Dubai is misleadingly easy to do badly. The temptation is to cram every icon into three days; doing it slower is much richer.
Day 1: Arrival, fountains, mall. Land, settle, and head to Dubai Mall for the Fountain show.
Day 2: Old and New Dubai. Gold and spice souks, abra across the creek, Burj Khalifa in the evening.
Day 3: Desert safari. Afternoon dune-bashing and camp dinner under the stars.
Day 4: Free day. Atlantis Aquaventure, Miracle Garden, or a Marina dhow cruise.
Day 5: Abu Dhabi day trip. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the country's most beautiful building.
Talk to our advisors and let's turn it into your next trip.