So, the long-awaited tour in the UAE is purchased (my instructions on how to buy inexpensive), documents on hand, drove to the airport. Flew out of Vnukovo airport right on schedule, the plane Boeing 737-900ER. Looking ahead, I say, the trip went great! There was one nuance, but about him below.
The content of the article
- 1 Flight Azur Air
- 2 Passport Control
- 3 Transfer AnexTour
- 4 Accommodation at the Al Bustan 4 * hotel
- 5 Beach in Sharjah
- 6 What we managed to see in the UAE
- 7 Sharjah City
- 8 Transfer to the airport
Contents
Flight Azur Air
We flew a little more than five hours. The plane is new, but cramped. By the way, on the way back the captain of the ship entertained us. historical and geographical information about countries and cities above we flew, for which he received a standing ovation at the end of the road.
Meals on the plane are standard: first juices, water, then hot lunch with a choice of two dishes (with meat or chicken), tea, coffee.
Passport control
We arrived at Terminal 2 of Dubai Airport. This terminal intended for charter flights and flights from neighboring countries. The terminal is modest, but the public is very colorful. I remember Dad with a harem who angrily glanced at the tourists in shorts. Wow type straight for movies.
Terminal 1, the most famous and beautiful, is located on the opposite side of the airfield, and we did not see it, which is a pity.
The whole procedure of passport control took no more than half an hour. The terminal is small, the distances are short, everywhere signs: passport control, retinal scan and passport stamp, further on the pointer shine the hand luggage, and further on the pointer get the luggage. Everything! Insurance, voucher .., did not ask. Visa is not needed, we enter the country according to the stamp in the passport.
There are exchangers in the arrival hall, but according to the reviews she knew it was better change in malls. There is also free wifi right away sent a message to the family about a safe landing.
Transfer AnexTour
Immediately at the exit in the Arrival Hall meets with a sign representative of the tour operator, in our case AnexTour, and directs to buses. Moreover, every 50 meters there are representatives in their recognizable brand clothes and practically accompany them to the bus itself, so it’s impossible to get lost.
We present our voucher and drive to the hotel in Sharjah. Buses comfortable, with air conditioning. Transfer from airport to hotel took about 25-30 minutes. One of the advantages of Sharjah, which is not far from the airport located. There are even cheaper Emirates, so go there much longer.
On the way to the hotel, the representative of AnexTour sets a meeting time. with a hotel guide for each hotel, answering questions is enough friendly, but in general, the tour guides of this tour operator are not smiling, immediately realize that they are at work—
Accommodation at Al Bustan 4 *
A detailed description of the hotel is on the Internet, so later I will write in detail only about my assessment of this hotel, especially since I have the experience of living in 5 *, 4 * and 3 * hotels. Accommodation quick, gave the passport to the reception, signed and took the card from the room.
See prices for tours to the UAE →
We were first given a room on the first floor, asked for higher, without problems gave the fourth floor. Nothing filled, just asked to go for a passport later. Suitcases from bus to numbers brought.
While still on the bus, the guide warned that breakfast was not on the day of arrival. included in the tour price, because arrived in the afternoon. AnexTour representative when placed is nearby and helps if difficulties arise translation.
Room Standart, double – fully corresponds to the description on the website of the tour operator. We only had breakfasts, and that was enough, because all day we were not at the hotel. Pool, sauna in The hotel is located on the roof and is open from 9.00 to 19.00.
Sharjah Beach
From the hotel there was a transfer to the beach: there – at 9.00, back – in 13.00 You can also walk about ten minutes walk. In the reviews wrote that the beach is right very close, but at the time of arrival was building next, which had to bypass, and therefore 10 minutes.
The sea is clean, the entrance to the sea is shallow, few people. But infrastructure on the beach – not very. But, most likely, it is a matter of time, Sharjah developing at a very fast pace.
What we managed to see in the UAE
So, the next morning we had a meeting with a hotel guide, Mamed, perfectly speaking in Russian. We exchanged phones for communication in messengers and received an exhaustive information on excursions. Since we are the first in the UAE, it’s from the list of excursions we chose 2 sightseeing tours of Abu Dhabi and Dubai (from tour operator AnexTour) to have an idea about country.
Abu Dhabi City Tour ($ 55) includes a tour around the city, observation deck, visit to the Historical and Ethnographic villages (Heritage Village), lunch at Bab Al Qasr Hotel 5 * and visit White Mosque Sheikh Zayd.
The city has a lot of greenery: parks, lawns, embankments, unwittingly you forget that the city is built in the desert. Course program excursions are very rich, there is no possibility to stop and to contemplate, but in conditions when you arrived for 5-7 days, and the country I want to see, then this is the best option. And delight and admiration you are provided!
Only then, when you come for the second and third time, you can do without obzamok and all inspect yourself, hanging out in each specific place as much as you want.
Read more about excursions in Abu Dhabi.
Read more about excursions to Dubai.
The second excursion to Dubai ($ 120) caused a culture shock to me. City tour, photo famous not only for its price, but also its architecture of hotels such as Jumeirah Al Naseem Madinat 5 *, visit the Arab market and an amazing place under the name of Dubai Venice, the artificial island of Palma Jumeirah, and also the Dubai Marina District and dinner on the yacht — Finally, watched the fountains in the Dubai Mall and climbed to the highest in the world Burj Khalifa Tower on the 124th floor!
See prices for tours to the UAE →
You can exclude from the cost of the excursion dinner on the yacht ($ 40) and the rise of the tower ($ 50), then the tour will cost only $ 30. But I did not do this in a situation of time constraints. Of course if you arrived for a long time, or not in the UAE for the first time and a lot of things seen, you can save, for example, climb the tower independently, without excursion and in the daytime.
Guide Mamed offered us another free trip to shopping centers on our choice. But since shopping on this tour doesn’t interested, then we said that the shopping center did not interest us, but on the Arab market for goodies, we would have traveled on our own, since heard about local dates in chocolate. We just need information. where and how to get there.
Mamed said that there are no problems, we can take you not to the shopping center, but to market for free. And here there was a bummer, intentionally or not, I do not know! On the appointed day, a car arrives with a silent the driver, reluctant to speak only Arabic, and takes us to the shopping center, trading in fur products.
Already on the spot followed unpleasant showdown. In fact This was the only bad moment fromAnexTour (although it may This cant specific guide). And even the point is not that it is possible for us tried to dissolve the money, but just felt sorry for the lost evening, since we had very little time, every day counts.
Sharjah City
In Sharjah, we, unfortunately, had little to see, not enough of time. But the Aquarium and the Maritime Museum still managed to go to the last evening is on your own. If you live in Sharjah, I recommend to visit.
There is also a small park with fountains and children’s attractions. Near the promenade with beautiful views for photo shoots. In the Aquarium there is a cafe and a large balcony as a lookout. playground. Ticket price – 25 dirham. According to him the entrance to the Marine the museum.
Airport transfer
The return transfer was clear, the flight was not transferred, the evening before the reception appeared information about our flight. In the morning, after breakfast, the bus arrived at the designated of time.
At the airport were 2.5 hours before departure. A representative of AnnexTour brought us to the check-in counters, and we goodbye to him goodbye. And then — passed the luggage, passport control, everything is very fast! I really liked the departure hall small neat carts for hand luggage. Conveniently! Flew out during!
Here is a successful trip I took in December in the UAE from Travelata! No negative, one positive! Already planning the next a trip to the Czech Republic!
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