TRAVEL TIPS

Dubai - The City of Choices

When it comes to tourist attractions in Dubai you can choose from just about anything. Whether you want to relax on the beach or shop within the Dubai marina, you can have the best of the old and new within one small area. It is by far the most opulent of the tourist destinations in the world, but surprisingly it offers many inexpensive things to do as well as those that will cost some serious money.

One of the top tourist attractions in Dubai is the beaches. There are absolutely stunning beaches with pure white sand and deep blue waters. You can lounge around and take in some of the rays while your companions enjoy the immense water activities available.

Another popular tourist attraction is the shopping. Some of the most stylish and glamorous women reside and shop in Dubai's designer shops. Here is where you may feel the need to fork over some big money. With duty free shopping you can get more for your money and they have some of the most luxurious malls such as the Mall of the Emirates and the Deira City Centre. Keep in mind that you can barter though with the merchants in an attempt to save some of that vacation money.

Architecture is big in Dubai and when it comes to tourist attractions in Dubai you can't miss out on visiting the Jeremiah Mosque, the Dubai Museum, and the Burj Nahar located in the Deira gardens. Considered the top historic attractions, they can be found on any tour of the city or you can do a driving tour yourself. This is where you will also find most of the crowds as they are very popular to visit. Try to go early in the morning or on off peak times to have a little more privacy while you are visiting.

Don't forget the dune bashing that is becoming more and more popular. This is where you take a special 4WD vehicle and literally ride the dunes and take on nature. It's exhilarating and worth a go.

After a day in the desert you might want to get your feet wet at Wild Wadi Water Park in the heart of Dubai. It can be expensive so making it an all-day event would be a lucrative idea; they allegedly boast some of the wildest rides in the entire world.

If water isn't enough to cool you off, then head over to Ski Dubai. Located in the Mall of the Emirates, it is an indoor slop with man-made snow for both skiing and snowboarding. This is one of the most expensive attractions in Dubai and can be hard on your pocketbook so make sure you really want to go before you head in there. If you are looking for inexpensive tourist attractions in Dubai they can easily be found in the city center where you can tour historic buildings for low or no cost, or you can head to some of the beautiful gardens and parks that only charge minimal costs per car.

You can find a broad selection of hotels to suit most budgets at Lastminute.com. The 5 star Hilton Dubai Jumeira is a very reasonable £99 a night and comes highly recommended.

Something you should invest some time and money on is decent travel insurance, which is a reassurance when traveling such long distance, particularly if you plan on getting stuck in to a few extreme sporting activities. Some of the better policies can be found online on places like AA travel insurance, who do a variety of types to fit specific holiday briefs.