It’s DO-BUY, not Dubai!

If you haven’t been to Dubai and it’s not on your list, ADD IT NEOWWWWWW!

Dubai was far more adventurous than I anticipated. I. HAD. A. BALL! We rode camels, did a red sand desert safari, rode quad bikes, ate some good food and more!

However, you better know what you’re getting into before going to DO-BUY.

Funny (but not so funny) story: The concierge at our hotel recommended a posh restaurant for our anniversary dinner. We dressed to the nines chile! They had car service pick us up and take us. Well, the menu had NO prices. It was a seafood restaurant. You walked up to the window, picked your own fresh seafood and they cooked it. There were no prices but I calculated in my mind. For example…4 shrimp, a piece of salmon, etc. I buy this kind of stuff all the time. But, I guess not in Dubai. Then, they sold us some glasses of a champagne mixed drink. It was delicious. Keep in mind, it was a VERY small glass/half full. My husband and I both got two glasses. To make a long dramatic story short, our bill was about $750! I GAGGED! I wish y’all could have seen my husband’s face. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha One thing for sure, DO-BUY taught us a valuable lesson!

Here are a few important things to note:

• The jewel of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is a green oasis in the desert, on the Persian Gulf coast.
• The tallest skyscraper in the world, Burj Khalifa, certainly marks the city’s skyline. Besides this construction wonder, the Dubai Mall, a shopaholics’ paradise, and the breathtaking Dubai Fountain are just some of Dubai’s landmarks.
• You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to try the local food like Luqaimat Knafeh, Camel meat, and Samboosa or drink Turkish cocktails.
• A desert climate in Dubai with very high temperatures in the summer makes visits between November and March the most pleasant.
• Tips are often included in the bill in restaurants but it is nice to give drivers, and bag packers at supermarkets some change.
• Don’t worry about drinking water – tap water is safe to drink.
• In stores, you will buy things at a fixed price, but don’t miss the opportunity to haggle in the Gold Souk and other traditional shops.
• Keep in mind that Dubai is not a cheap city. The local money is the UAE Dirham. Besides banks, there are exchange offices at airports and most hotels can change your currency.
• The most efficient way to get around the city is by taxi, but you can also ride on buses, water buses, monorail systems, trams, and the Dubai Metro.
• It’s an Arab city in a Muslim country. Tread lightly. Do your research. Women, cover your shoulders and legs if you want to follow the culture or some will stare. Their values must be respected. The clothing is very conservative.
• They don’t tolerate much PDA.
• If you are a big drinker, know the rules as it pertains to alcohol.

I hope this is helpful.