Would you risk a vacation in Dubai?

There isn't enough there to case me to risk their oppressive culture, even though the chances of a problem are extremely small if you behave by their rules.

There are loads of places closer to you that are in at least the 20th century and some in the 21st century with sunshine.

I've been to Turkey, Greece and Croatia in the past couple of years, all are reasonably priced, have as much sunshine as you can handle this time of year and treat foreigners well.

Definitely avoid Dubai during Ramadan (in 2010, 11 August-9 September). Because of fasting requirements for the locals during the day, both men and women act like they have PMS after a couple of days. Turkey is much more moderate, and Ramadan wouldn't be a problem for a tourist.

 

sure, but why would one go there when they could visit yorkshiredale and harrowsgate?

 

No deals from here to Dubai - too far away.

You can always get arrested in a foreign country if you disregard their laws - you should respect the local customs wherever you go. For some of the things listed in the links you gave - you will get prosecuted in the US as well. You could even get longer prison sentences. Heck, you can get into lot of questioning and trouble at the airport in the US just for having the wrong skin color ...

 

No.

 

Come on... don't you want to experience other cultures? Isn't that the point of a vacation? Then you can get an even better appreciation of the rights conferred by the U.S. Constitution.

 

You can disregard as many of our customs as you like, nobody will arrest you. :mod:

 

Of course I would. No deals from the states though. Abide by people's laws. Alcohol is dangerous and I dont want to see you people smooching all over.

 

It's hot and most of the attractions are artificial. Furthermore I don't care for their system of government or many of the cultural values in that area. It's largely the same reasons that I don't vacation in Las Vegas.

I don't consider the risks very high, but since I don't want to vacation there, any risk or cost puts it into the "no" category. If someone wants to give me a free trip I might reconsider. Otherwise Dubai is very low on my priority list.

Tom

 

Um, no.

What is the point of a sunny, warm beach if I can't lay out in a skimpy suit? And, I'm sorry, but I'm a tad demonstrative, though I try to behave in public... not holding hands? yeah, that won't happen!

There's a whole lot of beach available all over the world (even ones not covered in oil) where holding hands and smooching one's honey is just fine...

 

At 111 degrees, your main risk is heatstroke.

 

If you can't have a beer in 111 degree temps, that alone is cruel and unusual punishment, not to mention heatstroke.

 

And the temps are less than 111 degrees and you can enjoy a beer in public.

 

Yes and no. Thankfully, I live in one of the most culturally diverse areas of the planet, and I don't have to go far at all for that. On vacation, I try to get as far from humanity as possible. A day's drive followed by a day's hike usually does the trick. There are many places I'd like to visit, and many I wouldn't. Dubai doesn't interest me.

 

I quite agree. I'd love to have the time and money to travel the world. Family obligations require that I have other priorities at the moment, and we have to choose our vacations carefully. I understand listening to a dozen different languages at the local coffee shop is not the same as being there, but still, there are places I'd like to go, and other places I'm simply not excited about. Dubai's one of them, along with Las Vegas, as Tom mentioned, and...Texas.

But France, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Greece, Mexico, Sweden, Brasil, Cuba, Egypt, Morocco, Spain, England, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Tibet, Nepal, India, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Peru*....bring it on. Plus, there are just a few mountains I haven't climbed in BC that are much cheaper and easier to get to.


*Not necessarily in that order.

 

If you get to Nepal, hop over to Bhutan, fewer than 20,000 tourist a year in the entire country. It's beautiful and the people are nice.

I've been in about 30 countries in the past few years, strictly because I wanted to. Moslim, Christian, Bhudist, Huindu and Athiest and enjoyed all of them Dubai doesn't interest me, I seems artificial.