Dear reader,
we had our first outing abroad and one learnt enough lessons... the same are penned below to help you plan an exciting trip. Feel free to get in touch in case you are planning to go out too....
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we had our first outing abroad and one learnt enough lessons... the same are penned below to help you plan an exciting trip. Feel free to get in touch in case you are planning to go out too....
LESSONS LEARNT
DURING OUR RECENT TRIP TO DUBAI
1. Passport
Validity. Check Passport validity
well before you purchase the tickets. My kids’ passports were not renewed and I
had 10 difficult days. This is a lesson for forgetful people like me.
2. Airline
Selection. Select airline
carefully. Spend additional 5k and travel like a king. For our return journey we
chose Spice Jet, partly because it was cheaper and partly because it was taking
off late from Dubai (2245 hrs), thus giving us full additional day at Dubai.
But the experience was bad when we compared it with Emirates… our airlines from
Delhi to Dubai. IT DOES MATTER. We booked two months in advance and return
tickets per head cost us about 13k.
3. Money
Changer. Without
exploring the exchange rates, we just changed currency at Thomas Cook outlet at
Delhi (T3), only to realise later on that we could have gone to others as well
as bargained with Thomas Cook for a better rate. We carried a travellers
card from ICICI bank as the swiping from debit as well as credit cards
attracts additional charge. Indian currency is readily accepted though at a
different exhange rate. Meals (nine in all) for four people and local shopping cost
us around Rs 50k.
4. Sim
Card. We purchased
Etisalat tourist sim card at Dubai airport which worked out quite costly (Rs
2100 for 60 min of talktime, local as well as international and validity of 7
days). Better would have been activating international roaming on the local
sim. Also video calling and voice calling over internet is banned in Dubai.
(one can send voice notes as message though). Hotels and malls have free wifi
so even if you don’t have data on your phone its ok.
5. Itinerary. One planned by the travel agency
was good enough (4 days and 5 nights including Dhow Cruise, City Tour, Desert
Safari & Burj Khalifa). Transfer costs are high and its better to hire a
travel agency if you are a first timer. We spent just above Rs 1 lakh, for four
of us for the entire trip excl air tickets and few meals. The cost included all
transfers and hotel stay (2 rooms with breakfast). You can spend a little extra
and select a better hotel though. We stayed in Bur Dubai where accomadation is reasonable
and places like Meena Bazar and Gold Souk are at walking
distance. Five days is max that one can spend as a first timer. We did not
read/ research about the places and were quite clueless. Little research from
open source/ travel blogs etc about the place is recommended. We paid 260
dirhams (Rs 5200) for our lunch at Ferrari World on recommenadtion of the guide,
which was almost 4 times the normal cost. Ferrari world can be avoided as also
Dhow cruise. {Better are the 2 hour cruises at Goa and theme park Imagica
(near Lonavla), in India}. Do not have two events in a day as it does not
leave you with any free time. There is a lot to be explored on your own
especially the local gift shops.
6. Meals.
Meals are costly. A lot of Indian food joints are spread all over. A
basic research is strongly recommended. A decent non veg meal per person costs
around Rs 400. Do not spend more. Buy water from the super market. A 1.5 litre
bottle in the super market was 2 Dirham (Rs 40) against the same being sold at
4 Dirham by local shops and 12 Dirham by the hotel. Veg meals are readily
available too. One can buy snacks etc from the local grocery shop.
7. Laundry. Carry adequate clothes (30 Kg
check in baggage allowed on most airlines including Emirates). Carry a washing
soap too. Laundry at the hotel is too costly. One can ask for an iron with
stand from the housekeeping. Its summer most of the time, therefore carry appropriate
clothing.
8. Miscellenaeous.
Carry good camera with
additional memory card as all the places offer perfect background for pictures.
Plan the souvenirs that you want to buy. Most of the items are made in China
only. Gold buying can be a time consuming and tricky business. If you have
local friends who can guide you, then only venture into a major purchase. Limit
on buying gold is Rs 1 lakh for ladies and Rs 50k for men. All the malls are
excellent but one must visit Dubai Mall (included alongwith trip to Burj
Khalifa). Do carry a selfie stick.
9. Final
Word. Overall experience was excellent
and memorable. It’s value for money. Takeaways are cleanliness,
traffic discipline and safety aspects. There were no hiccups as our travel
agents had provided local helpline numbers too. Abu Dhabi and Desert Safari
involve long travel by road, but the vehicles are comfortable. People do not
mix up readily therefore if two or more families plan the trip together, you
can add to the fun value. The rating is as under :-
Desert safari, Burj Khalifa – Dubai mall, Grand Mosque (Abu
Dhabi), Dubai City Tour, Ferrari World, Dhow Cruise.
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