Monica’s Travel Tips giving you up to date, practical and useful travel tips connected to all aspects air travel, so think lounge access, home check in services, bio metric paths and cool new routes via Dubai etc, best events at key destinations.
We collaborate with Emirates, FlyDubai and DNATA to bring you the latest relevant information that will your journey easier and more efficient. So check this page on a regular basis and do share with others who may be travelling.
If you need some inspiration for where to go and want some tried and tested itineraries for both within the UAE or outside the UAE then check our TRAVELLING category.
MONICA’S TRAVEL TIPS – 17th March 2023 – Fly to a NEW AIRPORT IN MILAN with FlyDubai
FlyDubai has started flying to Milan Bergamo airport. It’s about an hour or so away from Milan BUT while Malpensa is in the middle of nowhere, Bergamo is definitely a place to stay a while. Go for the Cita Alta area of the city.
Check our Travel Tips page for more new destinations and ideas. Also if you’re PLANNING A TRIP TO MILAN , then you should definitely check out this page for cool ideas of where to eat, sleep and sight see. Need a good hotel recommendation in Milan? We recommend the Aethos hotel the Yard in MIlan.
MONICA’S TRAVEL TIPS – 4TH JANUARY 2023 – Fly directly to the Kenyan coast from Dubai
We’re delighted to hear from Dubai Airports that KENYA AIRWAYS now has 4 direct flights a week from Dubai Terminal 1 to Mombasa in Kenya. That’s fantastic news if you want to fly direct to the Kenyan coast without taking another flight from Nairobi – the capital.
Remember Mombasa is in the Northern part of the Kenyan coast and while there are some amazing hotels and resorts there, we love the South coast of Kenya. You can get there via a drive and or a ferry from Mombasa. Do research cool destinations like Kilifi and Watamu too. And a 20 minute flight away is our favourite – Lamu. Check out the links for some of our experiences of Kenya.
MONICA’S TRAVEL TIPS – 28th September New destination in Uzbekistan and NO MORE MASKS!
Another new route added by FlyDubai to a new short break destination. This time they’ve added a 3rd city to the 2 they already fly to in Uzbekistan! So you could already go to Samarkand and Tashkent, now you can also fly direct to new to me Namangan!
That’s the 3rd largest city in Uzbekistan, and a three and a half hour flight away, so definitely a new short break destination. Namangan has always been famous as a craft city. On its territory lived the best weavers, jewellers, blacksmiths and potters. It’s famous for a special kind of pilaf rice and apparently the fruit of the region especially the peaches are the best in the region!
The name Namangan comes from 2 words Namak Kan which is Persian for salt mine! I reckon it’s going to be a reasonably priced place to explore. Last but not least apparently no more masks required at Dubai Airport or on Emirates, Etihad and FlyDubai flights! After 2.5 years!
And if you want to go further a field read our cool 48 hours in Miami where to eat, visit and sleep
MONICA’S TRAVEL TIPS – 18th August 2022 – Let’s Go Greek!
Emirates has announced a very cool code share with GREEK airline AEGEAN! So what?
So that means Emirates passengers from Dubai can now easily access eight new Greek cities via Athens in one single ticket with consistent baggage policy too!
Destinations include: Kerkyra, Chania, Irakleion, Mikonos, Thira, Rhodes, Thessaloniki and Alexandropoulos. I think I’ll Go Greek next holiday!
MONICA’S TRAVEL TIPS – July 23rd 2022
For anyone who’s in LONDON right now or for whoever’s going check out this very fun, free event in a very posh location!
Go to Grosvenor Square in London’s Mayfair and take in some Summer in the Square vibes. Family friendly free activities from 12pm to 8pm EVERY DAY from 21st July to the 31st of July! Italian Gelato, Uzbek noodles, a bit of yoga, and even some afro beats dance workshops for you to try !
After or before a spot of shopping at Selfridges! Not a million miles away!
MONICA’S TRAVEL TIPS – July 13th 2022
How do I get access to the BUSINESS LOUNGE at the airport in Terminal 2 Dubai ?
The terminal for all Fly Dubai flights at the moment
- If you’re an Emirates Gold Card holder and you’re travelling FLYDUBAI from Terminal 2 in Dubai then you are entitled to use the lounge there, BUT you cannot take in a guest
- This is different to if you’re travelling on Emirates then you can take a guest into the lounge if you’re a gold card holder or above
- There is a Marhaba lounge at Terminal 2 which you can access with the Lounge Key credit cards for free, but again no guests allowed and when we travelled and saw it it was too full to accommodate any more passengers
- Note also if you’re flying from Terminal 2 on FlyDubai you can also go to a dedicated queue for Gold and Silver skywards members
- If you would like the emergency exit seats, be aware there is a charge of AED 250 per seat and you receive a voucher at check in for which you then need to go to a different queue to pay
- Then you queue again to get your boarding card and queue again
MONICA’S TRAVEL TIPS – July 9th 2022
Take Advantage of the Biometric Path – Get Out Faster!
The Smart Tunnel is a world-first for passport control, whereby passengers simply walk through a tunnel and are cleared by immigration authorities without human intervention or the need for a physical passport stamp. All it takes to register is a quick photo at check-in to capture facial data. Travellers can check-in, clear immigration, access airport lounge – only one of our lounges in Concourse B, and board flights at selected gates purely by facial recognition or using your boarding pass.
Home check-in Service – Easier, stress free travel to the airport, no need to book a big car!
Emirates home check-in is an Emirates service available in Dubai and Sharjah, fulfilled by DUBZ. DUBZ agents complete the check-in process in your home, hotel or office and take your bags to the flight while you enjoy the rest of your day and breeze through the airport later. Book and pay for the service at least 24 hours before your flight and you may proceed to the Airport check-in up to six hours before your flight departs. When you book First Class, the home check-in service will be complimentary.
Flying to Tuscany or Umbria?
Then go direct from Dubai with FlyDubai’s NEW DESTINATION PISA – great gateway
Famous for it’s leaning tower but a great gateway to Tuscany and Umbria, Eid packages from AED 3300 inc flights and hotel for this Eid! Note timings of some of Fly Dubai’s flights are also much better now for example Dubai to Salalah arriving at about 5pm not the middle of the night!
Here’s our review of the ALILA HINU BAY Salalah.