When I have thought of Dubai in the past I have thought of shopping. Nothing on earth would persuade me to plan a trip there, because there is nothing I hate more than shopping. Beaches? Dubai surely has them, but the snootily bad press Dubai has had in the west, revolving around hubristic construction projects and gawdy architecture, has had its effect.
But recent claims by Dubai to be a great family destination persuaded me to give it a try. Besides, I was curious. The one question reviewers and travel agents receive year after year, around October time, is where can we go for a bit of sun this winter that won't involve a long haul flight or ludicrous expense? You trot out the usual suspects - the Canaries, Madiera, Morocco, Egypt. The definition of a good holiday on the Red Sea, for example, is one where you spend most of the time being catered to in the resort, with the odd foray into the desert. The hotels - some of them - are lovely - and the diving is excellent, but there is nothing much to recommend the locality.
Dubai, however, is an eye opener. For modernity, for great food, for sumptuous facilities and air conditioned attractions. Sure, don't come for culture. But if you have kids, or just want to be pampered, consider it as a mid-haul destination at half the price of some other resort destinations.
Written by James Dunford Wood
