Travelling with kids to Dubai ? Don’t miss out on these places

This is a guest post

With the holidays nearly upon us, it is that time of the year when a family vacation becomes just one of those unavoidable things. And if you have kids who are not prone to mid-air meltdowns, you may actually even look forward to it. Planning a holiday with kids has got to be meticulously planned – and I say that from ten years  experience. Your holiday must revolve around their interests (at least some of the activities) and respect their body clocks. I try to mix things up a little, with things that are both fun and educational. Upon checking online I discovered that Dubai ticked all the boxes. It is a great holiday destination with many attractions designed for children. From Hyderabad, our hometown, there are many Hyderabad to Dubai flights which I could consider. Things just fell into place, and I quickly made a list of places we would visit with the children.

Legoland Dubai Map

Legoland Dubai

It offers over forty rides and about 15,000 Lego models. Some activities require teamwork with other children, and younger ones get to use their skills to steer a boat or maybe even race their own Lego car. Want to build your own Lego robot ? Your kid can do just that.  Spend an entire day here and you will not notice the time as there are six lands in total, both indoor and outdoor. Be ready for interactive games and exciting rides. Geared for children between two to twelve years, the difficulty levels are tailored according to age. Of course, there are restaurants where you can refuel on burgers, fries, pizzas, pastas, popcorn and ice cream. When your flight to Dubai lands you in an amusement park with hungry kids, you have to make your peace with fast food sometimes.

Dubai Aquarium

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

This is inside ‘The Dubai Mall’ which is the largest suspended aquarium. This place is excellent for both kids and adults, and during your visit you will get to see sharks, rays and crocs. There are 140 species of sea life housed here and you can take a stroll through the pedestrian tube for a better view of the inmates. At the Underwater Zoo you will see playful penguins, painting otters and interesting insects. Entry to some of these attractions are covered by the Go Dubai Card, and it makes sense to pick one up to save money.

Kidzania Dubai

KidZania

This is an ‘adult experience’ scaled down in size. Children play at being grown up, taking up jobs to ‘work’ as pilots, chefs, fireman, doctors, radio show hosts, journalists, dentists etc. I found it both educational and fun offering a safe environment where children can use their imagination. What’s more it has a functioning economy. The KidZos money they earn can be used for shopping or entertainment inside the gaming zone. Catering to children between the ages of four to sixteen, there is never a dull moment here. KidZania even has its own paved streets and buildings. An absolute must on your visit to Dubai.

Motiongate Dubai

Motiongate

This is a Hollywood inspired amusement park where children get to meet their favourite characters. Be ready for some general gushing, happy screaming and tears of joy. They will meet dragons and ghosts, animals from Madagascar and the Smurfs, the Ghostbusters and Shrek. There are twenty-seven rides here in all, inspired by Hollywood blockbusters.  It is not possible to do them all in a day, so I suggest you decide which ones you want to cover before you go. The Madagascar Mad Pursuit was a big hit with my kids. It is the fastest roller coaster in the park and is a firm favourite all round.

Desert Safaris with the Kids

What is a visit to Dubai without coming face to face with the sands of Arabia ? Ride a camel or go sandboarding. Go horseback riding or plan a desert safari. Kids just love these outdoor opportunities. Some even come back to the hotel room and recreate their day with crayons and colours. However mine just promptly fell asleep after a day in the fresh air.

On our Hyderabad flight on our way back home, we were happily exhausted. Tired as we were from our hectic days of fun, we all felt it ended too soon. Till next time.

 

Leave a Comment