Dubai Travelogue #1 | Flying Emirates A380, Burj Khalifa & The Beach

After days of sorting through over 6000 Dubai-Paris trip pictures, here's the first post!

Some may think that our travel destination combo is a little weird, normally people will plan a Paris-London trip/ Paris-Amsterdam/ or even other European countries, but since we only decided to go to Paris one month prior, and Dubai layover was free, we decided for a short stay in Dubai. 

We were lucky enough that Emirates tickets was on sales, and boarded A380 for the first time!

We are random travellers, we take opportunities whenever we've chance to experience something new. So for our flight to Dubai, we opt for an upper deck window-seating by paying a little extra (RM 300+/ pax).  

Extra storage with a locker by the window!

Blankets were ready on the locker.

Only two-seating by the window on upper deck.

Menu of the day.

2 meals for this flight from KL to Dubai.

First light meal.

Chicken sandwich.

Second full-course meal.

Sleepy head having his meal.


and they have the best airline entertainment!

Their varieties of the entertainment shows and music really amazed me, they even provides new movies and shows in different languages! 

A picture for a first-time experience on upper deck!

Since we were on upper deck, we were given the priority to board and leave the plane first with other Business and First Class passengers. It's kind of cool and we didn't have to pay a ton of money to experience the "priority". Besides that, there are more leg room, extra storage, and only two-seat by the window (middle row on upper deck is still 4-seating). Oh yes, before I forget to mention, their plane food is the best I've tasted so far! 

For upper deck economy seating: 2-4-2

 For lower deck economy seating: 3-4-3 

That's right, extra comfort, and they have this adjustable head pillow which is great because I'm too petite!

Uber ride upon arriving to our hotel!

We arrived too early in the morning, and our hotel room wasn't ready until 2pm. So we dropped our luggage at the hotel, and went straight to our first destination on our itinerary - Burj Khalifa. 

View from the tallest building in the world!

We had a short conversation with this solo traveller.

Picture with the help of the friendly traveller!

Although the view is amazing, I still think that paying 135 AED/pax is a little expensive.

After a short visit to Burj Khalifa, we went straight back to hotel at DoubeTree by Hilton Hotel and Residences Dubai Al Barshafor a check in. We were exhausted from the long flight and the jet lag.

We were treated cookies upon checking in!

We were upgraded to a King Studio with Kitchen (originally we booked King Deluxe Room with Balcony). Good thing is it comes with a kitchen and a washing machine. We booked from Agoda, link is here for our upgraded room.

The bed - quite comfy.

Work area/ TV/ closet

Kitchen with washing machine!

This kitchen has everything from cups and plates to pots and pans and microwave too! You could definitely cook in here.

Living area.


The bathroom.

Shower/ Bathtub.

Swimming pool.

The hotel provides free shuttle bus to Emirates Mall and Dubai Beach too!


Pros of the hotel:
- Clean
- Good service
- Free shuttle bus service base on schedule
- Spacious room
-Crabtree and Evelyn toiletries
- Gym and pool facilities

Cons of the hotel:
- A little old
- Bathroom shower head was not fixed at the wall, had hard time shower but I was too tired to make complaint
- Swimming pool too small
- Not in the center of the city (around 30-40 AED each trip to the city)
- Near Emirates Mall but nothing much in the vicinity
- No Wi-Fi service in the room



After having a short nap and quick shower at the hotel, we headed to The Beach during the evening time!

Messy hair don't care.

Strolling around Jumeirah Beach, quite a bit of shops and restaurants over there!

The weather was at 40°C even at night!

Travel Tips:

1. There are two types of entrance fees to Burj Khalifa: 

    a) 135 AED up to level 124 + 125

    b) 370 AED up to level 124 + 125 + 148

    (ticket information - https://tickets.atthetop.ae/atthetop/ )

2. You may book Burj Khalifa tickets online to avoid long queue via official website or klook.

3. Emirates Airline allow special meal booking before departure date, I ordered vegetarian meals for the trips after because there are quite a few of types of meat that I do not eat. 

3. Taxi is cheaper than Uber in Dubai city.

love, Emma