Quick recap of our trip
We arrived friday morning 00:35
I rented a big 9 seater passenger van (in dubai only 2 people in regular taxi and 4 people in minivan are allowed because of covid)
We stayed at the al habtoor grand hotel (got a good rate through mariott best rate -25%)
friday we got up late and went to miracle gardens, very nice place and good for a erev shabbes
shabbes we spend with chabad at the adress marina (15 min from our hotel) about 250 people, nice atmosphere and good food
moze shabbes we went to global village, its a big area with different markets/shops of different countries. Also has a cool car show and a big attraction park for kids (open until midnight)
we spend every morning by pool/beach and did something in afternnon
-sunday we went to motiongate. its a attraction park about 30 min out of dubai. its right next to legoland. (legoland is more for smaller kids) you can buy cheaper tickets online on groupon or other website. we bought front of line tickets, without it every ride would have been 1 hour wait
https://www.motiongatedubai.com/en-monday we went out in the desert and did a dune buggy tour at sunset. It was the best activity we did. the place was not organized well, but after difficulties sorting it out it was amazing
https://monster-experience.com/tours/can-am-1000cc-turbo-4-seats/-tuesday we went to the top of burj al khalifa and watched the fountain show, once again buy discounted tickets on websites. best time to go 30 min before sunset, so you get to see day/sunset/night
-wednesday we did the mall of the emirates incl snowpark
-thursday was new year, the hotel was quite expensive that night, so we checked out after spending morning at the pool and a late checkout and went to a airport hotel (aloft Deira). it was much cheaper and as our flight was 08 in the morning next day. we went back to global village for some shopping, they also had some nice fireworks for new year
some general info
-rent a car. its cheap and has parking everywere
-dubai airport is huge and check in can have long lines. we almost missed our flight being there 2 hours before
-book activities on deals websites
-we took along some double wrapped meals, as not have to eat out every meal
-restaurant in the hilton by elis kitchen was a buffet. 300 aed for adults, 200 aed for kids. small selection. quite expensive for what it was
-armani was very good. cheaper then elis kitchen, better food and has a good kids menu, so it ended up being much cheaper
-masks have to be worn everywere, even by kids from the age of 6. my kids between 6-10 didnt wear and nobody cared. at pool or beach nobody had one on
-bringing in ffod through customs is allowed
-certain medicins are not allowed. there is a website were you can send in doctors letter and they aprove it in 24 hours and you get a permit. better then going to jail
-bring your own groceries, as you cant buy to much kosher stuff there
-chabad might have some milk, we brought our own for easy breakfast. you cant drink cholov stam there
-need a negative pcr test for everyone over 12 no older then 96 hours old
it was a very nice, fun and safe vacation spot. my kids walked around with their yarmukles and zizis no problem. we even saw a shtraimel shabbes walking on the street. Dubai is not cheap, things cost the same as in USA (hotels and taxis a little cheaper) but its one of the only places that allows tourism at the moment