A getaway in the City of Gold: Kalpesh’s Family Trip to Dubai
When my daughter turned 10 years old, I asked her what she wanted for herself to celebrate a decade of her existence. My daughter, a ball of sunshine, is also a special soul who tries to do everything uniquely. She had not answered then, but while blowing out the birthday candles, she exclaimed,
‘Papa I want to go on a vacation where we can see both the sea and the desert.’
This peculiar wish brought an instant glimmer in my wife's eyes. I suspected this was her doing, but since my daughter was on the same page, I put all my energy into finding a way to make her wish come true.
I knew if there was a place on earth where my daughter could enjoy both the sea and the sun of the desert it would be Dubai. That’s when I was reminded of the stories my colleagues told me about their trip to Dubai- he had basked in beautiful beaches and enjoyed an exhilarating camel safari with his parents.
The next thing I did was spontaneous, I called him directly to ask how he had planned his trip to Dubai.
‘I had an awesome experience with Thrillophilia who had sorted everything from organising the itinerary to its ultimate execution’, he had remarked.
After spending a weekend planning the places to visit, my wife and I booked our Dubai trip package with Thrillophilia.
A glittery welcome by the gold souks and golden desert
Our tryst with making incredible memories began in Dubai, the city of gold. We had our hotel booked in the vibrant neighbourhood of Deira which is also one of the oldest parts of Dubai.
Deira is also famous for its bustling souks which sell amazing spices, jewellery and traditional handicrafts. The first stop in our itinerary was the famous Gold Souk. It was a spectacular experience walking through a labyrinth of glistening treasures like precious gems and golden jewellery. My wife got a couple of earrings for our daughter as another birthday gift for our daughter here.
In the spice souk, we were enthralled by the incredible diversity and exotic aromas of spices. Wandering through the bustling alleys, we didn’t realise that we had our hands full of Dubai souvenirs already. We got saffron, dried fruits and rare herbs, along with some regional spices whose tastes we were yet to figure out! I could not wait to experiment with them…
The next part of this day involved the desert safari which was highly anticipated by my adventurous daughter. We enjoyed dune bashing in the golden desert and went for camel riding as well. But that was just the beginning. We had opted for a desert camp stay, and Thrillophilia had arranged for our entertainment options along with extensive meals! We encountered a belly dance performance, a Tanoura show and a fire show, and these experiences made my daughter’s jaws drop in awe. It was a very precious sight for my and my wife both to see her enjoy the trip so much.
Dubai and its iconic Burj
A trip to Dubai is incomplete without witnessing the view from the observatory deck on the 125th Floor of Burj Khalifa. We clicked many memorable pictures here and then headed to Dubai Mall. My wife who gets tired walking just a kilometre, surprised us by pacing ahead of us all evening in the Dubai Mall. When it comes to shopping, nothing can bring down her energy.
I loved the musical fountain show and the laser light display at the Dubai Fountain with a cup of ice cream and popcorn. For our next day on the trip, my wife had planned to see the iconic Dubai Frame and my daughter wished to see the Miracle Garden. Although I was more interested in the Museum of the Future, I had to give in in front of both of them.
Among the places in Dubai which really caught my eye was the Palm Jumeirah. My wife and I shared a glass of wine with the panoramic views of the Dubai Marina while our daughter happily sipped her glass of chocolate milkshake with fries.
During the evening, we had a taste of the sea when we were welcomed aboard the luxurious yacht tour around Palm Jumeirah. We saw The Atlantis and its beaches, The Palm Tower, and many other skyscrapers dotting the coastline of Dubai. We enjoyed good music, food and mocktails along with a breathtaking journey in the waters around Dubai. To be honest, it was truly a marvellous experience.
Adventures in Abu Dhabi
While planning out our day in Abu Dhabi, the only thing we were concerned was about how we could see so many places in such a short amount of time.
However, Thrillophilia helped us navigate this worry by meticulously designing our itinerary. We were able to explore the Yas Island Ferrari world, drive through Corniche Road, and visit the famous Sheikh Zayed Mosque. When we had a few extra hours on our hands, we were also able to squeeze in to drop by the famous date market of Dubai and click pictures at Qasr Al Watan too.
‘Thrillophilia helped us curate an itinerary where we could see all the places we had on our bucket list which was executed flawlessly. The overall package was in the budget which helped us enjoy the trip thoroughly’, my wife was full of praise, and so was I.
This trip has not only fulfilled my daughter’s wish, but it has given us so much to fall back on for family memories!