Middle East Travelling

[Looch City]

Thanks for the informative post JD.

Do you recommend using Canadian credit cards in UAE or just cash?

We're planning on staying in Dubai 4-5 days with a day trip to Abu Dhabi. Then another 3-4 days in Istanbul.

[Scrambler]

One of my favorite hotels in Dubai is the Marina View Apartment Hotel. Good value 4*** accommodation, normally comes at a lower cost compared to other hotels in Dubai Marina. Rooms come with kitchen facilities too so it's convenient for grabbing snacks/small meals to prepare in room if you want.

Plus it is walking distance to both the Dubai Marina Tram and the Metro (DAMAC Properties, formerly 'Marina Metro Station') which is useful for getting to other 'tourist traps' located along the 'Red' line (Burj Khalifa, Mall of the Emirates, etc and DXB airport).

It's about a 10-15 min walk from the public Dubai Marina Beach, but they do run a free shuttle to/from (I normally walk to the beach and then shuttle back or vice versa).

Checked my pricing in November, and at this point I could get you a rate of CAD $978 (incl tax) for a 4 night stay. This would get you a 'Deluxe Studio' with breakfast daily.

In comparison, Expedia wants CAD $1054 non refundable with no breakfast. Booking.com has a better non-refundable price of CAD $919 with no breakfast (though can be added for $18 per person per day, so nett total $1063).

If you're keen (and richer than me you could always stay on the Jumeirah Palm. Best bang for buck I can find there would be the Fairmont. Book 90 days in advance and save 30% off the rack rate. 4 nights comes to CAD $2590 incl tax. I normally suggest booking the lowest possible rate and then getting the 'Fairmont Gold' upgrade at check-in (cheaper doing it that way rather than pre-paying for it), then you get breakfast, afternoon tea and canapes in the evening along with a better room.

PM me if you're interested in any of this!

I'm going to be back in Dubai in November (at this point looks like Nov 24-29). Perhaps if it works out Iggy, JD and Scrambler should meet up and watch a Flames game (Nov 27 vs Yotes or Nov 28 vs Sharks; I think the games would start early morning Dubai time, beers for breakfast anyone?)

[Looch City]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll take a look and PM you if I decide.

And I totally didn't realize Flames game will be on then haha, would be awesome to watch a game abroad.

[JD]

Yeah, Flames games, after the daylight savings time jump, start at 6 am here for home games. So depending on where they're taking place, anywhere from 4 to 7 am starts.

[JD]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

Do you recommend using Canadian credit cards in UAE or just cash?

We're planning on staying in Dubai 4-5 days with a day trip to Abu Dhabi. Then another 3-4 days in Istanbul.

Canadian credit cards are fine for things like hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc. But for taxis and venturing into the "low end" of Dubai, you will need cash. In the UAE, only dirhams are accepted. The dirham is tied to the USD at a rate of 1 USD/3.67 AED. Bring USD with you and you'll find currency exchange shops all over the place that give a decent rate. Don't bring your CAD because you'll get murdered on the rate. Alternatively, I've withdrawn money from my Canadian accounts here and it might cost you $5 on a couple thousand dirham withdrawal.

For 4-5 days I doubt you'd need much more than 1-2 thousand dirhams cash, especially if you're also using your credit cards. But the UAE is a land of luxury and there is no ceiling to what you can spend your money on.

As for hotel choices, I've stayed in literally dozens of hotels in Dubai and I can give advice on anything you're looking at.

The Marina View that scrambler mentions - I've stayed there, and he's right, it's a great location, and it's good value. BUT, it's missing some of the amenities and it is a bit run down compared to others. You can find similar types of hotels in Al Barsha for maybe less money, but Al Barsha is not as good a location. Marina View is in the thick of the marina action.

Anyway, without knowing a few of your particulars, it's hard to make a good recommendation. Who are you traveling with (wife, gf, buddies)? What budget suits you? Are you a drinker? Sightseer? Beach bums? etc....

Feel free to send a PM.

As for a meet up for a Flames game, I'm in for that!

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by JD

Canadian credit cards are fine for things like hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc. But for taxis and venturing into the "low end" of Dubai, you will need cash. In the UAE, only dirhams are accepted. The dirham is tied to the USD at a rate of 1 USD/3.67 AED. Bring USD with you and you'll find currency exchange shops all over the place that give a decent rate. Don't bring your CAD because you'll get murdered on the rate. Alternatively, I've withdrawn money from my Canadian accounts here and it might cost you $5 on a couple thousand dirham withdrawal.

For 4-5 days I doubt you'd need much more than 1-2 thousand dirhams cash, especially if you're also using your credit cards. But the UAE is a land of luxury and there is no ceiling to what you can spend your money on.

As for hotel choices, I've stayed in literally dozens of hotels in Dubai and I can give advice on anything you're looking at.

The Marina View that scrambler mentions - I've stayed there, and he's right, it's a great location, and it's good value. BUT, it's missing some of the amenities and it is a bit run down compared to others. You can find similar types of hotels in Al Barsha for maybe less money, but Al Barsha is not as good a location. Marina View is in the thick of the marina action.

Anyway, without knowing a few of your particulars, it's hard to make a good recommendation. Who are you traveling with (wife, gf, buddies)? What budget suits you? Are you a drinker? Sightseer? Beach bums? etc....

Feel free to send a PM.

As for a meet up for a Flames game, I'm in for that!

I checked just to be sure since I'm 98% sure I am going to be there on those dates.

Saturday Nov 27, Flames vs Yotes at 6am
Sunday Nov 28, Flames vs Sharks at 7am

If the Fairmont Palm has agent rates available (400 AED/night, can't pass on that), that's where I'll be staying. If not (Nov is busy), I'll likely be back at Marina View again.

[Huntingwhale]

I'm going to the Middle East next friday. Kuwait City and Dubai. Read the Dubai thread. Has anyone been to Kuwait City and can share their opinion about it?

[malcolmk14]

I've spent some time in Kuwait City! It's a pretty modern place with a lot of amenities. Most people are either wealthy or dirt poor, not much of a middle class.

We went to the gold Souq, Fahaheel bazaar, out into the desert to see the Iraqi tank and military vehicle graveyards, it was super eerie, big holes blown through the sides of tanks, and we saw some camel racing (very weird).

I also remember somehow going out into the desert and drinking camel milk straight from the camel, but I have no idea how we arranged that. It was warm and had a strange foam on it.

Oh, and driving ATV's in the desert on big sand dunes, but again, no idea how we arranged to have that happen.

[4X4]

Three out of five activities involved the desert. I just never imagined the desert to be so fun.

[JD]

The desert is a lot of fun. Especially this time of year. I don't know about Kuwait, but all those kinds of activities can be easily arranged in the UAE through the hotel concierges.

I have a Canadian friend here who goes to Kuwait for business kind of regularly. He doesn't love it. You can't drink there. Not that drinking is the end-all be-all of things, but it tells you a bit about the place.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Avoid the street food.

I totally disagree. Always eat the street food. Wherever you are in the world, you should eat the street food. Nine times out of ten it's the best, cheapest food in the country.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I also remember somehow going out into the desert and drinking camel milk straight from the camel, but I have no idea how we arranged that. It was warm and had a strange foam on it.

So you literally drank milk straight from a Camel's teet?? I'll try most things once, but that's probably on a different level then what I'm used to!

Thanks for the insight. Should be a great experience!