Dubai

Dubai is a place unlike any other, and no matter what your preferences are, you will be fascinated by this destination that has so many contrasts. A wise person once said, “You have to visit Dubai at least once in your life but better yet, once a year”!

The entire coastline is defined by kilometres of the fine sandy beach which is today accompanied by nice hotels with prodigious gardens, luxurious yacht jetties, the artificial island of The Palm with its signature hotels, Burj Al Arab and Atlantis, the artificial archipelago The World and, of course, the mighty background of the city’s skyline with its architecturally interesting buildings. Further inland, you will find one of the biggest shopping malls of Dubai – Mall of the Emirates – with its world famous ski slope that resembles an Austrian alpine village, an incredibly well-reputed golf course which is regularly visited by elite golf players, a racetrack in a country where gambling is not permitted and finally, an ocean of endless sand dunes, just like in Arabian Nights.

You can also find world-class culinary experiences here and in every hotel, at least the ones with a bit of self-esteem, you will find a handful of often excellent themed restaurants. Dubai, with its many contrasts, deserves a visit, or better yet, many visits!

Where do you want to stay?

The location of your hotel is more important than usual when travelling to Dubai. We, the people who have put together the hotel program of Norwegian Holidays, are part of the group of people who have been around since the beginning of charter tourism on the Arabian Peninsula. This gives us a clear advantage in selecting suitable hotels for holiday travellers. We have strived to create value for affordable cocktail including everything from mid-range to absolute luxury. We also offer handpicked hotels in the emirates of Abu Dhabi (about 1h from “The Walk” in Dubai) and Ras al Khaimah (about 1h from Downtown Dubai).

Public Beaches

There are a number of beaches in Dubai that are open to the public. The most family-friendly is Jumeirah Public Beach in the Umm Suqeim neighbourhood and the trendiest is Kite Beach. Most of our handpicked hotels (in the Emirate of Dubai) are only a short taxi ride from the beaches.

Beach Clubs

If you are attracted to trendy beach clubs with great food and drinks, then we can recommend Cove Beach Club which is located in the southern corner of Jumeirah Public Beach/Umm Suqeim Beach, and can be compared with Nikki Beach in Saint Tropez. Its location next to the cool Burj al Arab is very inviting.

At the foot of The Palm, you will find the trendy Club Vista Mar, which is a combination of seven exciting restaurants with terraces and beach life in an inviting lounge environment with sunbeds. Relax and enjoy your favourite drink with the azure blue sea as your closest neighbour. Here, you can choose between Italian, Ethiopian, Lebanese and Peruvian cuisine or an international steak house a fish & shellfish restaurant.

Tourist tax

All hotels in the Emirate of Dubai have to charge a tourist tax. This tax is paid directly by the hotels guest during the stay.

Alcohol

In Islam, alcohol is forbidden. Alcoholic beverages cannot be bought in ordinary shops in the United Arab Emirates. However, alcohol is served in most hotel restaurants and bars. Consumption of alcohol that has been brought is allowed in hotel rooms. It’s allowed to bring up to 4 litres of alcoholic beverage per person, over the age of 18, into the United Arab Emirates. Note that there are strict rules for alcohol in the United Arab Emirates. There is an age limit of 21 years for buying alcohol in restaurants and bars. Those under the age of 21 can be denied access to bars. There can also be short bans (usually less than 24 hours) of alcohol sales.

Safety deposit

Some hotels demand a safety deposit when checking in. This deposit can be paid by credit card or cash (Dirham/Euro). The deposit will be returned after check out and it can be used to pay for eventual consumption at the hotel.