Rajsgirl81

We are traveling to India from the US in December of this year, and would like to have a one day excursion in Dubai. What is the best way to arrange that? This is my first time flying this far internationally. Thanks for any help.

jacketwatch

Do you plan an online overnight stay at a hotel or is it a longish layover?

Rajsgirl81

Most likely an overnight stay.

jacketwatch

Try going to the top of the Burg al Khalifa which is the tallest building in the world and has spectacular views. Book ahead to be sure to get a chance and see the mall it is in.

The old gold souk or market is amazing too.

Many people like a jaunt into the desert on a dune buggy or SUV. The concierge at your hotel can arrange this for you. Again, though, I would look to book ahead as you only have one day.

LAX_Esq

When you say "stopover," do you mean you're buying one ticket that has a long built-in layover in Dubai or buying two separate tickets? Obviously you'll have more flexibility with the latter, but the former may be cheaper. Obviously, carefully check the flight times to figure out how much time you'll *really* have in Dubai. For example, if you land in the evening and have a 4:15pm flight the next day, you may think you have a full day to spend in Dubai, but then you realize that you'll have to leave for the airport at like 12:30 or 1pm and that you'll be super tired from the flight / jet lag, so your "full day" is really only a few hours to see stuff in Dubai.

Rajsgirl81

Thank you for your reply. We plan to visit the Burj Khalifa (our main reason for stopping there).

Rajsgirl81

I’m looking for anyone with experience doing this. Our main reason for stopping over is to see the Burj Khalifa. I don’t want to have to book two separate tickets but it seems that’s what we’ll have to do. Looking for suggestions on the best/least expensive way to accomplish this. Most likely though, we’ll have to book two tickets.

jacketwatch

I just went to a website called ITA matrix. Put in multi destination throughout. As you’re leaving from the US, I put in Chicago though I don’t know where you’re leaving from. I put in Chicago to Dubai, Dubai to Delhi, and back to Chicago for dates in December. got a great price of about 1100 bucks. This was on Emirates by the way.

I just checked on the actual Emirates website. The price I got was $1305. I think it depends on the connections you take but that’s still very reasonable rate. I put in departure from Chicago December 5 to Dubai, two days in Dubai, then on the seventh and return to Chicago on the 21st. December.


Jodah73

One option is to buy a multi stop ticket. Dubai based airline Emirates is probably the best choice. You fly from the U.S. to Dubai and continue to India with the same airline one or two days later.

To visit the top of Burj Khalifa I also advise you to buy tickets in advance. The tickets can be sold out. It is easy to travel around in Dubai by Metro. The Metro runs from the airport and stops at Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa, close to other top sights such as the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk and Dubai Marina. To get from the airport to Burj Khalifa you need to change metro line once.

LAX_Esq

It'll probably be cheapest on one ticket. You can use Google Flights to search prices from your home airport to wherever you're going in India, and select "connecting airports" as Dubai ONLY. Look at everything that's available and see if the flights with long layovers are suitable.

Rajsgirl81

Thank you for the info!

Rajsgirl81

Thank you! I’ll check that out.