Are you looking for a country for a comfortable vacation by the sea? Read the reviews about the rest in the UAE. Find out tourists' impressions of the weather, beaches, hotels, food, entertainment and tour prices in 2021. We also provide up-to-date information and tourist reviews about the rest during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Holidays in the UAE now
As of January 2021, of all the emirates, only Dubai is open for tourists from Russia. But to get there, you need to sweat a little:
- Pass the PCR test no later than 96 hours before the flight. The result must be in English. Without a negative PCR test, you won't even be able to board a flight. Someone writes that a live certificate with a seal is needed, and someone was allowed through with a regular printout.
- Take another express test upon arrival at the airport. Repeated testing can be avoided by initially taking the tests at an institution accredited by the Arab authorities (Gemotest and Invitro).
- Have medical insurance covering the cost of coronavirus treatment and self-isolation at the observatory.
- Fill out a health questionnaire.
- Install the DXB SMART APP COVID 19 mobile application to track movements, location and the ability to contact a tourist. Brave new world!
And if the tests and questionnaires are already familiar to tourists, then overlays come out with the application - far from all it works, for some it is not even installed. If you can't install, enter a number or generate a QR code, read a special thread on Vinsky's forum.
After you pass the test upon arrival at the airport, you will have to sit at the hotel until the results are received. It should arrive within 48 hours, but it's much easier and faster to track it yourself on the Pure Health website. If the result is negative, you can safely walk around the city. If positive, you will be quarantined for 14 days.
In general, about checks at airports - whoever is lucky. For some, all documents are thoroughly checked, while for others they are only skimmed. Some tourists manage to fly even with regular insurance that does not cover treatment for covid.
toronto58: "At the airport, immediately after passport control, we looked at the test fluently and it was all over. And no one from the crowd was sent for tests or looked at the application. On the plane, they asked to fill out two questionnaires, but they did not interest anyone. The hotel did not ask anything at all. ".
annettekiss: "The download of the DXB application was checked at the airport in Moscow when boarding the plane. They also scanned the personal QR code from this application. The insurance is checked at check-in for the flight, the insurance must indicate covid coverage. Tests are also scanned and sent to the Emirates for The results of the test passed in the UAE came in a day, then you can move around the city. On the first day, only on the territory of the hotel. Without a mask, you can only eat and be on the beach. All the rest of the time, everyone is everywhere in masks. if you take something yourself - rush to help you. Boarding a taxi no more than 2 in the car, if large, then no more than 4 ".
vitkana: "They demanded the QR codes of the DXB application. <...> They showed screenshots, no one read the code, they just looked for availability. Later, they never heard about this application in Dubai. Nothing was filled on the plane, nothing was filled in Dubai. For the tests, the guide advised to look at the results in the PH Screening application. The hotel has no restrictions, immediately offered breakfast, did not ask to isolate, we swim on the hotel's beach. "
Reviews about the weather and seasons in the UAE
The Emirates has a dry and very warm climate. Only 100 mm of precipitation falls here every year, so getting caught in the rain while on vacation is a great success.
According to tourists, summer holidays in the UAE are not very comfortable due to high temperatures. FROM May by September at noon the thermometer rises to +40 ... + 50 ° С in the shade. IN july and august it gets unbearably hot, and few people dare to leave the air-conditioned rooms of hotels and shopping centers.
Sandstorms are another reason for the low season. IN june and september hot southeast winds - sharks - blow from the deserts of Iran and the Persian Gulf. They bring so much sand to the coastal resorts that locals and tourists sit in houses and hotels for several days.
In October, more tourists come to the UAE for holidays. According to reviews, the heat is subsiding, and the difference between day and night temperatures is increasing.
The Arab winter is more like mid-summer in central Russia. The air temperature does not drop below + 19 ° С. In November and December the sea is still warm for swimming, but in January and February the water temperature is the coldest in the year + 18 ° С. According to reviews, tourists on vacation in the UAE during these months mainly swim in heated pools, but some are happy to arrange swims in the sea.
What are the best months for a vacation in the UAE? According to tourist reviews for 2019-2020, it is worth coming to the Emirates with october by December, in March and April. At this time, the air temperature during the day ranges from + 23 ° С to + 30 ° С, and the sea water is warmed up to +24 ... + 27 ° С.
Reviews of tourists about a beach holiday in the UAE
The coastline of the Emirates stretches for more than 700 km and is washed by the waters of the Persian and Oman Gulfs. Beach holidays in the UAE last almost all year round.
Most vacationers come to Dubai... The most populous beaches are in the urban areas of Deira and Jumeirah. Lovers of secluded relaxation choose Gantut beachand kitesurfing fans are windy Kite beach... Tourists are happy to combine a relaxing holiday by the sea with trips to entertainment centers and shopping.
Many people like the perfectly clean coastline of the emirate of Sharjah. True, there are strict Muslim bans on public beaches, and open swimwear is prohibited. The way out is to choose a hotel with its own beach or to wear an indoor swimsuit.
Those who come to rest in the UAE leave good reviews about Bahrain Island near Abu Dhabi. Tourists keen on sea fishing and diving prefer the beaches and coral reefs of the eastern emirate of Fujairah.
Advice... Check in advance the dress code for the beach holiday at the hotel of your choice. Also find out when there are women's days on the beaches.
Map of the beaches of Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Reviews of tourists about the prices for holidays in the UAE
The UAE is a popular country, but compared to Turkey, Montenegro or Tunisia, vacation in it is much more expensive. According to the reviews of tourists, prices for tours fall only in the midst of a hot summer.
In high season, a ticket for 7 days for two will cost from 100 thousand rubles. When accommodated in a 5 * all-inclusive hotel, such a tour duration costs from 125 thousand. Prices for air tickets from Moscow to Dubai and back start at 13 thousand rubles and almost do not depend on the time of year.
Advice... Last-minute tours are twice or even three times cheaper! Weekly trips to the Emirates are sometimes sold for only 25-30 thousand for two.
Ilya Varlamov's review of the rest in Dubai
Hotel reviews
Look for hotels with discounts on Hotellook. Here are the main rules for finding hotels.
A trip to one of the richest countries in the East is a meeting with real luxury. Emirati hotels have rooms upholstered in silk and brocade. According to tourists, a high level of service is guaranteed during a vacation in the UAE. Regardless of the rank of the hotel, the staff knows their business and diligently serves demanding clients.
Hotel beaches are always clean. They are equipped with toilets, changing rooms and sports equipment rental points. Guests enjoy free sun loungers, sun umbrellas and towels.
The cost of a double room in Dubai hotels in 2021:
| Price, $ | |
| Guesthouse | 25 |
| Hotel 1 * | 30 |
| Hotel 2 * | 35 |
| Hotel 3 * | 40 |
| Hotel 4 * | 50 |
| Hotel 5 * | 90 |
Advice... 3-5 * hotels always correspond to the declared category, and many 1 * and 2 * hotels were built a long time ago - 30-35 years ago.If you are looking for inexpensive comfortable accommodation, pay attention to the offers of modern guesthouses.
Food Reviews
Traveling to the Emirates is a great opportunity to get acquainted with Arabian cuisine. Muslims do not eat pork, but they cook lamb, veal and goat meat perfectly. Local residents enjoy seafood and fish dishes, fresh vegetable salads, fruit juices and desserts. The most common cuisine is Lebanese, but restaurants and cafes serve dishes from all over the world.
According to the reviews of tourists for 2019 and 2020, on vacation in the UAE you will have to spend money on food. Lunch for one in a mid-range resort cafe costs $ 20-30, and the cost of dinner in a prestigious restaurant starts at $ 130. Food products, including baby cereals and formula, are expensive. You can save money in budget establishments that serve Indian and Asian dishes - you can eat there for $ 8.
Vacationers love inexpensive street food:
- chicken or beef shawarma - $ 1.4;
- falafel - $ 6.8;
- cheese with herbs in pita bread (manakish) - $ 1.8;
- tortilla with sesame seeds (barbari) - $ 0.8;
- freshly squeezed juice - $ 2.7.
Advice... Taste aromatic Arabic coffee and order meze - cold and hot snacks traditionally served at the beginning of a meal.
Reviews about excursions and entertainment
Look for interesting excursions on the Tripster website. Individual and group, no crowds of tourists and in Russian.
The Emirates attracts with excellent sandy beaches and ultra-modern entertainment. Vacation here allows you to touch the exoticism of the East and centuries-old Arab traditions, visit grandiose holidays and unusual attractions.
According to the reviews of tourists, while on holiday in the UAE, you should not overpay for sightseeing tours around the cities. Many people recommend traveling on their own or taking tours to places where it is difficult to get on your own. For example, you shouldn't overpay for an excursion to the Burj Khalifa - you can get there without the help of a travel agent, and it costs less. Find out how to buy your Burj Khalifa ticket.
Popular entertainment:
- sea fishing - $ 110;
- Ferrari World park - from $ 110;
- water parks - $ 55-75;
- ski complex Ski Dubai - $ 49;
- desert jeep safari - $ 65;
- a tour of Dubai with a visit to the observation deck on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa - $ 70.
See what interesting author's excursions are on the Tripster:
Reviews about holidays with children
The dry climate and warm sea attract many parents with children to the UAE. The most favorable months for traveling with a child are October and November.
In the resort centers, modern 4 * and 5 * hotels have been built, which are focused on family vacations. They have all the conditions for a comfortable stay with kids - a special menu, animation, children's play clubs and shallow pools.
According to tourists, Dubai is ideal for a vacation in the UAE in 2021 with teenagers. The city has several water parks and entertainment centers, a large zoo and the Lost Chambers Oceanarium. School-aged children are equally impressed by the skyscrapers of Abu Dhabi and the grandiose theme park Ferrari World.
Read about holidays with children in the UAE.
Advice... In winter, when the sea is cool for children to swim, choose a hotel with a heated pool.
Pros and Cons of Holidays in the UAE - 2021
Most tourists leave positive reviews about their holidays in the UAE. They dream of coming back here again and recommend a trip to the Emirates to their friends. pros:
- In a warm Arab country, you can comfortably relax all year round.
- There are many regular and charter flights to the Emirates.
- It is easy to combine beach activities, excursions, shopping and outdoor activities.
- The UAE is a safe country. Vacationers freely walk the streets of cities at any time of the day.
- The level of the hotel base is high. The resorts are represented by hotels of all leading world chains. There is a choice of accommodation in different price categories and offers for the all-inclusive program.
According to tourist reviews for 2019-2020, cons rest in the UAE is a little:
- The trip is expensive for middle-income tourists.
- It is too hot in the resorts of the Emirates from May to September. High temperature is poorly tolerated by children, the elderly and those who have chronic diseases.
- On public beaches, there are strict Muslim clothing bans for women.
- Alcoholic drinks are sold in limited quantities. They are found only in specialty stores, as well as in bars of restaurants and hotels.
Interesting video! TV presenter and blogger Anton Ptushkin conducts a video tour of the rich life in Dubai:
