Dubai Travel - Things to Do in Dubai

The Dubai Mall
A shopper’s paradise
REDEFINE THE MEANING OF SHOPPING

Right next to the Burj Khalifa is The Dubai Mall. To call the sprawling development merely a shopping mall is doing it a disservice. Even an entire day spent here isn't enough to see it all. With its 1,200-plus shops and 150 restaurants,there are plenty of things to do, and the venue is also home to an indoor theme park, an ice rink, a huge indoor waterfall, a choreographed outdoor fountain and the giant Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.

WITNESS WATER DANCE IN THE CENTRE OF DOWNTOWN DUBAI

The Dubai Fountain, located at the base of the iconic Burj Khalifa and just outside the doors of the famous Dubai Mall, features the world's largest choreographed fountain system. This popular dancing water show jets water streams as high as 150 metres in the air. Each colourful, illuminated jet sways in time to various musical numbers from around the world, producing what has become the one of the most popular shows in Dubai. Two showings occur in the afternoon (1pm and 1:30pm), except on Fridays (1:30pm to 2pm) and evening displays begin at sundown and take place every 30 minutes until the final song plays at 11pm.


EXPLORE ONE OF DUBAI’S ARCHITECTURAL TRIUMPHS

A man-made island in the shape of a palm tree - there's a reason why locals say 'only in Dubai.' Palm Jumeirah is one of the largest artificial islands in the world and a triumph of human ingenuity. Locals and tourists alike enjoy the Palm's vast array of high-end hotels, including the Waldorf Astoria, Fairmont, One&Only, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and, perhaps most notably, the iconic Atlantis, The Palm. And with a monorail running down the 'trunk' that connects to the mainland's tram system, getting there couldn't be easier.

STEP INTO OLD DUBAI’S WINDING WATERWAYS AND SOUKS

Dubai may be famous for the glitz and glamour of its sky-high towers, but the real heart of the city is, and always will be, the Creek. The saltwater estuary is the original site where the Bani Yas tribe settled, and its waters were vital for what used to be Dubai's main forms of economy: pearl diving and fishing. Today, the area is awash with the history of the emirate, as it's home to the Dubai Museum as well as the labyrinthine alleyways of the gold, spice and textile souks. While at the Creek, a ride across the water on a traditional abra is a must, and at an unbelievable AED1 per ticket, it's easily the best value tourist attraction in the city.

MEANDER THROUGH DUBAI’S URBAN BEACH DISTRICT

For those who like to shop, dine, see a movie and go to the beach all in one place, consider a trip to The Beach opposite JBR. With guest DJs pumping out the tunes on weekends, a regular open-air cinema and a popular water park to entertain the little ones for an hour or two, JBR is always buzzing with activity.

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Kite Beach
Dubai’s neighbourhood beach
HIT THE WAVES ON THIS VIBRANT STRETCH OF SAND

The aptly-named Kite Beach is the perfect spot to test out your watersports skills, but there's plenty to do out of the water at this popular spot, too! Grab a smoothie from one of the many open-air cafes and restaurants just steps from the beach, watch bikers and skaters fly by at the newly finished skate park or get into a game of volleyball. With plenty of beach activities, plus an awesome view of the Burj Al Arab, it's easy to spend the whole day here.

17 things to bring to Africa

17 things to bring to Africa
1) LifeStraw – Avoiding tap water is probably the #1 thing visitors should do to stay healthy in Africa. Bottled water is available almost everywhere, but buying it everyday gets pricey and creates a ton of plastic waste. The LifeStrawis a cheap and eco-friendly alternative, and it’ll take up very little space in your bag.

2) Activated charcoal – If you’re careful about what you eat and drink as you travel around Africa, hopefully you can avoid getting sick. But there’s always some risk, so bring a bottle of activated charcoal to be prepared. If you do get sick, it’ll stop diarrhea by absorbing whatever toxins are in your system.

3) Power adapter: Universal and South Africa – If you’re coming from North America, you’ll need a power adapter anywhere in Africa. Several different types of plugs are found throughout the continent, though, so a universal adapter is the way to go. If you’re headed to Southern Africa, you’ll want to bring a South Africa-specific adapter as well, because that plug is typically not part of the universal ones.

4) Travel insurance – Even though visiting Africa can be just as safe as anywhere else, it’s a place where you need to expect the unexpected and buying travel insurance is a very good idea. It costs a tiny fraction of your total trip cost and will cover you in the unlikely event of an emergency. This should give you some welcome peace-of-mind that you’ll be covered no matter what happens. World Nomads is a popular company among frequent travelers, and it’s the one I like to use.
View their plans at WorldNomads.com ➜
5) Passport holder – You’ll obviously need your passport to travel around Africa (and to get there in the first place), and a holder is useful for protecting it and keeping other valuables organized, too. This one will hold cash, credit cards, and even a cell phone, and it’s much less likely than a regular wallet to get stolen.

6) Stainless steel water bottle – Staying hydrated in essential in hot climates, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outside, so keeping a water bottle with you is a good idea. You can use your bottle with the LifeStraw, or just refill it if you have access to a treated water source.

7) Flip-flops: Women’s and Men’s and/or Chacos: Women’s and Men’s or Crocs: Women’s and Men’s – The best shoes to wear in Africa depends on what you’re doing, but you’ll definitely want to bring a pair of sandals. Flip-flops are useful for staying someplace with shared showers or hanging out at the beach or pool, and sturdier sandals, like these Chacos or Crocs, are a goodchoice for light hiking or water activities.

8) First-Aid kit – While the risk of injury is no higher in Africa than elsewhere, it’s easy to get small cuts or scrapes, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outside. Packing a First-Aid kit like this one will ensure you have basic supplies you might need, like Band-Aids, gauze, and antiseptic wipes.

9) Hiking shoes: Women’s and Men’s(hot weather);Women’s and Men’s – For strenuous hikesor treks, you’ll be more comfortable in protective hiking shoes. In Africa’s warmest climates, waterproof shoes are too hot, so you should bring a pair of ventilated shoes instead. For colder climates and higher elevations, though, keeping your feet dry is critical, and you’ll want the warmth and protection that waterproof shoes offer.

10) Sarong – I pack a sarong almost every time I travel, because they can be used in place of so many other things: sheet, towel, picnic blanket, curtain, swimsuit cover-up, scarf, the list goes on. Plus, sarongs cost less than many of those items, and they’re small and lightweight, making them ideal for travel.

11) Rain jacket: Women’s and Men’s – Depending on the time of year and the countries you visit, you may see rain every day or not at all. That said,it’s always a good idea to bring a light rain jacket to be safe.

12) Solid shampoo – The stringent requirements regarding liquids on airplanes make solid shampoo appealing, because it means one less thing to worry about fitting in your little Ziploc bag. Even if you have checked luggage, packing fewer liquids means less chance of one of them leaking and making a mess in your bag.

13) Electrolytes – Electrolytes are also great to bring to Africa, just to be safe. Diarrhea can leave you seriously dehydrated, which is especially problematic in a hot climate. If you get sick, mix these tablets with water to replenish the electrolytes you’re losing. In especially hot areas, it’s hard to stay hydrated even if you’re not sick, so you might consider using them on a regular basis.

14) Protein bars – Because meat is expensive, there are parts of Africa where it’s not eaten on a regular basis, at least not in large quantities. And you’re probably not going to find a substitute like tofu (though eggs and beans are extremely common in many African countries), so you might want to supplement your diet with some high-protein snacks, like these Clif bars.

15) Sunscreen – The sun can be relentless in much of Africa, so using sunscreen is absolutely crucial. It’s one thing that’s very difficult to find there, even in large cities(and if you do find it, it’ll probably cost three times what it does at home). So make sure you bring sunscreen with you, regardless of which country you’re visiting.

16) Flash drive – A flash drive is an easy way for you and your travel companions to share photos from your trip, as well as music or movies you might want for the long flights. Many parts of Africa lack reliable WiFi, so you don’t want to get stuck needing to send files over e-mail or through Dropbox.

17) Wet wipes – I recommend packing wet wipes for Africa because they have a bunch of different uses. Not all bathrooms will have soap and water, so you can use them to clean your hands. If you’re camping, or your water goes out (as is common in many areas), or you just have a hot, dusty bus ride, they’re great for freshening up a little. And in Africa’s deserts, wet wipes also work well for cleaning sand off anything.

Travel to Australia

How much spending money to budget for is a difficult question to answer as everyone has their own style and rate of travel spending. Some will go out and shop till they drop spending perhaps 100’s of dollars every day, other will party spending more in bars while again others will spend more money on museum entries and souvenirs, while others yet again will get though on the bare essentials.

Unlike many holiday and vacation operators Contiki includes many extras, sightseeing excursions, meals and highlights as part of the tour, however we do not fill every hour of every day and there is ample free time to enjoy the cities and countries you visit at your leisure.

As a rough guide we suggest budgeting approximately A$80 a day, this will obviously vary depending individual tastes and habits

In order to budget more accurately you should take into account the optional excursions that you may wish to participate in during your tour.

If possible, it’s always better to over estimate how much you may spend and budget for that as if you come across an experience or something you really want to do or have you will have room in your budget, and if you don’t spend the money all the better at the end of the tour.

Frankfurt Travel Hub

Frankfurt on the river Main - or “Mainhattan” as it is lovingly dubbed by the locals - is one of Germany’s biggest and most cosmopolitan cities. It’s located in the heart of the country in the state of Hesse. It’s easy to reach from almost anywhere.

To most people, this city is about tall buildings, cool people and banks. In a way, that’s true. But it’s not the whole truth. If you look a little more closely, you'll find the good spots. I’m going to make that easier for you. So don’t believe the people who tell you it's not worth a visit.

I’ve lived in Frankfurt for many years. I know there’s a lot more to the city than what you see at first glance.

There are picturesque, old districts that invite you for a casual stroll, with cozy apple wine gardens (the city’s equivalent to beer gardens) hidden away in side streets.

And there are parts of the city with the modern, glossy flair of Germany’s financial center. Here are the cool clubs, the parties, the in-locations. Frankfurt is also famous for its trade fairs, most notably the IAA (Automobiles) and the Book Fair – but there are many more that bring hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Zoo Miami Review

Zoo Miami Review

Don't miss a visit to this top-notch zoo, 14 mi southwest of Coral Gables, in the Miami suburbs. The only subtropical zoo in the continental United States, it has 320-plus acres that are home to more than 2,000 animals, including 40 endangered species, which roam on islands surrounded by moats. Amazon & Beyond encompasses 27 acres of simulated tropical rain forests showcasing 600 animals indigenous to the region, such as giant river otters, harpy eagles, anacondas, and jaguars. You can feed veggies to the giraffes at Samburu Station. The Wings of Asia aviary has about 300 exotic birds representing 70 species flying free within the junglelike enclosure. There's also a petting zoo with a meerkat exhibit and interactive opportunities, such as those at Wacky Barn and Dr. Wilde's World and the Ecology Theater, where kids can touch Florida animals like alligators and opossums. An educational and entertaining wildlife show is given three times daily.

    Contact Information
    Address: 12400 S.W. 152nd St., Richmond Heights, Miami, FL, 33177 | Map It
    Cost: $15.95, $11.95 children ages 3 to 12; 45-min tram tour $4.95
    Hours: Daily 9:30-5:30, last admission 4

Winter Travels

Winter Travels
When we left Maryland on December 31st to head out on a two-week plus trip, we asked you to pray that there would be no snow on the days that we traveled. God really answered your prayers!

We made it to Connecticut without any problems and had a good week there. AFTER we left they got over two feet of snow, making it one of their biggest storms ever. The day AFTER we arrived in Pennsylvania, it snowed. It wasn't a huge snow, but would not have been fun to drive in. On the way from Pennsylvania to Ohio we got into a short, but heavy snow shower. Within 15 minutes we were out of it.

We had a great week in Ohio. Again, there was snow while we were there, but we only had to travel short distances from my cousin's house where we were staying to Cedarville, about 12 miles.

The most snow we got into was when traveling from Ohio back to NW Pennsylvania where we were scheduled to speak. It was pretty, but it did slow us down a bit. This house is really pretty, but you wouldn't believe the number of really ugly houses we drove past. We were behind this plow for awhile. It wasn't really plowing, just laying down sand. Only about 5 miles from our destination we saw this spin-out. Thankfully we didn't have any problems until we arrived at our friends' house and couldn't quite make it up their drive. The combination of slowing down to turn into their drive and then the need to keep up speed to get up the hill just didn't happen. It didn't take much to back down the drive and do it over again.

Snowy weather and beautiful scenery always reminds me of Robert Frost's poem,

Dubai Travel

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN

The UAE is a family-oriented environment and small children are welcome and appreciated everywhere. The larger hotels have a good selection of kids' meals, especially in room service. Very small children do not normally eat out at night, but are often welcome. Phone ahead to check. In any case baby-sitting services are available in the main hotels.

There are lots of activities for children, both in and around the five-star hotels, special amusement parks and many green areas. Children under 12 usually qualify for discounts on admission fees to most museums, amusement parks, swimming pools and entertainment centres.

WOMEN TRAVELERS

The UAE is extremely safe for women travellers, nevertheless women travelling alone are a novelty and you may find yourself at the focus of unwanted attention. You will probably have a more relaxed visit if you stay in one of the four or five star hotels, especially if you can use the hotel's private beach facilities.

Women in the UAE have a much more liberal lifestyle than many of their Gulf counterparts (i.e. women are permitted to drive, work etc) however, women travelers should be aware that they are visiting a society which has strong traditional roots.

If you wish to avoid hassle or risk causing offence, do not wear tight or revealing clothes away from the beach clubs and resorts. You will also find that clothing suitable for the more cosmopolitan cities may not be comfortable or convenient for independent travel in rural areas. Loose trousers and a long sleeved cotton shirt will suit a wide range of situations.

When socializing in local company wait until a hand is offered to you for a handshake, some devout Muslims prefer not to shake hands with a woman.

Remember that one advantage of being a woman in the UAE is that women are normally served first at banks and post offices, police stations and other government offices frequently have separate queues for women.