* Initial Note *

As a lot of people that I have been in correspondance with over the months whilst at CIAO, will know, I spend a lot of time in Dubai. Although getting hot now (Being April), Dubai is definately worth a visit! I would recommend it over any other destination, as I will now explain.

Well, Maybe not a new Ibiza, but Dubai is growing so fast, that I wouldnt be suprised one day that the cultural style and diversity that pushes on the development of Dubai, will soon allow the club culture to surpass of those more popular clubbing destinations in the Meditteranean today.

You will therefore expect to pay approximately 20 Dhs for a drink on average, which works out at about £3.60. This therefore discourages younger tourists or typical 'lager louts' to visit. Which in my opinion stops it becoming spoiled, and allows, although being possibly sterotypical, a more sophisticated crowd.

I often visit Dubai, and therefore know it very well. I will classify the different clubs by either the type of music, or theme of it.

Many people from Ministry sound, and for example MTV Mash has been here with many successful gigs. The house music culture in Dubai is on the increase, due to mainly the greater influx of tourists.

This nightclub was set up by the British Council in the 1980s, and therefore being established for so long, attracts a lot of the House music enthusiasts, as well as many of the western expatriates. The drinks are a little cheaper here as well, averaging out at about 14 Dhs, being just over £2.

Outside there are 8 bar outposts, as well as a fast food area to buy drinks. I will however point that during the summer, the outside area is generally closed due to the extreme heat. However, if visiting from October through April, The Lodge is definately one of the bigger hot spots to visit.

* R and B Clubs *

A lot of the clubs here are orientated to this type of music, such as Zinc (Crowne Plaza, Shk Zayed Road), The Kaz Bar (Royal Mirage Hotel), and Planetarium (See ABove).

Zinc also has a live band, which performs the latest R n B tracks from the previous weeks. This band is highly talented, and can really attract the crowds. The drinks, are about 22Dhs here, nearing towards £4. You may think that this is very expensive, but if you make sure that you goto a pub first, which I will advise you on shortly, you will not have to spend so much money.

Waxy o Conners is located in the Ascot Hotel in Bur Dubai. If in a taxi, and he is fumbled, say The bur Juman Centre. From here, you will be able to get out and walk. With asking a few people where to go, it will take about 5 minutes to walk.

Sevilles is the best place to go if you fancy a bit of a chill out evening. Every Thursday, the management put out huge bean bags, and play a dance themed film outside on a huge plasma screen. Typical films to expect are Boogie Nights, Dance Fever, and Dirty Dancing. The atmosphere is very friendly and very relaxed.

- Just a Pint at a pub ? -

If you are looking for a little class, but cheap drinks at a certain time, I would recommend the Dhow and Anchor in the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. They have a happy hour that lasts from 6pm to 7.30 pm, where the drinks are 12 Dhs, or £1.80. After this they double in price going up to 25 Dhs a pint which is over £4. It is however a very nice place, with good seating facilities, brilliantly trained staff giving the best of service, and warm and pleasant people.

- Desert Safaris -

I did a tour with Fairyland tourism, which cost 180 Dhs per person, leaving the hotel at 4pm, and arriving back at about 10 pm.

You will reach a sand dune called ' big red ' called this because of its sheer huge size, and red sandy colour. When you reach here you have the option of riding on quad bikes over the sand dunes, for an additional £8 per person. If you want to do this, you will have to mention it to your tour operator, and he will stop and wait for you.

After this, the driver will take you to a cafe, and adjust the tyre pressure for dune driving. He will then get the car load refreshments before going off road in to the desert.

The driver will then take you to a camel farm, where you may see camels being born, and you will also have the opportunity to stroke them and feed them. You will also be given the choice whether or not you would like to sand surf.

The evening will finish by the car taking you to what can be described as a traditional bedouin camp. Here you can buy alcoholic refreshments, sample the local food, and try the arabic hubbly bubbly, or as the locals say "Sheisha".

- They also do many other tours, for example in to the hajar mountains, which is about £40. Here they will take you to visit the intermittent rivers, and some of the ancient sites including a mosque over 1300 years old.

The beaches in Dubai are definately spectacular. The sea is crystal clear, and sand a definitive white. Snorkelling isnt popular in dubai, due to huge protection nets that protect swimmers from some of the nasty animals that live in the arabian gulf, such as sea snakes, and jelly fish that can give a pretty nasty sting.

If you are an avid snorkeller or would like to see the marine life, I would advise contacting your hotel about visitiing the east coast. The east coast lies on the Indian Ocean, and has some of the most beautifully diverse marine creatures you will ever see. It is also famous for turtles, and further down the coast, in Oman, can go and see them lay their eggs (See oman Review)

The service in Dubai, is inferior to none. With hotels ranging from the tallest hotel in the world, also being the only 7 star hotel (Burj Al Arab), to the wave hotel (Jumeirah Beach hotel), and Emirates Towers.

- Tax Free Shopping -

The best example I can give, is that my friends boyfriend came out (he owns a mobile shop in Darlington). When he came here, he said that the mobile phones were cheaper here at retail price, than what they were at wholesale in the UK. Now if thats not cheap, I dont know what is.

Deira City Centre - A multistorey shopping centre, with a large range of main stream retail stores, at very good prices. It also has many entertainment facilities such as a kids area, a cinema, a bowling alley, and an arcade.

Another place which is similar, but sells clothes and fashion accessories such as handbags, is the souk (market) or karama. Again haggle, and you will come away with some brilliant deals.