Dubai, a short and pleasant flight from India, has a host of options and activities for the whole family. It is one of those rare cities that can offer many different types of trips depending on your interests: Culture fiends can visit mosques, souks and historical corners of the desert, foodies can follow the delectable trail of gourmet Middle Eastern as well as other cuisines, and those looking for a fun family getaway, Dubai is a great option!

This time, I went to Dubai with an itinerary planned especially for me by a “Mombassador”, a new service launched by family travel site Momaboard, where local moms create customized trip plans for visiting families. I gave them details such as my trip goals (fun/R&R), ages of my kids, budgets, special needs, pet peeves and five days later, received my personalized itinerary, complete with a map. Quite handy I thought!

What I love about having an insider perspective is getting to try off-the-beaten path restaurants. Per our itinerary we tried Clinton Street Baking Company for a great NY-style breakfast, Karam Café for fantastic Lebanese (so important to have a recommendation when there are so many options), and Sapori di Bice, where the kids got to make their own pizza! Dubai’s food scene is absolutely multicultural, like its population.

For our cultural fix this time we went to the Al Fahidi Fort and Dubai Museum. This museum, housed in the oldest surviving fort in the city, traces the ascension of Dubai from a small Bedouin village to the global commercial center it is today with engaging multimedia exhibits. As part of this cultural expedition and as suggested in our itinerary, we tried the understated Al Reef Lebanese Bakery, for its delicious “Lebanese pizzas”, as the kids called them. (“Manakeesh” is an Arabic dough topped with herbs, cheese, or meat.) To top off the day, we ended up at the famous Jumeirah Beach Walk, with a little stop at the water play area for the kids.

We promised the kids a trip to the Atlantis this time, and a day at their Aquaventure Waterpark was definitely a highlight. Aquaventure has rides for all ages, but for the especially daring, we recommend “The Leap of Faith”, a 9-storey drop completed within a mere second in a near-vertical drop. My kids knew not to mess with me after I completed that one.

Fun tip about Aquaventure: Write to them in advance of your birthday and you’ll get free passes to the park for your birthday week. Super helpful if you have twins!

First-timers to Dubai must see its big and bright stars: The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest buildings and its dancing fountains, the gold and spice souks, the world’s highest tennis court at the 7-star hotel Burj Al Arab, and the Dubai Mall where you could spend an entire day shopping, eating, and entertaining yourself. None of these are to be missed and each offers a multitude of options for things to see and do.

Culturally Dubai is so similar to India that even first-time travelers feel a sense of familiarity and comfort. You’ll often find yourself speaking Hindi to hotel staff and taxi drivers, and for those homesick for Indian food, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Yet, Dubai is different enough that a trip there still feels like a novelty which much to explore and learn.

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