Holidays and prices in Dubai
Before going to the United Arab Emirates, we shoveled almost the entire Internet in search of the information we needed. When the issue of vacation and passports was resolved, there was not much time left and we chose from the suitable options offered to us by the Pegas travel agency, a tour to the hotel "San @ Sends" Dubai with breakfast. I’ll say right away that our vacation was supposed to be educational and beach, with a minimum of purchases. We prepared thoroughly for the trip and thanks to the reviews of tourists, we already had a plan for our pastime in Dubai prepared in advance. We did not plan to take excursions, as we believed that we were able to organize them ourselves, all the more so it happened.
On the day of departure, everything went smoothly, without incident, and at the appointed time we landed at the airport in Sharjah. Control, customs and other procedures went fairly quickly and without obstacles. At the airport, we exchanged dollars for the local currency, dirhams. Course: 1 dollar = 3.6 dirhams. 1 dirham = 8.6 rubles. In general, for $ 200 we were given 730 dirhams. I’ll make a reservation right away that I will indicate the prices in dirhams, and for those who need it, convert it yourself.
We were brought to the hotel "San @ Sends" in Dubai at 07.00 in the morning. We were given a room on the 4th floor. Having read the reviews from the hotel in advance, we knew that the hotel had a disco until 3 in the morning, which made it difficult for hotel guests to relax. We lived in room 401 and I personally did not feel any signs of a disco. I want to note that the hotel staff does not speak Russian and does not understand our language. My husband and daughter speak the necessary minimum of English, but at the reception their knowledge was practically not useful, as we explained more using gestures. The hotel staff is very friendly and responded to all our requests with an immediate response. Yes, at the entrance to the hotel, all our passports were taken away from us, as insurance, we had copies of passports in our hands, with which we spent time in Dubai.
Within an hour, after we settled into the room, we decided to go to the Dubai Mall to purchase tickets for the Burj Khalifa. Our hotel was a five-minute walk from the metro station, so we had no trouble finding the metro. Since we planned to travel by metro quite often, we already knew from the Internet that we needed a silver metro card "Silver". I went to the information desk, inside which there was an operator and putting him 60 dirhams, said that I needed 3 Silver cards. The card costs 20 dirhams, of which 6 is the card itself, and 14 remain on the account. Approaching the subway turnstile, you need to attach the card to the electronic scoreboard, which will display information about how much money is on the card. Just keep in mind that money is withdrawn from the card at the station where you get off, at the moment when you pass the turnstile at the exit and put your card back on it. When exiting, information on the card is also displayed, how much money was withdrawn for the trip and how much is left. I always kept track of the balance and, if necessary, also at the information desk, replenished the cards, giving money and cards to the operator.
Our hotel was in the "Deira" area and to get to the metro to the "Dubai Mall" we got 4.10 dirhs. one way per person. If we went to the beach in the "Dubai Marina" area, then the trip was 5.3 dirhams, also one way per person. Accordingly, the same amount back. I got distracted. In general, on the morning of the first day, we arrived at the Dubai Mall, found a counter in front of the entrance to Burj Khalufa and purchased 3 tickets at a price of 130 dirhs. with the ascent to the tower only after 5 days. There were no more tickets for the next few days. Having familiarized ourselves with the Dubai Mall, we returned back to the hotel, as we were supposed to have a meeting with a guide from the travel agency. The guide arrived earlier than the appointed time, and after discussing all the issues with him, we took a taxi and headed to the Al Mamzar beach, where the hotel sends its guests every morning. We paid 25 dirhams for a taxi one way. I can’t say that we were delighted with the beach, therefore, we decided to take a ride on other beaches in the following days.
On the same day, we went to a supermarket, which is full on every street and bought groceries (one bunch of grapes 3.90 AED, 1 liter of milk 3.50 AED, corn flakes -11.25 AED, 1 liter of juice -4.5 AED , 1 liter of just water 1.5 AED, a package of small cupcakes-4.5 AED. ) On the street, in a cafe, they bought shawarma at a price of 5 AED for 1 piece. Juices are very sugary, so we diluted them with water. Almost every day we bought fresh juices. Depending on the fruit, the price was from 6 dirhs and up. The average cost of fresh is 9 dirhams. A 1.5 liter bottle of fresh juice costs AED 30.
On the next day of our stay, we went to the Atlantis Hotel. Arriving by metro to the station. "Hakheel" (5.2 dirh) we took a taxi for 15 dirh. we were taken to the station where the monorail starts to move. We paid 45 AED for monorail tickets for three, and when we reached Atlantis, we walked near the hotel, after which, taking a taxi, we went to the beach in the Dubai Marina area. For a taxi from Atlantis to the beach, we gave 25 dirhs. Of all the beaches, we liked this one the most and we mostly rested on this beach. To get to it, you need to take the metro to the Dubai Marina station, then walk 15 minutes to the shore, or take a taxi for 10 dirhs. The area "Marina" itself is very beautiful, most likely the most beautiful in all of Dubai. At least we thought so. After resting, we took the metro back to the hotel and bought ourselves a grilled chicken for dinner at a cafe for 22 dirhams. to which were attached: chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, pickled vegetables, two sauces, pita bread. Delicious and satisfying. In the supermarket, we bought a package of mangosteen (fruit) for 12.5 dirches, buns for 1.75 dirs, mango juice for 3.8 dirs. On average, every day we spent 60 dirhs on food. Here are some prices: 1 kg. AED 3 tomato, AED 7.5 large pack of Leys chips, AED 7.5 plastic cup of ice cream, AED 11 pineapple, AED 1.5 yoghurt, AED 6.5 bread, AED 5, watermelon quarter, biscuit package -7 dir. I have never seen sausages in stores. One day we took a portion of rice with half a fried chicken (20 AED) and a portion of shawarma which included shawarma cut into pieces, french fries, salted vegetables, greens (25 AED) in a cafe. The portions are very large. We could not eat everything. We bought three waffle cups with ice cream in the Dubai Mall, for which we gave 60 dirhams.
A couple of times we were on paid beaches. Entrance is AED 5 per person, one umbrella AED 10, sun lounger AED 15. The sun burned mercilessly, so it is better to take an umbrella so as not to burn out.
The streets of the city are full of shops, most of which are of the "Sale" type, where all goods are of low quality. Or stores-brands, with appropriate prices. In general, there is a product for any buyer.
During our stay, we visited 4 beaches, near the hotels "Atlantis", "Jurmeira". Burj al Arab", in the Dubai Marina area. Were in the aquarium in Dubai Mall (the cost of one ticket to the aquarium with a visit to the zoo is 55 dirhs), climbed the Burj Khalifa, visited Nasser Square, Deira City center, well, and so climbed the streets and shopping centers. Our plans also included a trip to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, but we wound up kilometers so much that we no longer wanted to go to another city.
In general, the rest went with a bang, Dubai is a very beautiful city. If you are planning a "budget" vacation in Dubai, then choose a hotel near the metro, it's much more convenient. Yes, I almost forgot, a recommendation for our women. I almost never saw women in skirts. All the locals wear trousers and jeans. No shoes, mostly flip-flops and sandals without heels. And for some reason, all their clothes are dark in color and I looked like a "white crow" in "white clothes". Well, like everything. I hope my review is helpful.