Sorry if this is a really stupid question but I am very puzzled!

[catwithflowers]

We are travelling to Malaysia and have a 10 hour overnight wait in Dubai. I booked a cheap hotel yesterday thinking that 10 hours with three kids in an airport is far too long to wait and now I am beiginning to panic! Can we actually leave the airport at all? I am assuming our luggage is checked in straight through from UK to Kuala Lumpar as we have the same baggage reference on the ticket for both flights. I know its a silly question but I've only ever flown on short European flights before and never had to change. Both flights are with Emirates.

It seems that visas for Dubai are automatically stamped for 1 month so that is one less thing to worry about and we don't need a visa for Malaysia. My big adventure is suddenly becoming a bit scary All advice gratefully received thank you.

This is just from memory but I'm sure 8 hours is the minimum stopover before they let you leave the airport. We were there for 7hours 50 or something like that (was a few years ago).

bags will be checked through if you're with the same airline on both flights - how old are your kids?

If I phoned my local airport, would they be able to advise me do you think?

Kids are 10, 14 and 16 so not babies - I just thought this would be the easiest solution rather than waiting around the airport all night.

If its not too late to cancel and re-book, there is an excellent hotel inside the DXB airport which we've used regularly.

Thanks MOSagain. I can book and get a refund but the hotel I booked was cheap, (the Premier Inn - only 86 quid for the four of us as we are on a budget) I'll have a look at hotels inside the airport to get an idea of prices. I guess you are all saying we won't be able to leave the airport as luggage is checked right through

But you also have to factor in how much the taxis would cost to and from the hotel as well. How close was the one you've booked?

The good thing about the one in the terminal (lovely one in Emirates terminal) is that you can book by the hour

Your luggage will probably be transited through, but you could take a change of clothes and a toothbrush in your hand luggage?

Otherwise as MOS says, rebook for the airport hotel especially if the Premier Inn is a fair way from the terminal.

lovely restaurants in DXB airport too. I used to always head for the Irish village for a lovely bacon butty and glass of chablis on way to/from KSA

I left Abu Dhabi airport with no problems. Had a walk around in a local park. They were fine letting me in and out and I just signed some immigration stuff as I didn't have a visa to enter.

The Premier Inn is about 600mtrs away with free shuttle bus! Will definitely investigate further before cancelling the booking!

I'm not sure why you can't leave the airport if your baggage is checked through? You'd just need a change of clothes and toothbrush in your handluggage really :)

I vaguely remember a cinema and possibly a swimming pool at Dubai airport. It could have been Changi though.
Have a look on the website.
MOS, I've done that during ramadhan.