Prepaid SIM Card and Wifi Rental
Surprisingly, didn't find Wifi rental in Dubai after internet searching.
So my sister bought prepaid SIM card from "du" while I was using Ooredoo Passport from Qatar.
Prepaid SIM card could be bought from another company "Etisalat" too.
Accommodation: Movenpick Ibn Batuta Hotel
Paid AED 3,376 inclusive all taxes, for 2 rooms, 4 nights (20-23 December 2016), without breakfast.
Breakfast was AED 120, but discount at AED 95 informed during check-in.
The huge hotel with iconic Ibn Batuta Gate, located outskirt from Dubai on the way to Abu Dhabi, in Jebel Ali area.
1. During the reservation, I asked the staff in charge of reservation to match the price with Agoda, but he said to me to just book with Agoda. However, after put a pressure on him by quoting Movenpick principle to match the price found on Movenpick website and added CC other email addresses to my correspondence with him, finally he agreed to match. Actually it was OK for me to book by Agoda, but he said booking by Agoda could not guarantee the two rooms for family would be connecting rooms.
Moreover, I just got the info by being Circle M member, I could get some discount on room, however I just got the info after seeing the brochure in the room, this info should have been given during the reservation so that I could have got benefit from it.
2. I booked a family room since we were four, and was informed and aware that the family room consisted of two rooms, but was surprised when arrived we were just given two rooms next to each other. It was indeed connected by a corridor, but when we arrived it was locked, took a while to open.
I didn't expect a family room was two rooms connected by a corridor, I expected two rooms with direct connecting door. When I claimed to the front desk, I was informed that the family rooms were like that in the hotel.
3. The swimming pool, the showers, amongst 4, only 1 was working. The pool should have been located on other side with better view of the gate. There was no jacuzzi facility in the hotel.
4. The sliding window for the shower room, better to be located inside the shower room, so that the person inside the shower room could open and close.
5. The lobby in front of the reception, in my opinion, was to cramped and small, I think for a 5 stars hotel, the lobby should be more elegant. I think the partition between the lobby and the huge space behind should be removed.
6. The view from the room window was ugly. Maybe hotel could plant some trees to cover the deserted area.
7. Check in experience (on 20 December 2016) was bad. No welcome drink, crowded (receptionists were overwhelmed) and the computer system was down. Though the city tourist fee was included in the booking price, the receptionist asked me to pay again, showing the information transfer between the staffs was not good.
I liked the design and the concept of Ibn Batuta story of the hotel.
Though the location is far from Dubai city center (30 minutes drive to Downtown Dubai), I liked it, it was near to Ibn Batuta Shopping Mall, petrol station and some smaller shops.
The equipments in the gym were good.
The bed was comfortable.
The TV channel choice was great.
The staffs (room boys and valet) were nicer. The receptionists could be better.
Dubai Parks
A newly opened (early December 2016) amusement park, with 4 theme parks inside, including Legoland, Motion Gate, Bollywood Park and Legoland Water Park.
Located outskirt Dubai on the way to Abu Dhabi
Bought the common tickets for 3 theme parks (Legoland, Motion Gate, Bollywood Park) with promotion ticket, AED 295 per person.
We ended up visiting only Motion Gate and Bollywood Park on 22 December 2016.
Motion Gate was a Hollywood movie theme park, collecting movies from several studios like DreamWorks, Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures etc.
Not all parts had been opened. The sections like DreamWorks section had not been opened.
We like the Step Up dance performance the best.
Bollywood Park was better than motion gate since more attractions opened.
The musical "Jaan e Jigar" was performed in magnificent Raj Mahal theater and the ticket was additonal AED 80. Though the dialogues were in Hindi, we enjoyed the dance and stage performance.
Desert Safari
Google search resulted in many companies.
Finally decided to go with a company called "Best Dubai Trip", since they offered the cheapest price, AED 150 per person, and the email response was good.
Typically, all company offered the same attractions, after picked up at hotel, stopped by for quad bike ride (option), dune bashing then stopped at a desert camp for dinner, watched performance (fire dance, belly dance, tanura dance), enjoyed attractions like camel riding, henna painting and traditional dress.
Compared to Qatar, Dubai desert safari was more organized, more companies and people, more attractions.
The desert camp we visited, had daily attractions like when we visited.
The fire dance was great, performed by a good looking Arabic young guy.
The belly dance was sexy, with the dancer always appealing her big boobs.
The tanura or whirling dance was nice not bad too, with lighting clothes.
The snack and tea/coffee before the dinner were nice.
The dinner was OK.
Surprisingly, there was a bar selling alcohol in the camp.
The simple henna painting was free, but more elaborated one was additional fee, same with traditional dress, the simple dress was free.
Dining
Social House, a Restaurant in Dubai Mall
I loved this restaurant in Dubai Mall.
Nicely decorated, good location with the view of the fountain, good selection of menu, and the taste was good too.
Asia Republic, a Restaurant in Atlantis
This restaurant was reasonably priced considering the location, and the menu and food were nice too.
Shopping Malls
Lots of shopping malls in Dubai, and Dubai is shopping destination in the world.
I have been visiting more shopping malls, but during this visit, we only had time to visit Dubai Mall and Ibn Batuta Mall.
Dubai Mall
Visit to Dubai is not complete without visiting Dubai Mall, the largest shopping mall in the world.
Not only thousands of shops and restaurants, it has an aquarium and adjacent to Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world and several hotels.
Moreover, the interior design is amazing too, with some has been trade mark or icon, such as The Water Fall.
The fountain is dancing hourly from 6pm.
Ibn Batuta Mall
Just in front of our hotel, this mall is a bit out of Dubai center.
The interior is nicely designed, following the journey of Ibn Batuta, therefore inside there were sections depicting the style of India, Morocco etc.
Surprisingly, didn't find Wifi rental in Dubai after internet searching.
So my sister bought prepaid SIM card from "du" while I was using Ooredoo Passport from Qatar.
Prepaid SIM card could be bought from another company "Etisalat" too.
Accommodation: Movenpick Ibn Batuta Hotel
Paid AED 3,376 inclusive all taxes, for 2 rooms, 4 nights (20-23 December 2016), without breakfast.
Breakfast was AED 120, but discount at AED 95 informed during check-in.
The huge hotel with iconic Ibn Batuta Gate, located outskirt from Dubai on the way to Abu Dhabi, in Jebel Ali area.
1. During the reservation, I asked the staff in charge of reservation to match the price with Agoda, but he said to me to just book with Agoda. However, after put a pressure on him by quoting Movenpick principle to match the price found on Movenpick website and added CC other email addresses to my correspondence with him, finally he agreed to match. Actually it was OK for me to book by Agoda, but he said booking by Agoda could not guarantee the two rooms for family would be connecting rooms.
Moreover, I just got the info by being Circle M member, I could get some discount on room, however I just got the info after seeing the brochure in the room, this info should have been given during the reservation so that I could have got benefit from it.
2. I booked a family room since we were four, and was informed and aware that the family room consisted of two rooms, but was surprised when arrived we were just given two rooms next to each other. It was indeed connected by a corridor, but when we arrived it was locked, took a while to open.
I didn't expect a family room was two rooms connected by a corridor, I expected two rooms with direct connecting door. When I claimed to the front desk, I was informed that the family rooms were like that in the hotel.
3. The swimming pool, the showers, amongst 4, only 1 was working. The pool should have been located on other side with better view of the gate. There was no jacuzzi facility in the hotel.
4. The sliding window for the shower room, better to be located inside the shower room, so that the person inside the shower room could open and close.
5. The lobby in front of the reception, in my opinion, was to cramped and small, I think for a 5 stars hotel, the lobby should be more elegant. I think the partition between the lobby and the huge space behind should be removed.
6. The view from the room window was ugly. Maybe hotel could plant some trees to cover the deserted area.
7. Check in experience (on 20 December 2016) was bad. No welcome drink, crowded (receptionists were overwhelmed) and the computer system was down. Though the city tourist fee was included in the booking price, the receptionist asked me to pay again, showing the information transfer between the staffs was not good.
I liked the design and the concept of Ibn Batuta story of the hotel.
Though the location is far from Dubai city center (30 minutes drive to Downtown Dubai), I liked it, it was near to Ibn Batuta Shopping Mall, petrol station and some smaller shops.
The equipments in the gym were good.
The bed was comfortable.
The TV channel choice was great.
The staffs (room boys and valet) were nicer. The receptionists could be better.
Dubai Parks
A newly opened (early December 2016) amusement park, with 4 theme parks inside, including Legoland, Motion Gate, Bollywood Park and Legoland Water Park.
Located outskirt Dubai on the way to Abu Dhabi
Bought the common tickets for 3 theme parks (Legoland, Motion Gate, Bollywood Park) with promotion ticket, AED 295 per person.
We ended up visiting only Motion Gate and Bollywood Park on 22 December 2016.
Motion Gate was a Hollywood movie theme park, collecting movies from several studios like DreamWorks, Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures etc.
Not all parts had been opened. The sections like DreamWorks section had not been opened.
We like the Step Up dance performance the best.
Bollywood Park was better than motion gate since more attractions opened.
The musical "Jaan e Jigar" was performed in magnificent Raj Mahal theater and the ticket was additonal AED 80. Though the dialogues were in Hindi, we enjoyed the dance and stage performance.
Desert Safari
Google search resulted in many companies.
Finally decided to go with a company called "Best Dubai Trip", since they offered the cheapest price, AED 150 per person, and the email response was good.
Typically, all company offered the same attractions, after picked up at hotel, stopped by for quad bike ride (option), dune bashing then stopped at a desert camp for dinner, watched performance (fire dance, belly dance, tanura dance), enjoyed attractions like camel riding, henna painting and traditional dress.
Compared to Qatar, Dubai desert safari was more organized, more companies and people, more attractions.
The desert camp we visited, had daily attractions like when we visited.
The fire dance was great, performed by a good looking Arabic young guy.
The belly dance was sexy, with the dancer always appealing her big boobs.
The tanura or whirling dance was nice not bad too, with lighting clothes.
The snack and tea/coffee before the dinner were nice.
The dinner was OK.
Surprisingly, there was a bar selling alcohol in the camp.
The simple henna painting was free, but more elaborated one was additional fee, same with traditional dress, the simple dress was free.
Dining
Social House, a Restaurant in Dubai Mall
I loved this restaurant in Dubai Mall.
Nicely decorated, good location with the view of the fountain, good selection of menu, and the taste was good too.
Asia Republic, a Restaurant in Atlantis
This restaurant was reasonably priced considering the location, and the menu and food were nice too.
Shopping Malls
Lots of shopping malls in Dubai, and Dubai is shopping destination in the world.
I have been visiting more shopping malls, but during this visit, we only had time to visit Dubai Mall and Ibn Batuta Mall.
Dubai Mall
Visit to Dubai is not complete without visiting Dubai Mall, the largest shopping mall in the world.
Not only thousands of shops and restaurants, it has an aquarium and adjacent to Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world and several hotels.
Moreover, the interior design is amazing too, with some has been trade mark or icon, such as The Water Fall.
The fountain is dancing hourly from 6pm.
Ibn Batuta Mall
Just in front of our hotel, this mall is a bit out of Dubai center.
The interior is nicely designed, following the journey of Ibn Batuta, therefore inside there were sections depicting the style of India, Morocco etc.
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