Jaunted

Videos / DXB / Dubai Travel / Flight Attendants / Flash Mobs / → All Tags

Whoa. Dubai Airport Pulled Off a Shockingly Excellent Flashmob (Video)

Usually we're pretty critical when it comes to staged flash mobs, but trust us that this one is pure awesome.

It happened recently at Dubai International Airport, and the performers are meant to represent flight attendants, Dubai airport employees and passengers passing through. We're pretty sure they're all hired for the purpose, however.

Okay. No more talking. Just dancing.

Shopping Travel / Festivals / Chicago Travel / Dubai Travel / Events / → All Tags

Shoppers, Get Ready to Charge: Chicago to Hold Dubai-Like Shopping Festival

Chicago wants to copy the famous month-long Dubai Shopping Festival like a knock-off Prada bag. The Windy City plans on trying to lure shoppers from all over for its own shopping extravaganza.

The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival won't be as grand as Dubai's; the world's most popular shopping fest draws more than 3 million shopaholics each year. Chicago's first-time event will be on a much smaller scale, only running for two weeks in the summer.

more ›

Outback Travel / Australia Travel / Dubai Travel / Bad Ideas / Tourism / → All Tags

This is Weird: Australia Thinking of Creating 'Dubai in the Outback'

The Australian Outback is a one-of-a-kind place, but one economist warns that if it doesn't get a flashy face-lift in the vein of Dubai soon, tourism will plummet.

Aussie economics expert Ian Harper recently told the Australian Tourism Directions Conference that officials should focus on adding new hotels, larger airports and other tourist-drawing experiences. Otherwise, he predicted that the number of international tourists will drop in the next three years. One such tourist draw would be a hot-spot-in-the-desert, like Dubai. Though it's hard to imagine a "Dubai Outback" in the harsh yet beautiful terrain, which would displace the kangaroos and dingoes.

Nonetheless, it may be a real consideration, since Australia has experienced a downturn in tourism in recent years (that even Oprah can't make up for). The not-so-favorable exchange rate and the overall bad economic conditions have played a part, but Australia must also compete with its Asian neighbors for travelers.

What do you think? Would a Dubai Outback lure you to Australia?

[Photo: attawayjl]

Tourists / Crime / Know the Law / Dubai Travel / Rules / Airport News / → All Tags

Man Serves Jail Time for Flipping the Bird at Dubai Airport

There’s nothing Dubai wants more than to succeed as a global vacation destination, and that’s especially true when it comes to luring western visitors out into the desert sun. Unfortunately every now and again there are reports of some extreme behavior when it comes to punishment for those that don’t live up to all the rules and standards within the Emirate.

The latest news involves a man getting sent to the slammer for doing something that several passengers probably do each day in especially aggravating airports like JFK and O’Hare. Apparently a British gentleman decided to flip the bird to an airport worker, after the airline employee refused to let him use some kind of customer service telephone.

more ›

Movie Set Travel / Landmarks / Tom Cruise / Dubai Travel / Movie Travel / Celeb Travel / → All Tags

From Prague's Old Town to Dubai's Burj Khalifa, Tom Cruise Gets Around for 'Mission: Impossible 4'

Last week, a few tourists in Dubai got the surprise of a lifetime when they peered over the observation deck of the world’s tallest building and saw Tom Cruise dangling from only a wire, with no safety nets.

Cruise, who is notorious for doing all of his own stunt work, was shooting a scene for the upcoming movie, Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, in which he chased another man around the outside of the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai.

At a press conference held after the stunt was completed, Cruise said:

more ›

Chocolate Travel / Dubai Travel / Shopping Travel / Hershey's Chocolate World / → All Tags

Replace Your Craving for Alcohol in Dubai with Loads of Chocolate

As if Dubai needed another altar to excess, the city just debuted the region's first Hershey's Chocolate World.

Not only is this the first Middle East location, but it's also the largest Hershey's store after the flagship in Hershey, Pensylvania. Yep—it even beats the Hershey's Chocolate World in Times Square, New York City. And even though it can't be the largest, the Dubai Mall location makes up for this by displaying some other superlatives:

more ›

Skyscrapers / Dubai Travel / Landmarks / Travel News / Tourism / → All Tags

Dubai's 124th Floor Burj Khalifa Observation Deck Reopens; Tickets Still $109

What a beautiful new building Dubai has; it's just too bad that ever since they officially opened the 200+ story (160 of them habitable) Burj Khalifa tower as the tallest building in the world, they've barely been able to use it. After the 124-floor observation deck opened at the beginning of January, it soon experienced electrical problems which trapped visitors in an elevator over 1,000 feet up. This prompted the closure of the only open-to-tourists part of the building until now; the Observation Deck reopened over this last weekend, and is again welcoming those who can resist vertigo enough to look out across the Emirates on a clear day. The Armani Hotel still isn't open, so you can't yet sleep inside of the tower either.

To get access to the observation deck, you have two options: reserve online for timed tickets (you get one hour at the top) for 100 AED ($27) per person or walk up to tower during open hours for immediate entry at a cost of 400 AED ($109) per person.

And even though you're paying quite a bit for your 124-floor visit, it's too bad you don't get to experience the world's highest mosque, found on the 158th floor, closer to Allah!

Related Stories:
· Observatory at Burj Khalifa, world's tallest tower, reopens after being closed for two months [Chicago Tribune]
· Dubai's Armani Hotel at the Burj Khalifa Will Try to Open April 21 [HotelChatter]
· Dubai Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: HDWallpapers]

Dubai Travel / Seaplanes / Hotels / Adventure Travel / → All Tags

Skip the Burj Khalifa Observation Deck For a Seaplane Ride Above Dubai

Ever since the new Burj Khalifa opened and then rapidly closed it's 124-floor observation deck, we haven't really trusted it. Instead, we'd be more likely to just hop on a seaplane to zoom above the building itself, and kill a few other birds with the same stone by continuing our flight around other Dubai landmarks.

This type of airborne sightseeing adventure is exactly what a new tour from Seawings Dubai offers. For $333 per person (the plane seats up to 9), you'll buzz in the Dubai skies in a seaplane, passing by these spots on the 40-minute flight: The Jebel Ali Palm, Dubai Marina, the Palm Jumeirah, the 7-star Burj Al Arab Hotel, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Creek, The World Islands and of course the Burj Khalifa building.

It might seem pricey, but remember that just showing up at the Burj Khalifa and wanting a ticket up to the observation deck costs you $109, and you don't even get to go in a seaplane! And then, there's the toll to even cross the causeway to visit the Burj Al Arab Hotel, so we think this is pretty much worth every penny.

Related Stories:
· Seawings [Official Site]
· Seawings Launches Burj Experience Flight [AsiaTravelTips]
· Dubai's Trouble Deepens [Jaunted]
· Dubai Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: seawings.ae]

Dubai Travel / Dubai / Aquariums / Scuba / → All Tags

Forget Boring Offices, Because Dubai's 'Underwater Zoo' Wants Student Interns Too

Dubai's Burj Khalifa's 124th-floor observation deck may have shut down, but college students have another excuse to travel to the city: a highly sought-after internship at the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. Oh, to be frat-age again.

To be eligible, students have to be at least 16 years old and the preference will go to those studying marine science, teaching or a tourism-related subject. Students from all over the world are encouraged to apply.

more ›

Skyscrapers / Dubai Travel / Landmarks / Travel News / Tourism / → All Tags

Dubai's Trouble Deepens: Burj Khalifa Closes and QE2 Ship Up For Sale

Remember a couple years ago when all the cool news was coming out of Dubai, like they had all the money in the world and were using to build the adult playland of the future? Well, Dubai is still turning out all the news, but it's just that the headlines have gone sour, and this week has brought another rush of bad news for the showy Emirate.

First, the newly opened 124-floor Observation Deck in the Burj Khalifa building has closed. The reason they're giving for the closure is that they've had far too many electrical problems, and with people paying $27 in advance or $109 on the spot for the privilege to simply look out their windows, they can't afford to have any hiccups. Really—they can't afford it. Maybe they also can't afford to keep the lights on right now too?

more ›

Shopping Travel / Festivals / Dubai Travel / Events / → All Tags

Dubai's Annual Month-Long Shopping Festival Begins!

Even though it's mired in financial woes, Dubai refuses to scale down the excess. The city's hosting its 15th annual Dubai Shopping Festival, which is best described as a non-stop 32-day party.

Despite its name, the Dubai Shopping Festival is all about entertainment. It features mini festivals, including an international jazz fest, a bike festival, a pet show, a weight-loss conference and a food festival—hopefully the latter two aren't near one another. On each day of the fest, the DSF is raffling off a Lexus LS 460 and an AED 100,000 cash prize ($27,225) , and on the weekends, you can win a custom-edition LX 570.

After the jump, even Bob the Builder gets some action

more ›

Observation Decks / Skyscrapers / Dubai Travel / Architectural Travel / → All Tags

What to Expect at the World's Highest Observation Deck in Dubai's Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, opened its observation deck this month in Dubai and we did some digging to see what the experience is supposed to be like. Perched on the 124th floor, the observation deck is supposed to give an airplane-like view of the area.

To get to "At the Top," the observation deck's, you have to enter through The Dubai Mall’s lower-ground level. Before you pop your ears on the elevator up, brush up on your knowledge of Dubai and the building with multimedia displays like "Dubai Then and Now," "From Earth to the Sky" and "From Vision to Reality." You'll also see a big illuminated model of the Burj Khalifa, formerly called the Burj Dubai, where you can learn about the skyscraper.

A video of the view, after the jump.

more ›