Day 1 of Dubai trip: Beachcombers and Souk Madinat

View of the Burj Al Arab from Beachcombers

We didn't do much on day 1, or on any day really. As it was a Saturday, I had planned to have a brunch at the beachcombers. Initially we wanted to go to Burj Al Arab for a lunch, and as we wanted a beach side restaurant with a view of the Burj choices were Majlis Al Bahar restaurant or Beachcombers at JBH. My sis was keen on BAA, but I was not. As the price we would pay for a single dish (the only thing I liked on BAA's menu a meat platter) is almost same as the price for the brunch per person at Beachcombers. But we knew that was the Burj Al Arab! I also asked on the TA forum on this issue and was recommended Beachcombers for the food and BAA for the view.  We were torn between these two places, and we know when all fails where to go to get the final decision. It was my  sweet 4 months old daughter who ultimately decided where we would have lunch. One afternoon I asked baby Beachcombers or Burj Al Arab? She stuck her tongue out when I said Beachcombers and didn't do a thing when I said Burj Al Arab. So, I sent an email to my sis who was at work, and told her Beachcomber it was!

I sent an email to them and reserved for 2 people a non-alcoholic brunch.

Beachcombers restaurant terrace side

Anyway, so we got up and helped our self with the Nescafe instant coffee provided by the hotel (meh). And then got ready and got out and about. We took a cab, which was conveniently waiting outside the hotel. Once at the hotel,we detoured to the beach side to take few pics. Oh dear God! It was so damn sunny and  a tad bit warm (I wouldn't call it hot) my daughter started to have a major hissy fit. The moment sun was right on her face poor thing started to cry. So, from playing hide and seek from the sun, we captured just as many pics as my baby would allow. It seemed like I was in some sort of water park as there were pools just about everywhere. LOL So, once in the restaurant we were seated outside on the terrace as requested.





Host showed us around, explained the buffet.

And there weren't that many customers really. It felt rather empty and then again we went exactly at 12.30! Our lunch took exactly 2 hours to finish. Not only caz we ate a lot but there were some pause in between our food intake as when I ate my sis held the baby, when she ate I held the baby. And we played this musical baby for a while and I needed to nurse her at one point. I asked one of the chefs if there was a room/space where I could nurser her she took me to the child playing area and told me I could nurse her there. So, I did. After we finished eating, that same chef ordered a buggy ride service for us as I was asking her how could we go to Souk Madinat from JBH. She didn't know if we could use the buggy service as we weren't guests of JBH, but she ordered one anyway.

Band playing at the Beachcombers rest, they were pretty good!

That buggy ride was one of my fav things in Dubai! Huh! Driver was really nice and he took a detour to a place that had the best view of the burj and took our pics even though we really didn't want to. He dropped us off near the stairs and told us to go up and we would be at the Souk. Since this was a free service, there was no charge but we just gave him a tip.

 Burj Al Arab from Souk Madinat near Meat & Co.

Once up the stairs we were close to Meat and Co. restaurant. We were able to take some pics with view of the BAA as baby was sleeping.















 We passed through the Meat and Co restaurant , up the stairs and started to roam. Well, Souk Madinat was nice. We liked it, and I knew it's really a tourist trap and still liked it. We didn't buy anything as it was not on our list of things to do. We did take pics.

 We walked and walked and walked and somehow ended up at the entrance of Souk, where we saw cabs waiting in line. By the point we were really tired and just hopped on the cab and back to hotel.


We planned to go to Souk Madinat at night again to see the night view and such after we take a nap. Well, that nap ended up in full blown few hours of sleep for all three of us. When we got up it was 9 p.m., too exhausted to go out. We decided to order room service for dinner, but before we did that wanted to check out the hotel pool on the rooftop. It was a good idea.


When we went there, only a couple was hanging out drinking something (not in the pool). It was so nice being outside when the weather was a bit more cold, and nice breeze and the pool area was really lovely. They had nice seating areas and all. We took few pics, got my baby's feet wet from the edge of the pool for the first time (and mine too..and yea for the first time too) and I really enjoyed it. And baby fell asleep on my shoulder...extra bonus caz she really liked it that much haha.

Back to room, got out room service orders of Beef burgers and what can I say? It was absolutely nothing special. But I was glad that our day was just as I had hoped it to be, nice, relaxing and not too crazy!