Dubai, UAE

15 things I did in Dubai
February 14-20, 2012

1. Checked in at Rush Inn Hotel
2. Big Bus Tours
3. Burj al Arab
4. Jumeirah Mosque
5. Palm Jumeirah - The Atlantis Resort
6. Dune Buggy Experience
7. Jet Boat Experience
8. Hummer Desert Safari
9. Skydive Dubai
10. Burj Khalifa
11. Dubai Mall
12. Mall of the Emirates
13. Ski Dubai
14. iFly Dubai
15. Food Trips

Photos
Skydive Photos

Notes

• All activities and adventures were pre-arranged at home by myself.  How comfortable is that.  

• I did not book a direct flight from Manila to Dubai because Philippine Immigration Officers are skeptic that Filipinos are going to Dubai for work and not as tourists, they can hold you off.  Instead, I booked a round trip ticket from Manila to Hong Kong and then a round trip ticket from Hong Kong to Dubai.  I did not show them my Hong Kong - Dubai ticket.

• Manila to Hong Kong round trip is via Cebu Pacific Air which cost P8,147.

• Hong Kong to Dubai round trip is via Emirates Airlines which costs HKD5,660.  Two things I like for booking with Emirates, first, I get a chance to board the biggest airliner in the world, the A380, second, you can apply your UAE visa through Emirates if you book with them.  Visa application form.

• Visa fee is US$57++ and US$272.50 for security deposit. Deposit will be returned to you once you have left UAE.  

• My 6 nights stay at Rush Inn cost AED900.  Booked my hotel through laterooms.com.

• AED 1 = PHP 12.

February 14
Arrived in Dubai.  Took the train to my hotel - Rush Inn Hotel located at Khalid Bin Al Waleed in Bur.  Joined the Big Bus Tours.

• Bought a Nol Card Silver at the airport Metro station for AED20.  I can use this for trains, buses and water taxis.

• I went to Jumeirah Mosque, Burj al Arab, The Atlantis Resort at Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall with Big Bus Tours.  It has 19 stops for the Blue line and 11 stops for the Red line.  I only managed 5 stops for the whole afternoon.  You need to get the 2 day ticket to cover all the stops.

• The day tour costs US$60.

Big Bus Tours

February 15
Dune Buggy Safari,  Jetboat and Hummer Desert Safari.  My friend Don arrives in Dubai.

• I was picked up in the morning from my hotel and brought me to the location fir the Dune Buggy Experience.  I drove the 2 Seater Buggy for 1 hour following a guide on an ATV.  In the middle of the route, we stopped for picture taking of the desert and camels.  Then after the activity, I asked the driver to drop me off at Mall of the Emirates instead of the hotel, where I will meet up with Don.  

• The Dune Buggy experience costs US$285 and was arranged by DXB Rooms.

Dune Buggy

• After meeting up Don, we took a taxi from Mall of the Emirates to Dubai Fishing Port, it costs about AED15.  From there is the start of the Jet Boat experience and will end up at Dubai Marina.  It will take about 45 minutes with stops at Burj al Arab, The Atlantis and Dubai Marina for photo opps.  Then we were dropped off at Dubai Marina Mall for a Hummer to pick us up for the desert safari.

• The Hummer Desert Safari is a 6 hour activity.  It includes dune bashing, camel ride, sand boarding, hookah experience, belly dancing show and a buffet with free mineral water and coffee.  Pick up is around 3pm and drop off will be around 9pm.

• The Jet Boat Experience and Hummer Desert Safari is a package for 2 which costs AED840 and was arraged by Dream Explorer.

Jet Boat with Don

Me and Don at the back seat.

February 16
Skydive Dubai, At The Top - Burj Khalifa and Ski Dubai.

• The main event of my Dubai trip, tandem skydive at Skydive Dubai.  We were so excited we arrived at the site too early Skydive Dubai is still closed.  We signed up for the first batch at around 10am.  We signed the registration form and some wavers, went into briefing, met our jump master and cameraman, and in just a few minutes, we were called to board the plain and the adrenalin kicks in.  I was feeling nervous in the plane during the climb but when it's time to jump and during the freefall, it was exciting, I don't really feel I'm falling, just enjoyed the view, the camera and the rush.  About a minute after the jump, the chute opens for 5 minutes of gliding.  Everything was ok until my jump master did some stunts which made me feel sick.  I made it to the ground without throwing up.  I just had the most exciting moment of my life.  I went back to the building and waited for my photos and video.  You should also try Skydive Dubai Cafe, they great food there.

• The Tandem Skydive costs AED1,750 including photos and video, conducted by Skydive Dubai.

Free fall with Palm Jumeirah view.

• After Skydiving, we went to Dubai Mall and At The Top of Burj Khalifa.  Inside Dubai Mall is where you can find the Dubai Aquarium, the biggest indoor aquarium.  It's free for public viewing but there's a charge of AED50 for the Tunnel and Underwater Zoo.

Largest Indoor Aquarium at Dubai Mall

• You can find the entrance to Burj Khalifa in Dubai Mall.  We are booked at 7pm for night view.  From there you will go through  a tunnel and ride the fastest elevator in the world to the observation deck.  You can stay there as long as you want.

• I recommend that you book your visit to Burj Khalifa At The Top observation deck.  Dated and timed tickets only costs AED100 while immediate entry costs AED400.   

Starbucks at Dubai Mall

Burj Khalifa - At The Top - Night

• After we were done at Burj Khalifa, we went to Mall of the Emirates where the Ski Dubai is.  With only an our to spare before closing, we took the snow park package which includes the snow park, zorb, chair lifts, and tube slide.  We missed the ski which is the highlight of the park but we could do more with that package rather than the Ski Slope ticket.  We still had fun though.

• Snow Park ticket cost AED130 and the Ski Slope cost AED180.

Ski Dubai

February 17 (Abu Dhabi)
Ferrari World.  Don leaves Dubai.

• My Abu Dhabi post.

February 18
At The Top - Burj Khalifa and iFly Dubai.

• Today I was supposed to go to Ras al Khaimah for a microlight adventure but they failed to provide me instructions on how to get there by bus.  They want me to take the taxi that will cost me AED400 round trip, hell no.  I figured out myself where the bus station is, it's beside Union Metro Station in Deira.  Unfortunately, it's too late by the time I found it, I'm not gonna be able to get back to Dubai in the afternoon 'coz I have a 4pm booking at Burj Khalifa.  So I just wandered around the creek area and took some pictures.

While wandering around Dubai Creek, I saw Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2, already a floating hotel at Dubai port.  This is the ship I used to work for 6 years ago.

• It's my second time here at Burj Khalifa, 2 days ago we were here at night time.  Today I booked in the after noon to get a sunny day panoramic view of the city.  But the weather is not cooperating.  A sand storm devoured the city and the visibility is very poor.  I can't see much detail of the unique buildings especially the Burj al Arab.  Kinda wasted my time and money here.  

• Burj Khalifa At The Top tickets cost AED100 for dated and timed and AED400 for immediate entry.  Book in advance.

Burj Khalifa - At The Top - Day

• Then I went to Mirdif City Centre Mall by Metro and city bus where iFly Dubai is located.  iFly is an indoor skydiving activity that simulates your free fall for a longer time at a cheaper cost.  Listen carefully to instructions and briefing to enjoy and maximize your flying in the tunnel.

• iFly cost AED195 for 2 minutes and AED70 for the 3rd minute.  Photos and pictures in USB cost AED199.

iFly Dubai

February 19 (Abu Dhabi)
Joined the Big Bus Tours and went to Yas Island.

• My Abu Dhabi post.

February 20
Checked out.  Flight to Hong Kong at noon.

• My last day, woke up early for my 10am flight to Hong Kong via A380 Emirates.  I'm gonna miss this city, I liked it here.  My 6 nights stay at Rush Inn cost AED900.