I used to go to Dubai twice a year on vacation, but now I don't intend on returning

The author enjoyed many trips to Dubai while growing up.Priya Raj / Insider

• I used to visit Dubai, UAE, regularly for vacations in my early 20s.
• Though I enjoyed it there, it no longer suits my travel preferences.

I've visited Dubai, UAE, numerous times since my late teens. It was also my first vacation without family.

The idea of a trip there sparked while transiting through the Dubai airport on my way to India. I thought: "If the airport is this good, I wonder what the city is like."

I enjoyed my first five-day trip in 2014 and went multiple times annually after that. However, my stance on travel destinations has since changed and I'm now looking for more unique experiences.

While I'd still recommend it to people who like a luxury vacation, there are a few reasons it won't suit all globetrotters.