What travellers say when they are home

Visited with my in-laws from Sheffield on one of the rare drizzly mornings of their stay. Kevin found a bench for my father-in-law on every floor and slowed the pace without making a fuss. A beautiful building inside and out.

Kevin gave the best history of Dubai I have heard: Al Fahidi, the abra across the creek, spice and gold souks, then Jumeirah Mosque and a beach photo stop facing the sail-shaped hotel. Every stop had a story.

Did it for my sixtieth, much to my children's horror. Viktor made sure the medical form was sorted in advance and kept me calm during the wait. Landing on the beach with my grandchildren cheering was the best birthday present I have ever given myself.

The jet ski instructor was excellent with first-timers, gave a proper safety talk and rode alongside us until we were confident. Then we raced out to the sail-shaped hotel for photos, which he took on our phones. Thirty minutes of pure fun.

The camp was crowded on a Friday night, with a large group playing loud music until late. When we complained, they moved us to a tent further away, which helped somewhat. Sunrise over the dunes was beautiful, but a quiet night it was not.

Kayaking on the turquoise water of Hatta Dam, a walk up to the heritage village with its old watchtowers, and lunch beside the wadi. Fatima knew every trail and the best spot for photos of the Hajar mountains. A real change from the city.

Lovely views of the Marina skyline and a relaxed atmosphere. Dinner was served quite late, after nine, and the kids were hungry and grumpy by then. The food was tasty when it came and there was plenty of it.

Pickup was 40 minutes late and we missed most of the sunset from the dunes. The office called to apologise and refunded part of the price, but the evening felt rushed. The camp and food were good, and the driver was careful on the dunes.

Our first booking was cancelled for weather on the morning itself, which is understandable. We chose a refund rather than another date, and it took two weeks and a couple of reminders to arrive. When we did fly a month later the views were incredible, but the refund should have been faster.

Travelling alone for a conference, I wanted one afternoon of the real city. Small group of seven, stories about the pearl divers and the old wind towers, and a taste of camel milk ice cream that I did not expect to like. Excellent value for the price.

The flight itself was beautiful and the pilot was calm and funny. The 4am hotel pickup was brutal though, and with a long drive out to the launch site we were tired before we started. Worth it for the view of the sun coming up over the sand.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was breathtaking, and Saeed explained the marble inlay, the carpet and the chandeliers in a way that made us look properly. Then Qasr Al Watan, the Louvre Abu Dhabi from outside and a drive along the Corniche. Abayas were provided for my wife at the mosque.

Colleagues from our Bangalore office visiting Dubai for a week. The team was split into two cars, one for the brave and one for the cautious, which was clever. Morning light on the dunes was stunning, and hotel pickup was at 7am sharp.

Engineers by profession, my husband and I expected a gimmick and were wrong. The healing and wellbeing floor was calming, and the climate section genuinely made us think. Booking the morning slot on a weekday was the right advice; it was quiet.

A great day with a knowledgeable guide. The drive from Dubai is long though, around ninety minutes each way, and with traffic on the way back it was closer to two hours. The mosque at golden hour and the library inside Qasr Al Watan made it worthwhile.

Our flight was cancelled once for wind, which we were told can happen, and Viktor rebooked us for two days later with a message the same evening. The second morning was perfect: drifting over the dunes at sunrise with oryx and gazelles below, then a falcon show and breakfast in the desert.

Bilal drove the dunes just hard enough for my kids to scream with joy without anyone feeling sick. Sunset photo stop on a high ridge, a camel ride, henna for my daughter. Dinner was grilled chicken and lamb with plenty of vegetarian options. Pickup from our Deira hotel was exactly on time.

Beautiful scenery and calm sea. The wait at the border crossing took longer than expected, nearly an hour on a busy Friday, which ate into the morning. Once on the water it was perfect, and the snorkelling stop was the best I have done in the region.

Tamar led us through the textile souk, the spice souk and the gold souk, letting us smell saffron and dried lemons along the way, then onto an abra across the creek. Karak chai and luqaimat in a little courtyard café in Al Fahidi. Two hours of genuine history rather than a shopping trip.

Booked the intense option and it delivered. Mohammed took the big red dunes with real skill and kept checking we were all fine. Quad biking afterwards and back in the city by noon. Exactly the adrenaline hit we wanted before brunch.

Parents from Kerala visiting. Saeed was patient with my parents, slowed down at every stop and found shade for them. Dubai Frame and Al Shindagha were their favourite parts.

Took my nephews, who are visiting from Karachi, for their first trip up. The lift ride alone had them shrieking. From the top you can see the desert on one side and the sea on the other, which my sister found the most surprising thing of all. Easy and well organised.

My parents were visiting from Cairo and the Grand Mosque was the one thing they asked for. Fatima found my mother a quiet corner to pray and walked slowly with my father the whole day. Heritage Village, fresh dates and a long look at the Corniche from the breakwater.

We are a Russian couple and wanted something romantic. Private tent with a firepit, a barbecue dinner and stargazing through a telescope. Ramesh drove us back after breakfast with a stop to see falcons up close. Truly special anniversary.

Proposed on the yacht and Chloé helped arrange roses, a hidden photographer and a cake. She said yes. Smooth from start to finish, and the photos are spectacular.

Beautiful day out, though it was warmer than we expected for early November and the midday walk was tiring. Mohammed kept everyone topped up with cold water and shortened the hike for the slower half of the group. Kayaking on the dam was the best part.

Our company team booked this as a reward for hitting target, four jumpers and six spectators. Everything ran on schedule, the instructors were reassuring, and the video package was worth adding. The spectators had a great view from the landing zone too.

Dinner on a dhow through Dubai Marina with the towers all lit up. Buffet with Arabic and Indian dishes and a live oud player on the upper deck. Jomar was a lovely host and found my in-laws seats by the window.

Full day on a dhow in the fjords near Dibba, with dolphins swimming alongside the boat on the way out. Snorkelling in clear water, a lazy lunch on board and banana boat rides for the kids. Saeed handled the border formalities so smoothly we hardly noticed them.

Two-hour charter for my wife's birthday. Out past the Palm and the sail-shaped hotel, a swimming stop and a fruit platter. Chloé and the captain made it feel very personal, even playing her favourite songs.

Sleeping under the stars was magic. Saeed lit a campfire and taught the kids a few constellations before bed. Breakfast at sunrise with camels wandering past. The tent was clean with proper beds, not the camping mats I had feared.

Informative tour with a knowledgeable guide. The stop at a carpet and souvenir shop was longer than I wanted. Otherwise good, and the Dubai Frame was a nice surprise at the end.

Stunning view and the sunset was everything people say. Even with a timed ticket we still queued about fifteen minutes for the lift, as the evening slot is very popular. Kevin warned us it might happen and kept the kids entertained with facts about the tower.

Birthday treat for my brother and his friends, six of us on three jet skis. Ramesh kept the group together, let the confident riders open up the throttle in the open water, and stopped for a group shot with the skyline behind. We left soaked and grinning.

Great fun and Ramesh was a brilliant instructor. Thirty minutes did feel short once you include the briefing and getting out of the harbour, so I would book the hour next time. The photos in front of the sail-shaped hotel came out amazing.

Forty minutes over the Palm, the World islands and Burj Khalifa from the air, with the water so clear you could see the reefs. Viktor briefed us at the terminal and made sure my son got the seat by the window. Smooth take-off and landing on the water.

Tandem jump over the Palm, a lifelong dream ticked off. Viktor handled the paperwork, the weight check and the timings so all I had to do was turn up and not panic. The freefall view of the Palm fronds is something I will never forget.

I am a bit nervous about small planes and Jomar spent ten minutes with me before boarding explaining how it all works. Once we were up I forgot to be scared. Seeing the coastline from Jumeirah to the Marina in one sweep was spectacular.

Office team night out for twenty-two people. Jomar arranged a cake for our manager's birthday and organised a group photo on the upper deck as we passed the Marina towers. Very smooth from boarding to drop-off.

Brought our two boys, aged 8 and 11, expecting complaints about walking. Instead the abra ride was their favourite thing in Dubai, and Kevin gave them a little spice quiz in the souk with a prize at the end. Al Shindagha was a perfect last stop out of the heat.

A gift for my husband's fortieth. Viktor arranged for a card to be handed to him in the basket and the crew sang to him at the landing site. Gentle, silent, golden light everywhere. The vintage car drive to breakfast was a fun extra.

Good fun, but the dune bashing was gentler than I hoped after asking for the extreme version. Bilal explained it was because two passengers in our car were nervous, which is fair. Sandboarding and the camel photo stop were good.

Five friends who like to keep moving. Mountain biking on the beginner trails, an hour on the dam in kayaks, then the honey bee garden where we tasted sidr honey straight from the comb. Ramesh pushed us just enough. Back in Dubai Marina by six.

Kevin walked us through each floor, from the orbital station to the library of living species, and explained the Arabic calligraphy on the outside of the building. My twelve-year-old has not stopped talking about it. Timed entry meant no queue at all.

Group of eight friends on a Saturday afternoon. An hour of fishing, then a swim off the Palm, then sunset by the Marina. Jomar sorted cold drinks and a playlist without us asking. Will definitely book again.

We booked the Burj Khalifa sunset slot on level 148 and Kevin met us at the entrance with tickets ready, so we went straight through. Watching the sun drop behind the city and the lights coming on below was unreal. The fountain show afterwards was the perfect finish.

My parents visiting from Manchester had never been in the desert. Mohammed explained the Bedouin traditions at camp and persuaded Dad onto the sandboard. The tanoura dancer was mesmerising. Dropped back by half past nine, which suited them perfectly.

Group of Filipino friends from the same hospital in Sharjah, fourteen of us. Saeed reserved the upper deck for our group, sorted vegetarian lunches for two, and found us the quietest cove for swimming. Dolphins on the way back sealed it.