72 Hours in Dubai: Desert Decadence in Just 3 Days

Start the day at the La Ville Hotel & Suites' Chival, an onsite marble-and-all-white-everything restaurant that puts trendy US cafes to shame down to the Pinterest-worthy blackboard art that reads "I can't even." But don't let looks deceive you — this isn't a buffet like you've ever seen before: stale salad bars are replaced with refrigerated trays of smoked salmon and charcuterie, soda fountains with crystal-infused water, and sugary sweets with a cascading fondue fountain (pictured).

While at the Autograph Collection property, be sure to check out the rooftop pool. You'll get skyline views on one side and vistas toward the beach and Persian Gulf on the other.

From there, venture into the attached City Walk; though the shops are mostly repeats of brands found at the larger Dubai Mall, the real attraction here is the project execution. An outdoor, low-rise mall structurally similar to those in LA, the competitive difference goes beyond the bones; City Walk is pristine, made from the best materials, and features an artistic vision and attention to details visible at every (literal) turn.

If you've heard about anything in Dubai, there's a good chance it's the Dubai Mall. The largest mall in the world — and, without a doubt, the most spectacular — the Dubai Mall is more than just a shopping center; it's a public art space, restaurant hub, theme park, ice rink, and aquarium. Where else can you smoke shisha, buy a $500 Baby Gucci dress, ride an indoor roller coaster, and gorge yourself on camel's milk chocolate?

Make sure to head outside to the Dubai Mall Fountain, where you can get an almost incomprehensible view of the Burj Khalifa. Think of it as the Ponte Vecchio crossing the Bellagio Fountain next to the Empire State Building. But better.

Get some perspective from the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure in the world. Purchase tickets online ahead of time (prices vary by day/time) and enter through the Dubai Mall; from there, lightning fast (and non-ear-popping) elevators take visitors up to an indoor and outdoor observation deck.

If you take one piece of advice from this article, make it this: do a sundown safari. We booked a sundown safari to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve through Arabian Adventures; they picked us up at our downtown hotel in an adapted Land Cruiser for a seven-hour excursion. We started by traversing the sand dunes in the car a la Indiana Jones — while it was a highlight for me and my father, this part wouldn't be safe for those with medical conditions or severe car sickness. After multiple photo stops to watch the sunset over the desert, the tour then continues to a Bedouin-style camp with camel rides, a buffet BBQ dinner, belly dancing, shisha, bonfires, and Arabic coffee.

You may think people in the States love brunch, but you've never seen the way that people in Dubai love brunch, specifically Friday brunch, an all-out social event reminiscent of Vegas's Lavo or NYC's Bagatelle. But while Friday is the best day to get your boozy brunching on, you can find extravagant buffet spreads and overflowing dessert tables waiting to be pillaged any day of the week. We chose to do brunch on the terrace of Zest at the One&Only The Palm, where I ate everything (and I mean, everything) from lobster to macarons.

Spend the day in Jumeirah Beach, and start at one of the many opulent resorts along The Palm Jumeirah. We chose the One&Only The Palm for its restaurants (Zest brunch above and onsite Stay, run by three Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alleno), tiled main pool and rentable cabanas, and private beach. When we visited in early February, the weather hovered in the 80s most days and had little humidity, easily comparable to tropical destinations like Hawaii or the Caribbean.

Quintessentially Dubai in its outdoor-indoor design, uberluxurious massage tables, and locally inspired treatments, a visit to the Guerlain Spa is one of the best ways to get in the spirit of this city, aka the only excuse needed to indulge in an afternoon of cozy robes, lavish treatment rooms, and Guerlain products.

Though The Palm Jumeirah is accessible by car, the quickest (and most scenic) route back to mainland Jumeirah is by boat. Most hotel properties can arrange tours or offer boat transfers; we were able to take a boat limousine from the One&Only The Palm to a private dock at its sister property across the bay, the One&Only Royal Mirage.

Stop for a drink at Jetty Lounge, a beachfront hot spot under the Jumeirah Beach skyline known for sunset views and outdoor nightlife. Order a mango daiquiri, dip your toes into the sand, lean back, and say, "this is the life."

Head back to the City Walk for dinner at Graze Gastro Grill, a steak and seafood restaurant that serves wagyu beef, truffle mashed potatoes, and baked oysters under a museum-worthy ceiling mural. Oh, and did I mention Graze serves some of the best cocktails in the city? Be sure to order the rose-spritzed aperitif, signature house gimlet, and postdinner cold brew.

To be fair, this stop would have been significantly more exciting had I had, I don't know, unlimited funds to spend on gold and diamond jewelry. But even without making any purchases, it's worth walking through to ooh and ahh over the different necklaces, earrings, and rings in various metals and precious gems.

One of few indoor ski resorts in the world, Ski Dubai is located in the Mall of the Emirates. Though understandably smaller than outdoor mountain trails, the park packs a big punch with a full-size ski lift, tube slides, ramps, and jumps. Whether or not you plan on hitting the slopes, it's worth checking out for some photos and a hot chocolate in snowy temps.

Before leaving the area, take the metro one stop south of the Mall of the Emirates. The metros are easy to use and navigate — all stops are numbered and there are only two main lines — and clean. And beautiful. And spacious. And above ground. Should I go on?

One of the few complaints about Dubai is its lack of local culture; compared to other Middle Eastern countries, the city feels particularly modern and Westernized. But though the Dubai Mall may be crowded with Shake Shack, CPK, and Tim Hortons, visitors won't have to look hard (or travel far) to find authentic local cuisine. We took a short cab ride from downtown to Al Falamanki, a Lebanese restaurant with grilled kebabs, fresh saj bread, and shisha.

Shisha — or hookah — is something you gotta do at least once while you're in Dubai, even if you are traveling with your dad.

It's hard to believe, but Dubai's iconic sailboat-shaped hotel may be even more spectacular on the inside. Just be sure to go online or call before visiting — the Burj Al Arab's strict security only allows guests staying on property or with a reservation at the multiple restaurants and bars on property.

We chose to visit Gold on 27, an extravagantly decorated bar on the 27th floor with the lowest per-person minimum (100 AED, which is about $27).

Zuma feels like a best-kept secret in Dubai — every person we mentioned where we were going for our last dinner to was instantly impressed. "Oooh. Zuma is one of the best restaurants in Dubai."

It set expectations high, but Zuma cleared them all — the sushi and robata grill is in line with Nobu and delivers on every detail of atmosphere, flavor, and design. In a city where celebrities are commonplace and over-the-top is modest, Zuma deserves its status as a "name drop" destination for visitors who know what's up.

There's no better way to round out a trip to Dubai than with a late-night cocktail (in my case, before a 2 a.m. flight).

We were entranced by Zuma's dedicated cocktail ice shaper (yes, they work in shifts and do between 150 and 200 perfect circles branded with "Zuma" per shift) and ended up staying for drinks. But can you blame us? The restaurant-bar is equally amazing, and the bar operates in an oversize six-station space similar to that of the sushi bar or a robata grill. Highlights include the signature old fashioned, aperitifs, and extensive sake collection.