Week 13: The Holiday Trip Extravaganza Reveal

As promised, it is finally time to reveal the details of my recent holiday to Dubai, where I got up to plenty of fun, exciting, and memorable things.

From exploring new places and enjoying some amazing food to experiencing plenty of unexpected moments along the way, this trip certainly gave me lots to talk about.

So, I hope you enjoy following along with my holiday adventure and discovering everything I got up to along the way. 😄

Day 1: The Start Of An Early Day

We started the day like we normally do, except this time it started much earlier than I am used to. 5am to be precise. We arrived promptly and on time at the airport, ready to begin our holiday with a lot of energy.

Okay, I need to make a big statement here: when did we start charging an arm and a leg just to drop someone off at the airport for a few minutes? Seriously, the prices are ridiculous.

After making it into the airport, we stopped to relax in the lounge, where I indulged in a very nice breakfast, including some delicious blueberry muffins, while we waited patiently for our flight.

I also have to give a big shoutout to Emirates, as they have always been an excellent airline. Not only was the flight comfortable, but it was also incredibly quiet and peaceful, which made the journey much more enjoyable.

That being said, one of my top travel tips is this: if you don't have children, consider booking your holiday outside of the summer holidays. Not only can it be considerably cheaper, but there are usually fewer people around, which can make the whole experience much more efficient.

After a relatively quick eight-hour flight, we finally arrived at Dubai International Airport. And when I say this airport is huge, I mean huge.

We made our way through to passport control and the e-gates, and no joke, we were able to go through without even scanning our passports. Like, what even happened there? It was honestly quite insane.

We eventually arrived at our hotel at around 11pm, and despite the long day, we somehow still had enough energy left to unpack and get settled.

But, of course, chaos decided to strike almost immediately.

My brother suddenly started freaking out because, as it turned out, a singular cable had decided to break and completely mess up his server at home. This almost resulted in him losing a lot of important work and people not being able to access their things.

Thankfully, his quick thinking, combined with some help, meant that everything was eventually fixed. Otherwise, I genuinely think he would have taken the first flight home to fix it.

Trust the universe to create a problem at the worst possible time.

Finally, after all that chaos, we decided to order KFC to the hotel for room. Unfortunately, we then managed to completely misunderstand our Uber driver's messages.

We somehow thought he was someone else and ended up telling him to stop messaging us, even though he was simply trying to deliver our food.

So, today's lesson: always check who is messaging you before telling them to stop.

After an incredibly long day, multiple travel mishaps, a broken cable, airport chaos, and some questionable communication, we finally crashed out at around 2am.

Day 2: The First Official Day in Dubai

As a result of last night’s antics, we woke up nice and late at around 11–12ish, before heading over to Dubai Mall which is one of the biggest malls which I have ever seen in my life.

We tucked into a nice breakfast, where I had one of the most mind-boggling matcha drinks I have ever tried. Not only was it delicious, but it also had popping candy in it. Yes, popping candy. I forgot to take a picture when I first got it, but halfway through drinking it, I remembered, so that will explain the picture you are getting.

After breakfast, we decided to hit up the big bookstore and explore this absolutely huge store. We spent ages wandering around, being enchanted by all the cool things they had to offer. Naturally, I could not leave empty-handed, so I bought a really cool book that I think could actually be very useful for my project. More on that coming soon.

We then decided to head back to our hotel for a little while. On the way, I was reminded that Dubai has a huge metro system with some seriously quick trains, which got us home in a jiffy.

Later on, we headed back out to watch the Dubai Fountain show, which was absolutely incredible and surprisingly calming. There was something really peaceful about sitting there and watching the water, lights, and music come together.

For dinner, we had Wagamama, which was absolutely incredible. The ramen was so flavourful and definitely hit the spot after a busy day of exploring.

However, the funniest part came when we were leaving. I genuinely thought we had been sitting in a booth, but it turns out there were actually two separate benches. Naturally, I proceeded to slide straight off them. Gosh, you really cannot take me anywhere.

And that pretty much summed up Day Two. A late start, matcha with popping candy, a giant bookstore, speedy trains, a very relaxing fountain show, delicious ramen, and me somehow falling off a bench. Not a bad day at all.

Day 3: An Adventure on Wheels

Day 3 was a much calmer and more relaxing start for me. We began the day with a small but rather uneventful breakfast. However, the matcha I had was not quite up to the standard of my usual ones, which did make me a little sad. You win some, you lose some.

We had to pick something up from Dubai Mall today, so we quickly made that little errand before making our official trip towards the Marina, with its lovely views and, of course, the cool river.

Now, I have never really been a fan of e-scooters. I have always thought they can be dangerous and a huge hazard for drivers. Where I am from, e-scooters are not allowed, period. Yet some people still have the nerve to use them deep into the night, sometimes without headlights, which is absolutely terrifying for drivers.

But here in Dubai, they are everywhere, and they are mainly used in designated and safer areas with a proper system in place. This gave me the opportunity to do something I never really thought I would do: actually ride one myself.

And let me tell you, I had an absolute thrill riding around and vibing on my own cool scooter. Somehow, I absolutely rocked it. I may have officially changed my opinion on e-scooters... at least when they are being used safely.

And with that, another accomplishment for me was officially achieved. Day Three completed.

Day 4: Cruisin into Relaxation

Day Four started with me waking up to a lovely, quiet morning. After having a good breakfast, I decided that today was going to be a proper relaxing day. So, what better way to spend it than chilling by the pool with the good book I bought yesterday?

Now, this is something that really surprised me about Dubai. A lot of apps work differently here, and messaging and calling apps that I would normally use do not always work in the same way.

This can make communicating with people a little more difficult. I have subscribed to the Apple ecosystem and, as I own an iPhone, I could use FaceTime to communicate with other Apple users. However, my brother does not have an iPhone, which meant I could not use FaceTime Audio to call him. So, I ended up having to rely on WhatsApp messaging instead. It was definitely a bit strange having to think about how I was going to communicate with people when I am so used to simply picking up my phone and calling them.

Our hotel room was incredibly comfortable too, and we even had a lovely view of the Burj Khalifa. We had two bedrooms, which was great, although it did create some funny moments when you were trying to communicate with each other from opposite ends of the room. Sometimes it felt like we needed a communication system just to speak to someone in the next bedroom.

Then there was the weather.

The temperature hit around 40°C by the afternoon, and for a girl who is used to the classic 23–30°C range of English summer weather, I was basically frying like an egg every other day. I have never appreciated the invention of air conditioning more in my life. Without it, I genuinely think I would have melted.

For the evening, we decided to book an amazing cruise experience. We got to enjoy some incredible views of Dubai from the water while tucking into some delicious BBQ food. It was such a lovely way to spend the evening, especially after such a chilled-out day.

And that pretty much summed up Day Four: a slow morning, pool time, a good book, learning how complicated communication can become when apps work differently, surviving 40°C heat, and ending the day with a beautiful cruise and plenty of food. A very relaxing day indeed.

Day 5: The Real Hustle and Bustle

To say that this day was uneventful would be a massive understatement. I think this was probably my busiest day on record by a mile.

The day started bright and early at around 6am, where, of course, the first thing I had to do was get my matcha fix. Priorities. Once that important task was completed, we headed out towards the old markets in Dubai.

The number of traditional shops and stalls in front of us was incredible. There was so much to see, with shop after shop filled with all sorts of interesting things. This was also where we had to put one very important skill into practice: haggling.

Haggling is essentially the art of negotiation, where you go back and forth with a seller to agree on a price that works for both sides. Both of my parents are absolutely phenomenal at it. I, on the other hand, am still very much in training.

What I have learned is that successful haggling is not about being aggressive or trying to completely knock the seller down. It is about negotiation, knowing when to compromise and, as I like to say, meeting somewhere in the middle. The goal is to walk away feeling like you got a good deal while the seller still makes a fair profit.

The market itself was huge and took quite a while to get through, but we managed to complete all of our errands, including buying lots of things to bring back home for our friends and family. Our bags were definitely getting heavier by the minute.

After all that market mayhem, we stopped for lunch at an amazing seafood restaurant. I had a delicious prawn curry, which was honestly one of the best meals I had eaten in a while. After spending the morning walking around the markets, it was exactly what I needed.

Once we had finished lunch, we headed back to the hotel to drop off everything we had bought. But there was no time to properly relax because we were already heading out again for our evening activities.

And this is where things got interesting.

Our evening consisted of quad biking, a desert safari, dinner and a show. Naturally, I was particularly excited about the quad biking because I absolutely love a good adrenaline rush.

When we arrived, we got onto our quad bikes and headed out. Riding across the desert was such a fun experience. There was something about the combination of the speed, the open space and the feeling of being completely surrounded by sand that made it such a thrill. I was absolutely loving every second of it.

I also got the chance to meet a falcon, which was honestly one of the cutest things ever. I was genuinely tempted to ask if I could take it home with me. I have no idea how that would have worked, but I was ready to figure it out.

Then came the desert safari.

Our amazing driver was absolutely going for it, driving up and down the sand dunes and taking us over every bump along the way. I was loving the adrenaline and could feel every twist, turn and drop. It was basically a giant rollercoaster, except the rollercoaster was a car and the entire track was made of sand.

The lady sitting next to me, however, was not quite enjoying the experience as much as I was. She was starting to struggle with the journey, so our guide was incredibly accommodating and gave her a sick bag just in case.

Now, I probably should have taken that as a warning.

I do experience motion sickness, and although I had taken medication to help manage it, I decided to test the limits of my body that day. By the time we were heading towards dinner, I knew I had perhaps pushed myself a little too far.

Eventually, I had to admit defeat and asked the lady next to me if she still had the bag.

And that was the moment I was officially reminded that my body is, unfortunately, not invincible.

I was quite dizzy and tired afterwards, but I still tried to eat what I could and make the most of the evening. I was not going to let one little setback completely take away from what had otherwise been an incredible day.

And then came the fire show.

I mean, playing with fire already sounds like a questionable life choice, but watching the performers confidently spinning and moving fire around was something else. It was genuinely amazing to watch and certainly a sight I will remember.

By the end of the day, I was absolutely exhausted. Between waking up at 6am, exploring the markets, haggling, eating an incredible prawn curry, riding quad bikes, surviving a desert safari, meeting a falcon and watching a fire show, I think I had earned the right to completely collapse into bed. Day Five: completed. And what a day it was.

Day 6: The Rush Of Fun

We started off this day very early too, with a morning jet ski experience, which was absolutely thrilling. After conquering the land the day before, it was officially time to conquer the sea.

Getting out onto the water and feeling the waves underneath me was such an amazing experience. It also gave me the chance to see Dubai from a completely different perspective. Seeing the city from the water, with all the incredible buildings and skyline in the distance, was something I really enjoyed.

I was also extremely proud of myself for one very important achievement: I did not fall into the water on my first try. Considering this was my first time on a jet ski, I think that deserves some recognition.

After our amazing jet ski experience, we headed back to the hotel, where my brother and I chilled for a little while before heading back out for lunch at Dubai Mall. We had some delicious hot dogs, which were exactly what we needed after such an early start.

I also managed to find a shop selling vegan chocolate ice cream, and honestly, it was delicious. It was so creamy and chocolatey that I almost forgot it was vegan. Finding good food that works for me while travelling is always a little victory.

After lunch, we headed back to the hotel before getting ready for our final activity of the holiday: horse riding.

Now, you would think that horse riding would be a relatively simple yet enjoyable experience.

You would be wrong.

Horses are a lot harder to ride than you might think. For starters, they do not always seem particularly interested in listening to complete strangers, which, to be fair, I cannot really blame them for. I would probably be suspicious too if a random person suddenly climbed onto my back and expected me to know exactly what they wanted.

Trying to control the horse while also figuring out how to actually sit and move properly was definitely more difficult than I expected. And then there was the physical side of it. By the end, my entire body was basically questioning every decision I had made that day.

At one point, I genuinely thought, okay, I might need a completely new set of muscles after this.

Both my brother and I were absolutely exhausted by the time we finished. After such a packed holiday, this was certainly one way to end things. We headed back to the hotel, ordered Domino's and completely crashed out.

And honestly, after everything we had done, I think we had earned it. Day Six: completed. The sea was conquered, the horses survived us, and somehow we survived them too.

Day 7: Joys in the Slow Days

This was our last full day in Dubai, and I was fully prepared to have a nice, slow morning. After everything we had managed to squeeze into the previous few days, I was more than ready for a lie-in.

Once I eventually got up, my first job was to sort out my packing. Thankfully, this was a surprisingly quick process because I am very good at keeping things organised. Everything had its place, so before long, my suitcase was packed, zipped up and ready to rock and roll.

By around 12pm, both my brother and I were starting to get hungry, so we decided to treat ourselves one last time to a brunch-style breakfast. It was absolutely delicious and had a really cool twist to it, including a little dry-ice performance that made the whole experience feel a bit more special. Because apparently, a normal breakfast was not dramatic enough for our final day.

Afterwards, we walked around for a while, where I naturally ended up getting ice cream again. At this point, I think it would have been more surprising if I didn't get ice cream.

We then took some time to simply chill out and enjoy our final few hours in Dubai without rushing around trying to fit in another activity.

In the evening, we headed out towards Marina Beach for one final wander. We walked around, took in the views and enjoyed the atmosphere before stopping for a nice dinner.

By the time we got back, we were both exhausted and ended up falling asleep pretty early.

And just like that, our final full day in Dubai came to an end. After such a busy and activity-filled holiday, having a slower final day was exactly what I needed before heading home.