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EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

Bad Desert Safari !

221

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 14:08

I was so excited to go on the desert safari and finally did it last night.
I am so disappointed!! It was so commercial and very different from what I had in mind 
Our driver took us to this place that was two poor monkeys were in a cage and the cage was full of trash. Then they were venders that like always were pushing us to buy junk. I don’t know that point of that stop? He said that we can take picture with the falcon and ….. which everyone of them coast extra money. The bathroom was terrible and ….
Then he took us on sand bash which I liked and right after, we stopped by some more shops and they were all over us to shove more junk down our throats
After we ended up in the camp for dinner
BTW , the price was 300 D per person
I have some visitors and would like to take them on a nice safari, which one you suggest???
I just don’t want to be pushed to buy stuff and just want to relax for one day

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107

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 June 2017 - 10:34

hi guys you think we can book one for Eid? also we are conservative so we are not interested in the belly dancing part do all of them offer that?

339

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 02 May 2012 - 17:00

try Bedouin Oasis in RAK - it's a desert camp run by Arabian Incentives (cultural education outfit based in Deira). You don't get the 4x4 pick ups but you do get a very authentic experience, either for a bbq dinner with lots to entertain you, or the overnight camping in igloo tents :-) they run camel safaris from there too.

monalisa300054214

4

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 02 May 2012 - 16:50

Has anyone had an allergic reaction to black henna tattoos??? I'm writing an article about it for a newspaper and I need some people to come forward to tell me about their experiences. Black henna is extremely dangerous! I would particularly like to speak to someone who's black henna done on a desert safari and had a reaction to it. Also, has anyone had an allergic reaction to hair dye??? Please get in touch as soon as possible as I'm running on a deadline - [email protected]

2340

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 12 February 2012 - 16:13

... my only advice would be that please please put all passengers in a car seat, especially the children and if possible a booster seat. Thanks, but not necessary. I would never compromise my kids' safety (or anyone else's for that matter). If they can't use the booster and the safe fit, we won't be going. We never did a desert safari because we called some of the reputable companies mentioned below and they advised not to take small children as the dunes can be a very rough ride. I guess you could book the whole car and insist on a 'tame' desert drive...

37

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 February 2012 - 15:55

go with Arabian Desert Tours next time, we had a great trip last weekend with them, we took their VIP tour which included drinks (the real stuff, lol) and service at our table in the camp., pretty cool. We did the whole nine yards, photo in traditional clothes, henna, camel ride, belly dancing etc. 6 hours in total. normally it cost around 500 but we got it through dealsnmeals ,new daily deal site like groupon etc.

704

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EW GURU

Latest post on 12 February 2012 - 13:43

[b'>[/b'>arabian adventures are the best! the rest are all rubbish!! yes ALL!! arabian adventures, yes bit more expensive but your getting a high quality service, Sheikh owns it... edited by layla123 on 09/02/2012 edited by layla123 on 09/02/2012 what a weird comment. and no Sheikh owns it, it is a division of Emirates, which is owned by the Dubai government, not a particular Sheikh. Having said that, have been on AA safaris and they are good. So are Gulf Ventures (smaller and more 'boutique', not the 100s of people you get with AA) Ditto that sandfly. I have also used Gulf Ventures several times are found them v good.

mk-in-dubai36686

323

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 11 February 2012 - 15:15

Personally I would not take small children on the dune bashing, it surely can't be good for their necks? I found it really rough going, but did enjoy it overall. I did sit right in the back though, I think it's worst there. We went with AN, using entertainer vouchers, it was a great experience.

452

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 11 February 2012 - 01:57

I've been on Arabian Nights, good over all, prompt, car good, driver good, food tasty, nothing to complain about apart from maybe feeling a bit ''touristy'', but I suppose that's what it's for (no sales push at all). I also been on Oasis tours, which are a bit cheaper, but over all almost the same, the thing I found a lot better with Arabian Nights was the food and it's quite important.... I think Arabian Adventure only pick up at hotels, while most other tour companies will pick you up at your house. Arabian Adventures picked up friends of ours from Arabian Ranches by the retail centre a couple of years' ago. There were just two of them and they didn't want to do the bbq etc after the dune bashing so they paid a bit more to have a 4x4 to themselves for a tailor-made tour so to speak. However they saw a bit more of Dubai because their driver took them out along Al Qudra towards Bab el Shams and then through to Al Lisaili past the endurance stables (where they stopped and got photos of camels training for the races and saw strings of endurance horses/ponies being taken out for exercise) before joining the rest of the cavalcade at Margham. They said their driver was particularly good as he took his time driving through the dunes and they saw oryx, gazelles and a couple of dhub lizards yet they still made it to the top of the big dune for some great sunset photos. They were back with us by around 7pm I think and it was around this time of year. Also, niece and her boyfriend did the Arabian Adventures morning tour just over a year ago and they were also picked up at the Retail Centre at Arabian Ranches. They were the last pick up and joined a group of four other people who had been picked up from beach hotels. They only had to pay the standard cost.

crystalsindubai

713

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 21:00

[b'>[/b'>arabian adventures are the best! the rest are all rubbish!! yes ALL!! arabian adventures, yes bit more expensive but your getting a high quality service, Sheikh owns it... edited by layla123 on 09/02/2012 edited by layla123 on 09/02/2012 @ layla: There are quite a few great tour operators, AA being one of them. Are you working for AA with an interest to rubbish all else?

209

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 19:37

Do you get a choice of how many in the car? We have had 2 visitors collected and there were already 4 in the car. Would be interested to know if you can request less. Usually you have to rent the whole car / pay for the unused seats. Once we had a Hummer safari with just 3 of us and it was fab!!!

The Fairybread Thief

222

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 18:44

... my only advice would be that please please put all passengers in a car seat, especially the children and if possible a booster seat. Thanks, but not necessary. I would never compromise my kids' safety (or anyone else's for that matter). If they can't use the booster and the safe fit, we won't be going.

Cherry ripe49050

970

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 17:43

Do you get a choice of how many in the car? We have had 2 visitors collected and there were already 4 in the car. Would be interested to know if you can request less.

324

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 17:04

Thanks for this thread. Have family coming and was thinking of taking them on one of these, so this is very timely. Can I ask - would they fit 6 people in one car? Would be 4 adults, 2 kids (and one child is still in a booster seat). I have been on Arabian Adventures 3 times and all were a fun experience and our visitors all from different backgrounds really enjoyed it. There were a lot of cars last time but it did not detract from the experience. I would never try to squeeze 6 in the car, my only advice would be that please please put all passengers in a car seat, especially the children and if possible a booster seat. Friends have been once before and a car rolled in front of them, there are so many near misses by cars following too closely to each other while dune bashing and last time there were so many other four wheel dirves that did not even belong to our group crossing all over. If you value lives you will all wear seat belts!

Cherry ripe49050

970

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 16:48

We've been on a few safaris with 6 in the car. 2 in the very back for the best ride, so maybe that means an adult if you have a car seat child.

The Fairybread Thief

222

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 16:42

Thanks for this thread. Have family coming and was thinking of taking them on one of these, so this is very timely. Can I ask - would they fit 6 people in one car? Would be 4 adults, 2 kids (and one child is still in a booster seat).

324

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 10:38

I've been on Arabian Nights, good over all, prompt, car good, driver good, food tasty, nothing to complain about apart from maybe feeling a bit ''touristy'', but I suppose that's what it's for (no sales push at all). I also been on Oasis tours, which are a bit cheaper, but over all almost the same, the thing I found a lot better with Arabian Nights was the food and it's quite important.... I think Arabian Adventure only pick up at hotels, while most other tour companies will pick you up at your house.

504

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 19:23

[b'>[/b'>arabian adventures are the best! the rest are all rubbish!! yes ALL!! arabian adventures, yes bit more expensive but your getting a high quality service, Sheikh owns it... edited by layla123 on 09/02/2012 edited by layla123 on 09/02/2012 what a weird comment. and no Sheikh owns it, it is a division of Emirates, which is owned by the Dubai government, not a particular Sheikh. Having said that, have been on AA safaris and they are good. So are Gulf Ventures (smaller and more 'boutique', not the 100s of people you get with AA)

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 19:16

[b'>[/b'>arabian adventures are the best! [b'>the rest are all rubbish!! yes ALL!![/b'> arabian adventures, yes bit more expensive but your getting a high quality service, Sheikh owns it... edited by layla123 on 09/02/2012 edited by layla123 on 09/02/2012 Bit of a sweeping generalisation there LOL!

fairycakeyumm21878

2239

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 19:12

Arabian nights are fab done several safari s with guests ....it was a local man our driver and he was fab, we even used our explorer vouchers and he gave us the discount and the vouchers back touse next time..we had old people n kids and he made sure everyone was all ok when doing the dune bashing.

1

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 18:14

[b'>[/b'>arabian adventures are the best! the rest are all rubbish!! yes ALL!! arabian adventures, yes bit more expensive but your getting a high quality service, Sheikh owns it... edited by layla123 on 09/02/2012 <em>edited by layla123 on 09/02/2012</em>

221

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 17:51

they were some cars from Arabian nights there too, but my problem was before the camp. So next time I should go with Arabian adventure??? Is that the best so far???

221

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 17:48

I used Eclips tour, They ranger was a nice guy and a great driver, 4X4 was super bumpy but that was the only part I liked. I was looking forward to some time out in the desert not stuck in a shop with 4 people pushing me to buy belly dacing wrap!

789

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 14:42

Yes - what is the name of the company? I have been on a few desert safaris and we have never stopped to see monkeys in cages or stopped by shops??? The ones I have used were Arabian Adventures (the best imo, but most expensive) Arabian Nights (also good!) and another company that took us in Al Ain (can't remember the name)...also good...they usually pick you up and take you dune bashing, then on to the desert camp with belly dancing, buffet, man with falcon, henna painting, camel rides, quad biking, dressing up in national dress, etc. (some of these activities vary from company to company though - quad biking was an extra charge and I gave the lady a tip for the henna for mum and I)..... <em>edited by chizz on 09/02/2012</em>

2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 14:31

who did you use ? Desert rangers are very good as are Arabian Adventures. the food is good too ..

70

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 14:23

Oh no, are they all the same??? I have booked with Vienna Tourism next month when my friend comes over for a visit, which one did u go with RC? How bumpy is the 4 x 4 ride? think they will hear me screaming in Kuwait!!! was hoping for something AWAY from the shops.................. <em>edited by savvyB on 09/02/2012</em>

2043

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 14:19

That is a crazy price, we always pay AED 1000 for the whole car with Desert Rangers. Look in Time Out there are lots of companies that advertise there.

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