Whilst I have some
free time on my hands, I thought I'd share my experience at this airport. I got
here a couple of days ago by taxi from Dubai airport and I'm staying at the
Premier Inn in the business park. If you are after the based airliners, it took
me a day and a half to get the ones that I needed. I am now on my third day
here and it is very slow to say the least. There is an occasional gem, however.
I am in room 559 which gives me an excellent view of the airport and the
runways. The transports at the Air Base are visible but tail-on. A room on the
fifth floor is essential as you need to see over the top of the old terminal
three. I found that the guy who checked me and understood what I needed.
The view from in here is not 100% but not far off. Room 558 in my opinion
would give very similar views. The unusual shape of the hotel means that some
of the airport either side will be obscured. The shape of the hotel building
looks like this !_!_ as you look at the airport. Rooms 559 & 558 are
in the middle of the left underscore. Smog here is a bit of an issue as
it is in Dubai, but it is not that bad that you cannot see the aircraft on the
far taxiway.
However, overflights aren’t visible through the smog.
The food here in the Nuevo restaurant is very good in my opinion and is
themed on English pub grub, maybe even Beefeater style food but better quality. At this time of year,
it starts to get dark just before 7pm and is fully dark just 25 minutes later.
When it gets dark, it is very dark and if you enjoy nighttime spotting,
it will be very difficult. If you want to make a
video call back home, you will need to use Zoom as WhatsApp, Messenger and
FaceTime won't work.
The plug sockets here are UK-style. Photography would be
possible on the closest runway 31L/13R if it weren't for the filthy windows.
The Premier Inn at Dubai Airport suffers the same.
Credit David Fogwill
