Wayfairers Posted September 14, 2015 #1 Share Posted September 14, 2015 It looks as though we could do Dubai on our own. Has anyone done this? How easy is it to get around the city? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buggins0402 Posted September 14, 2015 #2 Share Posted September 14, 2015 It looks as though we could do Dubai on our own. Has anyone done this? How easy is it to get around the city? Easy...Dubai has a great metro system. http://dubaimetro.eu Note the hours...it is closed Friday mornings. It can get crowded when the malls close, but easier than catching a taxi...lines can be long at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobar Posted September 15, 2015 #3 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I recommend the Hop On Hop Off bus. Easy. You see lots. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Hobar of Scottsdale 1957 Staten Island Ferry 1992 Norwegian, Caribbean February 2002 Seabourn Legend, Costa Rica to Ft. Lauderdale (via Panama canal) December 2002 SeaDream, Caribbean July 2003 Seabourn Spirit, Istanbul to Venice August 2003 Seabourn Spirit, Venice to Rome March 2004 Silversea, Mexican Riviera February 2005 Seabourn Spirit, Singapore to Hong Kong April 2007 Seabourn Pride, Monte Carlo to Istanbul July 2008 No cruise but visits to Malaga and Mallorca to the homes of new friends we made on Seabourn in 2005! March 2010 Silversea, Singapore to Dubai December 2011 Seabourn Sojourn, Santiago to Buenos Aires August-Sept 2013 Seabourn Quest, Monte Carlo to Barcelona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnd crsr Posted September 15, 2015 #4 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I would also recommend the HOHO bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayfairers Posted September 17, 2015 Author #5 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Thanks everyone! I will look at the HOHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannockfrodo Posted September 22, 2015 #6 Share Posted September 22, 2015 We are in Dubai in January and have a 2 day hoho bus pass and a desert safari lined up. Then off on a cruise, can't wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini108 Posted October 5, 2015 #7 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Definitely recommend HOHO bus. You can purchase a 1 or 2 day pass online. Also recommend using the metro, especially to go to the malls. If you want to visit the Burj Khalifa, you need to buy your tickets online before you get there or you may miss out as it is often very busy. http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/index.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMiz Posted October 8, 2015 #8 Share Posted October 8, 2015 (edited) Anyone suggest Dubai hotels ? We are cruising on the Ovation to Dubai and plan on staying for 2 or 3 nights Edited October 8, 2015 by TheMiz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilybob Posted October 20, 2015 #9 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Anyone suggest Dubai hotels ? We are cruising on the Ovation to Dubai and plan on staying for 2 or 3 nights If you want to stay in the downtown area to be near Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Dubai Fountains take a look at Vida or Manzil on Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd. They are both across the way and walkable. If you want to splurge, take a look at The Palace Hotel or The Address Hotel Downtown in this same area. The JW Marriott Marquis often has good rates and many fabulous restaurants. Though close to BK and the mall, it still requires a 5 minute taxi ride. Many hotels along Sheik Zayed Rd are also near metro stations. If you indicate more what you want to do while there or your budget other suggestions possible. Enjoy your time in Dubai! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloe kitty Posted November 8, 2015 #10 Share Posted November 8, 2015 (edited) If you want to stay in the downtown area to be near Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Dubai Fountains take a look at Vida or Manzil on Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd. They are both across the way and walkable. If you want to splurge, take a look at The Palace Hotel or The Address Hotel Downtown in this same area. The JW Marriott Marquis often has good rates and many fabulous restaurants. Though close to BK and the mall, it still requires a 5 minute taxi ride. Many hotels along Sheik Zayed Rd are also near metro stations. If you indicate more what you want to do while there or your budget other suggestions possible. Enjoy your time in Dubai! Hello, We will be in Dubai to catch the Ovation next May. We are going in two days early, and are looking for a moderately priced hotel in a nice neighborhood, as we enjoy walking a city. I am a little confused about the various Malls. Is the main large one the Mall of the Emerates, or the Dubai Mall? Is the Dragon Mall worth visiting? I love to shop, but not pay high prices. We don't mind taking the Metro in most cities. We could use some help and it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Edited November 8, 2015 by chloe kitty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilybob Posted November 8, 2015 #11 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Hello,We will be in Dubai to catch the Ovation next May. We are going in two days early, and are looking for a moderately priced hotel in a nice neighborhood, as we enjoy walking a city. I am a little confused about the various Malls. Is the main large one the Mall of the Emerates, or the Dubai Mall? Is the Dragon Mall worth visiting? I love to shop, but not pay high prices. We don't mind taking the Metro in most cities. We could use some help and it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Dubai Mall is the largest and a not to miss, even if you don't buy too much. It is connected to Burj Khalifa if you are visiting "At the Top." There are over 1000 shops and restaurants and they are currently adding on to make it even bigger! It includes a beautiful waterfall, ice rink, Gold Souk, Emirates A380 simulator, Sega Republic, and if you are traveling with children, Kidzania. It connects to Souk al Bahar via a pedestrian bridge. Souk al Bahar has about 15+ restaurants and many boutiques and souvenir shops. The Dubai Fountains are in the lake in-between the Dubai Mall and Souk al Bahar. Many of the stores in Dubai Mall are designer and priced accordingly. But, if you need a few things to bring home with an Arabic flavor or forgot some basics there are stores for that as well. Mall of the Emirates is also a beautiful large mall, though smaller than Dubai Mall. It is famous for the indoor ski slope and penguins. Both of these malls have direct metro stops on the red line. In fact, you can ride metro between the malls and never go outside as both are connected to the stations through an indoor air conditioned walkway. Wafi Mall and Ibn Batuta are smaller malls and architecturally beautiful but if you are only in Dubai for a couple of days I would not try to squeeze them in. There is usually a shuttle at the port that will take you to Wafi Mall and I think Burjman Mall. Burjman would be a good way to catch the Dubai Metro as the stop is right there as is the Big Bus Tour. Deira City Center is one of the older malls and also has a metro stop on the red line. It has a mix of mid-priced and higher end stores and easy to get around. Dragon Mart is huge and expanding as well. It reminds me of a Family Dollar or Poundland kind of store though it also sells large items like furniture and rugs. You will need to take a taxi or rent a car as it is on the outskirts of the city. There is a Sheraton at Mall of the Emirates that might be priced more reasonably than the downtown hotels and you can take the metro to the Dubai Mall area from there. Also look at hotels on Sheik Zayed Road that are close to metro stations (Towers Rotana or Park Regis Kris Kin) Hope this info helps:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloe kitty Posted November 8, 2015 #12 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Dubai Mall is the largest and a not to miss, even if you don't buy too much. It is connected to Burj Khalifa if you are visiting "At the Top." There are over 1000 shops and restaurants and they are currently adding on to make it even bigger! It includes a beautiful waterfall, ice rink, Gold Souk, Emirates A380 simulator, Sega Republic, and if you are traveling with children, Kidzania. It connects to Souk al Bahar via a pedestrian bridge. Souk al Bahar has about 15+ restaurants and many boutiques and souvenir shops. The Dubai Fountains are in the lake in-between the Dubai Mall and Souk al Bahar. Many of the stores in Dubai Mall are designer and priced accordingly. But, if you need a few things to bring home with an Arabic flavor or forgot some basics there are stores for that as well. Mall of the Emirates is also a beautiful large mall, though smaller than Dubai Mall. It is famous for the indoor ski slope and penguins. Both of these malls have direct metro stops on the red line. In fact, you can ride metro between the malls and never go outside as both are connected to the stations through an indoor air conditioned walkway. Wafi Mall and Ibn Batuta are smaller malls and architecturally beautiful but if you are only in Dubai for a couple of days I would not try to squeeze them in. There is usually a shuttle at the port that will take you to Wafi Mall and I think Burjman Mall. Burjman would be a good way to catch the Dubai Metro as the stop is right there as is the Big Bus Tour. Deira City Center is one of the older malls and also has a metro stop on the red line. It has a mix of mid-priced and higher end stores and easy to get around. Dragon Mart is huge and expanding as well. It reminds me of a Family Dollar or Poundland kind of store though it also sells large items like furniture and rugs. You will need to take a taxi or rent a car as it is on the outskirts of the city. There is a Sheraton at Mall of the Emirates that might be priced more reasonably than the downtown hotels and you can take the metro to the Dubai Mall area from there. Also look at hotels on Sheik Zayed Road that are close to metro stations (Towers Rotana or Park Regis Kris Kin) Hope this info helps:) Thank you for all the wonderful info. After posting this last night and prior to your response, I looked at Hotels.com. There were a few near the Emirates Mall that looked interesting, as well as some in the business district. I will go back and check on the areas that you mentioned. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gig103 Posted December 26, 2015 #13 Share Posted December 26, 2015 I am just back and I would not recommend the HOHO. I was disappointed by it because it's slow getting around in traffic, and the narration was repetitive and lacking any good knowledge or factoids. For day two of our Dubai visit we spent about $5 each for all-day metro/bus passes and got everywhere we wanted to, with the help of one or two taxis. Taxis were surprisingly reasonable compared to places in the USA like Vegas or NYC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayfairers Posted December 26, 2015 Author #14 Share Posted December 26, 2015 I am just back and I would not recommend the HOHO. I was disappointed by it because it's slow getting around in traffic, and the narration was repetitive and lacking any good knowledge or factoids. For day two of our Dubai visit we spent about $5 each for all-day metro/bus passes and got everywhere we wanted to, with the help of one or two taxis. Taxis were surprisingly reasonable compared to places in the USA like Vegas or NYC. Great information. Thanks for the approx amount you spent for the metro/bus passes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloe kitty Posted December 30, 2015 #15 Share Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) We are now considering taking a train from the airport to a hotel in the Deria area which is very close to the metro stop. We are looking at the Hyarr Place hotel, or a few others too. We thought that we might catch the Big Bus the next AM. Spend all day sightseeing from the bus with occasional stops at the larger malls. The bus also offers an evening tours which we thought might be nice. The next day we have to board the ship, but the ship overnights in Dubai. We thought we would check in then go out again on the Big Bus for more touring. Does this sound as if it would work out?? Thank you/ Edited December 30, 2015 by chloe kitty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini108 Posted December 30, 2015 #16 Share Posted December 30, 2015 We are now considering taking a train from the airport to a hotel in the Deria area which is very close to the metro stop. We are looking at the Hyarr Place hotel, or a few others too. We thought that we might catch the Big Bus the next AM. Spend all day sightseeing from the bus with occasional stops at the larger malls. The bus also offers an evening tours which we thought might be nice. The next day we have to board the ship, but the ship overnights in Dubai. We thought we would check in then go out again on the Big Bus for more touring.Does this sound as if it would work out?? Thank you/ That all sounds good except I would get a taxi to the hotel. The trains can be VERY crowded so might not be a good idea with luggage. Taxi's are very inexpensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilybob Posted December 30, 2015 #17 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Ditto Gemini108's suggestion about taking a taxi. From the airport to Deira it will be about 50AED, less than $15. Taxis are metered and there is a taxi rank right outside the arrival area. The "pink top" taxis for woman and families are slightly more and there will also be town cars available that are more. The beige taxis with all the other roof-top colors will cost the same. Leaving from the airport or cruise port there is a 20AED ($5.45) surcharge but not when you are dropped off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloe kitty Posted December 31, 2015 #18 Share Posted December 31, 2015 (edited) Thank you both for all the helpful info. It now looks like now we have a plan. Edited December 31, 2015 by chloe kitty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PunkiC Posted January 3, 2016 #19 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Dubai is one of the easiest foreign cities we have ever visited. It is safe, uber clean, and there are always people who speak English. The subways are modern and clean and in some cases works of art. The Hop On Hop Off is great and has free wifi. Yes, there are times when it is a bit slow, but you can always entertain yourself on the wifi if you get stuck in traffic. Make sure you take the boat ride which is included in the Hop On Hop Off it is very educational and pleasant. There is always lots to do. Once we did the indoor ski thing and another time we just jumped on a train and went to the end of the line to look at the architecture. We have been several times and plan to visit again in December on our return from Asia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gig103 Posted January 31, 2016 #20 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Great information. Thanks for the approx amount you spent for the metro/bus passes. You are most welcome! We bought our one day ticket from a kiosk at the metro, just like you would in NYC or London. I don't know how you would do it if you were taking the bus, but all "customer facing" people, if not everyone in Dubai, spoke English. I wanted to reiterate that taxis are a surprisingly inexpensive option in Dubai. The fares are only a few Dinar per kilometer, although the minimum fare is 12 Dh. But even that works out to < $3.50 which is the flag drop in Las Vegas, NV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLACRUISER99 Posted February 17, 2016 #21 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Do the Taxis take Credit Cards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRUISEBOY305 Posted February 17, 2016 #22 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Do the Taxis take Credit Cards? Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLACRUISER99 Posted February 17, 2016 #23 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Do the Taxis take Credit Cards? Yes Thank You>:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaTheWorldBySea Posted March 27, 2016 #24 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Do we need to exchange USD for AED or can we operate on credit cards? We will get our 48 hr. HOHO tickets online beforehand. Lots of great information on this thread - thanks to all of you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilybob Posted March 29, 2016 #25 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Do we need to exchange USD for AED or can we operate on credit cards? We will get our 48 hr. HOHO tickets online beforehand. Lots of great information on this thread - thanks to all of you! Cards are widely accepted but you might want to have a little money in AED for a taxi perhaps to the port or hotel if you are staying pre or post cruise. ATM's are everywhere including all of the malls. The additional charge would be if your bank charges to use another bank's machine but not from the local bank. Have a great time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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