Dubai's got something for everyone!

By Jeremy Head                                                                    

INTRO: Whether you're looking for action and adventure, total relaxation, or fun for all the family a holiday in Dubai delivers - and all at remarkable value for money.

Get set for adventure

There's far more to Dubai holidays than just lazing by the pool. If you're after some serious action, head for the desert. There's a host of sandy adventure to be had amongst the towering dunes an hour or so from the city. Dune-bashing involves being driven in a 4x4 at increasingly high speeds and crazy angles among the dunes - a veritable rollercoaster of a ride that's surprisingly exhilarating. If you want a go yourself you can also hire quad bikes and hit the dunes with your engine roaring. For something a little less noisy and a lot more sandy, how about dune surfing? There are no chairlifts so it's a sweaty climb to the top of the dunes, but you'll be surprised at how much fun can be had surfing, skiing or sledging back down them. To really appreciate the vastness and the peace and quiet of the desert, a ride on a camel and an overnight camp in a Bedouin-style tent is a truly memorable and perhaps more authentic experience. The coastline around Dubai also offers all sorts of waterborne activities too. There are lots of places to try jet-skiing and windsurfing - many Dubai holiday resorts offer these activities. There's also some superb diving relatively nearby as well. The Dubai coastline is shallow, but the shores around the neighbouring Emirate of Fujairah, an easy daytrip away, are bordered by fish-filled, colourful reefs in warm shallow water - ideal for beginners as well as older hands.

STAY: The wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel offers all sorts of water activities (at extra charge) - choose from sailing, windsurfing, deep-sea fishing, water skiing and scuba diving.  

Prepare to be pampered

Dubai has rightly gained a reputation for luxury holidays at affordable prices. If action and adventure is the last thing on your mind, then the options for blissed out relaxation and luxury pampering are varied and great value too. As you'd expect, all the top end resorts have myriad pools for relaxing by, most also have private stretches of beach for tranquil sunbathing and on-site spas offering all sorts of delectable treatments. Take your pick from luxury brand-name spa concepts like Givenchy and Elemis or try treatments that take their cues from the region with exotic and mystical Arabic scents and spices. How about a Moroccan style sauna or a rasul mud bath? Or feel the tension in your back muscles melt away under the warmth of a hot stone massage. Food is also a delight in Dubai. Restaurants cover the whole spectrum of flavours and big name chefs are flocking to open exciting new restaurants here. Gordon Ramsey's Verre , Gary Rhodes' Rhodes Mezzanine, and Michelin starred chefs Nobu Matsuhisa and Giorgio Locatelli are just some of the stand-out contenders. And even better, prices in their fine eateries are usually far more reasonable than in Europe or the USA.

STAY: The Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa has a luxurious Middle Eastern themed Elixir spa with ever-changing rainbow lights and sumptous Thalgo branded treatments

Have fun with the family

Middle Eastern culture is very much centred around the family and children are well catered for in Dubai - from babies to teens. Hotels usually have meandering river pools, perfect for little ones to splash about in safety. There are kids' clubs to keep older children happy, and - bliss - adults only pools for relaxing away from the mayhem. Many of the big shopping malls also put on activities for kids - like face painting, puppet shows and fashion parades. Sega Republic at the Dubai Mall offers all sorts of thrills for the young (and young at heart) whilst Children's City offers interesting discovery and learning spaces for kids of school age. Older kids and teens can even try skiing at Ski Dubai the world's largest indoor ski arena. A new height of fun-filled hotel entertainment was reached with the recent opening of the new Atlantis Hotel. Dubai's latest luxury hotel features The Lost Chambers at Atlantis an amazing, vast underwater aquarium thronging with sharks, eels rays and more. And above ground there's Aquaventure, a waterpark with over 17-hectares of water based attractions including seven slides and the ‘leap of faith' - a near vertical 90ft drop into a shark infested lagoon. Add to this the Kids' Club and Club Rush for teens and you might never get round to leaving the hotel!

STAY: Stay in the Lost Chambers suites at Atlantis the Palm and wake up to find sharks swimming past your window!

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