Self catering guest houses and homestays in Dubai

If you are a first time visitor to Dubai, then make sure you are able to grasp the essence of the place in your first visit itself. A lot depends on where you stay too. The wonders of Dubai present themselves when you choose your accommodation.
Staying in a self catering apartment will be less expensive than staying in a hotel. When you want to experience Dubai in its truest form you have to explore it yourself, you don't have to move according to any tour program planned by any hotel because you don't get the freedom to explore it as you would like to. A homestay will let you get a taste of all that is indigenous to Dubai and its immediate surroundings. And you get all the privacy that you need too; you don't have to worry about people stomping past your door every time you try to get out of your hotel room or worry about whether the occupants next door will be listening in when you are whispering sweet nothings to your partner. Your privacy is not confined to a single room or a suite of rooms; you have the entire property to yourself. And what's more? You can cook meals for your family and enjoy the various amenities offered at self-catering apartments.

Things to do in Dubai

Since Dubai is in a Muslim country, you have to follow certain rules. For example, you are not allowed to take photos of military sites and similar establishments. However, Dubai is an enchanting city filled with its several activities for the ardent tourist. And if you have a penchant for alcohol, you can never walk about the streets brandishing a bottle in hand and drinking to your heart's content. Alcohol is not banned, but you will never find anyone lying about in drunken stupour. Also, you can trustingly leave your cars unlocked; Dubai is practically a crime free environment. There are so many things to do in Dubai that 24 hours a day will not be enough for you. Since you will find the super rich and the super poor in Dubai, you can start by visiting the Dubai Shopping Mall and the Gold Souk to have some extravagant shopping expeditions. If you are an expert at haggling and discount shopping, then you will enjoy the Karama, a discount district in Dubai. You can go for massages and therapy centres to enjoy a full body pampering. You can also boast that you went skiing in the middle of the desert; at the Ski Dubai. But then these are just some of the things that you can do in Dubai.

Top 10 places to visit in Dubai

Sample some of the unique places in Dubai.
• Palm Islands – Are man-made islands dreamed up to accommodate the heavy influx of tourists that pour in each year. Certainly a unique project worth visiting. The islands are visible from space.
• Dubai Marina – An extravagant canal city filled with hotels, restaurants and offices. It is also man-made.
• Sky Dubai – Visit the Mall of Emirates to get a glimpse of this tantalizing skiing resort. You get to enjoy 22,500 square meters exclusively for skiing.
• Al Bastakiya – When you go to new Dubai you see only modern buildings and sparkling architecture, but when you visit the Al Bastakiya, you get to witness the historic architectural splendour that dates back to the early 19th century.
• Burj Khalifa -  Get to the top of this building and enjoy some of the stunning views of Dubai; the tallest building in Dubai.
• Dubai Museum -  The oldest building in Dubai, built in 1787. You can see the artefacts brought from Asia and Africa.
• Dubai Mall – Contains 1200 shops and is the biggest shopping mall in the world. All the major brands under one roof.
• Desert Safari – Enjoy a thrilling journey along the sand dunes with a desert safari.
• World Islands in Dubai – Visit this archipelago of about 300 islands in Dubai; also man-made.
• Burj Al Arab – The first seven-star hotel in the world and the tallest one too.

Best time to travel to Dubai

People visit Dubai to enjoy the marvellous structures, to do shopping, to enjoy skiing (yes, skiing) and to lounge at the beach. Dubai is hot during most seasons but you can experience chilly winters during the November-January period. The rest of the months you get hot climate. There is no special time to visit Dubai because everything is air conditioned – the transport facilities, accommodation, shopping malls and museums. November and April months enjoy a heavy influx of tourists because the climate is comparatively pleasant (24 degrees to 35 degrees). November-February period enjoys mild and refreshing winds. When you visit Dubai during the Ramzan period you will have to follow certain rules and regulations; so avoid those days if you can.

What kind of a holiday do you want to enjoy in Dubai and when? Do you want to go in summer or winter? Summer is usually free of tourists because the temperatures go up to 45 degrees. But you get cheaper accommodation at that time. However there is no guarantee that you will be able to enjoy outdoor sports. Sometimes, you will even have to suffer through sandstorms. The winter period is better for a visit.