By Tanveer Mann, Senior reporter for Metro.co.uk
Sunday 23 Sep 2018 8:00 am
Ever dreamed of living that millionaire lifestyle? Well, Dubai is the place to do it.
With its countless supercars, mind-blowing architecture, designer handbags and incredible views, it truly is a rich kids playground.
From lounging by an infinity pool at a seven-star hotel to diving in a giant aquariam, theres always something to do.
But if youre stuck for ideas, heres our top picks on how to spend a week living the luxury life:
Spend the day lounging on a cabana at Burj al Arabs luxurious Terrace
Dubbed the worlds only 7-star hotel, the Burj al Arab is a feast of luxury wherever you look.
You can just smell the money as you walk into the exclusive hotel, which sits on its very own private artificial island, has its own helipad and a bridge that shoots jet flames to acknowledge the arrival of VIPs.
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The hotel is so exclusive, you cant even visit unless youre staying there or have a reservation at one of their restaurants.
The Terrace is the same – stretching nearly 330ft into the Persian Gulf, the exclusive area is reservation-only.
If youve managed to make it inside, youll get to experience two incredible infinity pools, which are lined with 10 million mosaic tiles in shades of azure and gold, as well as lounge on one of the many butler-serviced cabanas.
Bar snacks are – as you can imagine – incredible, and the panoramic views from the pool are breath-taking.
Afternoon Tea in the clouds in the Burj Khalifa
Standing at 830 metres to the tip, the Burj Khalifa is one of the most iconic destinations in the world.
So what better way to experience the incredible heights than to have luxurious high tea in the clouds – literally.
The tea is hosted in the Atmosphere Lounge, which is located on the 122nd floor.
Though extremely pricey, the tea is definitely worth it. You get four courses and an unlimited selection of hot and refreshing beverages – so make sure you come hungry and thirsty.
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Afternoon tea at Atmosphere costs £123 per person for a window table, and £112 per person for a non-window table.
Dine next to a giant aquarium atAl Mahara
Incredible setting – check; great food – check.
Al Mahara at the Burj al Arab is the perfect date night setting.
The seafood restaurant from the 2 Michelin-starred Nathan Outlaw is located on the ground floor of the hotel, and features a giant aquarium in the centre, complete with hundreds of coral and shoals of tropical fish.
Food is incredible – I had chef Outlaws signature lobster risotto, which looked as good as it tasted.
Be warned though: this restaurant is not your average fish and chips joint – a three-course meal can cost anywhere from £200pp – and thats without wine.
Spend the day in the mystical world of Atlantis
Themed around the fabled lost city of Atlantis, you definitely feel like youve stepped into another world when you enter the hotels incredible lobby.
The hotel has its own Aquaventure Waterpark, two pools, nearly a mile of man-made beach and the Lost Chambers aquarium, which is home to 65,000 marine animals.
And the great thing about it is that, unlike the Burj al Arab, you can actually do a day trip here without being a hotel guest.
We kicked off our day here by doing some early morning yoga in the Lost Chambers before enjoying a breakfast feast at Atlantiss Saffron Lounge. Think all you can eat buffet on steroids.
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We then did an aqua trek experience, where you get to walk underwater with rays, sharks and colourful fish without having to get your face wet at all.
Yoga classes are free for hotel guests, while the aqua trek experience costs £119 per person.
Splash the cash at the Dubai souks
Where else in the world would you be able to casually stumble across the worlds heaviest gold ring in a shop window, with no obvious security around it?
Dubais Gold Souks are home to the Najmat Taiba (Star of Taiba) ring, which holds the Guinness World record for being the heaviest in the world.
The 21 carat gold piece is mounted with 5.17kg of precious stones and weighs a staggering 63.856kg in total. Defo worth a visit.
Enjoy a delicious Emirati lunch while you learn about Middle Eastern culture
Nearby the al Fahidi district is the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
The centre offers a great insight into Middle Eastern culture in historic surroundings and puts a lot of preconceived notions about the region to rest.
We joined an open discussion about UAE culture, customs and religion with a lovely Emirati woman over a traditional Emirates lunch, which was a lot of fun.
Lose yourself in the never-ending Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is pretty epic simply because of its size. Think Westfield times 50.
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With hundreds of shops, it has everything under the sun, including its very own gold souks.
As well as this, its filled with mesmerising art displays thatll leave you speechless, such as the Human Waterfalls.
Speed through the desert in a 4×4
Desert safari is one of those things you have to do when visiting Dubai – just make sure you dont eat before hand.
Speed through the sand dunes then enjoy an authentic middle eastern meal at a traditional Bedouin style camp in the middle of the dessert.
After that, get henna tattoos, try on the local costume and watch belly dancers put on an awesome show.
Watch a spectacular show at Bollywood Parks
Another great day out in Dubai is experiencing the citys wonderful theme parks.
Bollypark, Motiongate and Legoland are all situated on Sheikh Zayed Road and can easily be accessed by public transport.
We visited Bollywood Parks in the evening, which Id highly recommend as you get to see all the Bollywood-themed buildings light up.
A must-see is the incredible Bollywood musical Jaan-e-Jigar extravagaza at the Rajmahal Theatre (a quirky take on the Taj Mahal).
Do Friday properly with a bottomless brunch
The weekend falls on Fridays and Saturdays in the Middle East, which means Friday is the big day for all things fun.
Like Friday brunches, which have become the it thing to do.
Across the city, restaurants put on great brunches, one of the most popular being Gordon Ramsays brunch at the Atlantis.
Brunch costs £47pp and includes unlimited cocktails from a select menu, choice of cured meats, cheeses, tartines and hot starters, and a choice of three main meals and dessert.
Party like theres no tomorrow
Despite its strict alcohol laws, Dubai has an epic party scene. You just need to know the right people and the right places to go.
If youre after a more chilled out vibe with a view, 40 Kong at the H Hotel near the Dubai Marina is the perfect place.
There are also countless day to night beach clubs such as Zero Gravity beach club.
Where to stay in Dubai and how to get there:
I stayed at three very different hotels – first at the relaxing Melia Desert Palm Hotel, then the lavish and luxurious Palazzo Versace and finally the cool, fun and affordable family friendly Lapita Hotel.
Desert Palm Hotel
If relaxation is what youre after, Melia Desert Palm is the place to be.
The hotel sits on one of four palm-fringed polo fields where you can sit and watch games from the terrace-lounge.
Or you can spend your evening strolling through the 160-acre grounds, where youll come across plenty of Instagrammable spots.
I stumbled across a beautiful promenade covered in baby pink flowers which was literally g o r g e o u s.
Rooms at the Desert Palm Hotel cost from £244/night.
Palazzo Versace
Palazzo Versace, on the other hand, is as glamorous as youd expect a Versace hotel to be.
But the great thing about it is that though it oozes glamour, its not garishly in your face.
Its all about subtle sophistication, and caters to both business guests and those seeking pleasure.
Saying that, its lobby features a 1.5 million piece mosaic of an original Gianni Versace design, as well as a 3,000kg Bohemia crysal chandelier from Czech Republic.
The rooms are equally lavish, making you feel like youre sleeping in a mini palace rather than just a bedroom.
Great restaurants are aplenty, such as Vanitas or Giardino, as well as the lush V-spa, which offers up a gold champagne couples treatment for £800. Yes, £800.
Lapita Hotel
Our final stay was at the Lapital Hotel, which is a stark contrast to both Desert Palm and Versace.
In fact, it felt like Ive been transported to Hawaii as staff greeted me in Hawaiian shirts with a big smile and an aloha.
The family-orientated resort is Polynesian themed and is located within walking distance of Dubais theme park complex.
I flew with Virgin Atlantic direct from London Heathrow to Dubai for less than £400, kicking off my journey in Virgins swanky lounge.
Even though the flight is only six hours, chilling out in the lounge really sets you up for a fantastic holiday.
Once you arrive, the best way to get around the city is by Uber – its quick and cheaper than regular taxis, and takes around 20 minutes to get to the centre.
(Top picture: Getty)
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