When I was planning my trip to Dubai, I checked other travel agents which were offering different trips to this country. Honestly, they were very expensive and I got to do a challenge to plan a much better trip on a lower budget. If you too want to explore this Dubai on budget, without creating a hole in your pocket, keep on reading.
Everyone has a specific taste and pattern in exploration. So, in this blog I will give you some basic details which will ultimately help you plan your Dubai adventure easily.
Table of Contents
Best Time to Travel to Dubai-
This is a very important aspect of Dubai travel. Dubai weather is beyond pleasant between December and March. It’s a very hot country and exploration could be miserable in the heat. In summers it reaches around 500 C.
Most outdoor attractions in Dubai remain closed due to immense heatwaves. But indoor attractions stay open. If your traveling interests align with that and if you can bear that kind of heat, then you are in luck, you might save a buck on expenses like stay and food.
You can plan your trip in the given period only and of course it’s a tourist season so things are going to be a bit expensive. The key is to book everything in advance. Plan around January, and expect to get better rates. Make sure you are planning 3-4 months in advance.
Hotels in Dubai-
Millions of people visit Dubai each year[1] and there are high chances that you might end up spending a lot on stay due to high demand. I visited Dubai in January and booked my stay 4 months back and I struggled to find a stay because almost every hotel was fully booked for the dates I was planning to visit.
Dubai has all kinds of accommodation options available, from AitBnB to Hostels. Depending on your stay duration and number of travelers you can choose the accommodation option. Hotels in Deira, Dubai are comparatively cheaper. But know that everyday you will need to travel by metro to reach places in Dubai. This area is famous for all the souk for shopping and well connected by public transport.
Make sure that before you book a hotel, you cross check rates on multiple OTAs and find the best deal for yourself.
I had booked my stay at Maaeen Hotel for 7 nights for 3 people for around INR 39000. In the month of January this is the BEST rate that you would get for hotels!
| Tourist Dirham Fee After all the taxes you pay for the hotel, this is another charge you will be supposed to pay. It’s around 7-15 AED per room, per night. Once you reach the hotel, you will be asked to pay that fee which is mandatory by Dubai Govt. |
Dubai Visa Expenses for Indians
You can try getting your visa from the official sites but let me give you a disclaimer. It’s not as easy as you might think it is. The entire process is very tedious and language is the barrier there. It would be difficult for you to understand the instructions. I would highly recommend going for agents who will get your Dubai Visas easily.
I have used Visa2Fly to get my Dubai Visa. They will charge mere 299 rs as the charge and will do everything from application to submission on your behalf. All you have to do is provide them with the details and all the necessary documents and they will do the rest! Their customer care is also very responsive and will guide you through everything.
Standard Dubai E-Visa for Indians costs about INR 7300 per person. It’s a 30-days stay single entry visa with a validity of 58 days. There are more options like express visa, multiple entries, two month visa, etc. Depending on your travel plans, go for the visa.
AirFare for Dubai on Budget Trip
This is the only expense that I have no cheat code for. Probably the only high end expense in the whole budget. I would still suggest booking tickets in advance, like 3-4 months beforehand. Because, remember- the travel season in Dubai! All the travel agencies are going to book their slots in advance and so are other tourists. Make sure you book in advance for best rates and availability!
Food in Dubai
Food and Dubai go hand-in-hand! You will get anything and everything in Dubai to eat! There are many food stalls that sell all kinds of foods from continental to indian. Bur Dubai has a lot of Indian restaurants offering various cuisines from India.
In the Deira, you will find Indian as well as continental food shops. Dubai itself has a rich cuisine which you can explore at specialty restaurants. Eating in Dubai is one of a kind experience. There are many restaurants in Dubai that offer unique dining experiences; some at the tall buildings.
If you are in Dubai, make sure to save one evening for that special dining experience.
Local Transportation In Dubai
If you are on a tight budget, nol card is your rescue. You can pay with the nol card for buying literally any ticket of the public transport. Dubai Metro can get crowded in office hours, but it is the best way to get around the city on budget.
Most of the Dubai attractions are located a few minutes away from metro stations. Just make sure that taking public transport can be a bit time consuming. Make sure you have a transit map on your phone and you can quickly learn which train/bus to take next.
I have made a dedicated blog on Dubai Metro. If you are interested, give it a read. Uber and other taxis are also available but of course they are more expensive than metro.
Me and my mom and dad had bought 3 silver nol cards and spent 7 whole days in Dubai, exploring every corner, and we thoroughly enjoyed our metro rides. Mostly we walked, took buses, trams, and metro. We did save a huge chunk of money there!
Local Sim Card
This could be expensive but very necessary if you are going to travel to Dubai on your own or using public transport. You can get one sim card for a group. I bought my sim card from a shop located at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. It was 189 AED. You get to choose from various recharge plans.
This will help you navigate through the city and check public transport.
Attractions in Dubai
Ohh this is extremely important, if you want to save money. There are endless things to do in Dubai. You might get confused because not everything is going to be to your taste. Make sure you go through the major attractions in Dubai and curate a list for yourself.
Like there are many aquariums in Dubai, but we visited only one that is there in the Dubai Mall. If you are more interested in that then you can explore all the aquariums in Dubai. We skipped a few attractions such as Global Village because that did not align with our interest.
Also, make a rough itinerary and make groups of attractions that are located nearby. So that it will save both your time and money. These small tricks save big bucks, trust me!
For example, if you are visiting the marina area, then you can plan your day like this-
Secure the earliest spot for skydiving at Dubai Marina, then go to the Nakheel Mall and enjoy the view at Palm, take a Palm Monorail ride, visit Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark, and end your day by having a relaxing Dhow cruise dinner!
All these places are located nearby so you would not need to take that long and exhausting metro ride to this area again and again and you will end up saving money too!
Tickets to the Dubai Attractions
NEVER ever think of booking a ticket on site! I repeat, NEVER! Major attractions like Burj Khalifa, View at The Palm, Dubai Frame are almost always crowded and you will have to wait in a queue for hours! EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE AN ONLINE TICKET! So imagine how much time you will waste if you have to buy the ticket as well. Plus, there are many online sites from where you might get some discounts too!
I wanted to save every penny possible. I checked all sites such as agoda, booking.com, klook. You will too find a huge difference in prices. I booked tickets from where I got the best rates. Also, ensure that you have a buffer time in hand as a waiting time in your itinerary.
Visiting Time
Another important aspect! Remember, along with money, you must save time during your trips. If you spend more time reaching the destination than enjoying the destination, then it’s going to be a disaster! When you are booking for major attractions like Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame, ensure you book a morning slot. You might not need to wait that long!
Slots at sunset are usually more expensive than the usual ones. Know your priorities and save more!
One-Of-A-Kind Experiences in Dubai
Know that Dubai is a very creative place. At every corner you will find something unique and Instagram-worthy. Just to avoid the FOMO, many people end up doing those activities which don’t actually bring them joy!
Luxury Car driving is one of them. We didn’t go for it. But if you are a car enthusiast, go for it! If you just want to experience it for the sake of it? Umm, Not so sure! A normal Uber in Dubai is also a lux car! We were driven in a Tesla and Fortuner as Uber!
AND let me tell you- all experiences in Dubai are one of a kind. You need to make sure what works the best for you and what actually brings joy and if it is actually worth the money or not!
Shopping In Dubai
People rave about shopping at Dubai Mall for branded items. I have no clue in that area. But if you want to get souvenirs, then Dubai Mall is expensive! You can buy spices, attar, and chocolates. For these things, Deira is the best place.
1 attar was being sold for 100 AED in Dubai Mall which I bought for 20 AED in the local shop in Deira! These souks in Deira are set in a traditional manner! Even if you don’t want to buy anything, you can just enjoy a walk through the souks. You will be able to find amazing stuff at the best prices here!