Frequently Asked Questions

A valid passport is required to travel to Dubai. The passport must have at least 2 blank pages when entering the country & must be valid for at least 6 months after travel. Citizens of the US & Canada are not required to apply for a visa for a stay of less than 14 days in Dubai, as a visa is provided upon arrival in UAE. Passengers who are not US citizens must check with their respective consulate or a visa agency.

The hotel may request your passport and hold them at the time of check-in. Scan a copy of your passport and email it to yourself and keep a picture on your cell phone. Also, leave a copy with a trusted family member or friend while traveling. This will make replacing it easier should it get lost or stolen.

Dubai is the most relaxed of all the Emirates, but it's also a traditional Muslim society. The emirate is aware of its tourists & their needs to wear relaxed & cool clothes, but visitors & residents alike are encouraged to at least cover up a little when entering public places & shopping malls. It is suggested that you cover your shoulders, & aim to wear shorts or skirts that hit around the knee. It is simply polite in a society where bare flesh is frowned upon. Men are also expected to dress decently & appropriately (sleeveless shirts & tank tops are bad ideas) unless on hotel property or the beach.

Shorts, bathing suits & bikinis are fine in hotel pool areas & at private beaches, but one-piece bathing suits are recommended on public beaches.

The weather is warm year-round. Expect temperatures in the 80s and 90s. It is very important to protect against the heat and sun present in the UAE so hats, strong sunscreen and sunglasses should be packed. We also recommend sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, t-shirts and blouses, knee length shorts, sandals/flip flops plus good walking shoes, a veil or scarf you can use to cover your hair when entering a Mosque, small portable fan, insect repellent, backpack or should bag for day trips, voltage converter (UAE is 220 volts where the US is 120v.) Of course don't forget our themes included the all white desert safari - just keep in mind you are in the dessert and its warm plus you may want to ride a camel so keep that in mind when selecting your outfit.

One of the biggest misconceptions about Dubai is that you can’t drink. And if you do there are strict repercussions. This isn’t the case, but it’s also not a 24-hour booze-fueled party. You don't want to stumble down the streets or have a drink openly while walking along the street, as that is breaking the law. Being drunk in public can lead to sentences of six months in jail and hefty fines. This is one of the reasons why we selected a hotel with a bar/nightclub open until 3 am. If you want to have a few extra cocktails, that is the best place to have them.

Tourists are permitted to buy alcohol in the airport, hotels, restaurants and bars while residents are required to have permits. Please note that there is a 30% tax on alcohol purchased in the city, so take advantage of duty free shopping at the airport before you pick up your transfer to the hotel.

Those active on social media should be aware of what they post when drinking is involved. It is best to refer to alcohol generically. Try to be vague when posting about alcohol-related activities.

Due to the international attention that places like Abu Dhabi and Dubai attract, the cuisine of the UAE has come to reflect that with many hotels and restaurants offering dishes from around the world. Traditional Emiratis cuisine is based mainly on meat, grain and dairy with vegetables used sparingly as they do not thrive well in the climate of the UAE. Thyme, turmeric, saffron and cardamom are commonly used spices. The spicier dishes are usually accompanied by a side dish of yoghurt, cucumber or mint which helps to cool it down.

At all events where we include a mix of local cuisine as well as common favorites you would eat in the U.S. There are always a couple of vegetarian & gluten-free options as well. If you have special dietary needs, please let us know in advance so that we can do our best for the hotel and local restaurants to accommodate you.

Popular dishes in Dubai include: Kafta: This is sometimes referred to as the Arabic hamburger. It involves rolling meat into pita bread accompanied by cucumbers, tomato, lettuce and yogurt. De-Ja Ta-Ha-Tah: This dish is a combination of chicken and rice that is served with plain yogurt, limes, and sliced onion. Luqeymat: This is a piece of pancake that has been fried and then rolled in sesame seeds and flavored with date syrup. Al Harees: This dish is common at special occasions and is one of the most favorite meals in the UAE. Meat and wheat are cooked for several hours until the meat has dissolved into the wheat. This mixture is then poured into a clay oven or a special earth oven, after it has been cooked for a very long time, it turns into a thick mixture. The end result is served with local ghee (clarified butter). Al Madrooba: This is a dish consisting of salt-cured fish (known locally as “maleh” or salty) and flour. The fish is cooked in a pot with spices and flour which creates a sauce. It is topped with ghee before serving. Shawarma: Similar to a gyro, there are two main types. Chicken shawarma typically comes with pickled cucumber and turnips, garlic paste (toum), and potato fries, while the lamb and beef versions are paired with tahini (ground sesame) paste, onions and tomatoes.

Gah-wa Khaleejelah, or coffee, is a staple of Arab breakfasts and red tea with mint is also very popular. (Coffee and tea are often flavored with cardamom and saffron).

Dubai is a long way, but well worth it!

We will have discounted group pricing for flights with Emirates airlines out of JFK, Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, Chicago, Dallas & Los Angeles starting mid-November 2021. We may add other airports if enough guests are flying from the same gateway. Payment plans will be available, but please note flights will require a separate deposit & payment plan.

Here is an idea of how long your flight would be from major markets.

A non-stop flight from JFK to Dubai is around 12 hours & 50 minutes. A non-stop flight from Ft. Lauderdale is around 15 hours & 55 minutes. A non-stop flight from Dallas is around 14 hours & 45 minutes. A non-stop flight from Chicago is around 13 hours & 40 minutes. A non-stop flight from San Francisco is around 15 hours & 40 minutes. Flights from Atlanta usually connect in New York or Boston and take a total of around 15 hours & 5 minutes. Flight from Los Angeles connects in San Francisco adding 2 hours and 20 minutes to the flight time.

This is a long flight & big-time change, so you are going to feel some jet lag. Stretch while on your flight, drinks lots of water & try & get some sleep. Wear comfortable clothes for your flight as well.

If you have the time and your budget allows for it, book a pre-night. This way you can get settled and get adjusted a bit to the time difference. We have a busy itinerary to fit in as much as possible in 5 nights so you want to be ready.

We recommend booking your flights at least 6 to 9 months in advance. You could use apps such as Hopper that will monitor schedules and pricing for you, but keep in mind that you may end up with flights with double connections or long layovers. We will gladly check flights from your nearest major airport to give you an idea of the best schedules to look out for.

If you are on prescription medication, not only bring the original bottle, but ask your physician for a prescription or letter to verify you need to take those medications. Syringes for diabetics would also require a doctors note. It's always a good idea to discuss your travel plans with your doctor.

Do not pack medications in your luggage. Always keep them with you in your carry on. Bring a small first aid kit with antibiotic cream, anti-itch cream, band-aids, painkillers, antacids, antidiarrheal, allergy & cold medicine. Pack these items in your suitcase vs. your carry-on.

Due to the large size of this group trip, preparation, and vendor contracts for various private and exclusive events, there will be No Refunds issued for this trip. By making your reservation online and placing a deposit, you acknowledge and agree to our No Refund policy outlined in the booking terms and conditions. Money is non-transferable to another trip. 

However, keep in mind that by purchasing trip cancellation coverage you forgo the unnecessary worries around what happens if an emergency occurs and you can’t make your trip. When you cancel for a covered reason, your money is refunded by the insurance company.

To get around easily, jump onto the Dubai Metro. The Metro's Red Line runs along the arterial Sheikh Zayed Road, and continues all the way south to Jebel Ali. Purchase a prepaid NOL card, to access the city's entire public transportation network, across the Metro, tram, buses and taxis.

Once in the city, you'll find an abundance of taxis available. Many tourists have said this is the best and easiest way to get around Dubai. Most taxis are operated by the government with a few private companies offering alternative services. All taxis run on a meter service with the fee charged by distance, so be sure to ask your driver to turn on their meter if they have not automatically done so. Licensed taxis are tan with red or pink roofs; taxis with pink roofs are driven by women and intended for women and families only. Taxi stands are fairly accessible from the city's famous landmarks, such as Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, Mall of the Emirates, Palm Jumeirah, and many hotels.

If you are looking to see the site, a hop on hop off bus is also a great way to get around the city.

Dubai opened a second form of public transportation: The Tram. The tram travels on a specially constructed street-level track to connect the highly populated residential and commercial areas of Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Media City.

If you're planning on spending the day on Palm Jumeirah Island (which we highly recommend!) or visiting Atlantis The Palm, hop on the Palm Monor.

E-scooters and bicycles have become popular options too, with plenty of rental options available across the city via dedicated smartphone apps such as Skurtt and Careem.

Keep in mind you will have a travel host, the hotel concierge and professional local guides that can help guide you and plan wherever you wish to go.

Dubai is home to some of the world's biggest brands, boutiques and shopping malls, so visitors are spoilt for choice. The United Arab Emirates introduced a value-added tax (VAT) of 5% in 2018, but tourists still get to enjoy easy tax-free shopping in Dubai.

Retailers across the city will guide you through the seamless process, which sees tax tags attached to the back of your sales receipts. These tags need to be validated when you leave Dubai via the airport, Port Rashid seaport, or the Oman-Hatta land border crossing, and travellers are given the option of receiving cash or card refunds.

Tipping depends on personal preference. Most restaurants in Dubai will include taxes and service charges in your final bill. However, it is common for diners to leave a tip between 10 and 15 percent, based on the quality of service. Remember, while tips are generally not expected in Dubai, they are certainly appreciated.

Taxis in Dubai are cheap and plentiful, and therefore tipping the driver is a common occurrence. Usually, a small tip of AED 5-10 (around $2 USD) is given, but generally, passengers will just round the fare up to the nearest note and allow the driver to keep the change.

Your tour guide can make or break your experience when travelling - so when you find a great guide in Dubai do tip them. A suggestion is $2-3 for your driver and $5-8 for your guide per day.

The answer to this of course depends on what you have in mind. For our trip, you only need to budget for 1 dinner and lunches daily, but there may be other activities you want to do or shop for souvenirs and local goods.  You also have a few tips to consider for the tour managers and drivers.

In Dubai, Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, but other credit and debit cards may not be. Every bank has different rules and fees about using cards abroad, which can sometimes be very expensive. If you have time, consider getting a card with low or no foreign transaction fees.  Make sure and call our credit card before you leave the country to let them know the dates you will be away and that charges will be coming from another country.

Take some cash out. Unless you already have UAE dirhams in hand, having some of your own cash is useful in case you need to change some money on arrival in Dubai. Cash is commonly used, especially for smaller purchases and in traditional souks. Guides accept tips in US or local currency.

Because this is a group contract that involves events, tours and hotel, it is not possible to uses Marriot points. 

The good news is that you can earn Marriott points for your stay.  You just need to email us your account number and we will make sure it is included on your reservation.  If you have a Marriott credit card, paying for the trip on the card is another way to earn loyalty points.

Our contract involves everything from transfers, hotel, taxes, luxury motorcoaches, drivers and guides to private event space, menus, open bar and local entertainment so an event pass alone is not available.  That being said if you have special circumstances like a bad back for example and do not want to attend the desert safari, we may be able to eliminate that component or replace it with another experience for you. 

With over 95 shopping malls, Dubai is the A to Z of retail. With anchor stores including Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdales, Fortnum and Mason and Marks and Spencer, virtually every global brand is on sale here, alongside a collection of homegrown boutiques and labels. In fact, Dubai ranks in second place – just behind London – as being the city with the highest number of retailers represented.

For the quintessential Arabian shopping experience, head to the souqs. Both Souq Al Bahar and the Madinat Souq are modern recreations of these bazaars oozing

<p>Our desert safaris take place in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve where only a few operators have access and a portion of your fee supports local conservation projects.</p> <p>Your trip begins with a safari guide with excellent knowledge of the desert with pick up at the hotel in a 4-wheel drive vehicle.&nbsp; Each vehicle travelers with a driver and 4 to 5 guests.&nbsp; When you arrive to the desert there is a quick stop to let a bit of air out of the tires and then the exhilarating dune bashing begins. Enjoy a picturesque sunset stop for amazing photos. &nbsp;Once we arrive to our private boudin camp. For the next 4 hours this piece of desert is ours alone. &nbsp;Try a camel ride, sandboarding or get a henna tattoo.&nbsp; Enjoy belly dancers and music by G&amp;S DJ&rsquo;s while having a 3-course buffet dinner and complimentary beer, wine &amp; sodas.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Our theme for this event is all white.&nbsp; We do recommend comfortable walking shoes and as well as an outfit as well if you plan to ride a camel. The trip begins at 3 pm and we get back to the hotel between 10 and 11 pm.<br /> <br /> It can be quite a bumpy ride, so if you have back or neck problems we could arrange at an additional charge your own vehicle that will skip the dune bashing and just drive you through the desert to our private camp.<br /> <br /> This is not recommend if you have a heart condition, or are pregnant.&nbsp; Again please ask about special arrangements that would skip the dune bashing portion.</p> Rich Text Editor, rand_id6171a90b2e70cEditor toolbarsDocument SourceClipboard/Undo CutKeyboard shortcut Ctrl+X CopyKeyboard shortcut Ctrl+C PasteKeyboard shortcut Ctrl+V Paste as plain textKeyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+V Paste from Word UndoKeyboard shortcut Ctrl+Z RedoKeyboard shortcut Ctrl+YBasic Styles BoldKeyboard shortcut Ctrl+B ItalicKeyboard shortcut Ctrl+I UnderlineKeyboard shortcut Ctrl+U Strikethrough Subscript Superscript Remove FormatParagraph Insert/Remove Numbered List Insert/Remove Bulleted List Decrease Indent Increase Indent Block QuoteLinks LinkKeyboard shortcut Ctrl+K UnlinkInsert Insert Horizontal Line Insert Special CharacterTools Maximizeabout About CKEditor 4

Our desert safaris take place in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve where only a few operators have access and a portion of your fee supports local conservation projects.

Your trip begins with a safari guide with excellent knowledge of the desert with pick up at the hotel in a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  Each vehicle travelers with a driver and 4 to 5 guests.  When you arrive to the desert there is a quick stop to let a bit of air out of the tires and then the exhilarating dune bashing begins. Enjoy a picturesque sunset stop for amazing photos.  Once we arrive to our private boudin camp. For the next 4 hours this piece of desert is ours alone.  Try a camel ride, sandboarding or get a henna tattoo.  Enjoy belly dancers and music by G&S DJ’s while having a 3-course buffet dinner and complimentary beer, wine & sodas. 

Our theme for this event is all white.  We do recommend comfortable walking shoes and as well as an outfit as well if you plan to ride a camel. The trip begins at 3 pm and we get back to the hotel between 10 and 11 pm.

It can be quite a bumpy ride, so if you have back or neck problems we could arrange at an additional charge your own vehicle that will skip the dune bashing and just drive you through the desert to our private camp.

This is not recommend if you have a heart condition, or are pregnant.  Again please ask about special arrangements that would skip the dune bashing portion.

Elements path charm and atmosphere steps away from five-star hotels and restaurants; or journey back in time and visit the historical covered markets that have flanked Dubai’s Creek for hundreds of years. Hunt out that precise shade of blue in the Textile Souq; breathe in the aromas of saffron and incense as you wander through the lanes of the Spice Souq; and be dazzled by displays of glittering gold and diamonds in the renowned Gold Souq.

Popular thing to buy Aladdin Lamps, Lanterns, Dubai Dates (dried fruit,) camel milk chocolates, camel milk soaps, Arabic Attar, Persian Rugs & Carpets, mabkhara (incense holder) Oudh & Bakhoor (incense) hookas, pashmina shawls, perfume oils, Kava pots and coffee sets, gold jewelry, Arabian coffee, Dubai spices, incense holders, traditional Arab shoes local handmade sandals.