something to you but be considerate and respectful of the place you are visiting. The general rule among expats here is that if you are covered from your shoulders to your knees, no problem. So leave the daisy dukes and spaghetti straps at home (does anyone even wear those anymore?) and instead opt for all those cute maxi dresses and bermuda shorts with blousey tees.
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Nothing comes for free. Dubai is a really fun place to live and visit but it does come with a price tag. Cheap and Dubai don't really mix so budget a little more than normal for your food and entertainment costs on this vacation, that way when you get home the sticker shock won't spoil the memories.
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Pack a water bottle. Its hot here but sometimes it can be surprisingly hot than expected and especially if you aren't used to this kind of heat, it can really wear you down fast. We almost never leave the house without at least one water bottle and on some outings I even bring our Camelbak (pun totally intended). Oh, and don't forget the hats for the kids. And the sunscreen, definitely want the sunscreen.
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Required reading:
Watch Aladdin; it doesn't have anything directly related to Dubai but it kinda puts you in the mood for some hot desert fun. :)
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