hi,
for anyone thats gone to dubai, where or what do u usually use to plan a trip… has anyone ever used southtravels.com to buy a package? is it reliable, or are there any other places online which u can use to plan and buy a package? theres so many ways u can plan a trip so any help as to what the best place, resource, person, etc is would be great
Re: trips to dubai
I went to Dubai last year. I didn't do any special planning or anything like that. Actually, I stopped there on the way to Pakistan. My travel agent gave me a deal that for $200 more on my Lahore ticket, I could get a stay in a hotel for 2 nights, 3 days in Dubai. The $200 included 3 meals for 3 days and 2 nights. Plus it was near the city so I just jumped on a bus and did sight seeing on my own and went to the beach. The hotel had a shuttle bus which took everyone to the best malls around town and everyone was really helpful! A lot of Dubai nationals know Urdu, if not english! It was a great trip and I can't wait to go back. The trip becomes more exciting when things aren't planned.
Re: trips to dubai
If you book a hotel from phone etc, you will get it more expensive that after going their. Just goto any taxi driver and tell them what you need / budget and they will take you wherever. English is also v.main stream so you shouldn't have any problems at all.
City is quite safe. Much more fun if you know someone there.
I can give you # for a Paki family who run the business of Desert SAfari (google it to know wat it is). Its cheap if you convert from N.america , xpensive if you convert from Paki rupees.
Lot of hotels are deceiving if you are getting it from the net etc. People are quite friendly but everyone is after $$$ just like everyone in the world (not greedy though). Its xtremely safe city. I found it too open / libral
:)
when u r planning to go?
Re: trips to dubai
thats cool! where were u coming from? ..u gotta give me that name of the travel agent…
Re: trips to dubai
thanks for all ur replies…princems, i would wanto go sometime in the summer, but this time maybe someone else from my family will go so i wanto find out regardless…i’ve heard lots of stuff about the dessert safari and it sounds like fun but theres so many hotels there that i guess u would have to go and see for yourself…also what is the $ situation, should u bring travellers checks and can they be cashed easily at any time?
Re: trips to dubai
mfs555 it was some pakistani travel agent in toronto.
i know that all of them have some kind of arrangement like that. also if you are flying from europe, go to emirates website and they have good deals for hotels and stuff. ie. if you book during a certain time of year, you can get free stay there.
Re: trips to dubai
great! im from toronto area..too bad i ddint hear of this earlier....i already went to pak in dec/jan...and i reallly wanted to go to dubai..maybe next year..u gotta pm me the name of ur travel agent....mine sucks....
Re: trips to dubai
You do know they have belly dances at every desert safari. so I don’t know about family member. A Friend would be better 
You can just take CDN / US dollar and convert it at the airport. or there are enf places avaialble in the streets too. Airport rateis quite decent, NEVER change it at hotel - they rip you off big time.
Depending on what level of hotel you are at. If its 4/5 star ya they will take virtually any form of payment - in any currency.
remember - everyfin is negotiable! including the rate they will give you for the rooms. Just ask 'em if they can lower. Also if you are goign straight up (w/o reservations), good idea not the walk in with the bags - then you know they have you … in the bag
You can carry lot of cash - v.safe there. I don’t know about shopping though, all places I went I saw their prices v.comparable to the deals I can get in CAnada.(also i have contacts here to find deals anyway).
One thing I should have gotten from Dubai is sheesha (m.eastern hukka) … 
If you are goign so far as Dubai, i say might as well hit Pakistan. Its not soo far away - i don’t think cost will be nominal too since prices are at its lowest for Pak