Dubai, United Arab Emirates

I visited Dubai in March 2024.

This is one of those destinations I keep going back to, both to check out new tourist attractions and to spend quality time with my extended family.

Dubai has so much to offer and truly has something for all ages, from bed and breakfast hotels to all-inclusive resorts, and amazing hot weather all year round.

There's something for everyone, with attractions like Wild Wadi water park and KidZania for kids, and thrilling experiences like sand boarding during safaris and go-karting for adults.

We stayed in a hotel with breakfast included, since we’d be out most of the day anyway.

The view from the rooftop pool was incredible, with a clear sight of the Burj Al Arab.

On this trip, we visited The Dubai Frame, which looks stunning from a distance. It’s a tall, solid gold-coloured frame that you can actually go inside. You get to take a tour of how it was built, ride the lift to the top, and walk across a glass-bottomed floor. It was amazing. If you want to visit, make sure to buy your tickets in advance, as the queues are long, even for those with tickets.

We also visited the Museum of the Future. It was absolutely brilliant, inside and out. The museum is full of futuristic exhibits and explores how Dubai sees itself in 10 to 15 years. If you are planning a trip, this is a must-see.

Another beautiful stop was The Miracle Garden, a huge park filled with sculptures and ornaments made entirely of flowers. It was absolutely stunning.

We also took a yacht ride around Dubai Marina, which was a great experience. There were amazing views of the buildings from the water, and the light breeze helped cool us down from the heat.

I went with my two grown-up kids and my partner, and we tried out a go-kart ride through the sand dunes. You get to drive it yourself, and my son and partner took turns behind the wheel. It was definitely one for the memory books. We also did a sand dune safari in a chauffeur-driven 4x4, which I actually think was better than my first time over 20 years ago.

Since we know our way around Dubai, we revisited some familiar places like Meena Bazaar, also known as Little India. It’s full of affordable food options, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, and has lots of shops selling everything from clothes to kitchenware. Definitely worth a visit.

Some of the restaurants we enjoyed this time were Bhawna’s, a pure vegetarian place with the cheapest lunch buffet, Bombay Bites, Veg Hut, and many more.

One night we spent hours at Global Village. To get the full experience, it’s best to arrive while it’s still light and stay into the evening. It’s filled with market stalls from around the world, restaurants, a funfair, a floating market, and a light and laser show. The lights at night are amazing, and I would happily come here time and time again.

Enjoying a meal outside by the Burj Khalifa fountains was the perfect way to end the trip. Great views, great food, and great company. It was a fantastic holiday.