I am going on vacation the first week of June and meeting my better half in Dubai for a week. Can anyone give some insiders advice on what to do and see while I am there.

Yeah, I want to know too! Dougie, when you get back, give me the scoop! Chris and I were thinking about that place too. We have a 6 & 8 year old, I'd like to know if it is "kid-friendly"

In my opinion, I'd never waste my time on vacation in Dubai, certainly not with wife and kids. For that short of time, it's nice for a quick get away, recharge and break from the day in and day out, alone or with one or two guys.

Here's why:

Your wife will be traveling the same distance, if not more than you did to get there. How did you feel when you got there and what did you really feel lke doing? Be honest, that's the arrival day and at least 1/2 of the next shot. If you scuba or snorkel, you are in luck, excellent areas.
There is a lot to do but it will cost you and everything is a drive.

There is no history or character to the city. It is (IMO) sterile. It's new, it's clean but there is nothing to set it apart from a high dollar shopping mall. They both have the same feeling.

Your are too close to work. If you just got here, you may think it is far enough away. To be honest with you, the flight to Dubai should be considered as the "actual" ride to the airport where you will catch a flight to your destination.

You won't get a nice room at a corporate rate. You may have stayed in a nice room prior to coming here. Any prices they quoted were corporate prices, not individual. You pay for your stay

Depending on your contract, you'll waste a paid trip to the "area". Or part of the trip to HOR.

Contracts vary.

The Bahamas and Caribbeans are nice and very kid friendly. It is a relatively short flight for the wife/family. Plenty to do and many great hotels. Food is costly. You bear the brunt of the travel, the family is spared the stress. Remember, travel to the region is a 16 to 24 hours ordeal depending on flight connections.

If you are going to do it, make it worth your while and go somewhere interesting and worth it. Europe is well within reach. You'll be better off in Italy, Spain, France and so on.

Going to Dubais is like going WalMart on a Friday night, you go because you are bored.

For what it is worth.

Hey HK, thanks for the info. I appriciate it! We're not "world travelers" so this is a new area for us. I've marked Dubai off our list, do you have any intel on Turkey, Thialand or Austrailia? We are also considering Costa Rica. Our trip will not be until December, but I need to start looking and saving some money We've promised the kids a warm beach in December, so that's what we're looking for! And YES, I'd rather Chris fly 20 hours by himself than me with 2 MONSTERS

Strictly economics and out of the States, go south of the east and west coast. Look at a map and draw the lines down. Draw a line across left to right under the southern most tip of Florida. That will give you a very good idea of warm weather and beaches in December.

Me personally, Barbados, Bahamas, St. Matinique and all of the islands before you hit S. America. For the most part, you stay in the same time zone. With kids that is very important or so I think. Havng been there and done that, I'd rather bear the travel than the kids and wife. The wife has to bear the stress of getting however many kids to point A to point B and back to point A. There is some contempt when they get there and find you well rested because your flight schedule was based on your time.

I don't advise Turkey for a family vacation. As a couple, ready to bail, Ok. Thailand is out for families but great for guys have families and want to forget that. It's a great divorce maker. Good for a couple who want to tour and not partake. Been there several times while single, I'd never take my wife there. If you've been there, you know why. Very great sights to see though.

Australia- good on all accounts but you'll pay. The Great Barrier Reef.

I base this on what I have done or where I have been. For what is going on in the here and now, I think a trip of 5 days is a waste. Save the days, work the math and make it around 20 days.

My thoughts

I, for one want to get away from this region entirely on cto.... some guys are looking at greece and that sounds nice.. I'm headed home for the first trip... as for the second..... who knows

You ain't going nowhere! I already got that worked out. Your CTO will be spent deciding on one or two scoops of ice cream.

John61, yeah Chris is comming home for his first trip too. It will be the end of July till mid-august. We are meeting in BC, Canada for a week, then flying home to Idaho. His second vacation will be in late November- mid December for about 25 days. That's only 6.5 months away, so I'm planning ahead. (yeah, I'm an anal female )

HK, Thanks a bunch for the pointers! I'll look into those spots!