Flying to Dubai with Emirates is altogether a different experience. It knocks the socks off many of the other airlines for service and makes the eight hour flight a very tolerable experience. It is a more expensive option but you can get some deals on their website from time to time.

There are so many hotels to choose from it’s a bit of a minefield. If you’re a shopaholic then staying at The Pullman would be ideal. The hotel is attached to the Mall of The Emirates. You can get a good deal online and if you take the Executive Lounge facility your breakfast, snacks, drinks and canapés are all included.

If you want glamour, stay at the Grosvenor House Hotel. Step into the multi level Buddha Bar which just oozes opulence. No fake handbags here. Chic, over the top and gobsmackingly expensive, it’s an experience nevertheless that shouldn’t pass you by. Try and book a manicure and pedicure in the hotel spa beforehand – two beauticians work on you at the same time and it‘s surprisingly cheap and you’ll feel like a million dollars!

Getting around is a rather hairy experience. Until recently there was no Metro and so taxis were the way to get from A to B. I have decidedly ‘unfond’ memories of the driving. If you are thinking of hiring a car, you had better be Italian or an extremely confident driver!

If you’re in a crowd of women then I would strongly recommend buying The Time Out Guide to Dubai. It lists all the bars and hot spots that feature ladies nights. Often the drinks are free and some of the outside bars are just perfect for people watching. The Jetty Lounge is rather laid back and as it’s housed within The One and Only Royal Mirage Hotel, have drinks and then dinner in their fabulous restaurant.  You can hear the lapping of the waves as you sip a Margarita whilst perusing the gorgeous menu.  If you’re a lover of seafood you’ll find yourself in food heaven.

Another popular hotspot is The Red Lounge Terrace.  Located at the top of a pyramid, it’s very popular and the happy hour actually runs for two hours every night from 6pm to 8pm. It’s a very nice way to start your evening. For a ravishing view of the coast, it’s well worth taking in The Uptown Bar at The Jumeira Beach Hotel. It’s simply stunning. The food is also tremendous, as is the bill. Scarily big!

High-end Japanese restaurants abound in Dubai but for a truly memorable meal get yourself down to Armani/Hashi at the Armani Hotel. If you only to have the sashimi with a glass of white wine you’ll be transported.

If your wallet is feeling worryingly light, there are plenty of meal deals to be had. Once a week you can eat as much as you like in many hotels for a fairly modest price. I can’t list them all but I would recommend The Spectrum in The Fairmont, if tempura and teppanyaki are your thing (Wednesdays 7pm to 9pm) and for seafood you can’t go wrong at The Market Café’s seafood night at The Grand Hyatt. It includes lobster and oysters so just fill your boots every Wednesday from 7pm to11pm.

If you’re not particularly into preening or wandering round the souks, there are hundreds of things to entertain you.  Most of them costly, but you can ski in The Mall of The Emirates, do boy things at the laserdome or on a desert safari, take a cruise on the creek, listen to music at Jambase in The Madinat or watch films in the open air on a giant screen.

It’s all in your face, ready packaged entertainment that will suit the well off in need of being entertained, the richer in need of luxury and the richest arriving by helicopter at the self-imposed seven star Burj Al Arab Hotel.

Transportation
Dubai is served by Dubai International Airport (DXB), the home of Emirates Airline. The new Dubai Metro is now up and running with two lines, the Red and Green Lines.

Maria Kuehn is a chef, writer and winner of The Observer Food Monthly Awards 2011 based in London and has her own food and recipe website and blog