Ten years after my first trip to Dubai, I came here for a third visit. As with previous holidays, I again picked the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. This time was ’girls only’ , and I saw a vibrant other side to the Emirates!
The friend I came out with, also doubles up as my personal trainer back home, so although we did indulge in Dubai’s luxury, fine food and night life, we also kept physically active with invigorating runs on the beach, and comfortable workouts in the Mina A’Salam Hotel’s gym. On our first day, the outside temperature was colder than I expected, but thankfully, it warmed up over the five days, and we were able to enjoy the swimming pools too. Coincidentally, we’d timed this holiday at the same time as the English Premier League’s Winter Break, and so we met a few professional footballers, who seemed to have had the same idea as us. Towards the end of our stay, Ashley Cole had started up a soccer school, but none of the Premiership players signed up, and nor did we.
The restaurants, bars and nightclubs we went to are worth a mention. Each one delivered on quality food, intoxicating drinks and a party atmosphere that made the vacation.
During our time, we ate at; La Parrilla on the 25th floor of Jumeriah Beach, Trattoria Toscana in the Souk Madinat, and Tortuga at Mina A’Salam, drank at Trader Vic’s, and went clubbing at; 1 Oak, Base, Nargui Five and WHITE Dubai to see Maluma.
We filled the remainder of our time playing in the Wild Wadi Water Park which we had unlimited access to as Jumeirah Beach Guests, and relaxing and recharging by the pool, before we returned home to resume our duties as devoted mothers.