Page 113 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Practical Information ❮❮ 111

popular, and many places exclusively modern most of the world’s
offer outdoor terraces – hotels – although there leading hotel companies
those with outdoor are a handful of more now have at least one
seating may also offer characterful small hotels establishment in each
sheesha (waterpipes). in historic houses avail- city, often several.
Tipping is generally able in Dubai, including Accommodation is
not expected but is several places run by the available on all the usual
appreciated if you’ve Heritage Collection. You’ll booking websites. Rates
enjoyed your meal and also find plenty of Airbnb vary considerably from
service. A 10 per cent options and loads of self- month to month (some-
service charge may be catering apartments – times from week to week),
added to cover the tip, Golden Sands is the main peaking during the winter
along with other taxes. local operator, with over a months and falling hugely
These can add up to 25 dozen apartment blocks during the summer
per cent of the basic cost in Bur Dubai. (see p109). During busy
of a meal and drinks, so There is considerable periods, such as the
check before if included. variety amongst the more religious festival of Eid,
Children are generally upmarket hotels. At the hotel prices can soar.
well-catered for and top end of the scale Rates start from around
welcome everywhere places range from chic AED 250 (US$70) for a
except at the very best modernist highrises double in a rock-bottom,
fine-dining restaurants. through to lavish resorts old-city one-star hotel,
built in opulent pseudo- rising up into the
Where to Stay Arabian style. Cheaper thousands of dollars per
places, however, tend to night at top places. Many
There’s a mind-boggling be functional concrete hotels quote room rates
array of accommodation boxes of rather uniform exclusive of relevant
in both Dubai and Abu appearance. The main government taxes, which
Dhabi. The vast majority local chain is the can bump the price up
in both cities is generally luxurious, Dubai-owned by 25 per cent – always
in large and almost Jumeirah group, although check before booking.
DIRECTORY
SOURCES OF Time Out Dubai Emirates Helicopter Tours
INFORMATION ∑ timeoutdubai.com ∑ emirateshelicoptertours.
800Tickets UAE Interact com
∑ 800tickets.com ∑ uaeinteract.com Frying Pan Adventures
∑ fryingpanadventures.com
Abu Dhabi Tourism and What’s On Abu Dhabi
∑ whatson.ae/abudhabi
Culture Authority Shaheen Xtreme
∑ royalshaheen.ae
(ADTCA) What’s On Dubai
∑ tcaabudhabi.ae ∑ whatson.ae/dubai UAE Trekkers
∑ uaetrekkers.com
Department of Tourism TRIPS AND TOURS
and Commerce Absolute Adventure SHOPPING
Marketing (DTCM) § 04 392 6463 Damas
∑ visitdubai.com/en ∑ adventure.ae ∑ damasjewellery.com
Dubai at Random Abu Dhabi Helicopter Grand Stores
∑ dubaiatrandom. ∑ abudhabihelicoptertour. ∑ www.grandstores.com
blogspot.co.uk com Paris Gallery
Dubai FAQs Big Bus Tours ∑ parisgallery.com
∑ dubaifaqs.com ∑ eng.bigbustours.com/
dubai WHERE TO STAY
I Live in a Frying Pan ∑ eng.bigbustours.com/ Golden Sands
∑ iliveinafryingpan.com abudhabi ∑ goldensandsdubai.com
Time Out Abu Dhabi Dubai Ferry Jumeirah
∑ timeoutabudhabi.com ∑ dubai-ferry.com ∑ jumeirah.com

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