Dubai is a city of glitz and glamour so you won’t have any problems finding a luxury vacation rental in Dubai. From sky-high apartments with views of the city to luxury condos with swimming pools for cooling off, staying in a vacation rental in Dubai will help you feel like a glamorous local and show you a side of the city you won’t see if you stay in a hotel.
Dubai is very spread out, the huge desert city has a massive area of 4,114km² so it can be difficult to get around. That’s why choosing a luxury Dubai apartment like this one is a good idea as it’s right in the heart of the downtown area. The downtown area is the Dubai you see on TV. It’s where the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa is and also where you’ll find the city’s most luxurious shops. This apartment also has a large swimming pool which will be helpful when temperatures reach 40 degrees.
Dubai is not a walkable city. Due to the scorching temperatures, you might not want walk anyway, but even if you tried you’d struggle. People get taxis or drive everywhere because the distance between two neighbourhoods could be say 5km with nothing in between but highway. Apartments close to the Dubai Marina are in the most tourist-friendly area but are often also the most expensive. But if you choose to stay in the cheaper, old city, the journey to the marina is over 30km and by metro can take unto 2 hours.
Partying seems to be top of most people’s agenda when they get to Dubai, so head to one of the city’s most exclusive beach clubs for a day of decadence like no other. Book a day bed and be waited on hand and foot as you flop from pool to lounger. Many of the beach clubs have parties on at the weekends, so be sure to check the agendas.
The other favourite activity for visitors in Dubai is bottomless brunch. The large hotels and top-end restaurants here serve buffet brunches at the weekend with free flowing champagne and cocktails.
If eating and drinking is not your top priority, then head to the malls for a truly mesmerising shopping experience. Some of the largest and most luxurious malls in the world can be found in Dubai and you can spend a whole week just walking between air-conditioned stores.
After a 90 minute drive you can be soaking up Middle Eastern art at the newly opened Louvre Abu Dhabi. This beautiful gallery features works from ancient Egypt as well as more contemporary artists like Ai Weiwei.
Most people visiting Dubai opt for a whistle stop tour of the nearby desert in a Jeep or something similar. But if you seek out a more low-key experience, the rewards will be huge. Luxury tour group Platinum Heritage organise a wildlife safari which describes itself as an “immersive morning combining spectacular demonstrations of falcons, hawks and owls, followed by a traditional Emirati breakfast in a Bedouin camp and a wildlife drive in vintage Land Rovers, this is a cultural journey into the past like no other!”
Jumeirah Beach is probably the most popular beach to visit in Dubai and is a wonderful place to spend a day. Because it’s a public beach (which means no charges) it can get very busy on the weekends, but during the week you might even have it to yourself. The sea is clear, clean and the temperature of a warm bath. Bliss.
Has the idea of a sunny getaway got you feeling excited? Well Dubai isn’t the only warm-weather destination in our Christmas gift guide. Check out our All Luxury guide to Santorini to treat your loved one to a Greek adventure or have a browse of our All Luxury guide to Bali for more beach-spiration. Make this a Christmas gift they never forget.
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