- Introduction: First Trip to Dubai with My Son!
- Review: Emirates Airlines 777-200LR (Economy Class) – Dallas to Dubai
- Review: Sheraton Hotel – Mall of Emirates
- Review: Marriott Hotel – Al Jaddaf
- Review: Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
- Review: Burj Khalifa 124
- Review: Dubai Speedboat Tour
- Review: Marhaba Lounge – Dubai International Airport
- Review: Emirates Airlines 777-200LR (Business Class) – Dubai to Dallas
The main excursion I planned on our trip was a visit to the Burj Khalifa. For those who do not know, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. It stands just over 2,700 feet and 160+ floors. The building is beautiful.
I booked the five hour tour through GetYourGuide for a total of ~$185 USD. The price included a visit to the observation deck on the 124th floor and lunch on the third floor. Because our tour was in the afternoon, lunch was offered. If we took the evening tour, we would have been treated to dinner on the third floor.
We took a six minute Uber from the Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf back to the Dubai Mall. If you guessed that we were transported in a white Lexus, you would be 100% accurate.
The GetYourGuide app provided explicit instructions for 1) how to start the tour and 2) where to be for the meal. Here are the starting instructions:
By Car: Burj Khalifa is located near the Ist interchange along Sheikh Zayed Road. Take the Ist interchange and proceed along Financial Centre Road (formerly Doha Street). The approach road to The Dubai Mall will be on the right-hand side.
Meet at Burj Khalifa LG floor (lower ground), immediately on the left side of the official entry to the Burj Khalifa building named ‘At the Top’.
Collect your tickets before your intended visit time at the “At the Top, Burj Khalifa” counter, located on the lower ground level in The Dubai Mall, opposite the food court.
Please note that the “At the Top, Burj Khalifa counter”, Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa are all part of the same complex.
The Uber put us out on the ground level of the Dubai Mall. There were signs, with arrows, that guided us towards the attraction. After walking about five minutes, we came upon a queue for the elevator.
Once on the lower level, I did not know which direction to proceed…so I went right. Boy, was I wrong. I was pointed in the opposite direction after I asking a security guard for the direction.
To get to the ticket counter, I should have taken a left out of the elevator and proceeded to the brightly colored area.
We hopped in the queue for online ticket purchases. I provided the agent with my booking number from the GetYourGuide app.
The agent gave us the tickets for the “At The Top” and lunch portions of our visit. We were guided through security and began the long trek to the elevators.
The hall leading to the elevators was filled with the history, words and pictures, how the Burj Khalifa came to be. It was really cool to see. Guests were allowed to take their time before and after going to the observation deck to enjoy this area.
Nicholas and I looked around for a bit but quickly made our way to the elevator so we could go to the observation deck. The queue for the elevator was long. It was so long that I could not see the elevators. This part of the hallway was hot, cramped, and unpleasant.
After a bit more than 30 minutes, we made our way to the front of the line. The huge floor numbers on the elevator doors was a nice touch. This built our anticipation even more for the journey upward to the 124th floor.
Once we exited the high speed elevator, we made our way past the lines of people waiting to go down. Nicholas wanted to go outside on the deck. The unobstructed views were great. I could not get any pictures because the other guests stagnant while looking out over the city or decided the sit down in the middle of the crowd.
The excitement/enthusiasm Nicholas displayed made the trip to the other side of the world worth it. He did not want to leave the outside deck but we had to keep it moving as there would be more guests coming to have the same experience.
Once back inside, we made our way clockwise through the deck. Nicholas checked out other buildings around The Burj Khalifa. He also played with one of the electronic telescopes on the deck.
A snack shop was located in the middle of the deck. It was for refreshments and small snacks.
We enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the observation deck. After an hour or so we made our way back towards the elevators. There was a gift shop that had all kinds of Burj Khalifa swag.
We made our back to the third level and went searching for the lunch spot. We walked back down the long walkway…twice. At one point, I walked past the gift shop and went down some stairs in search of this place. I feel someone watching the cameras was over me wandering around aimlessly because a staff member walked up, asked our names, and gave me instructions where to go.
Here are the instructions from the GetYourGuide app:
After your visit to the Level 124 of the Burj Khalifa, you will have a 3-course menu in the Burj Club restaurant. The restaurant is located on the 3rd floor of the Burj Khalifa.
We walked back towards the elevators where we met “Angie”. She took us through some residential/commercial hallways before we finally arrived at the lunch check in area.
We, along with six other people, waited for approximately 10 minutes before we were gathered and ushered into another elevator. At this point, I had no clue where we were going. It was only vibes.
As we exited the elevator, we made a quick turn into the Burj Club. The club had outdoor and indoor seating. We chose to sit inside because it was a bit warm.
The inside of the Burj Club allowed for 360 degree views of the surrounding area. This was an amazing aesthetic but also meant a lot of windows. The hostess sat us in the sun, initially, but quickly moved us once requested.
Menus for the three course lunch were provided, while a liter of bottled water was waiting at each table. Another bottle, much like a beer or any other beverage, could be had for a fee.
I placed the food order five minutes after arriving. The menu was limited to a few items which made my decision easier. I ordered the lentil soup and sea bass for myself, while I ordered the bolognese for Nicholas. Nicholas was very particular about what he eats so this was the “safest” option.
The lentil soup arrived minutes later. It smelled and tasted amazing but I only ate a small amount because it was way too hot for me to have soup. A salad would have been a much better choice.
The sea bass and bolognese followed soon thereafter.
The portion size was perfect for both. The sea bass was mild and flaky. The dish did not stand a chance, I ate it within minutes. The bolognese, on the other hand, was not a hit with Nicholas. He stated that the sauce tasted weird and he would like something else.
After speaking with the waitress, we were able to settle on french fries.
The waitress insisted the fries were on her because she had young children who were also picky eaters. I appreciated the gesture. I ended up taking one for the team and crushed the bolognese. At that point, it was time for a nap.
Final Word
The trip to the Burj Khalifa was a highlight of our trip to Dubai. Having the chance to experience one of the greatest wonders of the world with my son, filled my heart beyond measure. The care the staff showed throughout the visit was welcomed and appreciated. While there were a couple of minor inconveniences, the trip to Burj Khalifa 124 and the Burj Club was a success.
