Dubai: Insider’s Guide

The insider advice on this page is from one of Wendy’s Trusted Travel Experts for the United Arab Emirates: Justin Parkinson of Linara Travel.

Trusted Travel Expert

Justin Parkinson

Justin’s frequent trips to the Indian Ocean over the past 14 years make him uniquely qualified to match you with the specific island, resort, and overwater bungalow—even with the specific dive instructor or massage therapist—that best suit your needs. This is especially crucial in the Maldives, where you’re likely to spend all of your time at a single, private-island resort, and there are new properties opening every few months. In the Seychelles, Justin can help you rent a car to go exploring and point you to the best beaches and hiking trails. Given how many people fly to the Indian Ocean via Dubai, he has become an expert on the United Arab Emirates too (see Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and can help you save money there so that you can splurge in the islands. When he’s not exploring these exotic locales, you’ll find Justin at home in either Australia or L.A.

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Trips have a three-night minimum and start at $700 per day for two travelers.

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Covid safety intel

When your flight lands at the airport, Justin can arrange for you to be met at the gate and taken by buggy straight to the fast-track line at immigration, which is shorter than the regular lines and reduces the time you have to spend near others inside the airport. The private, English-speaking guides and drivers whom he hires undergo temperature checks and wear masks. Hotels have put at least six feet of distance between seating in restaurants and at pools; in the desert, you can find standalone suites with private pools. Many hotels are more flexible with their cancellation and refund policies than they have been in the past.

Where to Stay and Eat

Biggest bang-for-your-buck hotel
The Raffles Dubai has large rooms (generously sized even in the least expensive category) that cost less than $300 for a good chunk of the year, leaving room in your budget to splurge elsewhere. Its location is convenient to both the airport and downtown Dubai. Justin can sometimes procure upgrades or better views, too.

With the addition of a beautiful pool area, the Burj Al Arab has turned into more of a resort than a city hotel. Photo: Pixabay

Hotel worth the splurge
The Burj Al Arab made a big splash when it opened, but the stunning pool area that they added recently hasn’t drawn as much attention. This addition—they even brought in sand to make it feel like the beach—has turned the property into more of a resort where you can spend several days, rather than just a city hotel. Service here has also gone from very formal to really friendly and approachable. The Panoramic Suites (one step up from entry level) are all two stories with floor-to-ceiling windows, and located in the corners of the hotel. Justin’s is the only company in North America that has a direct contract with Jumeriah Resorts, which owns the Burj Al Arab; this relationship means that his travelers often get the best views within a category of rooms, and upgrades when available.

Hidden-gem hotel
The Desert Palm Resort is in a residential area, unlike most Dubai hotels. For those wanting to be away from the action, this property set amidst polo fields provides a relaxing escape.  Watching a polo match and visiting the horse stables makes for a delightfully varied Dubai experience.

Restaurant the locals love
Bu Qtair serves tasty, freshly caught fish and prawns to diners seated outside on plastic chairs.  It’s a rustic, casual, hole-in-the-wall, inexpensive place—a welcome contrast to Dubai’s usual glitz and glamour.

Meal worth the splurge
Atmosphere Grill is on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa, 2,717 feet off the ground. The food is very good, and the views…well, it doesn’t get any better than this! Go for lunch and get a window table—though you’ll have to spend at least 500 dirham per person, or about $137.

Dubai fountains, Dubai UAE. Photo Courtesy The Address Downtown Dubai.

What to See and Do

Don’t miss
For a feeling of how life was not so long ago in the Emirates—before oil brought in all that money—spend a night or two out in the desert. Justin can arrange for a private tented camp and a traditional performance, or (if you can’t live without air-conditioning) there are several desert resorts that have a more authentic feel than the rest. You can take camel and horse rides by day, learning about the plants and wildlife that grow in the desert. The deserts of Abu Dhabi are only about two hours from Dubai but far prettier, with much larger dunes and orange-hued sand.

Many stopover travelers see only a superficial version of Dubai’s famous architecture and shopping. What Justin arranges goes into much more depth: Imagine not just gazing up at some of the world’s most famous modern skyscrapers, but actually touring inside areas not normally accessible to the public, or visiting local designers’ boutiques (not the major malls that more tourists visit) with a fashion insider.

Cheap thrill
Located in Al Fahidi Fort, the oldest building in Dubai, the Dubai Museum provides a quick overview of the emirate’s history and development—for less than $1. It’s a nice stop when visiting sites in the Dubai creek area, such as the traditional Al Bastakiya neighborhood and the gold and spice souks.

How to spend a Friday
Most cultural sites are closed on Fridays, so you can do as the expats do (expats make up the overwhelming majority of the population) and enjoy a long, leisurely Champagne brunch; one of the best is at Traiteur Restaurant. Or spend a few hours wandering through the Dubai Mall and Dubai Fountains, then head out to the desert, where you can go “dune bashing” in a 4×4. (Many such experiences end up feeling very canned and touristy, but Justin can arrange for a private outing.) You can end the day with a barbecue dinner atop a dune. Justin plans the whole thing, complete with carpets and torches. It’s incredibly romantic!

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