As opposed to vacation spots off Earth?
This list is totally obvious, basically just click-bait. I suppose that everyone knows that there is plenty to do in Rome, Paris, New York and London. They are right that Barcelona is quite an underrated treasure. I was a little surprised that Hawaii didn’t make the list.
Anyway …
What got my attention was the inclusion of Dubai. Have any of you been there? I’m not a nightlife guy, I don’t gamble, I can find beaches anywhere, and I don’t care about the world’s largest shopping mall, so why else would I go there? Is there any reason besides golf?
I was impressed by this claim (assuming it is accurate): “It’s estimated that a quarter of the world’s construction cranes can be found in Dubai.” That’s some serious growth!
Dubai has invested billions in theme parks and similar vacation destinations.
I’d like to go to Dubai just for the insane architecture, indoor ski slope, man-made islands …
I’ve been to Dubai. It’s like two cities in one. We spent the first few days in the old city, where you can soak up the culture and history of the region (there’s a gigantic museum with artifacts dating back thousands of years) and great food. We ate at the best Lebanese restaurant we’ve ever visited.
Then we had to move over to the newer part, where my wife, who is a singer, was performing at a jazz club. We stayed in one of those towering buildings with a swimming pool on the 15th floor. All the giant glass buildings make you feel like you’re in Oz or something (but most are empty; built on spec by wealthy Arabs with big dreams and too much money.)
We did visit the giant shopping mall, which also has an incredible aquarium and a lagoon with a dancing waters show. That mall has a corridor that’s all top name designer stores with ridiculously expensive clothing and jewelry that the wives of oil sheiks buy. It’s kind of fun to stroll down and imagine being that rich. We then ate at the Cheesecake Factory.
Overall, both were fun, but the old city was the place I’d recommend. Oh, and the Cheesecake Factory.
30/35 yrs ago it was Rio, Paris, Hong Kong, Rome iirc ~ digressing …