On a very long layover in Dubai – my first visit to the city and the UAE – I gave a pass to the tallest skyscraper in the world. I gave a pass on pretty much everything, but why? ...
Oops: 150+ Israelis Denied Entry Into Dubai Due To Visa Snafu
Over 150 Israeli passengers were trapped in Dubai Airport after confusion over a new visa policy concerning Israeli passports. Eventually, the issue was resolved but not before several hours of confusion and waiting. Travelers With Israeli Passports Initially Denied...
Trouble in Dubai: As Emirates Goes, So Goes The Nation
Compare pictures of Dubai from 1985 and today and you will be flabbergasted. To say much has changed would be the understatement of the century. How did the happen? One word: Emirates. But with demand for air travel deeply...
Emirates Flight Attendant Released From Notorious Dubai Jail, But For How Long?
Being at the wrong place at the wrong time came close to costing a 23-year-old Emirates flight attendant her life. But after two months of detention, Derrin Crawford is out of jail…for now at least. But until we have...
Dubai Is Manipulating Weather To Create More Rain
Dubai and other emirates in the United Arab Emirates are creating rain through cloud seeding technology, hoping to bring year-around precipitation to the sun-baked land. I’ve been to Dubai several times over the years during the summer months. The...
Review: Park Hyatt Dubai (Executive Suite)
I had a very pleasant stay at the Park Hyatt Dubai and want to specifically highlight what Executive Suite guest rooms look like as well as the tremendous breakfast at Brasserie du Park. This property has not changed much...
The Park Hyatt Dubai Won Me Over…
Despite promising to venture out, I once again stayed at the Park Hyatt Dubai during my recent business trip. That turned out to be an excellent choice. I didn’t have a great stay at the Park Hyatt Dubai last...
Is Eritrean Airlines The Solution To My Dubai Dilemma?
You know I love trying exotic airlines and you cannot get much more exotic than Eritrean Airlines. Is this the solution to my Dubai dilemma? Last week, I asked you for suggestions on how I should get back to the...
Review: SkyTeam Lounge Dubai (DXB)
We spent about 90 minutes in the SkyTeam lounge in Dubai prior to our Saudia First Class flight to Riyadh. The lounge was comfortable, wi-fi fast, and food decent. It’s also the best Priority Pass Lounge in Dubai (DXB)....
Review: Park Hyatt Dubai (Suite)
The Park Hyatt Dubai has not changed at all since my last visit in 2011. While the hotel is well-maintained with an extremely convenient location near the airport, I will be trying a different Hyatt property next time I...
A Fun Day at Emirates Headquarters
Ben was excited at breakfast yesterday. “Do you want to go to Emirates HQs today to work?” he asked. Uh, that’s like asking me if I want an upgrade to first class. Of course! I figured Ben had a...
United Will End Dubai Service on 23 January 2016, Blames Emirates and Etihad
When I wrote that United’s departure from Kuwait City was predicated upon expulsion by the Kuwaiti government, my insider source also mentioned offhandedly that Dubai would be shut down soon after because of stiff competition from Emirates. With United denying my...
Dubai to New York via Jeddah in Saudia Economy Class
The Saudia flight was from Dubai to Jeddah was so uneventful I will only spend a few sentences on it—I was tried and quickly fell asleep after the meal service, which included beef with noodles and mixed vegetables. A...
Jeddah to Dubai in Saudia Economy Class
After a refreshing stay at the Park Hyatt Jeddah, it was time to continue my journey to Dubai. The same driver who brought me to the property the afternoon before took me back, dropping me off about two hour...
Review: Park Hyatt Dubai
Dubai really took me by surprise. I was not expecting to see all my favorite restaurant chains from Southern California (after going without them all year in Germany) nor was I expecting to encounter such an interesting blend...
Overland Journey from Dubai to Muscat, Oman
It was not just Iran that I visited during my trip to Dubai last week–I also had the chance to travel across Oman, though my time in Muscat was much more limited than I had hoped for. Oman has...
Did I Get Shafted by Lufthansa and British Midland?
My Iran story is not quite over: there remained the unresolved matter of my ticket back to Europe on Lufthansa. If you did not read about my adventure in Iran, an overbooked flight back from Kish Island to Dubai...
Dubai to Kish Island, Iran on Kish Air + Interrogation at Iranian Border
With a 12:30p departure to Kish and a late arrival from Muscat the previous night, it was nice to sleep in for a bit. We arrived at Terminal Two in Dubai at around 11:00a and had no trouble checking...
The Kish Air Experience in Dubai
Last night, I left you on a cliffhanger–would I make it to Iran or not? Early the next morning I asked the Park Hyatt concierge to call Kish Air’s ticketing office to see about traveling to Iran later in...
A Spur of the Moment Trip to the Islamic Republic of Iran
It all started around the brunch table Saturday in Dubai. I casually mentioned that Kish Island, a small Iranian island just 30 minutes from Dubai by air, would be an interesting place to visit. Why Iran? For years I...
