Dubai Points of interest and Travel Guide

When on Dubai tour packages, one can also look forward for the enthralling know-how on the camel ride and sand get on. Dubai holidays offer you a delightful shopping experience in the luxurious shopping malls and the traditional Arabic foodstuff adds spice to your fun-filled trip. This destination of sand and dust has full-grown into one of the most progressive cities in the world. It also offers very good business opportunities especially for foreign investors who open companies there and pay low taxes. Here listing a travel around in Dubai

Background: Dubai is one of the seven city-states that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This guide is a short supplement to the wealth of information available on our website www.swantour.com

Arriving: Dubai International Airport (DXB) has 3 terminals. Terminal 1 is for major international airlines, Terminal 2 for low cost carriers and Terminal 3 is dedicated to Emirates Airline. Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Sharjah (SHJ) are nearby airports which travellers use to get into Dubai. Fastest way to get to your hotel from Dubai is by Taxi, fares start from 20 dirhams cheapest way is by Dubai Metro

TIP: Catch the Dubai Metro from airport and get down at a station close to your hotel. And then take a taxi from the station to your hotel. It's cheaper.

Staying: Best areas to stay in Dubai are Deira or Bur Dubai where you will find hotels for all budget ranges. Areas like Jumeriah and Sheikh Zayed Road cater to more upmarket tourists. have a good deals for hotels in Dubai at swantour.com. TIP: Visit Dubai during the shoulder peak months of Sep/Oct and Mar/Apr to get the best hotel deals and also enjoy a fairly good weather.

Transportations: Taxis are metered (AED 1.6/km) and are cheap compared to western standards. Public transport buses are air conditioned and tickets have to be repurchased either from the ticket vending machines at the bus stops or at the nearest metro stations. Buses are not recommended for short distance as they generally have a long wait time. Dubai also has 2 metro lines. The Red line runs from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali and covers all the major tourist destinations on its way (end to end 70mins). The Green line runs from Etisalat to Dubai Creek (end to end 45mins). Metro innings daily from 6am till midnight. On Fridays it starts from 1pm.

TIP: Taking a boat ride on the Dubai Creek is the low-cost (AED 2) and fastest way to go from Deira to BurDubai (and vice versa). Mainly at night, this gives nice views of the buildings along the creek.

Shopping: Dubai is often called the Shoppers heaven; the city is full of malls and is a most wanted past time of the residents. Popular malls are listed in the side bar.

Eating & Drinking: Just like the hotels, Dubai has cheap as well as top­end restaurants. The quality of the food is good due to the strict laws imposed by Dubai municipality. Dubai being an islamic state, alcohol is not permitted in outside restaurants. Only those inside a hotel can serve alcohol.

TIP: "Shawarma", an arabic fast food is a very common street food and costs about AED 5.

Burj Khalifa: Tallest building in the world has 160 floors; you can take the Metro Red line and get down at Dubai Mall Station. The cost to go up to the observation deck on 124th floor is AED 400. Advance booking can also be done online from atthetop.ae for AED 130.

Dubai Mall and its Fountain: Dubai Mall is a huge shopping mall and has a giant Aquarium with underwater zoo, a full sized ice rink, indoor theme park called Sega World and Kidzania for kids.

World's largest dancing fountain is on display every evening infront of the Dubai Mall. Shows take place every 30mins from 6­11pm and gives excellent photo opportunities with Burj Khalifa in the background. Best of all its free

Burj al­Arab: World's most luxurious 5 star hotel and an icon of Dubai. The best way to see the hotel is to book a table in one of the restaurants inside the hotel. Best options are the Sahn Eddar restaurant (AED 250) or the Skyview bar (AED 425). You can yield the metro to Mall of the Emirates Station and then a taxi from there.

Dubai Marina and The Walk: Offers great views of Dubai Skyline, has Dubai Marina mall and one can also visit one section of the Jumeirah beach from here. There are 2 fabulous walkways. The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence is a stretch of 1.7kms and offers wide range of shopping, dining and leisure activities. One can also stroll along the Marina walk to see some of the luxury yatchs docked in the water.

Palm Jumeirah: The most famed landmark of Dubai is a set of artificial islands created in the form of palm tree. The main attraction to see on the island is the Atlantis hotel described below.

Atlantis, the Palm: A resort hotel situated in the Palm Jumeirah has Aquaventure theme park, shopping malls and Dolphin bay where you can swim and interact with dolphins. You can get down at Dubai Marina Metro Station on Red line and then precedes a taxi from there (AED 30). Another choice is to take taxi to Gateway Station of the Monorail that runs from the mainland to Atlantis. Monorail runs above ground and gives good views of the islands. One way fare is AED 15.

Jumeirah Mosque and Jumeirah Open beach: Jumeirah Mosque is the largest mosque in Dubai and most attractive. It is the only mosque in Dubai which is open to non­muslims and also features on its AED 500 currency note. There is an entry fee of AED 10. The Jumeirah Open beach is few mins walk from the mosque. You can take a taxi from Al Jafliya Red Metro station to extent here. Bus Number 8 and 8A is another choice.

Gold Souk: Souk in Arabic means market and as name suggests Gold souk is the most famed Gold Market of Dubai. There are over 300 more gold shops which display their jewellery and ornaments.

Global Village: It is the largest open-air cultural and entertainment venue in the Middle East, where there are many pavilions representing different countries. It takes place during the winter months of November ­March.

Ski Dubai: One of its kinds in the world, Ski Dubai offers travellers an experience of indoor skiing in the Mall of Emirates. The entrance fee to snow park is AED 130 (Adults) and AED 120 (Children), Ski Hill for 2 hours is 180 (Adults) and 150 (Children). There are also various preferences like a Power Pass (AED 275), Super Pass (AED 200) and Ski Slope Day Pass (AED 300). Depending on which pass you choose, you have various choices like chairlift rides, Giant Ball, Mountain Thriller, Fleece Gloves Voucher and also a 60 mins Discovery Lesson in the Ski School.

Ice Skating: Kids can learn to ice skating at the Dubai Ice Rink in the Dubai Mall for around AED 55.

Kidzania: Only place where the cost of entry for kids is more than that for adults :) Kidzania, kidzania.ae in The Dubai Mall, The price is AED 140 for kids and AED 95 for adults. KidZania Dubai is open 7 days a week (Sundays to Wednesdays: 9am to 9pm. Thursdays: 9am to 11pm. Fridays, Saturdays and Public Holidays: 10am to 11pm).

Ifl y Dubai: If you would like to experience some gravity defying flying inside a simulator, try ifly Dubai. Cost is about AED 215 and is quite popular with young and adults. It is located in the Mirdif Citi Centre.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo: To be found in the Dubai Mall is a good pass time for kids with its underworld aquarium tunnel and underwater zoo. The combo ticket with Aquarium Tunnel and Underwater zoo costs AED 55 per person. The Ultimate Aquarium Package costs AED 110 which includes a Glass bottom boat ride and a Gift Shop voucher. If you are fascinated in Diving, then the dive packages costs from AED 290 to AED 1875.

Dubai Dolphinarium: Watch Dolphin shows and Play with the dolphins at the Dubai Dolphinarium. The shows run from 11am to 6pm (except Sunday) and swimming with dolphins from 1pm to 4pm (except Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The dolphin show costs vary with the standard seating costing about AED 100 for adult and AED 50 for children. They also offer VIP seating's and also Illusion shows. Swim with Dolphin for unto 3 people costs about AED 2100.

Sega Republic: Dubai's very own indoor theme park is situated in The Dubai Mall. Nearby are five zones of pure entertainment for all ages with 9 adrenaline-fueled attractions and over 250 of the latest amusement games and competitions to win great prizes. The Thrill Ticket is a day pass for all fascinations plus any 10 video games and costs AED 160. The Platinum Power is a day pass for all fascinations, plus free AED 200 credit for games. Individual rides and games cost on an average AED 30. They as well have a SEGA Republic Game Zone in the Dubai Marina Mall.

Wild Wadi Water Park: The Wild Wadi Water Park in Jumeirah is Dubai's first water park. An all-day pass costs about AED 225 for Adults and AED 175 for children. They also have a sundowner pass which costs AED 190 and AED 145 for Adults and Children respectively.

Aquaventure Theme Park: To be found in Atlantis, the Palm, Aquaventure Dubai is a supposedly the number one water park in the Middle East. It is set in 42 acres and includes Master Blasters, speed slide, rivers, rapids, Splashes children's play area, lush tropical landscapes and a private beach.