I was a little nervous about travelling to Abu Dhabi. As a woman, I was concerned about dress code, behavioural code etc, but once I arrived and got to spend some time here all my fears were allayed.
I’d advise you not to walk down the main street or shopping mall wearing anything too revealing, however lounging by the hotel pools, the beaches and the waterpark in your swimming costume is perfectly fine.
The six and a half hour daylight flight with Etihad Airways was great as I got to read my book and watch a movie. The very friendly Etihad staff plied me with food and drinks and I arrived feeling fresh.
What I didn't realise prior to my trip is that whilst much of Abu Dhabi is on the mainland it is also made up of 200 islands. We stayed at the fantastic Yas Viceroy on Yas Island, known for having a Formula 1 racetrack built around the hotel (very exciting for those F1 fans).
To add to the F1 excitement, Ferrari World is situated close to the hotel. Here you can spend all day sampling Ferrari memorabilia, going on rides (Ferrari World has the fastest roller coaster in the world), learning all about the history of Ferrari and trying your hand in one of the simulators.
Another great day out is a day spent at the Yas Waterpark. You could also spend a day shopping, or lounging at the beach or beside one of the hotel’s refreshing pools.
If you would like to experience the more traditional cultures of Abu Dhabi there is great insight to be had by taking a trip to the Mosque (ladies be sure to cover up - only faces and hands may show, and it gets very hot in here). Also the Heritage Village is very educational and depicts life in Abu Dhabi as it transforms from desert to its modern day form with Manhattan-like skyscrapers.
Abu Dhabi is gearing toward further developing itself as a cultural centre with more museums and galleries opening in 2015.
Most of the hotels that we visited were pure luxury. Many had their own private beaches, signature restaurants, pools and much more. Staying here was a week in the lap of luxury with temperatures in excess of 35 degrees Celsius, white sandy beaches and clear, clean sea.
Emirates Palace was such a WOW hotel, with its own signature coffee – A Camelchinno served with gold leaf sprinkled on the top.
Emirates Palace have their own lazy river (I get very excited about lazy rivers), camels and offer kayaking, snorkelling and jet skiing off the coast of their own private beach.
Another great hotel in the area is Jumeirah Towers Hotel. It has its own private beach and an observation deck on the 72nd floor, which delivers wonderful panoramic views of Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi is widely spread out, however transport is cheap with reasonable rates for car hire, and taxis costing around £16 for 40km.
I loved my trip to Abu Dhabi, which is one of the 7 Emirates. The people are friendly and welcoming and although there are only 1 million locals and 7 million expats, you still get a fascinating taste of this country’s culture and beliefs.
I’ll leave you with this top tip - make sure you always have drinking water with you to cope with the extreme heat. Water costs approximately £1.60 for a bottle.
Travel Blog by Debbie Smith
Phone Debbie: 01989 562555
Email Debbie: [email protected]
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