Skip if you're not interested in driving
[quote=Mike De H ]what is the best way to get out there from dubai? ... Maybe get a taxi to do a deal or hire a driver and car. [/quote][quote=Piper1]Take a hire car... I hear the most direct way to Fujairah is to drive from Dubai through Sharjah (I got lost inside there also !), and keep driving straight. About 90 minutes later, you'll hit Fuj.[/quote][quote=My Kapitan]If you really must go to the end of the world as we know it use the Emirates road vai defence roundabout or by Terminal 1. Believe me you will get lost going via Sharjah.. [/quote]As posted by Piper1 and My Kapitan: forget the hired taxi or "car with driver". Just get a rental car.
Reminder: there are no street addresses here. So you can't say, "In the 800 block, take the major junction..." Everything is done by landmarks, ala My Kapitan's "Emirates road via [u]defense roundabout[/u]". Every resident knows where "defense roundabout" is, just like we all know where "fish roundabout" is (although it took me 3 years to find THAT one (name OBVIOUS once you realize where you are... [fish sculpture in the middle]). Contrary to reports of OLD, doesn't appear to be that much action in the vicinity (but that was NOT why I was looking for "the fish"...). Roads are poorly sign posted; even if they are, they all have "local" names, e.g., Khalid Bin Al Waleed street is commonly known as Bank street.
Directions are usually given from some basic landmark; could be one of the bridges over the creek, a major mall, a hotel, etc. Then it's like your wife/gf giving instructions: at the big white building, turn right, go straight to the 2nd petrol station, turn left, then on to the supermarket with the green sign on top, make a U, and you are there. Such fun... try having your goods delivered, or even start a newspaper subscription... common to make a map to your house, then print it out 50 times so you can just hand to whoever.
When you get your rental car, ask for a map of the country. These are NOT commonly sold in petrol stations as they are in Europe/USA. There is a half-decent one: northern part of country (abu dhabi and north) on 1 side, inserts of various cities on the other. Country map shows the major roads; not all that many between cities. After all, this is the desert. City maps give you a general idea.
There is also a Lonely Planet guide to Oman and UAE that has some maps. Not a bad read. Or, if you're cheap, go to the library and copy the maps (reasonable city maps).
Finally, at the airport, in the cities, and sometimes at an Emirate's border, there are tourist offices, although if they will be open when it's convenient for you is debatable. These too have maps (e.g., got a map of Fujairah at the Fujairah office).
Looking at these, you make your own directions to follow. When I went to Furairah, it was via Sharjah (as I had some LP maps). It was something like (just an example, not "exact" instructions - it was 4 years ago and I've never felt the need to return): cross the Garhoud bridge, then after a couple of klicks, after crossing over a major inlet, follow signs to airport (but don't go there), [some number of roundabouts], then, a star intersection. First arm goes to airport, take the 2nd, look for signs to the "museums" (Sharjah has a "typical" local (mental) complex - desire of bragging rights to something "most of" in the world; here, something like the most museums in one area). Once past the museums, you're on the way to Furairah. Once on this road, impossible to get lost; only 1 road. (And yes, I did have to circle the star intersection a couple of times).
[quote=My Kapitan]As a guide a Nissan Cloudy or Toyota Cockroach car hire will cost about 80dhms per day but you are best in something with more metal around you on the road to Fujairah. Beware killing a camel in a collision will cost about 10000dhms in fines.[/quote]Yes, given the driving abilities here, you do want some protection. Especially on some of the smaller "connecting" roads (unlike the abu dhabi - dubai which is 8 lane divided highway). But, at least 4 years ago, the road to Fujairah was a lot of 2 lane road - single lane each way. Getting stuck behind a 40kph truck, waiting to pass... besides watching for on-coming traffic, make sure you watch your rearview mirror for "queue" jumpers...
And if you hit a camel while driving... a 10000 dhs fine is the least of your worries. It's like American football: hit a player in his lower legs, he falls over... Same with that 10 foot camel, only his couple of tons is coming through your windshield (windscreen for you foreign born sorts...)
[quote=Mike De H ]Action wise, I presume taking your own entertainment along with you would be prohibitively expensive? In your experience are "bulk deals" possible?[/quote][quote=Piper1]WGs like to have a weekend away also, but of course, need to be compensated for their time. [/quote][quote=My Kapitan]Best advice - go to the Regal in Dubai, find a girl for the night and suggest a trip.[/quote]A lot easier for Westerners. Besides the "weekend" away, it's a couple of days (whatever) of not having to hit the bar "zoo" and its market uncertainties. A-listers (guaranteed at least 1 salary package per night) will require a bit more compensation than the 1-tier down wg. [u]I'd[/u] certainly want to be familiar with the girl BEFORE going on a weekend away. It's one thing, if [i]trouble[/i] hits, when her home is just a cross-town taxi trip... Though I do know girls who have taken cross-Emirates bus trips home after a [i]working[/i] holiday elsewhere.
[quote=Mike De H ]I am having trouble convincing the FKK crowd that Dubai is worth a trip. I see great potential in the place (after all - living in the UK stinks) both as a lifestyle and for P4P all night GFE, trips, and so on. Not to mention the weather of course.[/quote][u]I've[/u] always maintained that coming here solely for P4P is not worth it. Yes, it is nice it's available for residents and visiting businessmen, but I think there's better value for money, better "ambiance" elsewhere (e.g., Asia) if you're on holiday. As you've seen, it's not exactly cheap here, especially when you consider hotel prices, food costs, DRINKING costs, etc. But when the company is picking up some of that...
Though I will say, as you do, the number of potentials from a variety of nationalities to search, and the actual LT GFE is quite nice.
As to the weather... see you in August...