Andi Dela Torre Griffiths
Stunning Jumeirah Al Qasr Hotel & Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Aside from its breathtaking architecture, amazing deserts, and futuristic technology, the city of Dubai (which sits on the emirate with the same name) is known for its luxury hotels that showcase Arabian culture and opulence. No wonder people refer to it as the crown jewel of the United Arab Emirates (UAE); it has made a lot of progress over the years and has even been awarded by the Guinness World Records more than 300 times!
Jumeirah Al Qasr (inside Madinat Jumeirah)
Today, I’ll show you a few photos from our visit to Jumeirah Al Qasr, a 5-star hotel in a luxurious mini-city called Madinat Jumeirah. Trivia: Al Qasr translates to "The Palace" in English. Location: Madinat Jumeirah, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St, Umm Suqeim, Dubai (UAE)
It was a sunny morning when my cousin asked me if we wanted to go with them to Jumeirah Al Qasr because her friend was celebrating an anniversary, and since we were free, we joined them for the day. Thanks again to Vina, Oli, Kim, and Andy for the hospitality.
Lush greens, palm trees, and lots of space await outside the villas. It's so beautiful. There are also adjustable beach chairs that you can use if you want to get a tan. If you get thirsty, no worries; staff members are roaming around to offer free water bottles and as many flavored popsicles as you want.
I didn't take photos inside the room anymore, but it has a stocked drink section and a small area where you can receive guests or have snacks. It also has a balcony if you want to relish the stunning view of the beach.
I went to the hotel wearing a small sling bag, which only had a hairbrush, lipstick, some cash, and our keys. That was because I did not intend to swim. But after seeing how gorgeous the place is, I had to have a dip and feel the waters. Thankfully, Vina's friends had extra clothes and were kind enough to lend them to us, so we were able to go swimming.
Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Souk Madinat Jumeirah is a shopping complex where you can get clothes, shoes, or souvenirs. It's popular among tourists for its old charm, fine restaurants, and scenic views of the Burj Al Arab (yup, the hotel with 24K gold bins, bidets, TV frames, and other things you could plate gold onto).
"Souk" refers to an Arab marketplace. It's the counterpart of tiangges or bazaars in the Philippines.
We moved around the area via water transport; we rode a boat similar to the one you see in the photo above and did a tour. It was amazing. It felt like we were in paradise. Who would have thought this was a desert area back in the day?
In Dubai, “Abra” refers to wooden boats, so if someone says you’re going on an Abra Tour, it just means you’re going on a boat tour.
Souk Madinat offers a wide selection of bars and fine dining establishments. We went to The Noodle House for lunch, then to Pai Thai for dinner. The Noodle House was your typical Asian restaurant with a lovely view and an extensive menu. Their servings were big, and they also had a robot server.
Pai Thai, on the other hand, was a different kind. It had a dimly lit setup that gave a bit of a cult-like vibe. As you enter the resto, a glamorous reception area and checkered floors will greet you. The Thai lamps and stylish wallpaper prints also stand out, even with minimal lighting. It's an ideal venue for a romantic date. It's intimate, enchanting, and stimulating. It has a lot of Asian and Thai elements that are pleasing to the eyes.
One cannot deny that their canal-style waterways are impressive; well, everything is. I found the whole trip inspiring. Whoever envisioned the development of this area into the gem that it is today must be proud. The place was majestic, and you could see a lot of thought was put into it. They take the word opulence to another level.
We left Jumeirah Al Qasr at around midnight, went on an incredible private yacht tour with my cousin (whose partner was the captain of that family yacht), then went home at around 2 AM. It was a long day.
Click here to see the video of our Abra Tour ⛵
That would be all for today. I hope you have a great week ahead!
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