VISIT DUBAI THE LAND OF WONDERS
Dubai is a very popular tourist destination for several reasons ranging from shopping to unbridled luxury, from luxury cars to the wonder of its skyline. In Dubai, anything is possible. Sleep in the most luxurious hotels in the world, admire the tallest skyscrapers and their architectural forms. Immense shopping centers with products of major brands around the world. But this dream is truly within reach today. Visiting Dubai is also possible on a moderate budget. Airlines offer competitive rates for a trip that will fascinate you. Dubai is home to a shopping center that allows you to ski even when temperatures hit dizzying peaks of 50 °. You can play golf from the top of a skyscraper, dine inside a mega aquarium with the fish passing by. What a thrill to admire the Palm Jumeirah, the palm-shaped island marvel of engineering and one of the most incredible views of the city. It was created using the technique of reclaiming the land from the sea. Look at it from above on board a monorail.
THE OLD TOWN AND THE CHARM OF THE SOUK
The double face of Dubai, the extreme luxury and the old city, that of the origins and the charm of the local markets the famous Souks. An exciting journey through the scents of spices, finely crafted cashmere fabrics and hand-crafted leather. Nothing you have always experienced can prepare you for a trip to Dubai because there is nothing else like it in the world. The old city is where Dubai arose, the origins of the pearl fishermen in a desert city who created the empire of luxury. But unlike the other Arab Emirates, the Dubai desert is sandy and red in color rather than rocky. For this reason, numerous desert safaris are also organized.
WHEN TO VISIT DUBAI
The climate of Dubai is desert, with mild winters but torrid summers with sometimes unbearable heat especially in summer. In summer it is strongly not recommended to visit Dubai due to the high temperature that does not allow you to go around. You would risk locking yourself in a hotel or in some shopping center. Did you know that bus stops are also closed and have air conditioning? The best time to visit Dubai is undoubtedly in winter and until March. You can easily shoot in short sleeves and the days are longer than in Italy. The absolute best time to go to Dubai is Christmas and New Year. Obviously these are also the high season and on these dates the prices of flights and hotels increase significantly.
THE SKYLINES OF DUBAI
The unmistakable panorama of Dubai Dubai with its majestic skyscrapers makes Dubai a truly special city. It fascinates you with these huge skyscrapers that reach up to the sky. Unfortunately it does not allow you to visit it much on foot and you will have to travel by taxi and the subway. In fact, Dubai does not have a historic center, a main square, a long pedestrian street, museums and ancient monuments. Dubai has a thousand cultures and a lot to show you but in a different way. Get ready for an out of the ordinary travel experience. Among the things not to be missed is the Burj Khalifa, the most iconic building in Dubai. A hyper-technological skyscraper; with its 800 meters of height it is one of the highest in the world. Futuristic construction with elements of Islamic inspiration, including a spiral minaret. It has a Y shape that reflects the symmetry of the desert flower Hymenocallis. Seeing it from the outside is a marvel in itself, but getting on it is something wonderful. Sip tea or lunch in its restaurant while enjoying an incredible view of Dubai from its rooftop terrace. At Palm Jumeirah you will witness an engineering masterpiece that allows you to admire the famous palm-shaped island from above. Here there are only super-luxury hotels and exclusive villas with private access to the sea. In a city devoted to luxury, Palm Jumeirah is a true oasis destined only for the richest. The most emblematic building of Palm Jumeirah is the Atlantis hotel, easily recognizable by its characteristic sail shape.
DUBAI MARINA THE TRIUMPH OF LUXURY
Dubai Marina is the only real area where you can stroll around admiring the immense skyscrapers while sipping an aperitif or an ice cream. It is also the place to leave for a small cruise admiring the immense Ferris wheel. There are many boats and motorboats that also offer dinner and choreographic shows with fire eaters, luminous dancers and belly dancing. This immense pedestrian boulevard runs alongside the largest marina in the world where there is no shortage of ultra-luxury hotels and typical Dubai mega-constructions. Here you will find one of the best publicly accessible beaches (many of Dubai’s beaches are in fact reserved for hotels or villa owners).
THE PERSIAN DISTRICT
Although the image of Dubai is linked to the luxury and modernity of its structures, the city also has its own past and an old area populated by many immigrants, especially from Pakistan and India. In these areas the communities have recreated the traditions and culture of their native land. You can fantasize about the Dubai of yesteryear by strolling through the alleys of Al Bastakiya, the Persian quarter, where instead of skyscrapers you will find the characteristic houses with the “yew” roof. With this technique, the wind was channeled inside the rooms to bring some relief from the heat. You can also visit the Al Fahidi Fort, the oldest construction in Dubai (dating back to the 1700s). Finally, savor the typical atmosphere of the souks, the traditional local markets. There are some specialized ones (the souk of gold, spices, perfumes, fabrics), but all are very rich in colors and smells. In every souk the fact that people love to haggle over the price comes alive and this has now become an important feature of visiting these markets. In fact, not infrequently you will find merchants who also speak Italian.
THE SHOPPING CENTERS MALLS OF DUBAI
Shopping is one of the driving elements of a Dubai vacation. Dubai malls are not only a place to shop but also real architectural pearls. They are huge, with an impressive number of shops and not a few oddities within them. For example they may include a ski slope, an aquarium, dancing fountains or thematic areas dedicated to different cultures and civilizations. They also represent meeting places of various ethnic groups and places of socialization.
HOW TO VISIT DUBAI – FLYING COMPANIES
There is only one way: by plane. With the national airline the “Emirates” you will spend a little more but you will travel very comfortably and you will arrive in Dubai in less than 6 hours. Emirates pampers you in a thousand ways but there are also other alternatives with less expensive airlines. Although you will have to travel with scheduled and non-low cost airlines, flights to Dubai are cheaper than flights to equally spaced destinations. You can choose between direct flights departing from Rome, Milan, Venice and a couple of other Italian cities. In addition to Dubai International Airport, you can also consider Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. Flights to Dubai Dubai International Airport Dubai Al Maktoum Airport Abu Dhabi Airport
WHERE TO STAY IN DUBAI
Dubai Dubai is a huge city, and it is important to understand where to stay as it will be decisive for all the excursions you will want to do. So before choosing a hotel it is good to decide in which area to sleep. The choice is dictated by various factors such as the budget of the holiday, what you want to see and do even when traveling. In fact, if the area is not served by the subway, you will have to move using the Taxy or Uber and Careem with the appropriate App. To do this, however, you must have Internet availability using a tariff plan from your telephone company or by purchasing a tourist phone card on site. Deira is the recommended area for those who want a mid-range hotel and for those who want to experience the most authentic Dubai. If, on the other hand, you want to experience worldliness and beaches exclusively, head to Jumeirah, a chic neighborhood where the most luxurious hotels in the city are located. It is important to know that Dubai can be very expensive. Furthermore, the area is a city in itself compared to the rest of Dubai, more like a giant resort than a neighborhood. Other recommended areas to stay in Dubai are Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Marina and the business area. Where to sleep in Dubai Hotel in Dubai Luxury hotel in Dubai Business hotel in Dubai.
GETTING AROUND IN DUBAI
Moving on foot in a megalopolis like Dubai that stretches for over 40 km is unthinkable. To visit the tourist attractions of the city you must necessarily use public transport and taxis; both very efficient and economical. Dubai’s public transport network includes metro, buses, trams and trolleys (vintage-style double-decker trams), as well as a monorail. The metro is ultra-modern, fully automated and currently has two lines, the red (for exploring the tourist places) and the green. Although the network is extensive and widespread, moving around Dubai by public transport takes a very long time due to the enormous distances. Consider taking a taxi or water taxi. The time zone of the United Arab Emirates is GMT + 4, which means that Dubai is three hours ahead of Europe (two hours when daylight saving time is in effect here). The hours 1:48 PM in Dubai correspond to 5:48 am Monday (Washington, District of Columbia, United States).
CALL FROM DUBAI AND THE LOCAL CURRENCY
The international telephone prefix of the United Arab Emirates is +971: to call a Dubai number from Italy it is therefore necessary to dial the prefix 00971 before the recipient’s number. To call from Dubai to Italy, on the other hand, you need to add 0039 to the Italian number; if you call a fixed number, the 0 of the local prefix must be removed. The currency in use in Dubai and throughout the United Arab Emirates is the dirham, officially abbreviated to AED (Arab Emirates Dirham). One dirham currently equates to around 0.25 € or about 0,27 $. The most used coins are 5, 10, 100, 200 and 500 dirhams (the latter not widely accepted). The coins are 1 dirham and 1, 5,10, 25, 50 fils (the “cents” of the dirham). It is advisable not to change at the airport. You can have a more favorable exchange rate in the city by taking your passport with you and also providing the data of your hotel. However, the most convenient exchange rate is obtained by withdrawing with your credit card at ATMs in banks, in all shopping centers and in many shops.
REALIZE THE DREAMS OF WHO YOU WANT WITH THE PARCHIBOX GIFT BOXES
Give them a gift box to live the best experiences for a lower price in Dubai.
What are you waiting for, give to someone who loves or give yourself fantastic emotions and experiences as a couple or as a family together with your children. Give yourself or even give a Parchibox gift box to write a new page of the adventure book of whoever you want, leaving them an unforgettable memory.
