Since i am traveling to Dubai, I would like to ask some questions:
1) Burj al Arab – can i go inside and make some photos, or need i pay some entrance fee? I have heard that i can avoid paying by making a „fake“ reservation for the restaurant inside the hotel, and after entering the hotel i can just avoid going to the restaurant and just see the hotel inside and go out... is it possible?
2) Shopping – since i will not have enough time to visit all malls, can you recommnend the best one – with best prices (for clothes etc)?
3) Can you recommend me some good bar or restaurant with reasonable prices, which is enough high to have a nice panoramatic view over Dubai?
4) Ski Dubai – is it possible to just go to see it and make some photos, without paying for ski pass or other tickets?
5) The World and the Palm islands – can i see them good from Burj Khalifa observation desk ?
6) Musandam tour – is it worth to make this tour, is there nice snorkeling?
Thanks for every advice
1) You need to pay an entrance fee. I guess the fake reservation would work but I think you can reclaim the fee in food/drink inside the hotel anyway.
2) Dubai is really expensive - there's nowhere with good prices.
3) As #2.
4) There's windows from the mall through which you can see Ski Dubai.
5) Don't know, sorry.
6) YES! Definitely!
Unless there has been a change in procedures since Oct 2008 only confirmed guests are allowed inside Burj al Arab. Most taxi and tour buses are not even permitted to enter the causeway linking the hotel island to the mainland. As for Dubai being expensive that really depends upon your home currency - I found the prices (in 2008 when one Oz dollar was 0.46 E or 0.70 US) reasonable. Today with the Ozzie at 0.70 E and nearly at parity with the US it would be very good.
You should actually make some time to get into the old area of Dubai around the creek - there is some good shoping and if you bargain well some good deals.
- Hmm,,,interesting. Not heard of that one before.
- Outlet Mall sells designer stuff at reduced prices (not the in season ones though). Else Dubai Mall is the best - pricey though. Personally I find even London less expensive than Dubai for clothing - and with greater variety.
- 360 at the Jumeriah Beach Hotel. Barasti at the Mina Seyyahi. Bar 44 at the Grosvenor
- Yes : go to Costa Coffee which is just above and to the side of it and grab a window seat.
- can i see them good (!!) You can make them out if the visibility is good ie there is not too much of fine sand in the air that day. You'll see one side of the Palm and the sand dumps which pass for the World.
- Musandam : Yes. This is in Oman and therefore unless you are from one of those countries which makes you eligible for a visa on entry into the UAE and Oman, you cannot re-enter the UAE if you go to Musandam.
I think the rest of your queries have been answered, but for question one:
You dont get allowed onto the bridge / causeway without a reservation of some sort. When you make a reservation, they require a credit card number. If you dont show, they will charge your credit card with the no-show fee.
U can take pictures of outside glass at Ski Dubai, It is in Mall of Emirates and its one of the best mall in Dubai, the other one is Dubai mall, it has a big aquarium with sharks and sting rays in it which is free to see from the outside panel. I love both the malls, the other great one was Ibn Battuta mall. It has an amazing decor.
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