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Dubai Dubai Airport Traffic to get to a hotel on time

Dubai Dubai Airport Traffic to get to a hotel on time

Old Nov 14th, 2017, 11:59 AM
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Dubai Dubai Airport Traffic to get to a hotel on time

We will be arriving at Dubai airport at 1PM for an one night stopover. Would take a cab/taxi to go the Holiday Inn Bur Embassy District hotel (Al Hamriya, Khaleed Bin Waleed, 20th Street Bur Dubai, Dubai). We have reserved a Desert Safari trip that will pick us up around 3-330 PM the same day at the hotel.

Do you think we will be able to make it to the hotel on time given that it will be a weekday noon time? Not sure if my phone would work there or not. Feel little concerned that we may not have any communication with the tour company.
Can anyone share some insight about getting a cab at the airport and traffic to the "Bur Dubai" area?
Is there a pre-paid cab service? do they only take AED or other foreign currency?
Thanks
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Old Nov 14th, 2017, 06:30 PM
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The hotel is less than 5 miles from the airport -- so should only take 10 to 20 minutes. Booking a car service wouldn't seem to make much sense.

BUT you have no control at all over how long immigration can take. a few minutes or more than an hour. Entirely depends on how many flights are arriving at the same time and how many staff are on duty. Booking a tour 2 hours after landing seems really optimistic. And that is if you land on time.
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Old Nov 16th, 2017, 12:19 PM
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Thanks Janis for the info. We have US passports. assume we can get an express checkout when going thru immigration. is this a valid assumption?

I hear that there are two kinds of cab services at the airport. Do you know which one I should go with?
also can i pay the cab driver with $$? Otherwise I have spend additional time to get AED at the airport before i come to the taxi stand.
please advise.
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Old Nov 19th, 2017, 10:22 AM
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Keep your fingers crossed that your plane arrives on time and isn't delayed, and that the lines at immigration are short. Barring any major delays, you should be OK.

No, you can't pay for a taxi in Dubai with USD. You might want to exchange currency before arriving. There are money changing places in the DXB airport arrivals hall, and probably at the airport you are departing from, too. It only takes a few minutes. We also bought currency from our USA bank before we left so we had some on hand at arrival.
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Old Nov 19th, 2017, 10:22 AM
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You will also want some AED to be able to tip your desert safari driver, too. It's optional, of course.
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Old Nov 25th, 2017, 12:38 PM
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Thanks a lot Chris. I will get AEDs from my departing (USA) airport just to be on the safe side.

Can any of you please tell me how many AEDs(approx. will be fine) do we need for one way taxi/cab ride? will go to this hotel from DXB airport - Holiday Inn Bur Embassy District hotel (Al Hamriya, Khaleed Bin Waleed, 20th Street Bur Dubai, Dubai.

If I choose to buy any small gifts from the local places in Dubai, can I pay with a credit card?
Thanks in advance.
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