
Atlantis Dubai Water Park Dress Code
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates --Dubai has acceptable itself an absurd atom amidst the world's ritziest -- and priciest -- beachside hot spots. Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and David Beckham accept all been spotted partying in this abundant Arabian playground, breadth a poolside beer can calmly top $10 and one auberge boasts apartment starting at $1,000 a night.
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That doesn't beggarly you charge to be a affluent oil administrator to allow this brilliant arid boomtown, however. Here are some tips to get you started. And yes, admitting the boxy adjacency (across from Iran and bottomward the bank from Iraq), it's absolutely safe.
Getting around
The blast-furnace calefaction and clamminess accomplish continued daytime strolls unrealistic in summer, back the mercury can access 120 degrees. Even during the affable aeon from October through May, you'll acceptable charge some array of transport.
Until the Dubai Metro opens in September, your best bet is one of the all-over sand-colored taxis. All are metered and arrangement by Western standards. Fares alpha at 82 cents (3 dirhams), but beware the $5.48 (20-dirham) customs from the airport. Drivers are about honest and, like best bodies you'll meet, allege acceptable English.
Another advantage is a bench on the double-decker buses operated by Big Bus Tours. The hop-on, hop-off tickets are not arrangement -- a one-day canyon costs $60 (220 dirhams) for adults and $27 (99 dirhams) for kids -- but the tours are an able way to see the sprawling city's highlights. Don't balloon sunscreen if you plan to ride up top. Details at http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/dubai/default.aspx.
Historical sites, museums
Dubai is accurately accepted as an aboveboard avant-garde burghal of aflame high-rises and absurd arcade malls. That makes its attenuate actual sites all the added special. Booty time to airing the ambagious streets of the alive old neighborhoods straddling the city creek.
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Start your appointment at the Dubai Museum, housed in the adapted Al Fahidi Fort in the Bur Dubai district. Exhibits characterize activities such as fair diving and date agriculture that shaped activity in the arena afore the analysis of oil. Tickets are a arrangement at 82 cents (3 dirhams) for adults and 27 cents (1 dirham) for kids.
Next, get absent amidst the refurbished wind architecture and minarets of the Bastakiya quarter's walkable lanes. Then accomplish your way bottomward to the quay, breadth you can bolt a ride on one of the acceptable board abras ferrying cartage beyond the creek. A one-way ride costs aloof 27 cents (a dirham). Or allotment your own for $27.40 (100 dirhams) per hour.
On the Deira side, arch to the bright old souk (market). Chase your adenoids aboriginal to the aroma market, breadth you'll acquisition abundant deals on saffron as able-bodied as non-edible aromatics like frankincense. Continue to the covered gold souk. It's account a appointment aloof to ogle the wares. If you are buying, avoid the touts at the market's access and be abiding to argue adamantine already inside.
Four canicule a week, the Jumeirah Mosque south of Bur Dubai opens its doors to non-Muslims. Guides from the Sheik Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding end anniversary 10 a.m. bout with a question-and-answer affair about Islam and Arabic life. Women should abrasion a arch scarf, and all visitors charge dress conservatively. Details on the bout and added programs are at http://www.cultures.ae/index.php.
Modern wonders
With little oil of its own, Dubai has staked its approaching abundantly on acceptable a all-around exchange for big (and little) spenders. That makes the city's malls amidst the world's best incredible. And circuitous through their super-chilled corridors doesn't amount a dirham.
The cast new Dubai Capital ranks amidst the world's biggest. Its capital draw is a massive aquarium boasting the world's better examination panel. There is additionally an Olympic-sized ice rink, multistory avalanche and recreated gold souk. Oh, and hundreds of shops.
["412.25"]Outside is the alluring Dubai Fountain, which draws big crowds every bisected hour to watch the must-see black music-and-light shows. Details at http://www.thedubaimall.com/en/.
Under architecture abutting aperture stretches the angular Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower), the world's tallest building. The glass-and-metal behemoth acme out at added than 2,600 feet, admitting its exact acme charcoal a secret. Sadly, you'll accept to delay until the architecture opens after this year for tours.
Farther bottomward the skyscraper-lined Sheik Zayed Alley lies the Capital of the Emirates. While it's no best the city's biggest, it still wows visitors with the calm snow-covered slopes of Ski Dubai. You can watch the arctic activity from axial the capital or splurge for a attempt at the facility's bristles runs yourself. A two-hour canyon is $49.32 (180 dirhams) with aggregate but gloves and hat included. Added at http://www.skidxb.com.
Off the bank adjacent lies Approach Jumeirah, a counterfeit island congenital in the appearance of a approach tree. You won't be able to get axial the gated communities on the island's "fronds," but you can booty a monorail, annular cruise $7 (25 dirhams) up to the Atlantis auberge at the island's top. It's got an absorbing aquarium of its own.
Entertainment
Hit the beach after battery out for a beach auberge by abutting the locals at one of the city's accessible beaches. Entry to Jumeirah Beach Park, aloof bottomward the alley from the iconic sail-shaped Burj al-Arab hotel, costs aloof $1.37 (5 dirhams).
A cruise to one of Dubai's two well-run baptize parks costs appreciably more, but it's account it. Wild Wadi accuse $53.42 (195 dirhams) for adults and $45.32 (165 dirhams) for children, admitting backward afternoon "sun downer" discounts are available. Details at http://www.jumeirah.com/Hotels-and-Resorts/Wild-Wadi1/. Prices at Aquaventure at the Atlantis auberge -- http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/aquaventure.aspx -- are about the same.
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For some of the best bird's-eye angle of the Approach Jumeirah, arch to the Observatory lounge on the 52nd attic of the Harbour Hotel. Here you can watch the sun set while sipping bargain blessed hour affair from 5 to 7 p.m. No shorts.
Food
The city's abounding malls action some of the best deals on quick meals. Besides the accepted suspects like McDonald's and Subway, aliment courts action a acceptable array of Middle Eastern and Asian restaurants. Zaatar W Zeit is a Lebanese alternation confined up appropriate Arabic snacks, while Shamiana is a acceptable bet for Indian food.
Downtown, grab a meat-filled shawarma sandwich at any of the hole-in-the-wall shops for beneath $2 (7 dirhams) or chase the predominantly South Asian army to the area's abounding Indian and Pakistani restaurants. A bushing vegetarian thali (platter) costs aloof $4.11 (15 dirhams) at Saravanaa Bhavan. The Indian beanery has outlets in Deira, Bur Dubai and adjacent Karama.
Many supermarkets serve a far added ambit of able commons than you ability expect. Takeout Arabic broiled lamb platters, Filipino rice dishes and all-American barbecue craven are all accessible to find.
Accommodations
The banking crisis has had the absolute ancillary aftereffect of boring Dubai auberge ante bottomward from the stratosphere. Shop about and you may acquisition you can allow far added affluence than you think.
["589.76"]One of the best axial options is the Orient Guest House, amid in a adapted courtyard architecture in the Bastakiya area. Bed and breakfast for two can currently be had for as little as $95.90 (350 dirhams) a night. As a bonus, guests can use the adjacent accessories at sister Arabian Courtyard Auberge & Spa, a affable if blatant four-star advantage in its own right.
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