A Relaxing & Luxurious Family Adventure to Dubai

Brightsun staff member Katie shares her take on visiting Dubai with a 3-year-old including trip highlights, tips, and recommendations.

Dubai has won my heart. I now understand why it’s such a popular tourist destination, and I have officially got the Dubai bug – I want to go back already! We only went for 5 nights, so we didn’t have time for lots of sightseeing days or excursions – this was more of a relaxing holiday for us with a couple of fun activities planned.
 
Thank you to Emirates for making our travel worries disappear, and our flight experience to Dubai pleasant and smooth. The journey from London Heathrow took just under 7 hours and was operated by an A380 aircraft. Travel hack for parents with toddlers – bring a pushchair that can be folded to cabin size; it was really handy having ours stored in hand luggage so we could stroll my toddler to the gate and then to baggage reclaim upon arrival. 

We sat in Economy Class, and upon boarding the Emirates crew approached us and offered to take a printable photo on their polaroid camera, which was a lovely keepsake for our first family holiday abroad. The crew also provided children with a branded activity pack.

Kid's meals were served first, and our daytime flight included a continental breakfast (yoghurt, juice, fresh fruit, and pastries) as well as a tasty lunch with multiple courses.

Upon arrival in Dubai, the heat hit us instantly and thankfully the airport experience was smooth and fast. The transfer to our chosen hotel, Adress Dubai Creek Harbour, was only around a 15-minute drive. This five-star hotel was truly stunning at first sight (we spotted the dazzling high-rise from a distance, illuminated in blue), and we appreciated its convenient location close to the airport. If you’re looking to explore on multiple excursions then this might not be the most ideal hotel location wise, but if you’re looking for a luxurious break with a calmer, laid-back vibe, then I would definitely recommend it.

The area we stayed in, Dubai Creek Harbour, is situated between Downtown Dubai and the historical districts. There's a slower pace of life here compared to the city centre with plenty of local restaurants, coffee shops, and a gorgeous 6km promenade. You can enjoy boat tours departing from the harbourpoint, and just outside our hotel was the most incredible sunset viewing spot, considered one of the best in the city.

Due to having three of us with extra luggage like the pushchair, we received a complimentary upgrade from a deluxe room to a suite, and it was truly opulent. Amenities and features included in-room iPad service, deluxe toiletries, a bathtub with city views, a separate shower room, a living area with a mini bar, tv, sofa, and seating area, and the main bedroom which boasted a large flat screen TV and separate dressing room; there was a sofa-style bed included for my son at no extra cost.

We stayed Half Board at this property which included a buffet breakfast each morning as well as the choice of lunch/dinner, both of which had the same three course menu to choose from. The highlight for me was the breakfast – fresh juices and smoothies galore, yoghurts, pastries, made-to-order egg dishes, and a children’s breakfast station with cookies, cereals, fruit, and sweet treats. Spoilt for choice is an understatement!

An outdoor, air-conditioned terrace area overlooking Dubai Creek Harbour was our signature dining spot that by day showcased the Dubai sun in its full glory, and by night offered mesmerising views of the city’s illuminated skyline and traditional dhow boats sailing by.  We also got to enjoy a similar view from our suite balcony; it was a joy to people watch in the evenings. 

Address Creek Harbour boasts a lush spa, fitness centre, infinity pool, and children’s pool and splash pad that was mostly shaded. The hotel team would often offer the children (and parents sometimes too) mini cups of fresh fruit juice to keep us hydrated in the heat. Dubai was hot in May when we travelled, up to 40 degrees Celsius some days, which would have been too hot for sightseeing and walking around, but being by the pool there was a lovely harbour breeze. This was the start of the summer season in Dubai.

We avoided the peak midday sun each day and took our son to the on-site Quix kid’s club - a lovely, spacious air-conditioned spot to cool down, relax, and play with the multitude of toys, from Lego and puzzles to play station games and a play kitchen.

We dedicated one day of our trip to exploration and took off to the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, which is located at Dubai Mall, around 20 minutes from Address Creek Harbour. This is a fantastic spot for families, and on entrance we were thrilled with the underwater tunnel, where the likes of sharks, stingrays, and schools of fish gracefully glide through the water above you.  We enjoyed seeing the penguins, a crocodile duo, otters, giant catfish, seahorses, and more fascinating creatures through different ecological zones: the Rainforest, Rocky Shore, and Living Ocean. 

We upgraded our entry tickets to Ultimate Experience which included fish feeding, a glass boat tour, vouchers for the on-site cafe, and discounts in the on-site store – we ended up spending just £3 on two fridge magnets and a soft toy turtle!

After our visit to Dubai Aquarium, we stopped for lunch at the food court, which has plenty of quick and easy dining options like Burger King, Wendy’s, Subway, etc. There were lots of high-end designer stores in Dubai Mall, as well as high street favourites that I was surprised to see like Matalan and Next. Getting a taxi back to the hotel was simple enough; they were plentiful, but we shopped at what seemed like a busy time, so there was a queue at the taxi rank. 

There is something about Dubai and its charm that draws visitors back, and I have now experienced that for myself. Not sure if it's the unique culture, the guaranteed sunshine, the stylish, sophisticated vibes that encourage you to dress your best for any occasion, the delicious Dubai chocolate, the convenience, the family-friendly feel, or all the above, I would love to visit again in the future and do some more exploring.
Until next time, Dubai!

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