28 | DAZZLIN’ DUBAI
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SEEING IS BELIEVING- THE HEIGHTS AND SIGHTS OF
DUBAI
Etihad are also to go one further with the introduction of their new A350 aircraft later this month (Spring ‘23). Once in Abu Dhabi the Etihad service does not cease there. A complimentary Executive Coach is provided just outside the terminal to take you to Downtown Dubai – this simply needs pre booked and your boarding pass presented to the driver upon arrival. The bus comes with free Wi-Fi and charging points for devices and only took 85 minutes to reach Downtown Dubai. From checking in at Dublin airport to
arriving at Downtown BY THE HOLIDAY NINJA
SPECTACULAR Dubai really has to be seen to be believed! A place where everything is big, bigger, biggest. Where every corner you turn you come across another World Record. Dubai is quite simply OUT OF THIS WORLD. It is even so centrally located globally that you can access over half the world’s population within a 5 hour flight! And the Holiday NInja had the pleasure of exploring this sprawling city to give you the lowdown on how to get there, where to stay and what to do while you are there! There are many ways to get to Dubai, however on this occasion, the NInja chose to go on the excellent value and affordable Etihad Airways direct daily service from Dublin to neighbouring Abu Dhabi. The flight is only around 7 hours and with Dublin airport being only 90 minutes from Belfast it is a highly convenient way of getting to your destination. One of the highlights of the entire trip (which took some doing!) was our upgrade and flying Business Class with Etihad. The service and experience was simply incredible. The spacious cabin with your comfortable massage seat that goes fully flat, huge personal TV screen, exclusive made-to-order menu, and friendly attentive cabin crew made for an unforgettable flight.
Dubai, the service supplied by Etihad was first class. For the first part of our trip we stayed at the 5* Hotel Sofitel right in the heart of the JBR area of Dubai. This area is perfect for those who want a mix of a relaxing beach holiday and also easy access to some of the most popular tourist attractions Dubai has to offer. The Sofitel Hotel boasts 32 floors with modern, stylish, spacious rooms. There is a beautiful infinity pool that looks out towards the world’s biggest Ferris Wheel across the bay. Food in the hotel is incredible with lots to offer whether it is the buffet breakfast with all you need
to start your busy day or the live cooking stations with modern cuisine at dinner. A few steps outside the hotel and you have many modern shops, restaurants and of course attractions – a stunning property in an ideal location
While in the Dubai Harbour area the NInja took an alternative boat tour around the iconic Dubai coastline. The NInja was the captain of his own 2-man boat on a 90 minute guided adventure that was recently featured in an episode of The UK Apprentice tv show. HERO OdySea was a great way to sightsee many of Dubai’s famous landmarks with your boat able to reach speeds of 50 km/h (should you wish). It was a really fun thrill seeking boating adventure and enabled you to get some amazing uninterrupted photographs along the way. Another must-do attraction is to get
a VIP insider tour of the world famous SEVEN STAR Burj Al Arab Hotel. This is one of the most iconic hotels in the world and this tour is your opportunity to step inside its famous doors. You get to explore continued on page 41..
continued from page 16... the vision of the hotel, the history, explore one of the VIP Royal rooms and sample some Arabian coffee and dates! Who knows, it may even
tempt you into staying … If you can
afford the $5000 per night room cost! Once you have finished your tour you can also visit Wild Wadi Water Park which can be found right outside where the tour ends – unfortunately it was closed for refurbishments during this trip. Another breath-taking tour in this part
of Dubai is The View at The Palm. The man-made Palm Jumeirah is another iconic Dubai masterpiece. Amazingly, the Palm itself can be seen from space. With your ticket you get access to the 52nd floor Viewing Deck which gives 360 degree views of the Palm and many of Dubai’s other sights. NInja tip – if your budget extends to it, it is well worth paying a little extra to gain access to the Next Level viewing deck located 2 floors above the general access. There is limited access to this level so you can fill your social media feed with some amazing photos at your leisure. The View at The Palm also has a restaurant located on the 52nd floor and The View Exhibition is located at the bottom of the building which gives the history and shows the making of the famous landmark – I still can’t quite get my head around how it was all done!? If you are looking for a more relaxing time in the Jumeirah Beach area why not spend a day chilling out at one of the many Beach Clubs Dubai has on offer? This is one of the most popular things to do in Dubai – an escape to an adults-only resort for “brunch”. Mare at Bussola is an excellent choice for anyone wanting to unwind in a classy pool area and beach setting. With its laid-back Italian and Mediterranean theme, food and beverages, poolside bar and private beach, this really is the way to spend some relaxing time after all the hectic sightseeing you have done. Once you are suitably relaxed, how about taking on the world’s longest urban Zipline withXLine Dubai! You start 170 metres high on top of one of the buildings that overlook the Dubai Marina. You are strapped into a “superman” harness and you are sent all the way over the Dubai Marina on this 1 km zipline that can have you reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h! This was one of most exhilarating experiences the NInja has had and one he will never forget, courtesy of the complimentary photos and video of your experience that come as part of your ticket. There are a few height / weight requirements to be able to go on this Zipline so be sure to check out the information before booking. Sports fans? Or looking for an entertaining, energetic fun filled time with friends or family? You have to hit Top Golf Dubai. Located in the iconic Emirates Golf Club at Emirates Hills, the setting is perfect. With 96 hitting bays split over a
couple of floors, and each with their own table/chairs for dining, your backdrop is the amazing Dubai skyline. It really is a fun party atmosphere with plenty of music, live sport and flashing lights. There are 2 restaurants and bars on site (if you don’t want to eat at your bay). The food was amazing – some of the best of the entire trip! You can get golf lessons and classes if you wish or play numerous games with your mates and family. The best thing is that you don’t need any real skill level to enjoy what Top Golf has to offer. The golf balls can be tracked on the large screen in your private booth so you can see how far and accurate each shot is. Don’t worry as some of the targets are massive to make it fun (and competitive) for everyone. Booking is definitely recommended at Top Golf so make sure before you travel. You won’t be disappointed. For those theme-park enthusiasts, a little bit outside Dubai (actually closer to Abu Dhabi than Dubai!) you will find Dubai Parks and Resorts. With 3 theme parks and a water park there is plenty on offer for all the family. The NInja decided to head to one of the parks called MOTIONGATE Dubai. This is a traditional Hollywood themed park with areas that are inspired by movies and attractions from Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks Animation and Lionsgate. There are many age-appropriate rides and attractions here. As with all Ninja trips, it is best to get there as early as possible.
DID YOU KNOW? The man-made Palm Jumeirah can be seen from space!
May 2023
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