Before this trip, I kept hearing the same two things about Dubai:
people either love it… or think it’s flashy, fake, and completely overrated.
So is Dubai worth it for first-time visitors?
Short answer: yes — but only if you know what kind of traveler you are.
I’ll also be honest about something I don’t hear talked about enough: I was a little nervous before going. Not because of Dubai specifically, but because it is the Middle East and I didn’t know what to expect from a safety standpoint. After actually being there, that concern disappeared almost immediately. Dubai felt extremely safe, clean, and well-run, especially compared to many major U.S. cities. I never once felt uncomfortable walking around — day or night — and that was a big, unexpected takeaway for me.
So if you’re wondering is Dubai worth it, here’s my real first-timer perspective — what lived up to the hype, what surprised me, and what actually matters when deciding if this trip is right for you.
What surprised me right away was how clean everything felt and how easy it was to get around.
What surprised me most wasn’t the luxury. It was how safe and orderly everything felt. Public spaces are spotless, people are respectful, and walking around at night never once felt sketchy. It genuinely felt calmer than many cities back home.
Dubai feels like a mix of Miami (harbor views), Las Vegas (nightlife and scale), and high-end California resorts — but with better infrastructure and far less chaos.
If you’re in full planning mode, check out my Dubai Travel Guide: Everything to Know Before Visiting for logistics, timing, and basics before you go.
Dubai is tap-to-pay friendly. You can survive entirely on Apple Pay.
Restaurants, taxis, malls, and attractions all take cards
Don’t exchange money at the airport — ATMs in the city are easy
Tipping is simple:
Restaurants: 5–10% if service was good
Taxis: round up
Bellhop: $1–3 USD
Spa or salon: $3–6 USD, depending on service
Overall, money and payments in Dubai were really straightforward.
Dubai Marina is one of the best areas for first-time visitors. It’s walkable, lively, full of restaurants, and right by JBR beach. Morning walks are peaceful, evenings are vibrant, and everything feels easy.
If you’re deciding where to stay, browsing where to stay in Dubai Marina early helps narrow things down — it’s one of the most convenient home bases in the city.
Going up the Burj Khalifa is worth it — but only if you do the VIP Level 148 experience.
Levels 124 and 125 were crowded, rushed, and chaotic. Level 148 was calm, quiet, and actually enjoyable. You can sit, take photos without being pushed along, and stay as long as you want. They bring coffee, juice, and dates, which completely changes the experience.
If you’re debating whether it’s worth the splurge, learn more in my Burj Khalifa VIP Experience: Is It Worth It? post.
The Dubai Mall is really big and has way more than just shopping. Pair it with the Burj Khalifa, then head outside for the fountain show at night. It’s crowded, yes — but it’s also one of the best free experiences in the city and very much a “wow, I’m really here” moment.
To really understand Dubai, you need to see where it started.
Old Dubai feels completely different from the Marina or Downtown:
Narrow streets
Wind-tower architecture
Local shops and cafés
A slower, more traditional pace
Walking through Al Fahidi, hopping on an abra across Dubai Creek, and wandering Al Seef adds context and balance to the trip.
If you want to do this efficiently, check out my Old Dubai Guide: Al Fahidi, Al Seef & Dubai Creek.
Dubai is a serious food city. Not just expensive — outstanding.
From casual waterfront cafés to Michelin-star dining, the quality is consistently high. Two standout experiences for me:
CÉ LA VI and Pierchic are both worth it for the views alone, especially if you’re looking for a memorable setting.
Ossiano at Atlantis, which ended up being one of the top five meals of my life — and I don’t even like seafood
If food is a big part of how you travel, Dubai absolutely delivers.
Staying in the desert at Bab Al Shams completely changed the pace of the trip. It was quiet, atmospheric, and grounding after the energy of the city.
Between camel rides, the falcon experience, and dining under the stars, this part of the trip made Dubai feel more balanced instead of nonstop.
If you don’t want to stay overnight, booking a desert drive tour is an easy way to experience the dunes, try sandboarding, and do a short camel ride without committing a full day.
If you’re already in Dubai, don’t skip Abu Dhabi.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen. Pair that with Qasr Al Watan and a stop at Emirates Palace, and the day feels both cultural and luxurious.
Traffic can be heavy on weekdays, so weekends are easier. We hired a driver and I would absolutely do that again — it made the day effortless.
If you’re planning this, see my One Perfect Day in Abu Dhabi From Dubai for a smooth, realistic itinerary.
A few things to know:
Dubai Airport is chaotic — give yourself at least three hours
High-end restaurants don’t serve tap water, only bottled — and it’s shockingly expensive. So yes, we brought our own and drank it like bandits under the table. I love a luxury meal, but paying that much for water is where I refuse to participate ha.
Popular attractions get extremely crowded at peak times
None of these were dealbreakers, but expectations matter.
If you love:
Luxury hotels
Incredible food
Clean, safe cities
Big experiences mixed with culture and nature
Then yes — Dubai is absolutely worth it.
If you prefer ultra-laid-back destinations with minimal crowds, Dubai might feel overwhelming unless you pair it with Abu Dhabi or the desert.
If you’re still deciding how to split your time, check out my Dubai vs Abu Dhabi: Which Is Better for First-Time Visitors? to fine-tune your plans.
I walked down what looked like a regular hillside entrance and came out into a room that could almost fit a football stadium. 🪨 Tuckaleechee Caverns is the highest-rated cavern in the Eastern US and until you’re standing inside it, that’s just a fact. When you’re actually there, it feels earned.
Stalagmites 24 feet tall. A 210-foot underground waterfall. Formations that took 20 to 30 million years to build. A family that still runs the whole thing.
Bring a jacket. Wear good shoes. Don’t Google how it was discovered before you go hearing it on the tour is so much better.
#townsend #visittennessee #travel #travelling #travelvlog
If you’ve only ever seen the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge side of the Smokies, Townsend is going to feel like a completely different state. 🌲 No neon signs. No traffic. No crowds fighting for the same overlook.
🥾 Middle Prong Trail | River views, small waterfalls & fresh air the whole way. Hike as little or as much as you want.
⛰️ Tuckaleechee Caverns | Start underground with massive cave rooms, waterfalls & guided tours. Go early, beat the rush.
🍕 Peaceful Side Social | Made-from-scratch food, craft beer & mountain views. Fair warning: you’ll stay longer than planned.
🚗 Scenic Drive to Tremont | Slow down. Stop. Take it in. The drive itself is part of the experience.
Summer swap? Ditch the hike for River Rat Tubing — same vibe, more splash.
Townsend calls itself the Peaceful Side of the Smokies. After one full day there, I completely understood why. Entire itinerary linked in bio.
@peacefulsidesocial is what happens when someone builds exactly the restaurant a mountain town deserves. Made-from-scratch food. Craft beer brewed on site. A kids’ play area outside, & mountain views from the patio. ⛰️
It’s casual in the best way, the kind of place where you sit down for lunch and suddenly it’s two hours later and you don’t care.
@cityoftownsend | 📍Townsend, TN
I walked through the gates and immediately understood why people fly back to Curaçao just for this place. 🌴
23 rooms. Private beach. A Balinese-inspired resort built stone by stone by the owners themselves. Buddha statues next to conch shells. Candles lit everywhere at night. Beachfront dining that eats like fine dining but feels like you’re just having dinner on the sand.
It’s currently the #1 resort in the Caribbean and after spending time there, I get it completely.
Full review linked in bio
#travelling #curaçao #visitcuraçao #luxuryresort #travelvlog
I walked down to the beach and immediately noticed how calm the water was. 🐚
It sits in a small cove, so there’s really no waves pushing in. You just walk right in without thinking about it. I grabbed my snorkel (they actually rent them for free at the resort, which I didn’t expect) and went out near the pier and stayed way longer than I planned, because the water was that clear.
Honest caveat: if you need a lot of energy and activity at a beach, this probably isn’t it. It’s quiet, it’s calm, and you’re mostly just... sitting there. Which for me was exactly the point.☀️
Full Baoase review linked in bio. 🔗
#curaçao #travel #luxuryresort #privatebeach #visitcuraçao
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
