Not Your Typical Vacation — Our Family Trip to Dubai, the Desert, and the Maldives

GlobalgirlCEO
11 hours ago
6 min read

Some trips are relaxing. Some trips are fun. Then there are trips that you know your family will talk about forever.

We love taking these types of trips — flying from Newark to Dubai, heading into the desert, then on to the Maldives, before finishing the trip back in Dubai again. It was long, it was exhausting at times, but it was also one of the most incredible experiences we’ve ever had as a family.

As a travel advisor, I’m lucky to see a lot of amazing places, but this trip reminded me why traveling with your family — even when it’s far, complicated, or a little crazy — is always worth it.

Dubai – The Perfect Start to the Adventure

We flew from Newark to Dubai, which is a long trip no matter what, and even longer with kids, but the excitement of where we were going made the travel part a lot easier. This was the start of one of those trips we knew was going to be different from anything we had done before.

We stayed at The Dubai EDITION, a modern hotel with an incredible view of the Burj Khalifa. After arriving late at night, we stepped out onto the balcony, saw the tower lit up in the distance, and decided right then we weren’t going to sleep yet. We headed straight over to the fountain show outside the Dubai Mall, and seeing the Burj Khalifa in person for the first time with the girls was one of those moments you just stop and take in.

The next day we went to the top of the Burj Khalifa, and the kids loved being able to see the entire city from above. From there we explored the Dubai Mall, rode the boat inside the aquarium, and spent time at the Museum of the Future, which ended up being one of their favorite stops. The interactive exhibits and sensory experiences made it fun for the kids while still being really impressive for us too.

It was the perfect way to start the trip and a good reminder that travel with kids doesn’t always have to mean beaches and pools. Big cities like Dubai can be just as exciting, especially when everything feels new to them.

The Desert – Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert

From Dubai, we headed out into the desert to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, and this stop felt completely different from anything we had done before. It honestly felt like we were stepping into a movie set, with nothing but sand, open space, and the resort tucked right into the middle of it all.

We stayed in a tented villa with our own private pool, which made it really easy to relax after the long travel days. It was definitely hot out in the desert, but the resort makes getting around simple with bikes and golf carts, so even with the heat it never felt like a hassle. We spent a lot of time just hanging out in the villa, swimming, and letting the girls enjoy having their own little space in the middle of nowhere.

One of the highlights was our desert excursion. On the way out we passed camels walking around the property like it was completely normal, then rode horses through the sand before stopping for a camel ride and a quick bite to eat. Not long after, the wind picked up fast and the whole desert started to change, which somehow made the experience even better. It was one of those moments where you realize this isn’t a typical vacation at all.

All of our meals were at the resort, and the food and service were incredible the entire time. The whole place had this quiet, peaceful feel to it that you don’t expect until you’re there, and it ended up being one of the most unique parts of the trip. It’s the kind of place you probably wouldn’t think to book on your own, but once you go, you’re really glad you did.

The Maldives – Mövenpick Kuredhivaru

From Dubai, we flew to Male and then boarded a seaplane to reach our resort in the Maldives, and honestly, the seaplane alone felt like part of the adventure. Flying low over the islands and seeing all the different shades of blue water below us was one of those moments where you just sit there looking out the window thinking, this is unreal.

We stayed at Mövenpick Kuredhivaru Maldives, and our first room was a two-bedroom oceanfront villa. Before the trip, I assumed the overwater bungalow would end up being the highlight, since that’s what everyone pictures when they think of the Maldives, but the oceanfront villa completely surprised us in the best way.

The villa was set back just enough to feel private, with a small path through tropical trees that opened up to a perfect stretch of beach. The snorkeling right outside our room was incredible, and the girls were completely obsessed with the hermit crabs that seemed to be everywhere. One of our favorite parts of the villa was how our bathrooms all had open space to allow the natural sunlight in and give you an outdoor feeling while being totally private.

The island itself is small enough that you can walk around it in just a few minutes, but every path feels like something out of a movie. Flowers and palm trees line the walkways, the water is always in view, and everywhere you go feels calm and secluded. We saw sharks off the pier, snorkeled almost every day, and spent a lot of time at the main pool where the drinks were great and the staff made everything easy.

After a few days, we moved to an overwater bungalow for the second half of our stay. The glass floors, private deck, and being able to walk right down into the lagoon were exactly what you picture when you think of the Maldives. The girls loved it, and it’s definitely something everyone should experience at least once. One thing about overwater bungalows is that not all of them are the same — some face the sunset and some don’t, and picking the right one makes a big difference.

As amazing as the overwater bungalow was, we all found ourselves talking about how much we loved the oceanfront villa too. It felt more private, more relaxing, and more connected to the island, which was something we didn’t expect but ended up really appreciating.

Back to Dubai – Atlantis The Palm

For the last part of the trip, we flew back to Dubai for one final stop at Atlantis The Palm. It was only for one night, and with our flight home leaving around midnight, it really felt like we only had a few hours to take it all in.

As soon as we arrived, we changed and headed straight to the water park. Even though it was August and the place was packed, the girls couldn’t wait to get in. Between the lazy rivers, water slides, and everything going on, it was easy to forget how tired we were from all the traveling.

The crowds were definitely big, and you could tell it was peak season, but the energy of the place made it fun anyway. After a full day in the heat, we grabbed dinner at one of the restaurants inside the Palm before heading back to the airport for our late-night flight home to Newark.

It was a quick ending to a long trip, but the perfect way to wrap up one of the most unforgettable family adventures we’ve ever taken.

Why Trips Like This Matter

This wasn’t the easiest trip we’ve ever taken.

There were long flights, time zone changes, heat, early mornings, and a lot of moving from one place to the next. It definitely wasn’t the kind of vacation where you just sit in one spot and relax the whole time.

But it ended up being one of the best trips we’ve ever had as a family.

Trips like this remind you that the ones that take the most effort are usually the ones you remember the most. Watching the girls see the Burj Khalifa for the first time, riding horses through the desert, chasing hermit crabs outside our villa in the Maldives, and jumping into the ocean from an overwater bungalow are the kinds of moments that make all the planning worth it.

It’s easy to think travel has to be simple to be enjoyable, but some of the best experiences come from doing something a little bigger, a little farther, or a little outside your comfort zone.

For us, this trip was a reminder that travel isn’t just about where you go — it’s about the memories you make while you’re there, especially when you get to share them with your family.