Dubai stopover recommendations
 

My wife and I will be doing JFK-DXB-KHI in November, 2007, and we are planning to do a Dubai stopover for a day or so on the way there.

We'll be in Dubai from Nov 9, 8:10am (EK204) to Nov 10, 6:15pm (EK602), minus a few hours for immigration, going to/from the airport, etc.

1- Do you have any hotel recommendations from the Dubai stopover page? Since, we'll be there for one night only, we're not very particular, as long as the hotel is clean and convenient. Probably would like to keep the cost less then USD 250 for the night.
2- We were thinking about the Sundowner safari with Arabian Adventures for the evening of the 9th. Any comments on this one or other recommendations?
3- We would also consider getting a hotel, visas, on our own rather than going through Emirates. But figure that it's a lot easier to go through Emirates anyway (and a good value too). Thoughts on that?
4- Any other caveats or recommendations?

Thanks in advance for your replies. We're always amazed by the quality of answers on this forum and grateful for the time people take to answer questions.

I'd recommend the Al Bustan Rotana hotel. It's right opposite the airport. The Le Meridien Dubai is next door and is very good alternative. Most hotels in Dubai allow early check-in, so you should be able to get a room before the normal 3pm check in.

There are a number of restaurants in and around the hotels. I think Sukothai is fantastic, and pretty reasonably priced.

I've not done the Sundowner safari, but we used Arabian Adventures for a desert safari, and they were pretty good. They took us for a ride on a camel, and then out into the desert.

Cheers,
Rick

I use Le Meridien on short stays - convenient and OK. I usually pay around $250 (excuse me - company pays). Safari trip and 4 wheeler trips are pretty nice in Nov.

If you are US you won't need a visa. You get a no cost stamp in your passport.

If you are business F or B the Dubai lounges are good - don't take care of you like Qatar but still nice. I am sitting in the F lounge now waiting for a flight to BKK. F lounge is exactly the same as B lounge.

I don't fly F class but there was an error in the computer and for once in my life it was in my favor and all I could say was OK.

I use Le Meridien on short stays - convenient and OK. I usually pay around $250 (excuse me - company pays). Safari trip and 4 wheeler trips are pretty nice in Nov.

If you are US you won't need a visa. You get a no cost stamp in your passport.

If you are flying F or B - the Dubai lounges are good - don't take care of you like Qatar but still nice. I am sitting in the F lounge now waiting for a flight to BKK. F lounge is exactly the same as B lounge.

I don't fly F class but there was an error in the computer and for once in my life it was in my favor and all I could say was OK.

I have done the Arabian Adventures trip before and had a really good time. Another good hotel is the Al Murooj Rotana, should be around $250-ish, but a very nice place; although nothing like the Burj Al Arab. My favorite restaurant is Gazebo...AWESOME food, I highly recommend it; http://www.gazebo.ae/locations.asp ^^

OP are you looking to be near to the airport or in the city? Al Murooj Rotana is in the city, on the main road (Sheik Zayed road, Defense roundabout). Never stayed there but it looks pretty swank. There is also a restaurant there called More than is nice for brunch... don't order the pankcakes though -- they look like muffins with the tops cut off, quite odd!

Bur Dubai is a little closer to the airport, near to the gold souq and some other nice-to-see places, and tends to be much cheaper than places in the (newer part of the) city. I've not stayed in any of the hotels there, so not sure how nice they are, though... .

Just my 2 fils.

The sundowner safari is really good!

as to the stay part well that will depend on what else you are planning on doing - like spending the day relaxing a the beach or doing some major shopping..... this is important since some of these hotels are quite a distance away from shopping malls.

You can stay at the Grand Hyatt Dubai for $165/night if you use a stay certificate. It's a beautiful, upscale hotel, close to the airport but out of the fray. Go to https://www.certificates.hyatt.com/p...CertsStay.aspx for more details. Call the hotel first and make sure you can get a reservation with a stay certificate for the night you want to stay there, then buy the certificate online. Regular room rate for Nov. 9, 2007 is about $650 U.S.

We stayed at Kempinsky Hotel, and although, not close to the airport, it proved to be a marvelous choice. First, the hotel is attached to the Mall Of Emirates and SkiDubai, so if you want to shop or ski, it's most convenient. There are also many inexpensive choices to eat at the hotel and nearby. The concierge at Kempinsky is second to none. They arranged for us the most incredible/fun desert Safari we have ever taken. The driver was amazing. He played American Rock and Roll while we were going up and down the sand dunes: quite surreal! Thirdly, the hotel is included in the stopover for Dubai BUS tours; the pick up is right outside. If you don't know, the bus tour is a double decker, 2 routes, and you can get on/get off as you wish; I definitely recommend it;
Finally, we had prearranged transfers via bus from airport to hotel by Emirates Airlines. It was definitely worth it; On the way from airport to hotel we hit rush traffic which was cool becuase we got to savour some of the city views and take pictures (and not have to worry about paying cab fare); on the return to the airport we were picked up at 5 am by a limo (nice little touch by Emirates).
Good luck