26 ABU DHABI ADVENTURE
June 2022 Travel News ABU DHABI, BEEN THERE, DUNE THAT!
The Holiday Ninja went on an Arabian Adventure to Abu Dhabi to seek out why this sunny
middle-eastern city is becoming a well known holiday hot-spot...
rguably Dubai gets most of the attention when considering a holiday to the UAE but Abu Dhabi is growing in popularity. Both are great cities and each are special in their own right, but our 5 nights we spent in Abu Dhabi were non stop (by choice) yet it felt like we were only scratching the surface of what it has to offer.
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Getting There Its very simple to get to this part of the world! Direct flights to Abu Dhabi from Dublin are available with Etihad Airways, although you could even fly to Dubai and take the short trip down the motorway to Abu Dhabi Our 9:20am flight meant an early start from home but this allowed a clear run to the airport and so we were quickly through security and into the lounge to relax and enjoy the refreshments. A pleasant bonus for the flight was the upgrade to Business Class (fully reclining seat, welcome pack/goodies, menu card to pre order meals and snacks, wide choice of drinks and an excellent entertainment package). The flight itself was under 7 hours so just enough time for a movie either side of dinner and a quick snooze after an early start that morning. For me however, the real benefit of Business Class was on the return flight departing Abu Dhabi at 1:45am. We were able to pre select our breakfast and approximate serving time with cabin crew once we were on board leaving nothing else other than to fully recline our seats and settle down for a solid 5-6 hours of sleep! Great arriving back home feeling fully refreshed. Landing in Abu Dhabi and passing through immigration was super quick. Currently a negative PCR test is required upon arrival to be granted a ‘green pass’ on the Al Hosn app which is needed to basically access everything indoors– hotels, malls, attractions etc. Signage at the airport directs you to the Covid Test Centre at arrivals and I’m sure at one stage it would have been very busy given the number of testing desks available, however only a handful were in operation when we landed. We were told that the results would be through in under 2 hours and upon receipt we just needed to upload the result to the Al Hosn app which we had downloaded prior to our flight departure meaning all documentation and vaccination information was already online. It was simply a quick swab by the medical examiner and then out the airport and into one of the many awaiting taxis to whisk us the 35 minutes to our hotel
When planning out the trip to Abu Dhabi we had thought about availability of taxis, whether best to use Uber or perhaps even hire a car. Whilst a hire car may appear to offer more flexibility I have to say that all the little aspects of a taxi/Uber add up to being my recommended means of transport. All the main roads are well signposted as you would expect and all the hotels and attractions have car parking available however there is something quite nice about arriving at your destination and stepping out of the car and not trying to waste time finding a space. Or when its time to move on you don’t need to return to your vehicle that’s been parked in the heat. Even if its been in the shade I suspect the first few minutes would be pretty uncomfortable while you wait for the air con to really kick in. NInja Tip - Taxis worked out slightly cheaper than an Uber and both are readily available and our longest wait was no more than 5 minutes which is impressive. Uber will, of course, give you the benefit of tracking your vehicle though and knowing the exact cost Hotels A little over 40 years ago Abu Dhabi was a fishing village in the desert but has now grown into a city with more than 170 hotels to choose from. Many of the big name luxury brands are here as you would expect, but there are also plenty of lower priced options to choose from – and with so much to see and do in Abu Dhabi you probably need to consider how much time you will be spending in your hotel to see if you will make use of the facilities of a pricier option
Stunning Views of The Mosque
Saadiyat Island is home to a stunning blue-flag beach stretching for 5 miles along with a number of luxurious hotels and beach resorts. We were able to take advantage of the facilities at the absolutely stunning Park Hyatt Hotel & Villas with a day pass for the pool and beach area. So even if you chose to stay closer to the downtown area of Abu Dhabi, you can look to escape for an afternoon lounging by the pool or perhaps rent a cabana on the beautiful white sands at several resorts. The Park Hyatt has 306 rooms, suites and private villas with beautiful views of the Arabian Sea beyond its landscaped gardens. If the wonderful pool or beach was not enough, there is the Atarmia Spa inside with 9 large treatment rooms, a 25m lap pool, fitness room and stretching studios. We were fortunate to receive complimentary treatments (a soothing massage, as well as a unique sound healing meditation) during our stay which were certainly well received after a hectic few days dashing around the attractions of Abu Dhabi Yas Island is home to 3 award winning theme parks (more later!), the Yas Shopping Mall, Yas Marina, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Links and more! If you plan to visit a number of these attractions during your stay you may want to consider staying at one of the many chain hotels that are located here. The Yas Express is a complimentary shuttle bus service on the island
with 3 routes stopping off at many of the hotels and attractions. The 3 main theme parks and Yas Mall are all close together and we were able to walk between them however I honestly don’t think I would do it again if visiting during the summer months as a 15 minute walk in 40+ degree heat would be a little toastie for sure Downtown – starting at the Corniche, the 8km beachfront of Abu Dhabi - you will find childrens play areas, cycle and pedestrian pathways, cafes and restaurants. Its therefore not surprising to find a number of quality hotels in this area. For the first part of this trip we stayed at the Grand Hyatt which is not only convenient for the city’s business district but right at the top of the Corniche directly across from the Emirates Palace Hotel and Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace. The interior of the hotel has been designed with links to the local areas history of pearl diving with a number of subtle design features along with the aptly named Pearl Lounge. There are 428 spacious rooms, 36 luxury suites along with private residences for long stay guests. Our room had an incredible view on the 36th floor, with a large open plan bathroom, wardrobe and shower area with bath tub in the centre. I’m not even exaggerating when I say that this is one of the most impressive hotels i’ve ever stayed in - and throughout the hotel any encounters we had with staff were always met with a friendly smile and a welcoming hello (manners cost nothing!) Another downtown option is the Andaz Capital Gate which is where we spent our final night - very handy for the attractions on that side of the city. It is only 15 mins from Abu Dhabi airport and links through to the ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre) but you certainly wont miss this impressive hotel from the outside as it leans at 18 degrees with an outdoor pool jutting out on the 19th floor! There are 188 rooms available here along with a host of other facilities such as spa, gym, restaurants but it also boasts the city’s only permanent art gallery, ‘165 below’ which is play on the fact that the gallery is 165m below the top of the hotel. Whilst there was certainly more of a “business” feel to this hotel, it again offers a perfect base for exploring the city area.
Things to do This NInja trip allowed us 4 full days to do as much as
possible during our time in Abu Dhabi and we certainly did our best …. we didn’t stop! When I say that it feels like we barely scratched the surface it should give you an indication that there is a lot to see and do. So whether you are visiting for culture and heritage, shopping, nature, adventure or relaxation I would definitely recommend plotting a plan for your time here. Many of the attractions are actually quite close together and so it would be very easy to tick 2 or even 3 of them off your list whilst in a particular area of the city – that’s certainly what we tried to do, but would have loved to have spent a full day at some of the attractions rather than 2-3 hours! Qasr Al Watan is a working Presidential Palace and a majestic cultural landmark located at the top of the Corniche. Without knowing anything about this unbelievable structure, I was surprised to learn that building work only commenced in 2010 and finished in 2017 before being opened to the public in 2019. Upon arrival you would think it was historical place of interest, but the history of the area is what you will learn about when inside. Visitors can read about the formation of the UAE as well as the country’s governing traditions and values as well as marvelling at the architecture and design of the building itself. The palace itself is set back from the road and could be approached by foot however there is ample car parking and a taxi drop off area in front of the visitor centre which is very handy. NInja Tip - If you have prebooked your tickets (£15 for adults) you can skip the queues and pass through the visitor centre which then leads to a bus for the short journey to the palace Right next door to the Presidential Palace is the Emirates Palace Hotel and is easily within walking distance (outside of the summer months anyway) if you were staying at the Grand Hyatt. This iconic hotel (one of the most premium hotels in the entire world) is definitely worth a visit and is included on many of the bus tour stop off points if you prefer to see the city that way. I have to admit that the sole purpose for my visit was to try the gold cappuccino – yes, gold! It’s a cappuccino sprinkled with actual real 24 carat gold flakes and is served throughout the day at Le Café. Is it worth the money? That will be for you to decide but it was very enjoyable and looked great on social media! Its all about those hashtags #goldcoffee
Grand Hyatt Hotel
Warner Brothers World, Abu Dhabi
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