Virgin to Dubai - hotel arrival/q's and clubhouse access

Hi all

I've booked to fly to DXB in November, Saturday to Saturday. I've scoured the internet for answers but thought I would use my first post for over a year here! to ask:

1. The VS flight lands at about 07:40 - we have booked into the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and this says you can't check-in until 3pm. I presume this is quite common for those arriving on the daily VS flight and presume you can just hang around your hotel by the bar/pool until check-in? Will they look after your luggage in the meantime?

2. I booked through Virgin Holidays and we are flying Y. We would really like to buy CH access for the both of us - is this guaranteed for VH customers if you ring up or is it pot-luck. Can I book 4 months in advance?

3. Do VS still use a remote stand at DXB or do they now use an airbridge?

4. Does anyone have any experience how the half board options work - it's included in the holiday price so I assume only certain restaurants will apply, with a credit/supplement if you want to try the others. Any advice on this gratefully received.

Thanks in advance for any input

David

I'll answer 1 & 3 based on my February trip.

I stayed at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers and my room was ready when I arrived. If you Email the hotel in advance I'm sure they will do their upmost to have a room ready for you but at the end of the day will come down to how busy they are. If your room is not ready you can store your luggage and use the hotels facilities.

We arrived and departed via an airbridge.

-Steve

2. I booked through Virgin Holidays and we are flying Y. We would really like to buy CH access for the both of us - is this guaranteed for VH customers if you ring up or is it pot-luck. Can I book 4 months in advance?

I think it is on a pre-booked, space available, basis and has to be done through VH ?

Edited to add..

See the foot of

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/flight- ... n-atlantic

If you let the hotel know your eta in advance they may well have a room ready - the Dubai hotels are well used to British guests arriving first thing in the morning.

If they're busy and don't have a room ready yet they'll certainly store your luggage and let you use the facilities.

Re Clubhouse access - I think VH customers can still pre-pay for an entry voucher (£60 I think) although it's strictly subject to availability and the LHR Clubhouse does get extremely busy from around 6pm.

Best call VH but it's certainly not guaranteed.

Based on my experience in May, I was able to check in at 9am at one of the Rotana hotels, having emailed the hotel to let them know of my early arrival in advance. Although the room wasn't ready as soon as I arrived (clearing immigration was quicker than expected), the staff got it all sorted out in 15 mere minutes when I waited. Otherwise I would've been welcome to use their facilities, and in fact my bags were taken off me as soon as I stepped out of the car! You'll be looked after by Dubai hotels.

I arrived and departed via an airbridge with VS.

As mentioned above, my understanding of the VH lounge passes is subject to availability. I think you can order them via VH and they will post them out to you prior to your departure.

No experience of half board I'm afraid.

Have a lovely time in Dubai! It's an amazing city.

Thanks all for your very helpful replies - I think I will just have to chance it with VH on the CH access!

When you check in to the JBH you will get a telephone and they will call you when your room is ready and your luggage is taken to your room already for you. you can either go to a room they have available and have some breakfast or the best option we find is to take your swimming things with you in hand luggage and when you leave your main luggage at reception go down stairs to what we always call the Caves,there you will find lockers and changing rooms and showers, get changed, lather on the suntan lotion, leave hand luggage in locker and hit the pool immediately taking said phone with you. A nice man will ask you if you want to be in the shade and will then find you loungers accordingly and place towels on them for you (or you can go down to the beach and will be followed by a nice man carrying towels for you and will place them where you want to sit). Just chill until you are called then go to reception, and you will be taken up to your room and be AMAZED by the floor to ceiling windows looking directly at the Berj!
Check out all the restaurants in the hoteland book a table as sometimes they are full. If you try to walk to any of their sister hotels you will have a golf trolley stop for you to take you there and will have the same on return - enjoy. I am sick with envy I just love that hotel (Oh check out the fresh mango juice at breakfast - mmmmmmm.....)

Welcome to Dubai. The JBH has a special place in most peoples' hearts over here. It really is a special place for families and couples alike. They have been heavily investing in the hotel including a new lobby, restaurant refurbishments and room reconfiguration. The new Dhow&Anchor pub is really great.

The hotel is used to early arrivals. Most flights arrive into DXB at late night or early morning. You will be checked in if hour room is available or shown to changing rooms for you to change into swimwear. Your luggage will be stored until your room is available.

Upon arrival at DXB please ensure you use the official taxi rank and don't accept any offers from touts or chauffeurs outside. Dubai taxis are cream coloured bodies with coloured roofs. There is an official rank which will allocate you a suitable car. If the driver doesn't use the meter, you don't pay.

Half board is called Summer Flavours in Jumeirah. This includes dining in 44 restaurants. On check in you will be allocated a voucher per person per day. With this voucher you can have dinner or lunch. In most cases it includes 3 courses, apart from the buffets which are all you can eat. This really is a spectacular deal and includes some of my favourite restaurants in Dubai. A full list is below but please include in your schedule: Segreto (Italian - Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah) please request a water view and this is accessible via golf buggy from your hotel. Pai Thai (Thai - Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah) amazing food and service. Amala (Indian - Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, The Palm Jumeirah) you'll need a taxi here but it's probably the best Indian food you'll eat in your life - let the waiting staff choose for you based on your preferences.

https://www.jumeirah.com/en/offers/jume ... -flavours/

Any questions please do not hesitate to ask!

The VS400 now was an airbridge stand making life much easier than the remote stand was. I would email the hotel and request an early check in if possible. The only hotel i had to wait for check in was the Westin. The Atlantis, One and Only and Hilton were all very accommodating. Have a great holiday

As Goldflyer has said, the VS400 now goes to an air bridge. I flew out last Tuesday night & returned Sunday. The immigration desks were empty be it fast track or main stream channels.

We stayed again at The Grosvenor House hotel by the marina. We were able to check into our suite without delay, freshened up & made it to a leisurely breakfast.

The holding area before boarding was spacious enough with seating & floor to ceiling windows.Within the terminal a great deal of updating/renovation work is being carried out but there's no inconvenience to pax.

Enjoy it all.

Don't forget to post your TR.

TTFN

Roxy-popsy

Thanks so much, very useful information!!

Many thanks! We are going in November but it looks like this ends in September? Is the winter deal normally similar?

Welcome to Dubai. The JBH has a special place in most peoples' hearts over here. It really is a special place for families and couples alike. They have been heavily investing in the hotel including a new lobby, restaurant refurbishments and room reconfiguration. The new Dhow&Anchor pub is really great.

The hotel is used to early arrivals. Most flights arrive into DXB at late night or early morning. You will be checked in if hour room is available or shown to changing rooms for you to change into swimwear. Your luggage will be stored until your room is available.

Upon arrival at DXB please ensure you use the official taxi rank and don't accept any offers from touts or chauffeurs outside. Dubai taxis are cream coloured bodies with coloured roofs. There is an official rank which will allocate you a suitable car. If the driver doesn't use the meter, you don't pay.

Half board is called Summer Flavours in Jumeirah. This includes dining in 44 restaurants. On check in you will be allocated a voucher per person per day. With this voucher you can have dinner or lunch. In most cases it includes 3 courses, apart from the buffets which are all you can eat. This really is a spectacular deal and includes some of my favourite restaurants in Dubai. A full list is below but please include in your schedule: Segreto (Italian - Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah) please request a water view and this is accessible via golf buggy from your hotel. Pai Thai (Thai - Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah) amazing food and service. Amala (Indian - Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, The Palm Jumeirah) you'll need a taxi here but it's probably the best Indian food you'll eat in your life - let the waiting staff choose for you based on your preferences.

https://www.jumeirah.com/en/offers/jume ... -flavours/

Any questions please do not hesitate to ask!

Apologies didn't see your dates. In the winter it's called, surprisingly, Winter Flavours. Normally a very similar package with a tad higher supplements as it's peak season in winter.

Many thanks! We are going in November but it looks like this ends in September? Is the winter deal normally similar

Welcome to Dubai. The JBH has a special place in most peoples' hearts over here. It really is a special place for families and couples alike. They have been heavily investing in the hotel including a new lobby, restaurant refurbishments and room reconfiguration. The new Dhow&Anchor pub is really great.

The hotel is used to early arrivals. Most flights arrive into DXB at late night or early morning. You will be checked in if hour room is available or shown to changing rooms for you to change into swimwear. Your luggage will be stored until your room is available.

Upon arrival at DXB please ensure you use the official taxi rank and don't accept any offers from touts or chauffeurs outside. Dubai taxis are cream coloured bodies with coloured roofs. There is an official rank which will allocate you a suitable car. If the driver doesn't use the meter, you don't pay.

Half board is called Summer Flavours in Jumeirah. This includes dining in 44 restaurants. On check in you will be allocated a voucher per person per day. With this voucher you can have dinner or lunch. In most cases it includes 3 courses, apart from the buffets which are all you can eat. This really is a spectacular deal and includes some of my favourite restaurants in Dubai. A full list is below but please include in your schedule: Segreto (Italian - Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah) please request a water view and this is accessible via golf buggy from your hotel. Pai Thai (Thai - Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah) amazing food and service. Amala (Indian - Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, The Palm Jumeirah) you'll need a taxi here but it's probably the best Indian food you'll eat in your life - let the waiting staff choose for you based on your preferences.

https://www.jumeirah.com/en/offers/jume ... -flavours/

Any questions please do not hesitate to ask!

Welcome to Dubai. The JBH has a special place in most peoples' hearts over here. It really is a special place for families and couples alike. They have been heavily investing in the hotel including a new lobby, restaurant refurbishments and room reconfiguration. The new Dhow&Anchor pub is really great.

The hotel is used to early arrivals. Most flights arrive into DXB at late night or early morning. You will be checked in if hour room is available or shown to changing rooms for you to change into swimwear. Your luggage will be stored until your room is available.

Upon arrival at DXB please ensure you use the official taxi rank and don't accept any offers from touts or chauffeurs outside. Dubai taxis are cream coloured bodies with coloured roofs. There is an official rank which will allocate you a suitable car. If the driver doesn't use the meter, you don't pay.

Half board is called Summer Flavours in Jumeirah. This includes dining in 44 restaurants. On check in you will be allocated a voucher per person per day. With this voucher you can have dinner or lunch. In most cases it includes 3 courses, apart from the buffets which are all you can eat. This really is a spectacular deal and includes some of my favourite restaurants in Dubai. A full list is below but please include in your schedule: Segreto (Italian - Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah) please request a water view and this is accessible via golf buggy from your hotel. Pai Thai (Thai - Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah) amazing food and service. Amala (Indian - Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, The Palm Jumeirah) you'll need a taxi here but it's probably the best Indian food you'll eat in your life - let the waiting staff choose for you based on your preferences.

https://www.jumeirah.com/en/offers/jume ... -flavours/

Any questions please do not hesitate to ask!

Wow, excellent info here.... Cheers for providing it to the site Dubaiification

I'm almost convinced to plan a trip based on this post alone.... Will let ya know if I do so for any further advice from a 'local'

Update....

Just called VH to pre-book LHR CH access. Very simple process - added to the holiday invoice. £65 per person. Any passes etc supposedly will arrive with the VH red pack that comes in the post 2 weeks before departure.

Thanks for the very helpful advice Dubaiification - haven't received exact details of the Winter Flavours half board deal as yet but very useful to know that it is likely to be similar to the Summer Flavours and will have the scope to try a few places o/s the Beach Hotel.

In November the weather will be just perfect, maybe even a little rain if the past couple of years is anything to go by. Enjoy!

No problem at all. I do consider it my home, even though I will never become a local!

If anyone wants a tour guide on the weekend (Friday\Sat) or advice just give me a shout!

Welcome to Dubai. The JBH has a special place in most peoples' hearts over here. It really is a special place for families and couples alike. They have been heavily investing in the hotel including a new lobby, restaurant refurbishments and room reconfiguration. The new Dhow&Anchor pub is really great.

The hotel is used to early arrivals. Most flights arrive into DXB at late night or early morning. You will be checked in if hour room is available or shown to changing rooms for you to change into swimwear. Your luggage will be stored until your room is available.

Upon arrival at DXB please ensure you use the official taxi rank and don't accept any offers from touts or chauffeurs outside. Dubai taxis are cream coloured bodies with coloured roofs. There is an official rank which will allocate you a suitable car. If the driver doesn't use the meter, you don't pay.

Half board is called Summer Flavours in Jumeirah. This includes dining in 44 restaurants. On check in you will be allocated a voucher per person per day. With this voucher you can have dinner or lunch. In most cases it includes 3 courses, apart from the buffets which are all you can eat. This really is a spectacular deal and includes some of my favourite restaurants in Dubai. A full list is below but please include in your schedule: Segreto (Italian - Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah) please request a water view and this is accessible via golf buggy from your hotel. Pai Thai (Thai - Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah) amazing food and service. Amala (Indian - Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, The Palm Jumeirah) you'll need a taxi here but it's probably the best Indian food you'll eat in your life - let the waiting staff choose for you based on your preferences.

https://www.jumeirah.com/en/offers/jume ... -flavours/

Any questions please do not hesitate to ask!

Wow, excellent info here.... Cheers for providing it to the site Dubaiification

I'm almost convinced to plan a trip based on this post alone.... Will let ya know if I do so for any further advice from a 'local'