Dubai - A city for everyone

I last visited Dubai 13 years ago and I know from the many clients I have sent there over the years that it has changed miraculously since then. So when my Mum offered to take me for my birthday, I jumped at the chance to be able to see for myself how much this amazing city has developed following my last trip. Our journey started with Meet & Greet parking at Heathrow, this is so quick and easy, I highly recommend it! We flew direct to Dubai with British Airways, a service which I could not fault in any way. Great food, plenty of room, good seatback entertainment and we arrived ahead of schedule on both legs, what more could you ask for? As I do for most of my clients, I booked a shuttle transfer to pick us up from the airport and take us to our hotel, which again was a faultless service. We were met at arrivals and promptly taken to our luxury air-conditioned taxi which was a bit of light relief from the 36 degrees that greeted us once we left the airport! When choosing where to stay I deliberated over the popular Dubai hotels - Atlantis, Jumeirah Beach, Zabeel Saray etc. but eventually we opted to stay at the Movenpick Ibn Battuta Gate in the Jebel Ali area of the city. I have regular clients who stay here two or three times a year, always with very high praise, so I wanted to try it for myself. So with an excellent all-inclusive programme and the chance of an upgrade to a Deluxe Room it was the perfect choice for a relaxing break in the sun. The Ibn Battuta Gate is a wonderful hotel, decorated in the style of the many countries that the hotels namesake, the great explorer Ibn Battuta, visited on his travels. Each floor is named after and the suites decorated in the style of a different country, making the hotel very individual. All the rooms are very spacious with lovely big bathrooms and showers that you just want to stay under forever! We were fortunate enough to be offered a Battuta Suite for our last 2 nights and WOW! The pictures really do not do it justice! We had the 'Russia' suite which was ordained with large sofas, heavy dark wood furniture and lots of big lamps. The private terrace in the suites are huge too! The food was one of my favourite bits about staying at this hotel, it really is exceptional. With a choice of 4 restaurants and 3 bars, all of which are included on the all-inclusive plan, there is something to suit every palette. The roast is to die for and the Indian Thali at 'Chor Baazar' is a culinary delight. The hotel has a wonderful, very peaceful roof-top pool with extremely comfy sun loungers (yes I did nod off a couple of times!). But if you prefer the beach, there is the fabulous Oceana Beach Club on The Palm, which is sistered with Movenpick, where you will find a beautiful beach and one of the most luxurious infinity pools I have seen, along with a restaurant and beach bar serving tasty lunchtime options. The hotel runs a complimentary shuttle service every day on the hour between 10am and 10pm. This takes about 15 minutes. The Ibn Battuta Gate is a little further away from the Jumeirah and Marina areas of Dubai than some other big hotels, but with cheap taxis and the mono-rail about 2 minutes away, I certainly wouldn't let it be a put-off. Although the trip was mainly a chance to relax by the pool and escape the everyday life (and weather!) back home, we decided to partake in a tour of Dubai Old Town. This is a great value, 1/2 day trip which gives you the opportunity to learn a lot about Dubai's history, albeit very recent, as well as visiting the famous Gold & Spice Souks (the smells from the spice markets are amazing), the Dubai Museum and also take a ride on an Abra - a traditional motor boat - across the Dubai Creek. Finally, no trip to Dubai would be complete without a photo stop on Jumeirah beach, quite possibly one of the nicest beaches I've visited, to see Dubai's most iconic hotel the Burj Al Arab. I truly cannot recommend Dubai highly enough. Whether you are travelling on business, a romantic weekend break, a family holiday or a stop-over en-route to the Far East or Australia, there really is something for everyone. From golf, horse racing and shopping to waterparks, spas and desert adventures there is no limit to what Dubai has to offer you. To hear more about my trip and to find out how this emerging, cosmopolitan city can cater for you please get in touch.