Dubai

Parked at Festival City on the edge of town and bought a ticket for the Big Bus - about £40. Good value because you can ride all day, get on and off, go on a dhow cruise down the creek and get entrance to museums. The main thing is that you can tick off all the 'must see' attractions.

The day was murky with construction dust and the traffic was quite heavy. The old town is attractive and the harbour side busy with all manner of goods waiting to be transported by dhow - mainly to other Gulf states, to India and Pakistan. Boxed goods such as fridges and TVs seem to sit by the side of the road day and night without being loaded or stolen. Dubai seems to be trying to emulate New York and Las Vegas but without pulling it off. However, I'd happily give the 7 star Burj Hotel a try - you get helicoptered in from the airport to a helipad on the roof. Probably cost me a year's salary to stay the night. The Atlantis on the Palm is a considerable feat of engineering but when I have the money to buy the likes of a Palm property, I think I'll go for something in the South of France or the Caribbean.