Page 55 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Dubai and Abu Dhabi for Free ❮❮ 53

Dubai and Abu Dhabi for Free 7 TOP 10 MONEY-SAVING TIPS
Waterside Walks
The breezy walks along the
Bur Dubai side (south) of the creek
(see pp16–17) in Dubai and along
the Abu Dhabi Corniche (see p90)
are spectacular. You’ll see some of
the best sights in these intriguing
cities and it won’t cost you a penny.
Free Beaches
8
The huge sandy beach at the
Dubai Marina (see p84) is a popular
local destination, with plenty of
facilities available, including water
sports. In Abu Dhabi, there’s a fine Dubai’s Gold Souk
stretch of free soft white sand and
clear blue sea fringing the city’s 1 Purchase a Nol Card to make the
most of Dubai’s excellent metro.
beautiful Corniche (see p90). The card can also be used on buses,
Ras Al Khor
9 water buses and trams (www.nol.ae)
Wildlife Sanctuary
2 The old city is absolutely crammed
Settle into a hide and watch colourful full of Indian curry houses and
shawarma cafés offering excellent
flocks of bright pink flamingos and food at great bargain prices.
other birds framed against a surreal
backdrop of skyscrapers. It is free 3 While summer is best avoided due
to the ferocious heat, hotel rates often
to use the hides but groups of 10 or plunge between May and September.
more require a permit (see p72).
4 Check online or with travel agents
for combined hotel-plus-flight
packages rather than booking travel
and accommodation separately.
5 Bringing cash from home and
changing it locally will often work
out cheaper than using plastic, which
can mean having to pay hefty credit
card and ATM fees.
6 Many bars have regular midweek
“ladies’ nights”, offering free drinks
to members of the fairer sex.
7 Take advantage of the regular happy
hours (generally from 6pm to 8pm
daily). Offers during this time can
massively reduce the cost of a drink.
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary 8 Don’t be afraid of haggling over
Dubai Fountain
0 prices in the old city souks, especially
in Dubai’s Gold Souk (see p26).
Dubai’s record-breaking
choreographed fountain, set in the 9 If you want designer brands without
the Hollywood price tag, shops in
middle of Burj Khalifa Lake, can be Karama Souk (see p27) offer a vast
enjoyed for free every evening and array of convincing fakes at affordable
most afternoons from any part of prices. Have an idea of how much you
the broad pedestrianized walkway want to pay and bargain hard.
running around the lake. This must- 10 Dubai’s many festivals (see p39)
see experience offers close-up views often include activities, events and
of the dancing jets and watery swirls entertainment either for free or at
as they rise up, accompanied by very discounted prices.
dramatic music (see p71).

052-053_Top_10_Dubai.indd 53 17/05/2017 12:54