worldinabag

Hi

In late August I've got a 7 hour wait in Dubai for my flight to Europe. Apart from the facilities at the airport is there anything else to do? I was particularly interested in doing a short (around 3 hours) guided tour of Dubai- sort of like the one in Singapore for eg. where you don't have to go through customs. Is this possible? I checked the Dubai airport website. No clues there. Thanks for your help.

waynehazle

The Dubai airport was probably the most clean, gleaming, magnificent airport I have ever been to.

I didn't check out all the activities, but there definitely seemed to be lots of places to shop at.

I wouldn't mind being stuck there for several hours.

santharamhari

If you are flying with Emirates, they can arrange the whole city tour for you along with the visa on arrival. Talk to them. Last yr, i used Emirates to fly to NYC and had them organize the visa on arrival etc.,

Hari

winniep

I haven't heard of any tours like the city tour for Singapore.

If you follow the signs to immigration, before you go up the stairs (your right side), there's a group of counters. You can ask them about tours.

There's also an information counter where all the duty free shops are.

Otherwise you'll have to go through immigration (long lines). Most people from Western countries can get the visa stamp(free) at immigration.

worldinabag

Hi

Thanks for your help y'all. Gives me some ideas.

skfavas

It may be too late for you but if you have a Diners Club card you can use their lounge at the airport for free meals, drinks, internet, coffee, tea, showers, toilets etc. Fantastic service. Fantastic airport, fantasic city, fantastic people.

worldinabag

Hi

Thanks for the tip. I looked into it. It will cost me $95 and my wife $45 to join. Unfortunately I don't travel frequently so I don't think I'll get my money's worth.

skfavas

Tell Diners you don't want to pay their fees - we don't. We just keep renewing our 12 month fee free year. They offer this to us in Australia so try your luck. The card is not much use in Europe as a lot of places will not accept it because of Diners higher fees for merchants. A few do but not many. Same with Amex.

sunshine007

How do you "Tell Diners you don't want to pay their fees - we don't. We just keep renewing our 12 month fee free year?" It sounds like you are getting that proverbial free lunch. Let us in on the secret.

waynehazle

If only I could work that with my mortage company.

<i>&quot;You know, I don't want to pay your interest...&quot;</i>

skfavas

We just ring them and say that if they want our continued custom we don't want to pay their annual fee. We have done this with all our credit cards including Amex and Diners.

kimburu

As Hari said, check out Emirates - their Web site has lots of info and &quot;offers&quot; and they'll arrange the visa. If they don't offer it, I'm pretty sure it won't exist.

afrigalah

Well done skfavas. Confirms my suspicion that in many cases, these fees are a rip-off...yet we tolerate them.