We're looking for somewhere warm and different to go during the Easter school holidays and wonder whether Dubai would be suitable for a family with two boys - ages 8 and 12.

Before I go spending hours "surfing" I would really appreciate some advice, recommendations and answers to the following questions please:

- Is Dubai suitable for children - with facilities/activites in (and outside) the hotels for them? Golf facilities would be good.
- Are the hotels mainly bed and breakfast or are there AI's too?
- Length of flight (from Heathrow) and how far is airport away from main resort(s)?
- Temperature in April?
- Hotel recommendations for families - I would imagine the majority of accommodation in Dubai is of a good quality (we would normally stay 4* in the Med).
- Is it more cost effective to book flight/hotel independently or are there any online companies who specialise in holidays to Dubai?

From what I know about Dubai it sounds absolutely lovely and I would love to take a trip there. I have heard that the shopping is pretty good too! However, is it suitable for us to go as a family?

I would far rather make a decision based on the reliable opinions/recommendations from users of this forum than rely on not so reliable brochure or travel agent "talk"!!!

Any comments very welcome - thanking you in advance.

Hi

Well i love Dubai but don't have a family so would probably have a very different holiday but my friends have been with children and loved it (2 similar ages to yours an a grumpy teenager!).

Yes Dubai is safe and there is plenty to keep them occupied. Many hotels will offer a kids club and apart from that you have Wild Wadi Waterpark and Ski Dubai (an indoor ski centre with snow and a specific children's area with tobogan run and snowballing). In future years there will even be Dubailand - a huge theme park bigger than disney. My friend's children enjoyed the deset safari - you're taken jeep and go dune bashing and then to a desert camp where they have camel rides, belly dancers and so on.

Not into golf myself but on my last trip an old chap who was over for a golf tournament was telling me how good the courses are and he'd definitely go back for a holiday.

Hotels are mainly bed and breakfast but there's a great variety of places to eat. Eating in the unlicensed local restaurants or at shopping malls is fairly cheap, hotels will be more expensive but i think it's the alcohol that bumps up the bill and there'll only be two of you drinking.

I can't remember the exact flight time but i think it was around 7 hours. The airport isn't far from the city but hotels are very spread out so it depends which one you book.

Weather is good in Dubai anytime but July/August when it gets incredibly hot and humid.

Again i tend to pick hotels that don't really suit families but my friends have stayed at Hilton Jumeirah Beach which they said was excellent value but a long way out from the malls, city, etc. They've also stayed at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel which is very geared up for families and also has free entry gate to the waterpark.

I'd check both options as it often varies as to which is cheaper - if there's good flight deals to be had book independently but i'd still price it with a travel agent to see if they're offering any deals (free child places, etc) that would bring the cost down.

Hi

Yes shopping on Sunday will be fine. The weekend days in Dubai are different so Friday is more like a Sunday here.

...Don't forget the plastic

Thanks very much for that, you have now given me more of an incentive to book this cruise again for next year

i returned from dubai on 27th feb, we travelled as a family 2adults 2 kids aged 6 and 8..we had a fab time and i am desperate to go back, we went for a week but could have done with longer, we visited wild wadi and ski dubai, which were both excellent fun,the beach was beautiful ( we stayed at the oasis beach hotel, which was lovely and i will write a review soon )we even visited the cinema.there was an open top bus tour which also seemed popular, but we didnt get round to doing that.i thing dubai is great for families.i will add though that even i was shocked by the amout of building work going on, it didnt really bother us , but has to be seen to be believed

thats interesting- hadn't thought of Dubai as a destination beyond a week.

Hi Esmo,
Pleased you liked Dubai please feel sorry for us who visit weekly on buisness and have to face all that traffic,mind you its getting as bad here in Qatar.

yes i did wonder where all the additional traffic would go , when all the building work is completed and occupied , i would guess that most people who move in would have a car,

i know everyone says that dubai is extremely hot in august, and its not ideal to go then....well i wondered as packages to go there are cheap in august could it be worth trying to visit then , and maybe spend the time at malls, ski dubai etc if it is too hot for the beach and pools,has anyone visited in august and could give me an honest opinion? thanks in advance
my gut feeling is its not a good idea, but if someone could tell me it may be ok , then who knows

Have been in August. Very hot but bearable. Hotel was packed, could not get near pool, beach fairly busy as well. Be prepared to move at speed from hotel to beach, got a great tan lying in the shade! Went for 10 days which was not long enough to do everything.

My first visit was August and it was VERY hot and ridiculously humid but if you're at a quality hotel then the pool water is cooled and the pool attendants come round with chilled cucumber for your eyes, evian spray, etc to help keep you comfortable. It wasn't a major problem really, we even visited Wild Wadi Waterpark in the blistering sun!

All hotels, malls, restaurants and bars have air conditioning. The only thing we found a bit of a downer was that many of the restaurants and bars had great outside terraces, we also had a lovely balcony but with the intense heat and humidity you can't sit out at night, not for more than 5 mins anyway!

We went back in Feb and it was great, we had walks by the creek, lots of sightseeing and alfresco drinks/dining for the full week - the weather was perfect For a first visit and if the budget is an issue August is fine - there's plenty of good hotel deals and many restaurants have low season offers (pre 8 discount, set menus, etc).

Well my friend has lived there for 3 years and they ( along with most other expats ) ALWAYS ship out July / August as its REALLY uncomfortable with near 100 % humidity. Not my idea of fun on a summer holiday to traipse round air conditioned shopping malls !!

I have just returned from Dubai 07 March and the weather was mid 20s but starting to creep up at the end. P.s I like hot/sunny weather and have been to Malta/ Cyprus etc in July but draw the line at 45 degrees plus !!

Come on Jelly wheres your sense of adventure,been living in the Middle East 27yrs 45deg is the bottom end its the humidity thats the pain.

I can't tell you how much meals cost in hotels as my husband picked up the bill but he did say that it was the wine that made the meal expensive.

A snack around the hotel pool where we stayed was about £3/£4 for a toasted sandwich and chips or burger and chips which I didn't think was too bad. This was at the One & Only Royal Mirage Arabian Court.

Sense of adventure ????? I was on a camel you know.... AND went helter skelter round the sand dunes in a jeep with a bunch of Germans !!

hehe

Hi
Can anyone tell me what currency are goods marked/priced with in Dubai Airport dutyfree? Just wanted to be ready with a currency converter, so can check prices. We only have a short stop there, and I always find it so difficult to decide whether somethings a good price or not, and I get well confused! Any tips?
Thanks
Lyn

Hi everyone

I'm going to Dubai (Metropolitan Dubai Hotel) next Thursday (29th) for four nights, now I don't know if this has already been asked but I was told I can not wear any skirts / dresses above the knee and shoulders must be covered at all times when walking around, how true is this do I need to go and buy new skirts and tops for my trip.

so excited by the way.

Donna
XX

Guide book talk!

Dubai is a muslim country but very cosmopolitan and used to many expats and tourists, you'll have no problem. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in - within reason!

If you visit the city/souks then i'd say cover up a bit more if you don't like being stared at but in hotels/malls you'll be fine.

I am so jealous of all you people going to Dubai. I went there last November (only for 6 days) and loved it. Can't wait to go back.

Everything about it was fantastic, weather, food, hotel, beach, pool, dune bashing etc, couldn't fault it at all. The people are really friendly and it was really clean.

Was a bit apprehensive at first when we went to the souks but felt safe and it wasn't a problem. We kept being approached by young men asking if we wanted to buy 'genuine fake handbags' so we took this guy up on his offer and followed him down a few alleys to his apartment. When he didn't have what we wanted he took us to his friends apartment which was another 10/15min walk and when he didn't have what we wanted he just took us outside and called us a cab - nice as pie!!!!!

Dubai is wonderful - will definitely go back again one day - hopefully soon.

Can someone please tell me how much it is to eat out in Dubai? What is it comparable to?

Many thanks.