Long Stop-Overs - can you leave the airport?

Doshwaster

DullGreyGuy said:

DE_612183 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

DE_612183 said:

Option is Abu Dhabi (UAE)

got this from FCDO....

You can get a visitor or tourist visa issued free of charge when you arrive in the UAE. You do not need to apply in advance of travel. Your passport will be stamped with the visa as you go through immigration. It will be valid for up to 40 days.

So you've an hour to get off the plane, through immigration etc. 

The airlines will all recommend that you should arrive back at the airport 3 hours before your flight. You therefore are really taking about having 2 hours. The taxi is 30 minutes each way or the bus 45 minutes. If you allow extra time in case there is traffic or you struggle to get a taxi you are really talking about having less than 1 hour in Abu Dahbi 

What do you want to do there thats worth the hassle, including having to do currency exchange, for 1hr?

when you put it like that - yes I can see there is no point - there are othe flights that have a longer stop-over which may have been consideration but I think staying in tghe airport seems the best route - I presume there are no bars in UAE airport!

You presume wrong, there are bars and restaurants sell alcohol too plus there are the lounges eg https://www.bottegaspa.com/en/bottega-prosecco-bar/bottega-prosecco-bar-in-the-world/bottega-prosecco-bar-location-abu-dhabi/ 

If you look at the menu its about £12 a pint before any service charges etc but alcohol is expensive throughout the UAE 

I once spent a few hours in the bar at Dubai airport. Paid by credit card and then totally forgot about it.  Got a bit of a shock a month later when there was a charge for over £50 from DXB and  I couldn't remember buying anything there. A lot easier to keep track of your spending these days with online banking.

eskbanker

Doshwaster said:

I once spent a few hours in the bar at Dubai airport. Paid by credit card and then totally forgot about it.  Got a bit of a shock a month later when there was a charge for over £50 from DXB and  I couldn't remember buying anything there. A lot easier to keep track of your spending these days with online banking.

Can't imagine how you came up with your forum name....

eDicky

Etihad is a decent enough airline but the stopover at AUH used to be pretty awful, however the recently opened brand new terminal should make it as comfortable as Dubai or Doha airports fur transit stopovers.

Voyager2002

eDicky said:

Etihad is a decent enough airline but the stopover at AUH used to be pretty awful, however the recently opened brand new terminal should make it as comfortable as Dubai or Doha airports fur transit stopovers.

When I used it last April it was fine: quicker and more efficient than most, although the walks did seem rather long.