9 hour layover at AUH: Hotel stay at Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport
Feb 25, 2019, 7:01 pm
#31
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 544
Thanks for the advice -- that's where I'm leaning, but it brings me back to my original question. The Premier Inn is outside the secure area, right? So, will my family need visas even though the hotel is "at the airport"? Also, we're US citizens returning home. I see there is a US preclearance system at AUH. Once we've cleared, I assume we have to wait in some designated space? We're flying in First and Business, so have lounge access. Is it better to visit the lounges first, and clear US customs as late as possible? Or am I wrong, and we can return to the lounge after clearing customs?
Feb 25, 2019, 8:59 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Thanks for the advice -- that's where I'm leaning, but it brings me back to my original question. The Premier Inn is outside the secure area, right? So, will my family need visas even though the hotel is "at the airport"? Also, we're US citizens returning home. I see there is a US preclearance system at AUH. Once we've cleared, I assume we have to wait in some designated space? We're flying in First and Business, so have lounge access. Is it better to visit the lounges first, and clear US customs as late as possible? Or am I wrong, and we can return to the lounge after clearing customs?
We are US Passports, came off a cruise ship, no questions asked. The hotel is outside the secure area of the airport so you are stepping onto UAE. AGAIN no one here can give you an authoritative answer on your visa question. Ask the airlines, USE embassy or consulate, a visa service company.
Feb 26, 2019, 1:30 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,118
WIth US passport and in Business should take 10 minutes or less to clear immigration. It's a very short walk to the hotel. On the return you can use the lounge before and after pre-check. The one after is small and crowded. No need to go to pre check to early in my experience. 45 minutes before ETD is perfectly fine. I've done even later but have GE with kids best err on the side of caution so maybe 60 minutes.
Feb 26, 2019, 4:19 pm
#34
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 544
WIth US passport and in Business should take 10 minutes or less to clear immigration. It's a very short walk to the hotel. On the return you can use the lounge before and after pre-check. The one after is small and crowded. No need to go to pre check to early in my experience. 45 minutes before ETD is perfectly fine. I've done even later but have GE with kids best err on the side of caution so maybe 60 minutes.
Feb 26, 2019, 8:45 pm
#35
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
WIth US passport and in Business should take 10 minutes or less to clear immigration. It's a very short walk to the hotel. On the return you can use the lounge before and after pre-check. The one after is small and crowded. No need to go to pre check to early in my experience. 45 minutes before ETD is perfectly fine. I've done even later but have GE with kids best err on the side of caution so maybe 60 minutes.
Apr 14, 2019, 4:11 am
#37
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,764
Apr 22, 2019, 7:58 am
#38
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Phoenix
Programs: United, Hawaiian, American, Southwest, Asia Miles, Qantas, Lufthansa, Alaska, Emirates, Delta, Swiss
Posts: 25
Just returned from the Maldives. It was our second trip to the country. During our first trip we stayed at the Premier Inn. It was easy enough and clean but very basic. During our recent trip our inbound took us through Abu Dhabi with an 8.5 hour layover. We hired a room at the Aerotel Airport Hotel outside of terminal 3 and it was EXCELLENT. Very sound proof, very clean and had great amenities. We were very pleasantly surprised by this hotel. I believe your stay includes breakfast in the hotel restaurant but we had access to Etihad First Class lounge so we didn't use it. I think our price was just over $100.
There was no need to go through immigration or security before entering the hotel.
There was no need to go through immigration or security before entering the hotel.
Feb 28, 2020, 7:33 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 17
We just stayed at the Aerotel three weeks ago. Our incoming flight landed in Abu Dhabi at 9:40 pm. Our connecting flight left the next morning at 8:45 am. We grabbed a room for the night. The room was clean and functional. We had a window facing outside, but the noise wasn't bad. I can come back and post a review later.
P.S. If you stay at the Aerotel, there are two Aerotels at AUH. The Aerotel with the full size rooms is in Terminal One. There is also something called "Refreshhhh by Aerotel" It offers nap cabins that can be rented by the hour and is located in Terminal three. We were originally directed by airport employees to the Refreshhh Aerotel, and then worked out way over to the one in Terminal Three.
P.S. If you stay at the Aerotel, there are two Aerotels at AUH. The Aerotel with the full size rooms is in Terminal One. There is also something called "Refreshhhh by Aerotel" It offers nap cabins that can be rented by the hour and is located in Terminal three. We were originally directed by airport employees to the Refreshhh Aerotel, and then worked out way over to the one in Terminal Three.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Mar 9, 2020 at 10:02 am Reason: Merged consecutive posts by same member
