Dubai

Where to stay

Deira and Bur Dubai, on opposite banks of the Creek, are where the handful of hostels and budget guesthouses actually cluster. Both sit on the Red Line Metro, within walking distance of the Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and Meena Bazaar, so you're not stranded without a car.

Getting around

• Get a Nol card at the airport and take the Red Line Metro to Deira or Union station. A taxi from DXB to the same spot runs many times the Metro fare; the Metro costs a fraction of a taxi.
• Eat along Al Rigga Road or in Meena Bazaar for shawarma and biryani at a low price per plate. The identical food near Dubai Mall costs three to four times more.
• Dubai has fewer than a dozen real hostels. Book two or three weeks out for December and January or you will be pushed into hotel inventory at a steep premium.

When to go

July and August bring the lowest hostel rates as most tourists avoid the 42°C heat. December through February is peak demand, especially around New Year's Eve, when beds fill weeks in advance.