Moukoury Jim Kevin Thomas AKA Jay is a 27-year-old doctor, father, travel Influencer, and creative director. Born, raised, and currently residing in Cameroon, he has always enjoyed traveling and seeing the world. After working hard, Jay is sure to play even harder. He loves exploring Africa and beyond, seeking out luxury experiences wherever he goes.
One of Jay’s favorite places to enjoy a luxury vacay is Dubai. Having visited Dubai in December, he considers it an ideal time of the year to visit the city, with its festive decor, mild temperatures, and a full schedule of parties and events. No matter what time of year you visit, however, one can surely expect to find the over-the-top luxury that has come to be synonymous with the modern Emirate metropolis.
“Dubai has some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, luxurious shops, fancy boulevards, crazy water parks, desert resorts, spa establishments, and breathtaking sky experiences,” said Jay. “It’s everything you’ve always wanted in a single city. The feeling of having it all is the biggest form of luxury, in my opinion. Also, the standards are very often higher than what you can expect in other cities when it comes to almost everything—hotels, restaurants, stores, etc.”
During his time in Dubai, Jay stayed at The Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah Hotel and The Address Downtown Hotel. Both hosted some of his most unforgettable travel memories thus far. Located on the iconic Palm Jumeirah Island, the Waldorf Astoria has a private soft sand beach with an amazing view of Dubai’s skyline from the front to the back of the hotel, six distinct restaurants/lounges, and some of the most elegant sea-facing guest rooms imaginable.
“The WA is a renowned luxury establishment, so I was very excited about the idea of staying there with my friend, who lives in Dubai. The resort’s set up alone screamed luxury. My weak point was definitely the side pool jacuzzi, which literally became my second room given the amount of time I spent in it. I’d totally recommend it if you want to book a relaxing getaway or a baecation.”
In downtown Dubai, what Jay loved the most about the Address was the balcony view. With all the shining city lights, it provided a priceless sense of opulence, and the hotel’s design and furnishings were 100% top-notch. Ever in search of the best cocktails in town, Jay embarked on a primarily five to six-star hotel tour, trying out their top drinks and delicacies, his favorite being Neo’s Bar.
“Located on the 63rd floor of the Address Downtown, the food and cocktails at Neo’s were super creative and tasty. The astonishing view of the Burj Khalifa, just outside the window, only made it that much more memorable.”
The vibrant city is full of endless options, and when he wasn’t cocktail hunting, the pristine beaches, exciting waterparks, and world-class malls became Jay’s personal playground.
“Wild Wadi Waterpark was a strong 10. And the famous Dubai Mall, with all its luxury stores, had all the top designer names and then some. Honestly, I’m tempted to say that just the simplest walk in the streets of downtown Dubai already feels like luxury.”
Other amazing experiences offered in Dubai include luxury desert experiences at Al Maha, skydiving, helicopter rides, or cruising the Dubai Marina or Persian Gulf on a private yacht. Visitors might book a stay at the grandiose Burj Al Arab or enjoy Dinner in the Sky 50 meters above ground.
For the best in first and business class travel to Dubai, Jay highly recommends flying with Emirates, and says that Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways also offer fantastic onboard service, and are great for people traveling from Africa. He recognizes the importance of treating himself to splendor and wants to encourage Black travelers to spoil themselves with luxury experiences.
“Spoiling myself in luxury is my biggest ode to self-love. It’s the moment I say to myself ‘You deserve the world and only you can wrap that gift for yourself.’ I believe we travel to achieve some kind of satisfaction we can’t get on a daily basis. It’s vital for Black travelers to treat themselves and see what the world has to offer. To live a life of thrills, bliss, and wholesomeness, especially with everything going on recently. We deserve luxury and we’re coming for all of it.”
You can follow Jay’s travels at @hesjaay.
Related: Philistine Wembo: ‘Black Women Should Not Feel Ashamed For Wanting Luxury Travel’
