MataHari

Jumeirah Beach Park has more palmtrees than you can wish for...only 5 dhs entry, it's got toilets, showers and changing rooms, you can hire loungers and umbrellas and it's got a couple of fast food outlets...in the park there are a couple of nice playareas for the kids, it's got a really nice family atmosphere and in the weekend it's bbq galore...

Dubaidog

Nowadays - due to the building of "The World" islands, the only Dubai city beaches that get any surf are JBR beach and Sunset (Umm Sequim) beach next to the Jumeriah Beach Hotel.

Whenever a decent shamal wind blows from a westerly/north direction you get a 2 - 4 ft breaking wave - good for body boarding, beginers and kids. I take my 8 y.o. son there regularly and there are usually 20 - 30 surfers out on a good day.

I usually check this web cam first before loading the boards into the car...

http://www.dubaicoast.ae/coastimages...at=1&view=View

We have had a couple of excellent early morning surf trips over the summer - if you get there at day break the heat is just about bearable!

trojanhorse

Hi
For a really great family beach you could do no better than "THE OMAN DIVE CENTRE" they are located a few miles outside Muscat and although you have to pay a few Omani riyals to get in its very shallow and calm, clean water. There is food and drinks available as well as changing and showering facilities. agreat day out even if you do not dive. Hope the idea appeals.

Mick

kittycat1

Where is this? never heard of it before.

Roadking

Hunh!? Never been to the Musandam peninsula. Gotta do it. Drive North and keep going, when you hit water; you are there. Great place to vist. Stay at the Golden Tulip, a 3* hotel which stretches the *'s but is a good place.

Autonomy

one of the best things to do here... sort it out....

Millhouse

awesome place. More dolphins than you could wish to catch with an illegal tuna net.

Tillybean

Agree with the others that this is definitely worth a trip. The Golden Tulip is okay and we sorted out our own dhow cruise by rocking up at the dock and picking the boat we liked the look of.

I was a little disconcerted when, as we were heading out of Khasab, we were overtaken by a small but powerful speedboat which had three guys on it with balaclavas and rifles/guns. Turns out they were doing "the run" over to Iran and back - common occurance.

Anyway, the dolphins are nice :-)

lullabelle

I'm still on the hunt for local quickie beaches. Been down to the corniche several times and it's ok but the water is nasty. Shame as I can pretty much throw a stone at it from home.

Someone locally recommended Bahia beach - said it was good if you went at quieter times.

Stayed at a friend's on the palm last weekend with a nice private beach. Now I liked that a lot as I could get a beer near the pool too and we weren't even in a hotel. Water much nicer than at the corniche. clear and blue - we were at the side facing the Burj.

Oman is beckoning - probably for next Eid. Where to stay that is great for fmilies and won;t break the bank? (Since my bank is already broken... milked me dry setting up here and I'm refusing to use the decent savings...)

Or maybe musandam for eid? what do you all recommend?

Millhouse

That's AD for you. Try the beach near the palace if it's still open. Don't go on
fridays though - that's bathtime.

lullabelle

any particular palace?????

TGFKASE

Assuming Emirates Palace??...

Millhouse

THE Palace. (Emirates Palace). It's called the "ladies beach" might be closed now for the construction of another palace now though. Water is very clean there and not too many Jet skis.

Otherwise go through the heritage village and down on to the beach. Seems a bit cleaner than the Corniche side - loads of twats on jet skis though.

kittycat1

I know I know- I still don't have a car here so guess I'll have to sort that out sooner rather than later! I've still not been to Abu Dhabi ( other than Yas Island)! actually I haven't been anywhere other than Dubai.. I am truly rubbish!