Dubai: Tips on accommodation, transport and best time to visit
When planning a trip to a new city there are always some top questions you need an answer for: when should I go, where should I stay and how to I get around the city. If you are visiting Dubai any time soon then this is for you.
Dubai is for sure the most well-known and populated city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Starting from 1970, the city began its transformation into the huge and ultra-modern metropolis it is today. Everything in Dubai is somehow special. You can find the tallest building in the world (the Burj Khalifa of course), the longest automated metro in the world, the best 7-star hotel in the world, the largest flower arrangement in the world and the list goes on and on and on. There is lots to do and plenty of things to see and discover. Therefore, I thought I'd give you a hand in planning your next trip to this amazing place and make things a little bit easier for you.
Best Time to visit
Dubai’s climate is pretty hot. Even during winter temperatures do not go below 25-degrees, while during the summer they can easily reach over 40-degrees, reasons why the months of June, July and August are definitely a nono if you are planning to do some outdoor activities such as an excursion to the desert for example. I personally travelled to Dubai between the end of March and the beginning of April, and temperatures during the day had already reached about 38degrees. Of course the city is well prepared for these temperatures, even bus stops have air conditioning! Sometimes, even though most of us love the hot weather, it does become challenging to explore the city with such heat. On the other end, prices during the summer months are much cheaper compared to the rest of the year so if you think you can manage the heat and in turn save some money then you might as well give it a try but I would definitely not recommend it.
Another cheap time to visit Dubai is during Ramadan. Unlike many want to think, during Ramadan it is not like the city shuts down completely. I didn’t notice much of a difference compared to other days. Yet, no alcohol is served around the city and not many night clubs and pubs are open in the evening. You can still ‘enjoy life’ as usual inside your hotel or in specific beach clubs for example, so if you are one of those people that never leave the hotel you won’t even notice. Moreover, I must say that I’m not really the type of person that likes going partying when on holiday so I didn’t notice the effects of Ramadan at all apart from the fact that Emirati tend to look at you differently if you do not follow their dress code during the holy month. Some girls I met during my stay were telling me about how some tourists got fines for wearing shorts on the Metro during Ramadan. After all, it is a form of respect for others beliefs and we should comply with it when visiting their country. Something else you might want to be more careful of is avoiding eating and drinking in public to respect those who will be fasting for the holy month. You can eat or drink inside coffee shops or restaurants which remain open for tourists. I was surprised to see that the Starbucks in Deira old town was open during Ramadan. The external sitting area was closed but you could eat or drink whatever you wanted inside.
Accommodation
For my visit, I decided to spend my first 3 days in a Hostel in Dubai Marina, the California Hostel Dubai Beach which I would definitely recommend if you are looking for cheap accommodation in one of the busiest areas of the city (I paid about 18£). While for the rest of my days in Dubai, as prices got cheaper due to the start of Ramadan, I booked a very nice hotel for only about 20£ per night in Deira, the the City Avenue Al Reqqa Hotel. If interested, the hostel was booked via Hostelworld, while the hotel on Booking.com.
As for the best places to stay, there is no precise answer. The main attractions are scattered all over the city and you can get everywhere by metro. However, travelling by metro to certain attractions might take a while. While planning my trip, distances on the map did not seem like a big issue yet I changed my mind when I started to plan my trip. It might take up to about 1 and a half hours to get from Dubai Marina to Deira for example, reason why I decided to book to different accommodations during my stay and visit as it allowed me to reduce public transport travel times.
On the other hand, if you are planning to do some tours out of the city, most of the times a driver will come and pick you up directly at your hotel. Although, if I had to express my most honest opinion on where to stay in Dubai, the areas that I would recommend the most among the many options are Dubai Marina, with lots of nightlife and very close to Palm Jumeriah; the area around the Burj Khalifa if you are looking for convenient transport links; or the area of Deira old town, that is a little further out of the center but which gives you the possibility to save a lot on accommodation compared to the last two options.
Transportation
Dubai Metro will be the mode of transport number one you will be using to get around the city. You can easily buy a travel card at every Metro station as well as at the airport as soon as you arrive. Just follow the signs to the Metro in the airport terminal building and you will get there. The Travel Card it’s called ‘Nol Card’ and the silver version is the most convenient option for those visiting the city. The price is 25 AED (you will get 19 AED back in travel credit) and it can be used on the Metro, Tram and Buses around the city. You can find more info here.
Dubai Taxis (the yellow ones only!) are the second most popular mode of transport you will probably be using. Taxis in Dubai are fairly cheap compared to other parts of the world, but make sure you use apps like Bolt and avoid getting on black taxis as they usually ask for much more money for a ride.
A funny way of going around is via Water Taxi. Modern city boat that can also take you to the Palm in a short period of time. However, this mode of transport works only on demand. You will need to call a toll-free number 800 90 90 to be picked up at the nearest water taxi station around the city at a scheduled time. If you want to use it I would suggest you ask for more info at the hotel you are staying as you might need an UAE Sim card to be able to call the number.
On the other hand, if you find yourself wanting to cross over Dubai Creek from Deira old town or from Al Fahidi historical district, head towards the water canal to hop onto an Abra and cross over to the other side for just 1 AED.
For any other tips, or if there is something in particular you would like to know about Dubai and how I planned my solo trip check out my 10 Days Dubai itinerary or leave a comment below!
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