Part 3 of our Atlantis review. This one covers everything we did outside the hotel, plus the tips we wish we'd known.
Dubai Mall
Uber from the hotel. ~20 minutes. London-like rates.
First impression: It's absolutely huge.
You'd need an entire day just to see everything. We went three or four times.
What's Inside
- Giant aquarium
- Ice rink (yes, inside)
- All the UK shops: All Saints, Pull & Bear, M&S, WHSmith, Boots
- High-end designer everything
- Restaurants: Cheesecake Factory, Nando's, fast food courts
"I thought I was in a shopping centre in London. It blew my mind."
The Fountain Show
Must do.
Every 30 minutes. Go at night. Step outside, watch the fountains with the Burj Khalifa lit up behind them.
Only lasts ~5 minutes but absolutely worth it. Audio, visuals – stunning.
Burj Khalifa
The mall is at the base of the tallest building in the world.
We didn't go up. We'd done the helicopter – felt like we'd already seen Dubai from above.
(Fun fact: They're building something taller.)
Desert Safari
We booked the "Premium Red Dunes Camel Safari and Barbecue at Al Khaima Camp" via TripAdvisor.
Rating: 5 stars, 10,000+ reviews
Cost: £208 for family of 4
The Experience
| Time | What Happened |
|---|---|
| 2:30pm | Picked up from hotel in Land Cruiser |
| ~3:30pm | First stop (toilet, quad biking available, shop) |
| ~4:00pm | Dune bashing begins |
| ~5:00pm | Sunset photos, sandboarding |
| ~5:30pm | Arrive at camp, camel rides |
| ~6:00pm | Dinner, shows, henna, shisha |
| ~8:30pm | Back at hotel |
Dune Bashing
Top tip: If you get travel sick, don't sit in the back.
The way they handle those vehicles is ridiculous. You think you're going to topple over. You don't. It's incredible.
Sandboarding
Honestly? A bit of a letdown. Expected it to be steeper and faster. You get 10-15 minutes. It is what it is.
The Camp
Tables with bean bags. Centre stage. BBQ buffet food (fantastic – fatty meats, char-grilled everything).
Shows: Fire thrower was incredible.
Optional extras: Henna tattoos (~£28), shisha.
Toilets
First stop: A hole. Clean enough. Be warned.
Base camp: Pristine.
Verdict
100% worth it. 5-6 hours of experiences. Hour drive each way. The 10,000+ reviews are earned.
Ferrari World
Abu Dhabi. Yas Island (where F1 happens). ~1 hour Uber from Atlantis.
First Surprise
It was nearly empty.
We expected queues. We walked onto everything. At no point did we see more than 30 other people.
For Kids
Kid rides. Soft play. Climbing activities (Ninja Warrior style) – all included in admission.
Normally those extras cost money. Here, included. Staff went above and beyond to make it fun for the kids.
The Fastest Roller Coaster
Sara loves roller coasters. This is (was?) the fastest in the world.
We left the kids with the staff member at the gate. "We want to go on this." She said "That's fine."
That's how safe it feels.
You wear goggles. It's all indoors except this one – it takes you outside. The heat literally hits you. Breath-taking.
Go-Karts
Pretty fun. Worth a go.
Food
Found a place called something like "Mama's" – made to feel like authentic Italy. Beautiful pizza.
Photos
USB stick with all digital photos. Good value (unlike the dolphins).
Good Stuff to Know
Alcohol
I was confused. Dry emirate? But hotels serve alcohol?
How it works: Hotels have licenses. They can serve alcohol. But it's expensive.
| Drink | Approx Cost |
|---|---|
| Beer (bottle or draft) | £10-12 |
| Cocktail | £10-14 |
| Wine bottle | £65+ (actually good value vs beers) |
I knocked a £12 beer off the edge of the bathtub. A tear was shed.
(Oh, and I saw an £8,000 bottle of wine on a menu. Just so you know that exists.)
Safety
This matters, especially with kids.
"It's the safest city in the world. I've been to Egypt – men are leery. Prague – I didn't feel safe. Dubai? Nothing like that. Men are respectful. You feel safe everywhere."
We left belongings everywhere. Nobody touched them.
Story from the mall: We couldn't get an Uber. A guy in a suit said "Taxi?" and led us through the mall, into a lift, down four levels to the car park.
I stopped him. "I need to see your license before my family gets in the car."
He smiled. "We're in Dubai. This is the safest city in the world." Then showed me everything.
That was the moment the penny dropped for us.
Final Thoughts
This was the most expensive holiday we've ever been on.
Would we pay it again? 100%.
We saved for it. COVID meant we hadn't been away, so we had budget. We wanted an experience, not just a holiday.
"It set the bar so high for us. This was what we classed as an experience."
What It Led To
We went back in February – just the two of us – to "kick the tires." See if it was just a good holiday or something more.
Same feeling.
Then we went for four weeks in July with the boys.
Now we live here.
This trip is where it all started.
Cost Summary
| Activity | Cost | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Mall | Uber fare + shopping | ✅ Must do |
| Fountain show | Free | ✅ Essential |
| Desert Safari (4 people) | £208 | ✅ Absolutely |
| Ferrari World | Admission + Uber | ✅ Surprisingly quiet |
Related Content
- Part 1: Arrival, Rooms & Dining
- Part 2: Waterpark, Dolphins & Activities
- When We Actually Moved
- Work with Sara
This holiday cost us a fortune and changed our lives. Best money we ever spent. 🏜️