TOP TIPS:
- Plan earlier to avoid expensive hotel rates
- Use GETYOURGUIDE APP for good deals
- Get your online visa (260sar) beforehand if applicable
- Check car tires and keep car tools kit updated (car insurance 210sar at border)
- Convert currencies before crossing the border
Celebrating our first new years together had to be special! Riyadh isn't big on celebrations of any sort, except National Day on September 23rd. So, where could we go that was both close yet far? Dubai was the answer when we searched online and found out that the city was setting a new world record with 'Laser Lights Show' on Burj Khalifa.
Dubai is about 10 hours drive (975kms) from Riyadh. We left early morning before the sunrise. We played many games like 20 questions, True and False and dumb charades to keep B from falling asleep. We stay loaded on snacks, so we mostly stopped off for car fuel or bathroom breaks. We figured many planned to celebrate the new years outside of Riyadh seeing the heavy traffic at the border. After an hour of waiting in line, we finally crossed all procedures.
The prices of hotels in this time of the month were double. We booked a hotel about 45 minutes away from the city centre. We arrived at Premier Hotel at 5:30pm and soon fell asleep. On the first night there, we went out for dinner at Bosporus in Dubai Mall before heading outside to see the dancing fountains. It was spectacular and luckily we got to see it in the front row.
Day 2: Chill out Lounge and Dhow Cruise
Our day began with visiting the first ice lounge in Middle East. We bought the tickets for 160AED. They gave us snow boots, jackets and mittens before we went in. We entered a subzero temperature room filled with a dozen ice sculptures of animals, ice seatings and tables. It took us 25 minutes to look around the arts displayed. It wasn't as great as we had expected, but nonetheless, we got a few decent pictures and two complimentary hot chocolates.
Next stop, Dhow Cruise! We bought our tickets at the counter for 310AED. At 6:00pm, we walked onto the red carpet leading us to the luxurious glass-enclosed boat. We sat upstairs on the outdoor terrace to look at the beautiful sunset as the boat slowly moved through Dubai Marina. The cool breeze off the Persian Gulf and the sound of melodic music in the background was soothing.
It was the perfect romantic setting. The food selection of the Continental buffet was good, but the desserts could use some improvising. After we finished our meals, a Tandura dancer captivated the crowd with his swirl movements.
Overall, the 90 minutes Sunset Dinner Cruise was an experience that can be enjoyed both as a couple or a family of many.
Day 3: Atlantis
We've watched too many documentaries of the lost city beneath the sea. it was exciting to explore a theme park of sunken ruins that are finally revealed. We bought the tickets for 250AED. The Lost Chambers is inhabited by 65,000 marine animals, so this place needs at least 2-3 hours to tour. Our favorites were the jellyfishes and rays from the Arabian Sea.
Day 4: Burj Khalifa Light Show
Where do we start? this day was an absolute nightmare. We left the hotel at 2pm to have brunch and then watch movies before the light show across Dubai mall. The traffic was insane and there were roadblocks all around the area. After an hour of driving, we found a parking 35 minutes walk from the mall. We still thought we had ample time before the show but unfortunately the mall was closed. The security directed us to open fields where only families could enter. The place was overcrowded but we managed to find a narrow spot where we waited for 7 hours for the new Guinness world record. Both of us sat on a sweater because the hard ground got uncomfortable soon. Our feet kept falling asleep so we took turns standing up and walking around anywhere that wasn't filled with people. As the clock struck 12, Burj Khalifa came alive with an unimpressive performance. The world's tallest tower was bathed in repetitive laser lights we saw the night we arrived in Dubai. The synchronized music was catchy but the show lasted 10 minutes. When it finished, there was complete silence because thousands like us were expecting some sort of unexpected boom but there was nothing. We found one Dominos food truck selling overpriced pizzas that were burnt but we bought them anyway. We arrived at our hotel almost 2 hours later due to heavy traffic. So much for starting 2018 with excitement.
Day 5: Burj Khalifa At the Top and Dubai Mall Aquarium
On our last day, we bought tickets for 415AED through GETYOURGUIDE APP to see two of Dubai’s most significant monuments.
We began the tour on the world’s fastest elevator to the 125th floor. Observing the 360-degree panoramic views of this wondrous city was astounding. There was a hall of information regarding the architecture and technology behind the skyscraper. Professional photographers take your photo in front of a green screen and then try to sell the images for a high price but we got a good deal before we left building, Thankgod!
Next, we entered the world’s largest aquarium comprised of a tank holding 10 million liters of water. There were thousands of unique aquatic animals like the sand tiger sharks, as well as an underwater zoo including penguins, piranhas and crocodiles. Time spent here was great and with that said, our trip ended sooner than we had hoped.