[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Always amazing to fly with Emirates Airlines. The service and amenities are great. I am booked at the Address Boulevard Hotel which is steps away from the Dubai Mall. The mall is one of the largest in the world and a great place to shop, eat, or be entertained. The hotel is a 5-star hotel and has much to offer including the spa, multiple pools, restaurants, and a great view of the magnificent Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
I love to go shopping at the Dubai Mall, they have every brand imaginable. The mall also contains a beautiful aquarium, ice skating, large waterfalls, and a great fountain show that usually begins at sunset. I catch the fountain show that has the world’s tallest performing fountains. The show is choreographed to lights and music.
For breakfast, I tried 3 different places on this visit. The first was the hotel which offers a really great selection of high quality fresh foods in buffet style.
The second was Social House located in the Dubai Mall. The food here was also really good in a nice casual environment and gave me lots of fuel for shopping.
The last place was located at Pier 7, located on the Dubai Marina. There are seven different choices for restaurants here to choose from ranging from exotic Arabic, Asian, European, and Mexican flavors – all are fine dining. I chose Atelier M, a French Mediterranean restaurant for brunch, in Dubai this occurs on Fridays, not Sundays like elsewhere. The restaurant has excellent views of the Marina and had live music. Brunch here is served from the kitchen and only desserts are offered buffet style.
For dinner, I went with a suggestion from the concierge at Address Boulevard. On this night, I ate at the Taj Hotel that offers several choices for restaurants ranging from Asian and Italian Cuisine. My recommendation is for a restaurant named the Billionaires Palace. This restaurant has a large open area that contains a stage where a cabaret style shows takes place intermittently that include dance, singing, and some acrobatics. The shows are brief but entertaining. The food here is amazing. This is also home to one of the most famous clubs in Dubai, the Billionaire Club.
To catch an amazing sunset, I go to the Jumeirah Hotel and to one of my favorite places called Cove Beach. This restaurant and outdoor lounge is located on the beach and I enjoy the sunset, some great appetizers, DJ music, and champagne. The magical Burj al Arab, a luxury hotel with unique architecture, can be seen as the sunset. This hotel boasts as the third tallest hotel in the world and an island was constructed for its home.
For activities, there are so many things to do and here are a few that I did.
I like to go to go shopping and browsing at the old souk. There are traditional markets here where you buy just about anything from fabrics, spices, to clothing all from small shops. I enjoy bargaining here with the shopkeepers, finding interesting things, and saving some money all at the same time.
During the day, the Miracle Gardens is a nice place to spend some time and catch a little sun during the non-summer seasons. With 109 million flowers planted, it is the largest garden of its type in the world – bring your camera and you won’t be disappointed. Adjacent to the gardens, I also visit the Dubai butterfly garden. There are special areas here where you can interact with the butterflies and get some amazing pictures.
A day trip to Abu Dhabi is also a great choice from Dubai if you have the time. Please see the Abu Dhabi article for more information.
For some night life, I go to several places during my visit. One night, I enjoy the rooftop bar at the Four Seasons at Jumeirah Beach. The rooftop bar offers great appetizers and drinks in an outdoor setting with DJ’d music in a classy setting. Many of Dubai’s skyscrapers are visible in the distance including Burj Khalifa.
I also visited the 40 Kong rooftop at the H Hotel for great music, views, drinks, and atmosphere. The H Hotel is always a fun place to visit and especially in Dubai. The H Hotel is in the financial center of Dubai.
The final nighttime spot I visit is the hotel bar at Address Boulevard. The staff here is amazing and we all have a lot of fun.
I try to make it to Dubai as often as I can just because there is so much to see and do.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]