Visiting in February with 2 kids

Thanks, Casta! If I go again I'll head for the back.

Has anyone suggested the camel markets in Al Ain-I love going there-and the zoo is a must question for you: is there a camel auction or something more "organised" at the camel market? I went once with my parents and basically drove around looking at the camels. My parents got out to take a few pictures and were accosted by men demanding money. Another time took sister in law and we didn't get out of the car, again just drove around. We saw tour busses of people who just seemed to wander around. So I wonder if there is a better way to visit? So many people recommend it that I think I must be doing something wrong. I'm not sure about auctions it never looks organised there! I went a couple of weeks ago with a girlfriend and DD. I would advise going towards the rear of the market (away from Bawadi mall) where it's quieter and also less likely for the people from the tour buses to go. We parked the car in a shady spot and wandered about for roundabout an hour. We had a chat with with the guys about the cost of goats, sheep and camels and where they came from. My friend had her super-duper SLR camera and took some shots of the animals and my little one got to have a cuddle with a 3 day old goat kid. We never were asked for money and had nothing but polite treatment. Maybe because it's become a bit touristy there the guys frontside have become a bit cheeky asking for money whereas the guys at the back don't see people so much? Who knows. <em>edited by Casta on 08/03/2011</em>

Has anyone suggested the camel markets in Al Ain-I love going there-and the zoo is a must question for you: is there a camel auction or something more "organised" at the camel market? I went once with my parents and basically drove around looking at the camels. My parents got out to take a few pictures and were accosted by men demanding money. Another time took sister in law and we didn't get out of the car, again just drove around. We saw tour busses of people who just seemed to wander around. So I wonder if there is a better way to visit? So many people recommend it that I think I must be doing something wrong.

@Hunts in Dubai: Yes it's poor website management. The zoo is open currently from 09:00 to 20:00 (last entry 1hr before closing) and when the weather will get too hot they will move the opening later to something like 16:00 to 22:00 or midnight. The bird show runs at something like 18:30. The phone number (which as far as I'm aware isn't listed on the site!!!) is 03 782 8188 I like the zoo (although don't expect to find anything like Sharjah Wildlife Park) and I also think the camel market is worth a visit.

I've just purchased a LowCostDubai.com & Entertainer 2 for 1 book, which is brilliant if you're here on holiday, the mini-book has about 35 or so vouchers in it. Ski Dubai, Desert Safari, a few fine-dining vouchers and take-away places such as Nando's and Pizza Express. Just goggle the site and I think you can purchase the mini-books online.

I would add that whilst at Dubai Mall you take the children to Kidzania - my daughter and her friends love it. It's a town for chldren. They can try different jobs eg fireman, paramedics, actors, hairdressing, car designer, racecar driver, model etc etc - has its own shops etc - they are paid in kidzania money and can spend it in the gift shop. I only wish that I could try the different jobs too !

Is the Al Ain Zoo actually open now? I went to the website today and under the winter months (October to May) it only had timings until the end of November 2010 then said it future park timings will be announced soon. But I wasn't sure if this is typical poor website management not updating or what. Has anyone actually been recently? If so is most of the zoo open? TIA. During the transformation of the Al Ain Zoo into the new Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, the zoo stays open to the public as follows: Winter months (October to May): From October 07, 2010 to November 30, 2010 the Park Opening Hours are: 09:00 AM to 08:00 PM** (Daily) Bird Show will be daily at 06:30 PM. Future park timings will be announced soon.

Has anyone suggested the camel markets in Al Ain-I love going there-and the zoo is a must

Tour of the Grand Mosque is quite interesting, they provide abayas and shaylas - you can take pictures of your girls in them for their class "presentation". Falcon Hospital is very interesting, they have the falcons fly to your hand (they give you a thick glove) and you can watch them be operated on and wake up from their anasthesia. Indoor skydiving at Abu Dhabi Health & Fitness Club (I think it might be also called AD Country Club). Really cool - no actual diving, you are held up by a rush of air. Kayaking in the mangroves edited to add: the Falcon Hospital thing is not gory or ****** or anything, lol - it's an interesting tour. We actually learned a lot there. <em>edited by adpat on 09/02/2011</em>

I forgot the zoo at Al Ain - it's nice, the animals seem well cared for; not expensive to go in and not too hot to visit at this time of year. There is a cafe inside, which serves fast food, but I would recommend eating in Al Ain. We have only eaten at the malls, but the food was much better than at the zoo. It's okay to take a picnic too, if you can be bothered. <em>edited by elephantrjm on 09/02/2011</em>

Hi. I have 7 and 5 year old boys and recently had visitors for a week with similar aged children, so will tell you what they enjoyed doing. You will be jet lagged, so don't plan too much in the first couple of days. It's great to go down onto the Corniche and experience the lovely weather. You can hire bicycles or buggies for more than one person by the hour and that's pretty good fun. There are cafes next to the beach with child friendly food, a specialist ice cream shop, take away pizza. You can go onto the free public beach or pay 10 dhs per person to go onto the family beach - I haven't done the latter since last Winter, but there used to be free bouncy castles inside, which were usually almost empty. The water will still be quite chilly, but if your kids like playing on the sand, it's pleasant. There are showers and toilets. Go to Dubai to a waterpark. Not a cheap day, but lots of fun - Atlantis often has packages to stay at the hotel and free entry into the waterpark, so you can go 2 days in a row. Opinion is divided over whether to go to Wild Wadi or Aquaventure. If you don't get a package deal, definitely buy a Dubai Entertainer, which will give you buy one get one free vouchers for entrance and for eating there and you will instantly save the cost of the book. Go on a half day desert safari. This is not fo the fainthearted, as dune bashing is like being on a rail-less rollercoaster, but our kids LOVED it. Half price vouchers also in the Entertainer. My neices of a similar age to your girls wanted to go shopping whilst they were here. Not my idea of fun, but if yours would like to do that, then go to Dubai Mall and they can shop til they drop. The Mall has all the shops they could wish for and is amazing to look at as malls go.Whilst at the mall, there is the largest aquarium wall in the world, which you can go and stare at in awe for free. You can also go into the aquaruium, though we never have (Entertainer vouchers).Eat at the food court (Entertainer vouchers) and see the Dubai fountains display for free at 6pm. This only lasts 5 minutes, but is amazing. In Abu Dhabi, go to the Heritage Centre. It's only a half hour or so visit, but quite interesting. Sheikh Khalifa Park has a small museum, some reasonable park apparatus and is a good place to be outside and stretch your legs. There is no cafe (or wasn't when I went last, so you need to take snacks and drinks) I'm not sure if your ten year old is still into climbing frames, but there are several new installations parallel with the Corniche, which we plan to explore over half term. Just take some drinks and snacks with you. There are loads of parks over Abu Dhabi, so if this is something your children would enjoy, you can have a trip to a different one a day for an hour. Go to the Hamdan Centre and buy souvenirs with pocket money in the upstairs shops. There are all the usual things - bowling at Zayed Sports city (10 dhs per person per game), Ice skating, cinema if you wanted to do that, but of course you can do those anywhere. There are also lots more things to do in Dubai (cable car, Burj Khalifa, cross the Creek in a traditional boat, visit the Dubai Museum), but the drive is tiring and you will need time to just chill as a family. Hope this helps. Have a lovely time.