The Guide was accurate in every area we required.
We arrived with a reasonable amount of knowledge about the country and its customs and were able to enjoy our holiday from day one, without worrying about upsetting the local people. They were curteous to us [especially once they found out we had bothered to learn some of the basic greetings in Arabic] and we responded as best we could. Somehow bargaining was easier from then on, and you could also get a much better deal if you had cash in dirhams! Best trip-30 mins on an abra to explore the creek. Negotiate a price.
It was a wonderful experience, but a week in May/June was long enough because of the heat, as indicated by the guide. [40 degrees and hotter till August!]
The hotels on Jumeirah Beach were all excellent from all accounts. We were at the Radisson, which was outstanding for their service and space for guests. We never felt overcrowded even on 2nd June which is a local holiday and all the "Radisson Club" members descended for the day!
Their shuttle bus to town was reliable but didn't have a later evening pickup for guests in town so unless you were prepared to pay £10 for a one way trip by taxi on top of the cost of a meal in town [minus alcohol], the hotel had a captive audience for their evening meals, which were very good we must say. House wine=£20 per bottle at the hotel.
The book shows you the contrasts of this amazing place but can't really prepare you for the culture shock of the place. It's the rich/poor, modern/traditional, high rise/low roofs, high tech/old fashioned, heat/cold [in areas with air conditioning], expensive designer gear/saris for £2, green soft grassy golf courses/arid desert areas beside each other, 4x4 vehicles/camels on the beach. It all just takes your breath away with the diversity of it all. Its like no other place we've been to.
I felt that the book allowed us to enjoy our holiday as well prepared as we could have been. 10/10 for an excellent guide. When can we go back?
P.S. There is an awful lot of building going on everywhere, but especially in the vicinity of the airport. Because of the desert/sand/lack of water, it does look like a building site generally, but there are huge projects underway all over the place. Even lake -building! In some places, "Health and Safety Issues," are, "Interesting."
P.P.S All Dubaian drivers have been to the Parisian School of Motoring - be warned!
