IN THIS STORY
- Intro ›
- Japan: Crafts in Kyoto ›
- Greece: Music in Athens, Wine in Santorini ›
- Spain: Wine in Rioja ›
- China: Antiquities in Dunhuang, a kingly feast in Beijing ›
- Dubai: Touring the Old City ›
- Kenya: Wildlife in a national park, home life in a Masai village ›
- Argentina: Wine in Mendoza, photos in Buenos Aires ›
- Brazil: Amazon from the air, food in Petrópolis, samba in Salvador ›
- Cameroon: Royalty in Bafut ›
- Russia: Theater in St. Petersburg ›
- Italy: Art in Asti, vinegar in Modena ›
- Scotland: Spirits in Pitlochry, dancing in Angus ›
- More Once-in-a-Lifetime Trips from the Dream List ›
But Wait—There's More
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- The Most Delicious Macarons in the World ›
- Gorgeous Vineyards Across the Globe ›
- Subway Stations with Incredible Art ›
- 5 Great Inns for Foodies ›
- World's Best Cities for Architecture Lovers ›
- Buenos Aires Eats ›
- Madrid's Best Restaurants and Bars ›
- 11 Mobile Shopping Boutiques ›
- Go Irish in Boston ›
- Austin's Best Restaurants, Bars & Shops ›
Dubai: Touring the Old City
The specialist: Lindsey Wallace, Linara Travel; Eagle, Idaho
The Dream Trip: "Most people don't think much about history or culture in Dubai, but the royal family has been in control since their bedouin tribe of 800 or so people left Abu Dhabi back in the nineteenth century. I can get clients into one of the royal palaces, where Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his family live—providing you pass their thorough background and security checks. You'll arrive in a Rolls-Royce, and a member of the ruling family's staff will show you around the immaculate grounds and various parts of the palace: ballrooms, the library, though not their bedrooms. (The tour is tailored to the visitor's interests, so since I love movies, they showed me the home theater.) This is not an old palace with tons of history but rather a modern-day palace built less than a century ago. It's still elegant, yet with plasma TVs and speakers hidden in the ceiling. And it's fascinating to hear how the sheikh and his father helped Dubai go from nothing to a financial and tourist hub of the region. They created a major city where there wasn't one before, in just a few decades [$7,000 for two, including a donation to charity]."
Lindsey Wallace
Tel: 800 335 6033
lindsey@linaratravel.com
Next: In Kenya, living as the Masai do ›
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Photo courtesy of Dada Shoots, Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
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