15 Tips for a Cheap Holiday in Dubai
Everyone loves to travel, and everyone also loves to save money. So how could “everyone” travels for less money?!
Here is our guide for a cheap holiday in Dubai:
1. Avoid High Seasons
Dubai is a global tourist destination where people love to travel to spend their special events. and if you really look for a cheap holiday package, you need to avoid the high tourist seasons when city goes full of travelers, Simply because everything goes pricey within these seasons. Everything includes air flights, hotels and even shopping
The main high tourist season in Dubai should include: New year eve, Easter feasts, Chinese new year, Indian Diwali and Dubai shopping festival.
The best time to visit Dubai for a cheap holiday should be at the first three weeks of October, February and directly after Easter.
2. Use Internet Resources
Generally, you need to check the internet very carefully and read every resource that mention a cheap holiday in Dubai.
Remember: Travel money saving happens while planning, Not after.
3. Seek Free Things
Unlike many people think, Dubai is full of cheap and free things to do. Set your plan to visit these places firstly. See Free things to do in Dubai for detailed advisement.
4. Keep Your Eyes Open for Discounts
Almost of airlines, hotels and even travel agents do offer great discounts and promotions around the year. If you are really looking for a cheap holiday in Dubai, you need to keep your eyes on regularly.
You could also subscribe to travel website mailing list so they could email you for a new discount or promotion. Some website like SkyScanner do provide an alert tool to update you when an airline make a promotion.
5. Seek Travel Deals
Many travel agents are used to offer a discounted packages, These packages are to include air tickets, accommodation and group tours. Check them from time to another.
6. Tour in Group
When you do book your tours and excursions in Dubai, you better to book group tours. They provide the same experience the private tours do but for 75% less rate.
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Tours like Dubai bus tour, Abu Dhabi bus tour and sharing desert safari tours could be a perfect option for you to save touring money.
7. Book A Proper Hotel
In Dubai there are more than 600 hotels which vary from cheap budget ones to 7 stars hotel. For the travelers on budget, we could recommend 3-4 stars hotel which provide a good and safe accommodation for reasonable rate. Booking a royal suite in Burj Arab hotel does match with a cheap holiday in Dubai for sure!
Remember: You are not going Dubai to relax at hotel, Spend your money wisely.
However, you need to make sure that your hotel is near to a Metro station, Why?! see the next point!
8. Avoid Taxis, Use Metro
There are many transportation to use in Dubai, But the best and cheapest option of them all is Dubai Metro. Dubai Metro covers the main tourist attractions that you need to go in Dubai, It has two lines colored as red and green.
Once in Dubai, Head the nearest Metro station to buy Nol Card, There are different categories of it but for travelers the silver card is the best option. Buy it for the nearest tickets office for only 25 AED (About 7 USD) and reload it when need to do.
Important Tip: Transpiration card is not only for Metro, It is also valid for Taxis, buses and all public transportation in Dubai.
9. Room Only!
When you do your hotel booking, It is recommended to book a room only option. It is better to eat just like locals and inhabitants for a deeper travel experience, and for a cheap holiday option for sure.
10. Escape Luxurious Restaurants
Dubai is full of Luxurious restaurants, but it needs money too. So for a budget holiday you better to use the local restaurants of Oriental, Hindi and Irani food. Restaurants with an international buffet menu are everywhere and food a moderate prices.
Just an example; You may have a burger sandwich at gulf-sided restaurant for 80 AED, or have a Turkish Shawrma sandwich from a downtown restaurant for only 10 AED! You decide.
11. Do not Exchange at Airport
Wherever your coming from, You need to get a small amount of local Durhams with your from home. Once in downtown you could converse your money into local currency. If you are looking for a good conversion ratio, Do not exchange at the airport.
12. Do not Hire a Private Guide
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There is no doubt that private guides always know better and could enhance your travel experience, But if you are traveling on budget you should not hire them. Use your cell phone internet to guide you instead with many applications and websites just like rome2rio.com
13. Do not Shop from Malls
What you could find in big mall, you could find in local souks. But the rate is much different! Do not shop from big malls and head the local souks for souvenirs and gifts shopping, Ask about the Indian souk and Chinese market.
14. Escape The Temptation
Dubai is such a big city with a lot of things that shine, Things that you would love to try it all. and if you are traveling on a budget, you need to be very aware of where and how you should spend your limited budget.
Just as an example, you could not be a budget-limited traveler and looking to try the helicopter tour! That does not make sense anyway. and to know how to avoid temptations, Check the next!
15. Make a List
Anything we ever do needs a plan, That is not debatable. Traveling is the same specially when it becomes a budget tour. Using internet and travel websites just like TripAdvisor.com, LonelyPlanet, Fodors and much more, you could learn what exactly you need to visit, How long your visit should be and for how much.
To have a cheap holiday in Dubai, Have a list that is very well prepared, arrange it day-by-day, and go on. You also could ask a travel consultant to help you arranging it better because simply he knows better!