Beyond Dubai

Dubai has it all, from Old World Souks and traditional Dhow boat rides at the creek to Atlantis the Palm with its huge aquarium & adrenaline pumping water park. Dubai even has one of the world’s largest indoor ski slopes. All in all, Dubai has something to offer for everyone, whether it’s an action-packed trip or a relaxing beach stay at one of the many super luxury hotels.

However, these are the well known sights that most visitors to Dubai experience, but there is a lot more that is often unseen. Senior Travel Consultant Dani recently visited Dubai and tells us of the hidden gems beyond the city walls and tall buildings…

On a recent trip, I ventured past the magnificent skyscrapers which fill the skyline and headed towards to desert. Within less than an hour from Dubai I was greeted by the serenity of the orange sand dunes at every turn. Such a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the main city itself. Staying at the Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa nestled in a verdant palm oasis, deep within Dubai’s magical dune, I was overwhelmed when entering my Bedouin Suite. I couldn’t believe the size of the room, delicately filled with authentic Arabian furnishings, and a spacious bathroom featuring a walk-in shower & jacuzzi bath.

The highlight of the room was stepping out onto the private deck with loungers, infinity pool and stunning vistas of the surrounding desert. We were also given the option to indulge in a private dinner for the ultimate luxury experience.

From here you can explore the fascinating landscape on a Jeep excursion. To our surprise, whilst enjoying the sights of the desert by Jeep, we stopped to find a guide hosting champagne and strawberries in the desert. Here you can sip champagne whilst watching the sunset over the dunes – a fantastic way to end the excursion. This was a much more relaxing Desert trip than the usual Dune Safaris that many tourists book on.

If you’re more of a beach bum and still want to get away from the city, you can take a 45-minute drive to Ajman. It’s less built up here but is still home to some truly spectacular hotels. We headed for the brand-new Oberoi Al Zorah Resort which certainly lived up to the limitless high standards that Oberoi are already known for.

To be greeted with a refreshing drink on arrival and given the keys to our rooms felt great and with our room situated down by the beach, a friendly member of staff drove us down by golf buggy- we felt like celebrities!

On entering the 2-bedroom villa we were amazed yet again at the sheer size of the rooms which had a perfect finish, decorated with contemporary funky decor. The villa featured 2 gigantic bedrooms, each with its own bathroom consisting of an indoor shower, an outdoor shower and freestanding bath. Further on past the dining room is a huge wrap-around private deck with cabanas, loungers & again a private infinity pool. This time with stunning views over the beach and the Arabian Gulf. A complete haven for relaxation in the year-round sunshine.

This was a place to relax away from all the hustle and activity of downtown Dubai or Jumeirah and yet only a short journey from the airport and city should you wish to do some sightseeing.

If you are looking for something different, particularly during the winter when European resorts are too cold, the I’d recommend going beyond Dubai and teaming a city and desert experience in one package. Please feel free to give me a call at Destina and I can put together a holiday that caters to all needs of the party ensuring everyone has the holiday of a lifetime.