Dubai Dreams with the Teens
Last time we went abroad with our eldest three children together they looked like this:
It is horrifying to think that this was almost 13 years ago!
We have had holiday’s in between but they were all in the UK, usually in a caravan somewhere in Cornwall or the Isle of Wight. The last holiday we had all together was to Coombe Mill in Cornwall for Christmas 2014, which I had thought of as our last full family holiday.
I had thought that the days of holidaying with us parents had been and gone, however, whenever we go abroad they always moan that we are not taking them with us.
Far from enjoying holiday’s abroad with their friends, they choose to stay in the UK and I do wonder if it is because we didn’t give them a bug for travelling when they were younger, although last year Abbey went to Gambia to help rebuild a school as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and had the time of her life, scaring me with images of her holding snakes and stood next to crocodiles.
Callan has been busy paying for driving lessons and finally passed his driving test last month. He has already driven to London with his friends and I am hopeful that now he doesn’t have the expense of lessons he can save for a holiday. We will definitely not be volunteering to appear on Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents!
Kian is currently doing his GCSE’s and like any teenager is feeling the pressure, with the school asking him to stay until the early evening for revision sessions, but we try to give him the opportunity to de-stress as often as possible.
I would love to take them away somewhere exotic this summer and the place that springs to mind is Dubai as it has so much for us all to enjoy.
My boys are adrenalin junkies and I know that they would adore nothing more than racing around the sand dunes onboard a dune buggy, probably terrifying me and their sister as they did it.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com
Personally, having just experienced a balloon flight here over Dorset, I would love to catch the rising sun at 4,000 feet on an airborne adventure, viewing the vast expanse of golden sand dunes from the comfort of a gentle Hot Air Balloon ride.
When Abbey, Callan and Kian were younger they were all taken flying in a small plane but our pilot friend. I know they are keen to fly again and I think they will be in their element soaring over the Atlantis and Burj Al Arab in a helicopter, and buzzing the Burj Khalifa and the Arabian Gulf coastline.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.com
Heading back down to earth, well almost, the Tower of Neptune water slide at the Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis Paradise Island is also a must do as the teens love our own local water park, Splashdown. I am pretty much game for anything but I may be the one at the bottom taking pictures for this one!
Image Credit: Shutterstock.com
As a young woman, there is one thing that Abbey loves to do – shop!! With world-class malls that take shopping experiences to a completely new level, Dubai is one place where you can shop till you drop and with the largest Mall in the world, the Dubai Mall, it will certainly whet her appetite and if we all tire of shopping we could cool off at the indoor ski mountain.
I think the teens and I would love to put Dubai to the test as a family and teen friendly destination to visit!
This post is my entry in to the Tots100/Dubai Dreams blogger challenge to win a family holiday to Dubai. Don’t forget that there is a second chance to win as the best reader comment on the winning challenge blog post will win their own family break to Dubai too!
Christine Taylor
Shopping sounds good although if I had to choose between relaxing on a gorgeous sandy beach or shopping, I think the shops would have to wait (until the sun has gone down) x
Abbey wales
Beautiful picture mum lol! Think we need a family holiday! Would be my dream to swim with dolphins and would love to relax on the beach to try and tan my casper skin ????
Kara
I knew you would appreciate the picture ;0) – I would love to swim with Dolphins too……..fingers and toes crossed
Louise Fairweather
I love the idea of a balloon ride, but am scared of heights – is it scary? Dubai would definitely be a good place to try one! I chickened out of the neptune slide when we went but did the lower slide in the picture. I’ve heard you go so fast on the other one you barely notice the sharks! Dubai really has something for everyone and your adreneline junkies would be in their element. I quite fancy the idea of sandboarding and dune bashing.
Kara
Ballooning is so relaxing and I was not scared at all – it is so gentle. Probably the most nerve wracking part is the landing but it was barely a couple of gentle bumps and we were down.
Mummy Fever
I think Dubai has so much to offer all ages to be honest. We visited there before the children but I thought at the time what a great family destination it must be. It feels very safe, families are everywhere together, even late at night and there is just so much to do, no matter what your interests, there is something for everyone in Dubai.
Good luck with your entry x
Joanna
I’d love to go to Dubai I’m hearing a lot about the place recently .
Abi - Angel Eden Blog
It would certainly be an experience to remember. I think Dubai is the kind of place I’d like to visit someday but the kids are probably a bit too young at the moment
Fashion and Style Police
Dubai is a pretty country to visit. Thinking of going this Christmas.
Sharon Parry
I bet your teens would love it! What a treat after the exams! Water-parks, sun, sea, sand and adventures. It’s got everything that appeals to teens – loads of pics for social media. Good luck 🙂
Cathy Glynn
Dubai sounds a fabulous destination with something on offer for every age group. I would love to stroll round the Mall, drink coffee and relax by the beach but my hubbie and daughter are more adventurous and would probably be found paragliding or bungee jumping off the highest possible building. My friend is a air hostess based in Dubai so it would be lovely to pay her a visit too x
Jessica Powell (Babi a Fi)
Dubai just sounds so amazing! I’d love to go one day but this year it looks like we’ll be vacationing the back garden again. 🙂
Sarah Ebner
It does sound like it would be a perfect destination for you – and you could try out so many different activities with your span of age ranges too. Good luck!
Keely
Wow! That looks like a fantastic holiday – love the photos!
Sonia
Good luck with your entry lovely xx
Lindsay At Newcastle Family Life
I have a teen too, although she is only 13 I have found that it so difficult to keep her entertained. Reading this has made me seriously consider a holiday to Dubai as there is so many amazing adventures to be had for teens. I truly think that a holiday to Dubai would be the perfect family holiday and one that will be remembered forever. Good luck xx
The Mummy Diary
It sounds like a wonderful adventure for you all and the perfect destination for teens, it is so much easier with younger children, farms, slides and a box are all they really need. Good luck with the competition,
Verily Victoria Vocalises
I think this is all so very true
Dubai would be perfect – it is for me too
Good luck with your entry and if you win
Make room in your case, and please fit me in!
Rachel
I have friends who live in Dubai and they love the life they have, some of the sights they have shared are simply amazing x
Baby Isabella
Oh my, haven’t the kids grown!! My folks have been to Dubai before and weren’t so keen on the hospitality and friendliness of the staff at their hotel and out and about on the streets – but there are some great sights to see!
Bernadette Cooke
I would love to take my grandsons on a Dream Trip to Dubai – a clean, safe, family-friendly holiday destination, with plenty of activities to choose from for any age range. As well as relaxing on the beautiful golden sand of JBR Beach with its warm, calm and shallow waters we would all enjoy a dune-bashing safari followed by a camel ride and BBQ dinner in a Bedouin desert camp.
We would visit the Dubai Museum in the Al Fahidi Fort to learn about life from a bygone era as a contrast to the amazing architecture of the modern city which we could view from the front or rear carriages of the driverless Dubai Metro system and then take it all in from the At The Top observation deck of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
The free and impressive Dubai Fountain water, light and music show can be watched from one of many waterfront cafes just outside the Dubai Mall. The malls in Dubai have many family attractions to choose from. The boys could try ice-skating, helped by the ‘penguin pals’, visit the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo and also see the giant 155 million year old dinosaur skeleton (DubaiDino), all in the Dubai Mall.
The boys love theme parks and this summer Dubai will open the world’s largest indoor theme park – IMG Worlds of Adventure with four themed zones inside including Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley – Dinosaur Adventure and IMG Boulevard. This will be completely enclosed and temperature-controlled with 1.5 million square feet of entertainment space!
Our only problem will be going home with so much more left for us to see and do in beautiful Dubai
Mariesbeauties
Oh wow I would love the chance to go to Dubai, amazing place and love you’re photos. X
http://mariesbeauties.co.uk
Rebecca Beesley
I’ve always wanted to go on a hot air balloon so I love your idea about ballooning over Dubai – that would have to be the ultimate hot air balloon ride – seeing the sights from the sky ….just awesome!
I’ve been dreading my kids reaching teenage years and wondering where would suit them for a holiday but now I feel far more prepared that there is somewhere that would appeal. The thrills, the adventure, the sights, the lights, as well as having that all important family time that becomes more and more of a rarity as the children get older.
How brilliant would it be for them to think they have the coolest parents on earth for taking them to Dubai and instead of being embarrassed of us, they’d think we’re just the best! And it would give them a holiday they’d remember for a lifetime and memories they’ll want to recreate when they grow up and have children of their own.
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours
Goodness Gold DofE is far more sophisticated these days than it was in my time, I think that the furthest I got was North Wales!
Niki - Play & Learn Every Day
Doesn’t it just sound incredible! I went to Dubai with my little ones recently and it was so much fun, but it would definitely have a whole other thrill seeking element for older kids. Something to be experienced with kids of all ages 🙂
Francesca Gott
That Neptune waterslide looks terrifying and amazing at the same time!!
I would love to visit Atlantis too as it would be a brilliant day for everyone (and I am a big kid).
My dream is for me and my family to swim with Dolphins in Dubai (it makes me tear up at the thought!). I would love to do it in a much more natural setting than in a swimming pool and I have heard there are some amazing places to swim with them! I also wouldn’t mind chilling on the beach with my boys, building sandcastles too. Just heaven!
Jess @ Catch A Single Thought
Fab post; I can imagine that a hot air balloon ride would be absolutely amazing…I don’t know if I would personally be brave enough though! It sounds like Dubai has plenty to keep your whole family busy and entertained, which is the very reason I would also love to go! We are all really different and there is something for each of us to enjoy and take away with us which is all you really want from a family holiday isn’t it? Good luck with your entry 🙂
Jenni
Dubai looks incredible, good luck with the competition x
Robyn Clarke
I would be terrified of the Tower of Neptune water slide, not my idea of fun at all, hahaha, If I were in Dubai you would find me in the Souks. I think it would be an incredible atmosphere, the spices, the fabrics, the gold, thrilling to all my senses.
My husband would enjoy the Dune buggy, there really is something for everyone in Dubai.
Yvonne
They grow up so quickly!!! Your photos are stunning xx
Jen
I think that Dubai would be great to tweens and teens – good luck
Cass@frugalfamily
I bet Dubai would be a great place to travel as a family – it looks beautiful in every photo I see of it!
Carole at Healthier Mummy
It does sound like it would be a great place to visit for your family. There are other places I’d rather visit first though! And I loved ballooning too. Good luck with the competition by the way.
Sara-Jayne
Good luck to you! My best friend lives out there and he loves it. He sent me photos of a gold car – an amazingly wealthy country!
Lilinha
I’ve never been to Dubai before, but would love to. I have heard some amazing stories about others that visited and they highly recommended it. Good luck! 🙂
http://lilinhaangel.com/
Ana De- Jesus
I have always wanted to go on a balloon ride imagine the view across beautiful plains. Haha I really hope that you don’t go on the show.
Grant R
Ballooning terrifies me!
My son turned into a teenager earlier this year. It’s scary how quickly they grow up. He’ll be old enough to buy me a pint soon. 😀 😀 😀
Tina Mansfield
I too would love to see Dubai from the air, and dream of taking a flight in a helicopter. The reality might be a little scary but what better way to see the sights. My boy would love to race along the dunes and swim in the water parks, and having time to recuperate and enjoy some sunshine would be the perfect way to spend time as a family.
Mummys little blog
Good luck hope everything goes well. Just the sunshine is good enough for me at the moment.
richard
For a desert area tour, you must need dune buggy. Dune buggy may be a nice modification of pace for those that need one thing totally different than the remainder of the electrical scooter pack. Dune buggy may be a fun, safe modification of pace . it is a nice style of cross-country excitement with solid performance and inherent safety options. It is a nice introduction to four wheel scooters and a fine all-round alternative with correct oversight.
Agness of Fit Travelling
You had an amazing experience! Keep posting more interesting articles about your travels!
Nicolleen
Both New York and Dubai are fantastic destination choices, and you can’t go wrong with really either one. Much more of a diverse mix in Dubai however, with souks and traditional Arabian markets mixed in with the modern brands and metropolitan mega malls ????
Have a fabulous time!
Scorpio
Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. Dubai is such a nice place to stay and famous for its wonderful sightseeing’s attractions. The best trip is Dubai sightseeing’s tour and desert safari in Dubai. We had great time couple of years ago.