Dubai (DXB) Stopover Tips

[perthjay85]

There are meeting places outside the shopping mall where they would collect you. We’ve always found people pretty helpful. Taxis are easy too but avoid the cross over times when shift changes occur. That is usually around 2-3.30pm but there’s bound to be an evening change as well.

Hi @Pushka , Thank you for that information. I was thinking the shopping mall might be the best place to get dropped off.

Cheers,
Jay.

 

[Mattg]

Just thought I'd add, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at Dubai Airport recently and was happy with it for the price. It's a short drive from the airport and there is a free shuttle service to/from the hotel. The free buffet breakfast was very good. If you like plane spotting, it's worth paying a little extra for a room with an airport view.

 

[perthjay85]

Just thought I'd add, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at Dubai Airport recently and was happy with it for the price. It's a short drive from the airport and there is a free shuttle service to/from the hotel. The free buffet breakfast was very good. If you like plane spotting, it's worth paying a little extra for a room with an airport view.

Thanks for that info.
Something to think about in future.
Thankfully this trip we have access to the first lounge and the sleeping room.

 

[SOPOOR]

Great thread,

was wondering if I could get opinions

never been to dubai before, looking at flights that have either a 4/12/17 hour stop over, unfortuantely the 4hr stop over isnt the greatest schedule wise ( and is plan B), but 12 hours+ is a long time, ive read a few what to do in dubai articles, but practicality/stress is a concern for me, plus dont want to be spendign $50 taxi each way and $50 to get into every attraction

travelling solo, enjoy eating, love walking around, markets, temples, water fountains
hate: haggling, getting ripped off

 

[JohnM]

No issues with haggling, getting ripped off. DXB is just another massive cosmopolitan city. The souks in those ME places are generally a mere shadow of the traditional image these days.

Just take the train from DXB to the mall at Burj Khalifa if you just want a quick look/experience. It’s very simple and completely safe.

 

[SOPOOR]

No issues with haggling, getting ripped off. DXB is just another massive cosmopolitan city. The souks in those ME places are generally a mere shadow of the traditional image these days.

Just take the train from DXB to the mall at Burj Khalifa if you just want a quick look/experience. It’s very simple and completely safe.

awesome, is 12 or simply 17 hours too short/rushed ?
if I was there for a few days id be doing the amusement parks, water feature, Burj Khalifa, dessert tours, camel ride. sky diving, aquariam, malls,

edit: just checked, some of these arrival times are no good as well
4am arrival, 4pm depart
11pm arrival, 4pm depart

edit: just discovered dubai connect, sounds interesting, but none of them qualify because even though they are nt avaiaible for me, apparently there is a better flight from my ORIGIN

 

[robinsparkles]

awesome, is 12 or simply 17 hours too short/rushed ?
if I was there for a few days id be doing the amusement parks, water feature, Burj Khalifa, dessert tours, camel ride. sky diving, aquariam, malls,

edit: just checked, some of these arrival times are no good as well
4am arrival, 4pm depart
11pm arrival, 4pm depart

The souks and Old Dubai would be fairly stress free for you to visit as its not too far from the airport. No real issues about getting ripped off from my experience.

 

[jase05]

Last transit through DXB was in the middle of July with just over 10 hours to kill in mid 40 degree heat. We had been a few times before so rather than go sightseeing we caught the Dubai Metro down to the M.O.T.E and killed some time. Whilst there we took up a 3hr package at Ski Dubai which was a bit of a novelty to say you have skied whilst it’s 45+ outside. Was quite reasonably precise aswell.

 

[SOPOOR]

The souks and Old Dubai would be fairly stress free for you to visit as its not too far from the airport. No real issues about getting ripped off from my experience.

ive read that most restuarants close at 11pm, and at night I can still go out, but is there that much to see and do over night?

 

[JohnM]

I don’t really like Dubai (but Doha, for me, is the dystopian pits.)

However, there is one thing that does have me hooked in Dubai.

Stay overnight at somewhere perfectly good but inexpensive close to the airport such as the Holiday Inn Express (it has a shuttle), then take a taxi to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel (about $30 IIRC) and dine outdoors at the restaurant at the end nearest the Burj Al Arab while watching the light show on the Burj. The food is good, the wine expensive like anywhere in the ME, but it really is just a divine experience IMO.

There are about six restaurants in the JB hotel, but the outdoor one is the go-to. If you want to go into the Burj, I think you have to make prior arrangements.

The HI Express is only a short walk to a train station if you want to take the train to the mall at the Burj Khalifa, s ope that, then take a taxi to the Jumeirah Beach. Dubai is pretty spread out

 

[SOPOOR]

I don’t really like Dubai (but Doha, for me, is the dystopian pits.)

However, there is one thing that does have me hooked in Dubai.

Stay overnight at somewhere perfectly good but inexpensive close to the airport such as the Holiday Inn Express (it has a shuttle), then take a taxi to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel (about $30 IIRC) and dine outdoors at the restaurant at the end nearest the Burj Al Arab while watching the light show on the Burj. The food is good, the wine expensive like anywhere in the ME, but it really is just a divine experience IMO.

There are about six restaurants in the JB hotel, but the outdoor one is the go-to. If you want to go into the Burj, I think you have to make prior arrangements.

The HI Express is only a short walk to a train station if you want to take the train to the mall at the Burj Khalifa, s ope that, then take a taxi to the Jumeirah Beach. Dubai is pretty spread out

thats awesome, thanks for that,

since I dont know dubai, both the burj and khalifa and al arab are on my top priorities to see

one final question, since im most likely going to be there at a stupid time, will anything be open?
my current options are arriving 00:00 and 04:00

 

[RooFlyer]

one final question, since im most likely going to be there at a stupid time, will anything be open?
my current options are arriving 00:00 and 04:00

Note the hours of the metro if you arrive after midnight: Dubai Metro Guide - Lines, Stops, Train Timings, Carriage Layout

I got out of the airport at 1:15 am this morning but had a car arranged. It took me about an hour to exit the airport after arriving; I was in J and had 'fast track' immigration. A lot of that time was just navigating the vast airport - and waiting for the internal train to go from the arrival concourse to the immigration area.

My advice in your case would be to arrive at midnight, go straight to your hotel, & get up early & head out before it gets really baking.



I was thinking about taking JohnM's advice re dinner at the Jumeirah Beach etc, but its too damn hot. Will still be mid-high 30s at 7pm.

 

[JohnM]

At either of those times, I’d say plan to stop over that night. For the midnight arrival, just book the hotel and get a good night’s sleep. If 0400h arrival, see if you can get an early checkin, freshen up then head to the mall/Burj Khalifa and/or the souks.

Then that night, go to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The restaurant opens at about 1900h, IIRC, when it is starting to get dark. Watch the sun set and the lights come up over a coldie, then have dinner.

A couple of hours or so there and you can be back at your airport hotel at a quite reasonable time ready to shoot through the next day.

I really think you won’t be disappointed if you do that. Obviously, the midnight arrival will mean two nights’ accomodation but I don’t think you will regret it for the experience.

 

[SOPOOR]

Note the hours of the metro if you arrive after midnight: Dubai Metro Guide - Lines, Stops, Train Timings, Carriage Layout

I got out of the airport at 1:15 am this morning but had a car arranged. It took me about an hour to exit the airport after arriving last night; I was in J and had 'fast track' immigration. A lot of that time was just navigating the vast airport - and waiting for the internal train to go from the arrival concourse to the immigration area.

My advice in your case would be to arrive at midnight, go straight to your hotel, & get up early & head out before it gets really baking.

View attachment 182382

I was thinking about taking JohnM's advice re dinner at the Jumeirah Beach etc, but its too damn hot. Will still be mid-high 30s at 7pm.

DAMN! thats an eyeopener
obviously wasnt expeciting it to be snowing

 

[SOPOOR]

At either of those times, I’d say plan to stop over that night. For the midnight arrival, just book the hotel and get a good night’s sleep. If 0400h arrival, see if you can get an early checkin, freshen up then head to the mall/Burj Khalifa and/or the souks.

Then that night, go to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The restaurant opens at about 1900h, IIRC, when it is starting to get dark. Watch the sun set and the lights come up over a coldie, then have dinner.

A couple of hours or so there and you can be back at your airport hotel at a quite reasonable time ready to shoot through the next day.

I really think you won’t be disappointed if you do that. Obviously, the midnight arrival will mean two nights’ accomodation but I don’t think you will regret it for the experience.

thanks apprecaite it,
surprising as how most people on google seem to say its fine to stroll out past midnight, but i was very skeptical,

you guys just confirmed it!

 

[JohnM]

There are quite a few not too expensive hotels near the airport. The HI Express is very clean and new. I have found it perfectly good and very convenient. It’s only a couple of hundred metres from the airport as the crow flies, but there is a major road between that makes it about a 10-15 min shuttle bus ride.

 

[RooFlyer]

DAMN! thats an eyeopener
obviously wasnt expeciting it to be snowing

No, but you can go skiing and skating at the Dubai Mall . Its the worlds largest by total area, and equal largest by leaseable area.

 

[SOPOOR]

No, but you can go skiing and skating at the Dubai Mall . Its the worlds largest by total area, and equal largest by leaseable area.

ill keep that in mind

 

[JohnM]

No, but you can go skiing and skating at the Dubai Mall . Its the worlds largest by total area, and equal largest by leaseable area.

And it’s just another shopping centre, despite all that... .

 

[SOPOOR]

There are quite a few not too expensive hotels near the airport. The HI Express is very clean and new. I have found it perfectly good and very convenient. It’s only a couple of hundred metres from the airport as the crow flies, but there is a major road between that makes it about a 10-15 min shuttle bus ride.

just had a sticky beak

$45 per night, damn!