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HOTVauxhall Magazine; April 2007

IF EVER THERE WAS A PLACE TO KEEP TRAVEL WRITERS ON THEIR TOES, IT'S DUBAI. WARM, WELCOMING AND CHANGING BY THE DAY…IF EVER THERE WAS A PLACE TO KEEP TRAVEL WRITERS ON THEIR TOES, IT'S DUBAI. WARM, WELCOMING AND CHANGING BY THE DAY

Words by Simon Hacker; Pictures by Corbis and Getty Images



Try Vintage, at the Wafi Pyramids, for gastropub nosh and great cheeses, or feast on delicious Arabic fare al fresco, at Majlis Al Bahar on Beach Road. For a pricier but fabulous Chinese, Zheng He's, on Al Sufouh Road, is the place; but if Indian food is your desire, Bikanervala (in Karama) is packed with Indian construction workers longing for a taste of home.

AND ON TILL DAWN: Dubai's big night out is Thursday, before Friday's day of rest. With more than forty bars, the Souk Madinat in downtown Jumeirah is perfect for a big celebration, and recommended venues include Jam Base, a multi-storey disco emporium.

THE BEST OF THE BEDS: Dubai does not lack hospitality. Aside from big-name hotels, budget-minded options are quickly coming on stream for those who plan to spend little time in their rooms. And for spa-lovers, the Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa is an excellent place to chill out -in the East's hottest destination.

LOCATION
Dubai sits on the Arabian Gulf, along nine and a half miles of the Dubai Creek. Local time is GMT + four hours. Tourist information: www.dubaitourism.co.ae

Transport
Taxis can be hailed anywhere, but choose one with a meter. A taxi from airport to city costs about 50Dhs.

Money
The Dirham (Dh) is worth around 6.4 to a £1. Half a Dirham is 50fils.

Who goes there?
A return flight costs around £400 - but look for offers: Emirates fly from Birmingham, Glasgow, Gatwick, Heathrow. BA flies from Heathrow, and Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick.