Middle East Travel

» Keith64 - Costa Cruises

I was on one of Costa's cruises in the Mediterranean a couple of months ago, and they've changed all my views on cruising for the better.

Probably slightly more expensive than other cruise lines ... my only slight complaint is we didn't stay long enough in some places.

-- posted by Keith64

» hughtaylor - Costa Cruises

that's not just problem with cruises. Land based trips with set itineraries are the same. A night here, another there when what you really want is two or three in each place.

-- posted by hughtaylor

» Mari Nicholson - Costa Cruises

Having just returned from the building site that is now Dubai, maybe a short stopover there is all that's needed. You can, of course, avoid the building works by heading for the desert for some wadi-bashing, or holing-up in the gold souks, but the Big Bus Trip took me longer than planned. 2 hours for the beach tour and 1 hour 45 minutes for the town tour (and that didn't include going into any museums. The Abra trip that is included had to be forgotten - just couldn't fit it in and get back to our hotel through the traffic in time for dinner. Hello modern city, goodbye old Dubai. Still an exciting place though.

» Keith64 - Palm Island, etc.

The other night, I watched a programme about the building of Palm Island on the National Geographic channel. Some project, isn't it? And, they are planning more Palm Islands as well as a series of artificial islands in the shape of a miniature World!

The thing is ... will such artificiality attract tourists? I think Dubai is in serious trouble if it doesn't

-- posted by Keith64

» hughtaylor - Palm Island, etc.

I think it will attract tourists. Duty free will have a lot to do with that but Dubai is also a great destination. For me it's an ideal stopover on long haul flights from the UK to Australia. I don't mind making the outward journey in one go but on the way back I will always opt for a few days in Singapore and a few more in Dubai.
National Geographic Magazine has an excellent feature on Dubai in the latest issue.

-- posted by hughtaylor

» Keith64 - Palm Island, etc.

Thanks for the reminder! I haven't had my January issue of NGM yet!

(Mutter ... mutter ... post; holidays; rain ... mutter)

-- posted by Keith64

» Mari Nicholson - Palm Island, etc.

I have to agree that Dubai is a great place for a stopover, I do it every time I travel towards Asia.

I have to mention the Jumeirah Madinat complex. You don't have to stay at any of the very expensive hotels there to enjoy the man-made (but fully believable) souq with shops selling everything from tat to designer gear and great restaurants from budget to 5*. It's my favourite evening spot, strolling along the decked waterways, sitting on a terrace sipping a cocktail or browsing the shops.