Kids: Big Sister 9y2m, Twins 6y8m
Flights: Hong Kong - Dubai - Amsterdam v.v. on Emirates
Booked through: Flights were booked through Sunpac (couldn't get the stopover and the same fare out online, but same fare which was good value). Five night (became four) stopover in Dubai on way to Amsterdam, stayed at friends.
This summer Dubai was part of our travel plans. Not because Dubai is great, definitely not in summer, but we simply had to visit our great friends after missing them in Hong Kong for a year. Because of our itinerary we chose Emirates, and we got a pretty good fare.
Where to start ... well, it started really, really bad ... Our flight was supposed to leave at 7.05 pm and arrive at 11.00 pm. Because of our arrival time in Dubai (which is prime time for Emirates) we booked the Marhaba arrival services to avoid the feared queues at immigration. In the end, our flight never left that night. At 10 pm after lots of non-communications they cancelled the flight. They actually told my twin girl the "pilot was fixing the plane". Then the chaos and dramas began and we had to deal with the most incompetent ground staff (local third party) ever. I will spare you the details, but it wasn't pretty. There was no plan, no back up arrangements, just lots of waiting, not knowing what to do and in the end we ended up in the Hyatt Regency in Shatin (of all places, another 40 minute transfer), which I reviewed on Tripadvisor since I was there anyway. We opted not to go home as we had no food, no made beds, no nothing and at least the hotel was very nice, we got a 2-bedroom suite (we'll go back one day!). The kids ... they were truly fantastic, no whining, no nothing and they were up all the time, walked, played, listened to the dramas unfold, and eventually passed out in a King bed together.
After a nice breakfast buffet we left to go back to the airport. The smartest thing we did was catching a taxi 5 minutes before the busses left and we were first in line (which was smart as we heard from others who were stuck in line for 2-3 hours) for check-in, which was still an hour away. After another delay, and hours of no-communication, we actually did leave at 6 pm. The flight itself ... I cannot fault anything. The staff was lovely (trying to make up for all the inconvenience), the food more than decent, smooth flight, great entertainment, kids got a cuddly toy with a fleece blanket which was a huge hit. The same can be said for our onward flight 4 days later to Amsterdam in an A-380 (sooooo quiet, love it!). It's a great product all around, but their ground staff in Hong Kong is truly pathetic and if you end up needing them like we did, they're nothing but useless!
As for Dubai ... like my friends say, it's a completely unsustainable city in the middle of the desert ... it's fun to see, but obviously the temperatures in summer are beyond hot (it makes Hong Kong in summer feel cool), making it not very enjoyable, and to an extent everything is just all so fake. We had fun though, saw the Burj Kalifa at day and night, did a bus tour and got out at some stops (some houses, Dubai Museum, Spice Souk), went to Abu Dhabi (the mosque is truly fantastic), did a desert tour (never heard my oldest scream so loud, it was a roller coaster, touristy trip but fun), drove the MTR, visited the huge malls, had drinks overlooking the city but most of all, we enjoyed our friends' company. I'll go back, not because of Dubai but to visit our dear friends, just in a different time of year.
Tomorrow we're flying back. We already had our first "situation" as the seats I got confirmed (have a printed confirmation) were given away and there were no 4 seats together in the plane anymore, or anywhere near each other (imagine me and 3 kids all scattered around the plane, an A-380 for goodness sake) ... Spent another 45 minutes in the phone and they promised I got them back ... seeing then believing ... as I am not seeing it yet online ...
To be continued ...
Well, we did make it back, in the seats we were promised. Two busy but very smooth flights with friendly staff and good food. Layover in Dubai (from midnight to 3.20 am) is far from ideal, and I wouldn't do it again unless I would get out in Dubai to visit our friends. The airport is busy, with no good places to sit (I did pop my 6 year old in one of the free available strollers), at a very difficult time for the kids and it breaks your total flight in two halves which just simply sucks. Had a vomiting child on the second leg of our flight and staff was super helpful and accommodating especially since I was traveling by myself with the 3 of them. Again, cannot fault their onboard staff.
Got a reply to our complaint ... we'll each be getting 40,000 miles in our Skywards account ... enough for a free return to Bangkok ... so why not! Let's just hope they'll improve the ground service in Hong Kong ...