I recently went on a trip with my best buddy and colleague.
Of course, prior to travelling, we booked at hotels and applied for whatever visas were needed; in our case, we needed two – one for the exit reentry for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the visit visa for UAE.
So, 3 weeks prior to the planned trip, I already filed for the visa for UAE online, because you cannot travel anymore and get it upon arrival, they just implemented this one. Also, we started booking for our accommodations. Problem arose as we went along and I believe I have posted about the mishap on our visit visas.
Now here are a few tips when travelling: (I know most of them but due to I-don’t-know-what-happened-to-me circumstances, I forgot these essentials)
- For backpacker trips to the UAE, make sure that you have your visa before filing any leave or booking anything.
Make sure you have it on your hand on in your email. Print a copy or two. In my case, my visa was released 1 week after our filed leave. You get the picture.
- Book hotel reservations with FREE CANCELLATION offers.
Seriously, be careful in booking hotel reservations using applications online. They are reliable and easy yes, but if you get confused and forgot to check if it’s free cancellation, it would be too late and you would have to pay.
- When in Dubai/Abu Dhabi, go around and take the bus.
I know it could be a hassle especially the bus will stop at all bus stops. It will double your travel time and it can be tiring. And especially in Dubai, it’s very confusing. But it will save you a whole lot of money you can use instead for shopping!
- Be smart when ordering food while dining out.
This I had to learn the hard way. We ate at Ribs and Rumps for some steak. We thought it was our last day there so might as well indulge. So we ordered. What we forgot to do was to check out the price. Believe me; we paid a whopping 645AED for a medium sized steak and two side dishes! I almost had a heart attack. So, be wise and practical.
- Check the airports of your flights.
The last mishap of the trip. We arrived there okay. The last night of our stay there, good thing we noticed that the name of the airport was different from the one we arrived in. So after researching, we found the location of the airport is like one country away from the city. It cost us 150AED and people who lives there knows that it’s too much. But yes, that’s how far it is.
Overall, we had a great time with friends and family of course. Yes, we were so tired when we got back, but the experience is priceless.
Now planning for the next trip – I’ll read this post before I do.
Thanks for reading!
Of course, prior to travelling, we booked at hotels and applied for whatever visas were needed; in our case, we needed two – one for the exit reentry for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the visit visa for UAE.
So, 3 weeks prior to the planned trip, I already filed for the visa for UAE online, because you cannot travel anymore and get it upon arrival, they just implemented this one. Also, we started booking for our accommodations. Problem arose as we went along and I believe I have posted about the mishap on our visit visas.
Now here are a few tips when travelling: (I know most of them but due to I-don’t-know-what-happened-to-me circumstances, I forgot these essentials)
- For backpacker trips to the UAE, make sure that you have your visa before filing any leave or booking anything.
Make sure you have it on your hand on in your email. Print a copy or two. In my case, my visa was released 1 week after our filed leave. You get the picture.
- Book hotel reservations with FREE CANCELLATION offers.
Seriously, be careful in booking hotel reservations using applications online. They are reliable and easy yes, but if you get confused and forgot to check if it’s free cancellation, it would be too late and you would have to pay.
- When in Dubai/Abu Dhabi, go around and take the bus.
I know it could be a hassle especially the bus will stop at all bus stops. It will double your travel time and it can be tiring. And especially in Dubai, it’s very confusing. But it will save you a whole lot of money you can use instead for shopping!
- Be smart when ordering food while dining out.
This I had to learn the hard way. We ate at Ribs and Rumps for some steak. We thought it was our last day there so might as well indulge. So we ordered. What we forgot to do was to check out the price. Believe me; we paid a whopping 645AED for a medium sized steak and two side dishes! I almost had a heart attack. So, be wise and practical.
- Check the airports of your flights.
The last mishap of the trip. We arrived there okay. The last night of our stay there, good thing we noticed that the name of the airport was different from the one we arrived in. So after researching, we found the location of the airport is like one country away from the city. It cost us 150AED and people who lives there knows that it’s too much. But yes, that’s how far it is.
Overall, we had a great time with friends and family of course. Yes, we were so tired when we got back, but the experience is priceless.
Now planning for the next trip – I’ll read this post before I do.
Thanks for reading!