TRAVEL SPECIAL DUBAI

TRAVEL SPECIAL DUBAI





Dubai, at one point, was regarded as the holiday haven one could only aspire to.
Today, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most accessible and affordable developed world destinations.

Dubai is an expensive destination, but “a trip under `1 lakh for a couple is possible since flights are cheap,“ says Ashwin Jayasankar, Country Head, Wego India. You will have to build your budget around sightseeing as this can be the most expensive component, comprising 30-40% of the budget. If you want sightseeing, cut down on lodging and food.

Flight

There are a lot of discounts and cashback offers by travel operators and aggregator sites doing the rounds currently, so keep your eyes peeled. Some translate into round-trip fares of around `14,000 for May bookings, but take into account the convenience fee and the fact that the cashback is for the next flight. “Most of these are limited-period offers and, hence, non-refundable. So, go for it only if you are sure about the trip,“ says Manmeet Ahluwalia, Head, Marketing, Expedia. “A good option is to go for a combination of low-cost domestic flights,“ he adds. So, instead of booking through one airline or aggregator, look for multiple flight search options. The cheapest fare in the next month can be had from IndiGo and SpiceJet. For instance, if you booked on 14 April, you would have got an IndiGoSpiceJet combination return flight for `13,870 for 3 May.

“To make sure your air fares don't rise while you are searching online, browse incognito on the Internet,“ says Gurgaonbased Samarth Sharma, who visited Dubai with his wife Priyanka, last year. Also, make sure you pick the right flight timings and don't waste a day. “I picked a slightly more expensive Air India flight because it landed in the morning in Dubai and returned in the evening to India,“ says Sharma.

Flight duration: Direct (non-stop) Delhi-Dubai one-way flight takes about 3 hours, 50 minutes.

Accommodation

“It's difficult to get cheaper lodging like homestays and hostels,“ says Ahluwalia. But as Panchkula-based Neera Loomba says, “There is no dearth of good 3-star hotels like Ibis, Panorama Grand, Golden Sands, etc, that can fit into your budget.“ Some of the best ones are in Bur Dubai, or the old city.Expect a range of `3,000-6,000 for a good option. Hotels keep coming up with promotions and shortspan sales, wherein you can get 60-75% discounts. The best way is to approach the hotel directly or go for a flight-hotel combo via aggregators.

Food

Cheap food options for `500700 per person are available, but it can easily go up to `1,5002,000 as most people end up eating at food courts in malls or other small restaurants. The cheapest food is on the Al Dhiyafah Road with a variety of cuisines. “It's best to pick a hotel with free breakfast option, and as food is included in most sightseeing activities like the Desert Safari or dhow cruise, dinner is taken care of. For lunch, you can pick food courts or low-cost options to reduce your food budget,“ says Sharma. A good tip is to buy bottled water at local stores as it can be expensive in tourist locations.

Internal commute

The metro is a cheap commuting option, but there are some problems. While the best way to reduce travel cost is to pick a hotel that is close to metro stations or malls, in Dubai, these are in the expensive down town area, making for poor connectivity. Also, there are various rules and restrictions for metro usage and, if you are not aware, these can result in hefty fines. Still, it's a cheap and efficient option and you can use it in combination with cabs, which are reasonably inexpensive.

Sightseeing shopping

“The best way to save money in such places is to buy tourist passes or discounted public transport cards,“ says Ahluwalia. In Dubai, most public transport--metro, buses and waterbuses--are covered by the Nol integrated ticket system. Cards can be bought (or topped up) at any metro station and at numerous bus stops. You can buy multipleday passes for the Big Bus tour as well.

One should also book tourist sites like the Burj Khalifa or bus tours online in advance.The sightseeing can be expensive, so pick your activities carefully. For instance, the Desert Safari packages can cost upwards of `2,500 per person, and a visit to Burj Khalifa can range from `1,700-9,000 per person.

Packages

Common inclusions are return flight with economy fare, visa fee, stay in 3-star hotel with breakfast, sightseeing and transfers.

THOMAS COOK: DUBAI PACKAGE @`45,000 per person with air fare calculated from Mumbai.

EZEEGO1: BEST OF DUBAI starting from `47,273 per person.

ETW18APR16