Our Dubai 'Honeymoon' December 2011

[col2501]

Hi everyone

I've noticed a fair few threads and questions on here lately about Dubai and people having booked to go. So I thought I'd finally post some details of our trip...Its not going to be a full report, I'll do it over a couple of posts with lots of photos, it won't be a day by day thing.

Primarily because I had so much planned and was looking forward to so much that we never got to do because of... well my new husband really... I'm not going to go on and on about it but in a nutshell...he can be a hypercondriac...and he suffers with anxiety which manifests itself in the most surprising situations at times... I'm not knocking anyonw who suffers with any such condition, but I will say, living with someone who suffers from a said condition, it's not all roses for us either!

anyway...sorry.. the trip...

We got married in September 2011 in Liverpool and as I couldn't have the Disney Wedding I really wanted due to one thing and another I asked if we could go to Florida after the wedding with the children, which we did in October and had the most amazing time (Trippie in my signature to prove it! I don't always moan! )

But Chris wanted a honeymoon (oh the irony of it now..), just the 2 of us , as we have never been away without the children before apart from the odd city break.

So I started collecting clubcard points like a mad woman (back in the days when it was worth something!) And i managed to get enough Airmiles for 2 return flights to Dubai.

Flights were with BA, from Manchester to Heathrow and then on to Dubai...

Day 1 - 30 November 2011
So here we are, at Manchester Airport, on the day of a national civil servants strike which incldes customs... was this an omen of things to come... ?
In all honesty...it was fine, there was one TV camera filiming for the news but we noticed no delays or significant changes to anything.
Before we knew it we were in heathrow, right on time, having never been to a London Airport before, I was pleased to finally see one (easily pleased I know)
Here is how all our holidays start...is there any other way..?
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and I made a duty free purchase
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Incase you were wondering its the glasses!
Flight was uneventful, I have no photos of the food, which is most unlike me, and i didn't make any notes either, also most unlike me, but we made it safely, quite light at night

On the advice of a fellow Dibber and a seasoned Dubai Traveller (thanks Pat!) I had booked the Marhaba Meet and Greet Service on arrival. they have different levels of service depending on what you want. they met us off the plane, took us through the airport on a buggy, explained about the duty free, waited for us when we went in to purchase our duty free and then waited for us while we gathered our luggage. This was fab cos one of our cases turned up but the other wasn't with it (never happened to us before) but before panic could set in the Marhaba staff were off talking to baggage control and trying to locate our bag, which they did - RESULT!
then they took us outside to get a taxi as we did not have transfers booked..

Taxi's are right outside the airport, there's lots of them and ours was cheap. this was to be a 'twin centre' trip if you like...I had booked 4 nights in the Arabian Courtyard Hotel in Bur Dubai which is the older, more business district of Dubai and then we were to transfer to the Atlantis palm for the final few days to enjoy the luxury and the beach...

So we pulled up at the hotel, I think it was about midnight local time and checked in no problems, the staff were lovely. the hotel is directly opposite Dubai museum (and a large, very active Mosque) not so much fun at 6am..but all part of the culture right...

our lovely room
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the hallway
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our view at night
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We were thrilled with this hotel (mum had paid for it as a wedding gift for us too which made it even better. We were club level toop so had access to the lounge every day were we got 3 alcoholic drinks and nibbles at night and breakfast each morning... after contactting family and having a quick drink we settled down to sleep ready for our first full day...

Day 2 - 1 December 2011
Here's the lounge, after breakfast we headed out of the hotel and over to the museum as it was so close.

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Its only small the museum, but worth a visit all the same, was very interesting. The Bus Tours also pick up/drop off outside the museum so we decided to purchase tickets and do one the routes today...its a fab way to see so much of the city and you have headphones with a commentary if you want to listen and you can hop on and off whenever you want in the day as long as your ticket is valid
(they sell separate tickets to see Dubai at night on the Bus Tour)

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We enjoyed the Bus tour, took a million photos and saw a lot of Dubai. We headed back to the hotel and the lounge for our drinks
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the Hotel has an english pub downstairs which sells normal, good, pub food and drinks are very reasonably priced. They have dodgy singing entertainment but all very friendly and good fun and we had a good night here, again no food piccies tho...just these for some reason
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Day 2 - 02 December 2011 - National Dubai Day
This was the first massive low of the holiday and I'm not going to go into too much detail but will say it was a total wasteof a day.
I had booked as a Friday Brunch at Al Qasr and was SO looking forward to this. It's hideously expensive but I had researched it so much and decided if we were going to do a Friday brunch then we may as well do one at the top end of the budget and celebrate national day in style!
Friday Brunch is a bit of an institution in Dubai and is a way to celebrate the first day of the arabic weekend.
This is what I was looking forward too
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But we never made it, never left the hotel room all day (and not for any good normal reason on a honeymoon either! ) Very little was said between us that day and i think it was the start of Chris' illness too but more on that later...
what I should have done is took myself out and got on the bus tour myself, on the other route ot maybe a trip to the Souks..but I ddn't, I wasted the time too feeling sorry for myself...

anyway... by tea time I sorted myself out and decided i was going to the lounge anyway for drinks and snacks and to chat to whoever was there...at this point Chris decided he was sorry and didn't want to waste any more time so he came to the lounge with me and we made plans to get a Taxi to Dubai Mall and see the dancing Fountains, so it wasn't a total wash out!

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I have exceeded the limit for photo's so continued in next post for more photos...!

[col2501]

where were we...Dubai Mall

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We chose...The rainforest Cafe! for food, all the way here and we choose somewhere we ate at in Florida! Typical Brits abroad we are at times!
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I think I had a burger and Chris had pasta but no pictures again, except of these
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Our Milkshakes as no alcohol served in the Mall!
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We wandered around the massive mall, taking it all in..
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We went through the aquarium, at an extra cost but at this point I didn't care, i just wanted to make the most of our time here!
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So late night to make up for today and back to the hptel ready for tomorrow and without doubt the highlight of my trip.

Day 3 - 3 December 2011
New, Much better day today...We headed straight out, hoppped on the bus tour and went to visit the souks...they are not my thing to be honest, I'm not a massive shopper, don't adore gold and am not into bartering AT ALL!
Hated it when the bloes followed me through the souks draping scarfs etc round me to get me to buy them and then wouldn't let me give them back, i was mortified! Much to Chris amusement! Still, it's a part of the culture and you can't go to Dubai and not visit any of the souks!

We then went to see Sheik Saheed Al Maktoums House, and on the way saw this chap, as you do!
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Had a nice morning in Bur Dubai and Deira and then went back to the Hotel to get changed as I had booked afternoon tea in the Sky Lounge at The Burj - was fantastic! I LOVED it and as I say was my absolute favourite part of the holiday..

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The food, the setting and the view was just fantstic, we sat there all evening until it went dark, Chris isn't a fan of heights but nothing was going to ruin this moment for me and I wasn't going to ask to be moved away from the window, doesn't bode well for our booked trip to the Khalifa does it hmmmmm...
I am at my limit for photos again, I told you I loved the burj!
continued in next post

[LRMD]

Great to read someone elses Dubai trip report, the Burj is great isn't it! As we only had a nightime view last week, next time we go it would be great to do afternoon tea! Thanks for posting!

[col2501]

The Burj Continued...
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The toliets ha!
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And finally the fountain outside as we waited for the taxi to pull round to take us back to the hotel
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What an experience! was amazing!
We headed to the lounge to say our goodbyes to the staff at the arabian
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Day 4 - check in to the Atlantis Palm
I booked this hotel through Travel Republic and we were half board which means you get vouchers at the hotel. It includes Breakfast and either lunch or Dinner at a selection of restaurants at the hotel.

We checked in and were upgraded to a slightly better room, this hotel, is immense, very busy, quite overwhelming...but amazing!
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The view from our balcony
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our Honeymoon welcome card and chocolates from the Palm!
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We chose to eat at Saffron for tea and use a voucher so I called and made a reservation and then we headed out to explore the hotel. We wandered around the Lost chambers and took in some other sites round the hotel
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For lunch, we ate at the burger joint
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Food was average at best but fine.
We decided to go in the pool for a bit now, we chose the Royal pool, the views were just spectacular, loved it, I don't have any photos of it as we were in it, but here it is in the dark
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Saffron next for Dinner, we ate outside so I don't have photos of the restaurant so here you go
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It is a buffet station restaurant with every type of food imaginable!
chris had already started to complain about pains in his side, or in his chest, but continued to eat and drink alcohol so I did what I usually do, tried to play it down, tell him he's probably pulled a muscle whilst swimming and tried to enjoy my food
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Lovely Dinner here, have exceeded photos again so final post coming up follks (I promise!)

[col2501]

This is where the Palm stay rapidly goes down hill for me, won't dwell on it too long as thats not the point of this report but in a nutshell, we went back to our room and Chris starts to panic that he's really ill (he's not - trust me.) I calm him down and make him go to bed and then I am woken by him at about 2am saying he really is ill (he isn't) and needs to see a Dr and will i go with him...
I have already lost patience with Chris at this point with one thing and another but have no choice but to go down to reception with him and ask for a Dr. The receptionist asks chris whats wrong and he does what infuriates me most, keeps looking at me as if I can and should answer for him..which I don't...I am fuming at this point (I'm not nasty honest I just know my husband and have been here before..)
They send us back to the room with a promise to send someone...

at 2.30am there is a paramedic in our room asking Chris lots of questions as I refuse to speak Chris has to do it but forgets to mention his history of aniexty/panic attacks so I bite my tongue no longer and tell the paramedic. after chris blood pressure and pulse is normal the paramedic gives him some tablets and announces he seems absolutely fine but should go to hospital just in case...

Chris is ready to dive in the ambulance, I am not and refuse... I tell Chris he is fine, there are no indications he needs hospitalisation and he should take his tablets and try and sleep. Chris has already calmed down as he realises he is not in the midst of a heart attack so agrees to stay at the hotel...

We go to bed and the hotel rings me at 5am...to check he is okay...through gritted teeth I tell them he is sound asleep and fine.

Day 5 - 4 December 2011

Today was delightful. not, I was tired and ratty. Chris spent most of the day in bed, I went down to the shop and got some medicine to re-hydrate him and some souvenir soft camels for the kids and some fridge magnets.
most of my day was spent here, on our balcony
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Heres our view of the wild wadi too
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we did make a brief visit here, can't remember when due to lack of notes but I don't love water parks anyway and with everything that had gone on, we barely spent any time here...

We were booked in to go up the Burj Khalifa today but I had already told Chris i wouldn't go. He was determined to go as he felt he had already put a downer on the holiday but I wasn't willing to walk into another situation where a panic attack was likely to happen, nor did I want to go on my own...so something else we missed out on...

At this point I just wanted to go home and told chris as much, he said he felt much better and wanted to go eat so we went to the shore for a burger

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We a voucher left to use for Dinner and I wanted to try Levantine, a lebanese restauarant but with Chris being the way he was I thought t wasn't the best idea but he gad decided he was fine now and we should go...so we did later that night and as meals go, it was lovely!
Inside
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We sat outside and had a set menu with lots of different dishes to try
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Day 6 - 5 December 2011


Our final day, another wash out. Chris decided he was ill again with various pains and illnesses and what not. So he situated himself in the Palm hospitality room with a blanket over him and stayed there all day (we weren't flying until midnight) I am at the stage now were I won't engage with him as i find it tends to feed whatever illness he thinks he has so I sit in silence and read my book.

Chris then decides he is so ill he must see a dr...despite my misgivings I can't argue any longer and follow as he is carted off in wheel chair to the palm clinic to see a dr.

She tells us her fee and asks Chris does he still want a consult (of course he does) So his blood pressure and pulse checked, both perfectly normal, ECG completed, still perfectly normal and yet they wheel him through the tunnels of the palm to another clinic to put him on a drip. at this point Chris thinks he really must be ill to be on a drip, I have no inclination to explain no, it's simply a quicker, more expensive way to re-hydate him as it was only a saline drip.

3 lots of tablets later (anti sickness, stomach settlers and something else) we were done, it cost about £250.00 and I had to ring the bank as my card wasn't accepted in the clinic (despite the hotel having previously put a 4000 Dirham hold on said card ealier.

I even transferred money to my currennt account using the doctors pc but the debit card was still not accepted.

We were escorted up to the main desks (I think in case we tried to do a runner with the drugs without paying) and I had to ring my bank in the noisiest reception area ever...

They advised there was no attempt on any of my cards, nor was a there a problem with funds in any of my accounts... turns out the clinics systems run entirely separately to the hotels system so wouldn't accept the international cards. I was close to tears now and just wanted to get on the plane. I was in no mood to alk to anyone least of all my new husband...

we spent the rest of the evening in the hospitality room then got a taxi to the airport. All I wanted was a glass of wine but there was extensive work going on at the airport, lots of things closed and could I find a wine ...nooooooo of course not! So my mood got worse...

Once on the plane, despite Chris being so ill and near death (note the sarcasm) he was of course fine enough to drink to beer. luckily for me he decided to stretch out (he's over 6ft) and as the plane wasn't full so I was left in peace to watch the help on TV. the lights were dimmed as it was a night flight and the lovely air hostess must have took pity on me just by looking at my little sad face and delivered countless glasses of white wine to me throughout the flight without me having to ask once!

I hate to end the report like that and I'm sure I sound very harsh on my husband throughout some of that but believe me I only scratched the surface...

It didn't end when we got home either, he had me straight up at our local hospital for a whole new raft of tests, ECG's and bloods, all perfectly fine might i add, the Dr told him his ECG was as perfect as they come...*sigh*

I have mixed emotions about Dubai, when we got back I said I absolutely never wanted to go back but really I should go back to create new better memories and it is such a fantastic place!

Well, I'm signing off now, it's been quite theraputic writing this...thanks if you got this far...and sorry for rambling!

Quick Edit to add, as you can see by my latest countdown, things are all well in our household, despite a few issues in Dubai, he is learning to be a lot better and I am learning the art of patience!

[Lisa-72]

Thanks for sharing. Some great photos.
Have to say you've the patience of a saint, living with someone who has an "illness" like that is not easy, my mother drove me to leave home at 20 with hers.

[col2501]

Originally Posted by Lisa-72

Thanks for sharing. Some great photos.
Have to say you've the patience of a saint, living with someone who has an "illness" like that is not easy, my mother drove me to leave home at 20 with hers.

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thanks for reading Lisa, there have been some very trying times but he is trying his best to not be so dramatic all the time and I am trying to be a bit more understanding *deep breath..*!

[liverbird]

Awww Colette, real shame Chris had a couple of 'episodes' and they did impact upon your time there - you certainly need to go back at some point (not in the next 20 days or so ) and make new memories! Glad Chris is feeling and managing his anxieties better, I've no experience of this but can imagine how difficult it is for you both at times.
Great mini trippie, and I think I'd like to go to Dubia some time as it does look interesting! Thanks Colette, hope you are keeping well, you must all be getting excited (or fed up) by now. xxx

[anniee]

I enjoyed your report and sorry you had a few not so good days.

Can I ask why you went to duty free in Dubai and what you bought when you arrived. Was it cheaper than Heathrow? I have never been to a duty free on arrival and just wondered if we should do this.

[col2501]

Originally Posted by liverbird

Awww Colette, real shame Chris had a couple of 'episodes' and they did impact upon your time there - you certainly need to go back at some point (not in the next 20 days or so ) and make new memories! Glad Chris is feeling and managing his anxieties better, I've no experience of this but can imagine how difficult it is for you both at times.
Great mini trippie, and I think I'd like to go to Dubia some time as it does look interesting! Thanks Colette, hope you are keeping well, you must all be getting excited (or fed up) by now. xxx

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Hi Karon hope you are well, thanks for readng, we really nust meet up again soon, probably when I have baby in tow now! Im okay tHanks, quite fed up but excited too and just have no patience, want to meet her now! xx

Originally Posted by anniee

I enjoyed your report and sorry you had a few not so good days.

Can I ask why you went to duty free in Dubai and what you bought when you arrived. Was it cheaper than Heathrow? I have never been to a duty free on arrival and just wondered if we should do this.

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Hi
Thanks so much for reading hope you have a wonderful trip!
I have to say we didn't go near duty free in Heathrow so couldn't compare the prices as thats not even our usual airport but everyone I spoke to prior to the trip said don't bother with duty free in the UK for alcohol as it was cheaper and a better selection in Dubai.
We only bought wine snd Beer and I remember the price being more than reasonable!