What to do with a 15 hour layover in the Dubai Airport

Because I was availing of a close to free mileage flight during the Easter holidays, I agreed to fly via Dubai with a 15-hour layover.  If you find yourself in the same situation, this post will give you an idea of what you can do.

If you have a long lay-over because it's the only available flight connection, check with your travel agent, if you're eligible for a free Dubai Stopover. If so, they will arrange for your accommodations in an Emirates wing of nearby hotels together with your visa and transfers and they will even give you meal coupons, but if you're travelling on economy, this needs to be pre-booked. In business class, we could just walk up to the counter and they would accommodate us.

If you don't get extended this courtesy, you can still go to the flydubai desks to arrange for a Visa on Arrival packaged together with a hotel. Though this does not make sense if you're just there for a few hours because it costs around US$200 (with the Visa costing US$150 and the hotel at US$50) if I remember correctly.

Since this option did not make sense to me, I explored the airport many times over. The good thing is the airport doesn't sleep, so you actually have a lot of options.

Here's a tip.

Did you know that if you are flying on Emirates and you have a connection in Dubai of longer than 4 hours, you're automatically entitled a Meal Coupon. You just need to show (both) your boarding passes to the transfer counter to claim it. You only get 1 meal voucher, no matter how long your transit time is.

If you want to sleep in a real bed with the security of a hotel room, you have 2 options.

There is an Airport Hotel near all the gates.
This will set you back US$50 per hour at night,
and US$40 an hour during the day.
Reservations not required, at that price,
I don't think they get full.

You can also opt to get a Snooze Cube, a shoebox-sized room
with the security you'll get from a hotel for US$18 an hour.

My mind was computing how much "free shopping" I could get if I didn't stay in a hotel, so I ignored those options.

I decided to eat instead at the Shake Shack - my only MUST VISIT place at the Dubai Airport.

Shake Shack is near the A Gates. You need to take a train from the main
Terminal (B gates) to get here, but it's very easy to do so.
Especially if you have a lot of time to kill.

Menu looks the same as the US.

Tables and Buzzer are the same.

I am happy to see my favorite order on the menu.

2am Snack. Shack Stack FTW.
70 AED (Php850 or US$19)

Cheese filled Shroom Burger oozing with Cheese over the Cheeseburger.

YUMMMMMM...

Every time you fork it, the cheese oozes some more.

After filling my stomach, I looked for a place to nap.

The informative Dubai booth was tempting.
Unfortunately, there's a sign that says no sleeping here.

There are a lot of chairs in the airport. The key to a comfortable nap/ wait is finding the chairs that are reclined and extended so that you can stretch.

Like this.

My bedtime reading.

I was able to nap a bit, till this lady beside me started
snoring in my ear. Super GRRRRRR!!!

Best not to nap near the toilet. It's very noisy when they
clean it. It's actually cleaned quite often.

Then I realized, the best seats in the house are actually the reclined ones,
beside the wall because they have sockets available for charging your gadgets.

I wasn't really able to nap a lot, but I was able to finish the book.

If you want to freshen up, there are showers at the airport,
but it's best to use them between the arrival of flights
when the airport is more quiet.

There are a lot of food options so you won't go hungry. I ignored the French ones since I was headed to Paris, but otherwise, they would have tempted me.

I had good old McDonald's Big Breakfast for breakfast.

Big Breakfast with  Cappuccino 26 AED (Php300 or US$7)

Then I used my meal coupon for a Buffet Lunch.

Then I had to buy earphones because I forgot mine at home. I was also eyeing a gold bangle for Sofia but I told myself I will buy it on the way back, but it wasn't there anymore.

Finally Ready to Board

Goodbye Dubai!

On my way back, I had another 7 hours to kill before my flight back to Clark. You can read all about my Clark Detour here.

I used my meal voucher at Thai Express (near C Gates) since I was
really craving Rice after all the European food.

The Spring Rolls and Green Chicken Curry really hit the spot.

I wanted to try this, but I didn't get hungry enough to try it.

Another must try place is Carluccio's (near A gates), where I grabbed some breakfast before boarding.

They have a killer Eggs Benedict and this place has their own wifi too!
36 AED (Php440 or US$10)

You can sign up for free wifi from the airport, but they will just give you 30minutes free, and I found the signal to be generally spotty.

I should have just spent more time at Carluccio's from the start! Well, at least now I know for next time. just saying.

Chalkboard Signs around Europe via Dubai

I love creative and interesting Chalkboard signs. I just take pictures when they catch my attention.  Here are the ones that I came across in London, Florence and Paris (and yes, Dubai too)

LONDON

Spotted in a charming toy store off Portobello Rd.

Popcorn Shop on Blenheim Crescent

Spotted in Old Spitalfields Market
Simple but I can relate

FLORENCE

They don't seem to be big on Chalkboard signs in Florence

Chalkboards seem to serve the same
purpose as a bulletin board.

Even at Nerbone (best Panino Bollito in Firenze!) they just cover up the
menu with the new Prices.

PARIS

In Paris, it's Chalkboard Menu everywhere!
This is at the take out counter of L'avant Comptoir.

In Bistrot Paul Bert, the fixed Price lunch menu is
on a chalkboard.

They bring the chalkboard to you when you're ready to order.

It's also a big deal to show where the food
your eating is from.

Super Market Chalkboard from around the
Montmarte area.

Witty Easter Sunday Message in front of Holybelly Cafe.

Their menu (on the chalkboard) changes monthly, they also say where
the food is from, and they have an arcade game where you get something
if you beat the high score.

The barista at Holybelly Cafe who did not get
any chocolate. Hahaha.

DUBAI

Le Pain Quotidien at the airport

There you have it folks! Hope I can travel and capture more interesting Chalkboards for this blog. just saying.

Tips for (Women) Traveling Alone

Sometimes the idea of traveling by myself freaks me out (especially when I start thinking about things that could happen to me, but if you really think about it, bad things can happen to you anywhere, so I don't let those thoughts stop me) especially since there are so many reasons traveling alone is so much fun (I'll save that for another day).

So here my my tips if you're planning on travelling alone:

1. Always be careful

Be mindful of your surroundings all the time, even as you snap pics and instagram them.

I don't like crowds, so when I go to crowded places, I don't rush, and I make sure that there's no one in my personal space.

I also keep my valuables close to my body. So normally I have bulging pockets because I have a coin purse with pocket change (I normally carry around 100 usd or euros in my pocket with 1 or 2 credit cards only - more on that later), I also have my camera and my phone either in my hand or in my pocket.  This saves me from keeping on opening my bag - hopefully keeping pickpockets away from it as well, then I carry my bag always in front of me.

If you're walking alone at night,  and you're not sure if someone is following you, just stop somewhere with people, and let the suspected creepy follower overtake you. I really hate it when there's someone behind me, so the other day, instead of overtaking this guy who was walking so slowly,  I just followed him instead.  I think I creeped him out. He may have been using the same strategy as mine.

2. Dress simply to be able to fit in

The last thing you want is to stick out like a sore thumb. I normally dress in basic stuff that I can dress up or dress down at the blink of an eye.

Mirror selfie #ootd

Another mirror selfie #ootd

If the country I am visiting is generally safe, I wear my diamond earrings and my favorite H. Stern Ring. However,  if I am in a crowded touristy place where there are pickpockets waiting to find their next victim, I hide my earrings with my hair, and I turn my ring around so it looks like just a plain band, then I bring out my ratty coin purse (mentioned above) so it looks like all my money is already there. And if I'm carrying my Prada, I just consciously try to carry it with the brand facing me.

Earrings out photo at Le Bistrot Paul Bert
A reservations only restaurant in Paris

My ring when it's turned around looks like a wedding band.

My ring when it's not hidden.

Now, if I enter a store like Prada,  I put my hair up, turn my ring in the right direction, carry my bag right away,  and speak with confidence,  so even when I bring out my credit card from my ratty coin purse,  they don't cringe in front of me. Now, whether or not they judge you behind your back probably will depend on how much you spend in their store.  Hahaha.

3. On dealing with strangers

I have a creepy-person-meter. When my creepy-person-meter is on alert, I never make eye contact with the suspected creepy guy.  If your creepy-person-meter is correct,  they'll normally attempt to talk to you and they'll be pushy too. In situations like this, it's best to just walk away. But if you're stuck, for example,  beside someone in a bus, which totally happened to me in London and in Florence,  just pretend you don't understand a word. Even if it's English.

Here's how it works:
Creep: says something trying to be friendly but only succeeds in looking creepy...
Me: look at something else and shake head
Creep: japon?
Me: still looking at something else and shake head
Creep: chinois? Ni hao?
Me: you know the drill... if he still won't stop, keep shaking your head (remember you don't understand) and look like you'll scream for help.
***I swear, it works, I always do it.

Now,  if the guy is cute and your creepy-person-meter is not working,  then by all means,  smile and flirt.

4. On your valuables

I always keep mine in different locations.  I normally have the bulk of my money locked up together with my passport, then I have several hundreds and some credit cards in my handbag, then I also have what's in my coin purse in my pocket. This way, you don't have all your eggs in one basket.

5. Invest in a local sim card with a data plan

This is extremely helpful. Instead of asking strangers for directions, just Google it! It also comes in handy for checking out restaurant reviews before deciding to eat somewhere.

I never used a paper map. It was google maps all the way. 

Not just any simcard. It's tim card. (Italy Network)
I got a local sim with data plan everywhere I went.

And if you start going bonkers because you absolutely need to tell someone about the good looking restaurant owner guy, your friends are just a message away.

6. Make sure you have an in case of emergency number on you...  knock on wood,  but just in case.

I ordered mytags just before leaving Manila,
But the baller-ID bracelet was just hideous!

I jut replaced it with a leather bracelet from the mercato,
now it's pretty and very wearable

7. The most important tip is bring a good tripod. I just carry around my gorilla-pod so I can perch or hang it anywhere. Then I set my self-timer to 10-shots and I pose with different angles and I don't stop till I get a good picture.

You need 10 shots so you have time to run and pose.

Ready... Set...

Smile!

Hope these tips are helpful. Enjoy yourself because traveling alone is so much fun. Just saying.