Early September Extended Family Trip to Dubai

Our first day was all about adjusting to the time change. After arriving and settling into our Airbnb, we took it easy to beat the jet lag. That evening, we took a short 5-minute walk to Marina Beach to dip our toes in the sand and take in the night view of the waterfront.

We had a relaxing day and spent the evening at Boom Battle Bar, a fun game lounge where we played beer pong. They also had axe throwing and karaoke. Walking there was about a mile, in heels and Dubai heat it was a bit of a trek, but the vibe was worth it.

We explored a Dubai outlet mall but found it underwhelming — many repeated brands and lower-quality items — though it was nice to get out of the heat. Later, we had a delicious seafood dinner at Crab Shed on Al Wasl Rd and turned in early for the night.

This was a big day! We headed to West Beach Palm Jumeirah and spent the day at Kyma Beach, enjoying two daybeds right by the water. The $200 tab was easy to spend with our group of six but completely worth it. Later that night, we went to the Zero Gravity Dubai Full Moon Party at midnight, got a bed by the pool with bottle service, and enjoyed fire twirlers, a live DJ, and an incredible view of the Ferris Wheel under the full moon.

This was our low-key day as some of us weren’t feeling well, so we rested and recharged.

We spent the day at Aquaventure World, and it was a hit for all ages, including the 18-month-old we were traveling with. There are great splash zones for little ones, epic slides for thrill-seekers, and shaded areas for lounging. Pro tip: if it’s your birthday, you get in free and receive 20% off entry for two guests. That evening, we went to the bar at Address Hotel at Dubai Mall, where the bartender made us incredible cocktails, and ended the night by visiting the Burj Khalifa.

We left early in the morning, scheduling an Uber pickup the night before for an easy ride back to DXB airport.