Palm Jumeirah alone makes United Arab Emirates worth the trip

I'll be honest — I went to United Arab Emirates primarily to see Palm Jumeirah, and it delivered beyond what any photo prepares you for. But the surrounding region surprised me just as much. Dubai has a character I didn't anticipate, and wandering without a plan for an afternoon turned out to be one of the highlights.

The food is extraordinary. Camelicious ice cream sounds simple but here it's done with real craft. extraordinary modern architecture added another layer to the experience. Spent 20 days and honestly could have used a week more.