Abu Dhabi via Dubai
Discussion
All a bit last minute(ish) but my Dad and I are going to look at going out to Abu Dhabi for the GP; we'd like to make a decent trip of it rather than just go for a long weekend given the distance, so looking at some time in Dubai also. Initial plan Dubai for 4 days, down to Abu Dhabi for 3, back to Dubai for a bit then back home.
Apart from transit I've not spent any time in Dubai - Dubai to Abu Dhabi looks easy to do on the map - is it? Anyone got recommendations as to how to do it (bus/train/car?).
Also any tips for things to do in both locations; dad and I are car nuts and my sister is coming along but more for the Dubai shopping experience.
Apart from transit I've not spent any time in Dubai - Dubai to Abu Dhabi looks easy to do on the map - is it? Anyone got recommendations as to how to do it (bus/train/car?).
Also any tips for things to do in both locations; dad and I are car nuts and my sister is coming along but more for the Dubai shopping experience.
thole. If you love shopping and conspiculous consumption based on what amounts to slavery, then fair enough, but I hate the place. I enjoyed Dubai, I suppose the biggest thing to do there is shop, which is good for convenience of having lots under one roof but nothing is any cheaper than it would be here.
Apart from that there are a few activities out in the desert, but I'd think it would too hot for that this time of year. If you like exotic or unusual cars there's enough there to keep you occupied visiting collections and museums and so on.
I don't know if driving to Abu Dabi is the best way to get there but it's not a difficult drive.
Apart from that there are a few activities out in the desert, but I'd think it would too hot for that this time of year. If you like exotic or unusual cars there's enough there to keep you occupied visiting collections and museums and so on.
I don't know if driving to Abu Dabi is the best way to get there but it's not a difficult drive.
The weather will be great at the time of the grands prix, around high 20s. It's also really easy to travel between the two, 90 minutes city to city and about £50. Yas Marina is just outside Abu Dhabi on the Dubai side so even less time although on race weekend it will obviously take a lot longer and I recommend having a car booked (or hired) in advance. A car is the only option.
Dubai is sleazy and crass but it's also incredible the first time you go. There's pretty much anything to do, beaches, boats, desert offroading, skiing, etc. along with great restaurants. Drinking (a lot) is fine so long as you don't act like a knob in public. Abu Dhabi more relaxed and focusing on culture although it's slowly getting bigger and brasher. Both places are good for shopping although Dubai the better by far - Dubai Mall is the world's biggest and has a walk through aquarium that is pretty cool. Nice (and disgusting) cars outside the Malls and parading around the Marina.
I've never been to the F1 in Abu Dhabi but everyone I know who has been says it's a great experience - much better than what we get on TV. They also throw on some pretty big concerts over the weekend.
Dubai is sleazy and crass but it's also incredible the first time you go. There's pretty much anything to do, beaches, boats, desert offroading, skiing, etc. along with great restaurants. Drinking (a lot) is fine so long as you don't act like a knob in public. Abu Dhabi more relaxed and focusing on culture although it's slowly getting bigger and brasher. Both places are good for shopping although Dubai the better by far - Dubai Mall is the world's biggest and has a walk through aquarium that is pretty cool. Nice (and disgusting) cars outside the Malls and parading around the Marina.
I've never been to the F1 in Abu Dhabi but everyone I know who has been says it's a great experience - much better than what we get on TV. They also throw on some pretty big concerts over the weekend.
Edited by tonybhr on Friday 2nd October 16:41
Edited by tonybhr on Friday 2nd October 16:43
You need a car parking pass which comes with the tickets if you want to take your own car down to the GP (and then use the free shuttle busses). If you take taxis stay for the free concerts after each days track sessions.
Getting to the circuit is easy especially if you go before the main F1 track sessions.
There is more to do in Dubai than Abu Dhabi with a trip into the desert for a desert safari is worth it this time of year.
Getting to the circuit is easy especially if you go before the main F1 track sessions.
There is more to do in Dubai than Abu Dhabi with a trip into the desert for a desert safari is worth it this time of year.
One thing I would say is Taxis are really cheap in Dubai so I wouldn't mess around with public transport while you are there, its just hassle and not much cheaper. (although there is a surcharge if you are going to or from the airport)
You could quite easily get a taxi to Abu Dhabi (I understand its less than a 90 minute journey) but i'm not sure how much it would cost. Probably less than you think, when I've been in Dubai its very rare for a taxi ride to be more than £5 and I don't think I've ever paid more than £10.
You could quite easily get a taxi to Abu Dhabi (I understand its less than a 90 minute journey) but i'm not sure how much it would cost. Probably less than you think, when I've been in Dubai its very rare for a taxi ride to be more than £5 and I don't think I've ever paid more than £10.
if you go you want seats for the north grandstand. best view imo and only a short walk to the du arena for the concerts. you can taxi down to the circuit from dubai for about 200dhs [roughly £35] but you'll wait for ever and a day to get one back. you can prebook with dubai taxi or download the app for careem [same thing as uber] when you land.
i live in dubai and really don't understand why people go there on holiday. however there are plenty of things to keep you entertained for a week.
in abdab there really isn't much and you'll struggle to find a hotel race week. if i were you i'd stay in dxb and just drive down. unless some knobber stacks it on the motorway its maybe 45min drive from dubai marina to yas island and another 20mins down to the corniche.
the grand mosque is well worth a visit. check the website for the guided tour timings. its free and pretty good for what it is. the mosque itself [apart from the naff led prayer clocks] is ridiculously impressive. there's also a car museum you may recall from clarkson's motorworld, basically the collection of the rainbow sheikh who is a bit eccentric when it comes to cars. not big but worth a look:
http://www.enam.ae/
yes dubai has lots of shopping but prices are higher than the uk and the malls are tiresome places to be. dune bashing is always a laugh and there's sea fishing, boating, shooting etc. if either of you have golf bats there are plenty of world class courses to play. the race to dubai finale is the week before the f1 i think, dead easy to get tickets to that.
i live in dubai and really don't understand why people go there on holiday. however there are plenty of things to keep you entertained for a week.
in abdab there really isn't much and you'll struggle to find a hotel race week. if i were you i'd stay in dxb and just drive down. unless some knobber stacks it on the motorway its maybe 45min drive from dubai marina to yas island and another 20mins down to the corniche.
the grand mosque is well worth a visit. check the website for the guided tour timings. its free and pretty good for what it is. the mosque itself [apart from the naff led prayer clocks] is ridiculously impressive. there's also a car museum you may recall from clarkson's motorworld, basically the collection of the rainbow sheikh who is a bit eccentric when it comes to cars. not big but worth a look:
http://www.enam.ae/
yes dubai has lots of shopping but prices are higher than the uk and the malls are tiresome places to be. dune bashing is always a laugh and there's sea fishing, boating, shooting etc. if either of you have golf bats there are plenty of world class courses to play. the race to dubai finale is the week before the f1 i think, dead easy to get tickets to that.
If I was you I'd find a hotel in the Marina area of Dubai and then taxi (and arrange a pick up) for the GP.
It'll take you not much more than an hour.
Plenty of things to do in Dubai. Beach, bars, restaurants, shopping, desert stuff. You can go off to the Dubai autodrome and go-kart http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/kartdrome/
Stick around for the concerts though as they normally have some good acts on.
It'll take you not much more than an hour.
Plenty of things to do in Dubai. Beach, bars, restaurants, shopping, desert stuff. You can go off to the Dubai autodrome and go-kart http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/kartdrome/
Stick around for the concerts though as they normally have some good acts on.
I live in Abu Dhabi and have driven to Dubai loads and it is very easy, one straight road although if you have never driven here before it can get a bit annoying as most of them drive like idiots 2 feet from your bumper/overtake you both sides etc. Driving in Dubai if you don't know where you are going can be a hassle though but Abu Dhabi is easy. It will take about an hour to get from Dubai to the circuit but I would just get a taxi if I were you, then you can enjoy a few beers at the GP and after race concerts. The concerts are good but the price of drinks are shocking but I suppose it is a free concert so evens itself out.
You won't get a hotel on Yas Island on GP weekend but you might get one in the city center, there are loads of good hotels but prices will be up so depends what you are willing to spend.
In Abu Dhabi you can go to the Mosque, play 3 world class golf courses ( more in Dubai ), there is also Al Forsan sports resort near Yas island which has a wake boarding lake, shooting range ( hand guns/Sniper Rifles etc ) and the best go-kart track I have ever been on.
Loads of bars and nice places to eat in both cities. I recommend you buy a Dubai or Abu Dhabi Entertainer book when you arrive ( 350 Dirhams I believe in most supermarkets ) as it has hundreds of buy 1 get 1 free vouchers for just about everything from meals, tours, sports activities etc so if you are spending a week here it will save you some pennies.
I have only been to the GP once and was in the South Stand and it was perfect, right at the end of the long straight to the chicane where the overtaking happens and overlooking the Viceroy hotel and yachts in the marina. I chose the same stand again this year.
Enjoy
You won't get a hotel on Yas Island on GP weekend but you might get one in the city center, there are loads of good hotels but prices will be up so depends what you are willing to spend.
In Abu Dhabi you can go to the Mosque, play 3 world class golf courses ( more in Dubai ), there is also Al Forsan sports resort near Yas island which has a wake boarding lake, shooting range ( hand guns/Sniper Rifles etc ) and the best go-kart track I have ever been on.
Loads of bars and nice places to eat in both cities. I recommend you buy a Dubai or Abu Dhabi Entertainer book when you arrive ( 350 Dirhams I believe in most supermarkets ) as it has hundreds of buy 1 get 1 free vouchers for just about everything from meals, tours, sports activities etc so if you are spending a week here it will save you some pennies.
I have only been to the GP once and was in the South Stand and it was perfect, right at the end of the long straight to the chicane where the overtaking happens and overlooking the Viceroy hotel and yachts in the marina. I chose the same stand again this year.
Enjoy
As above, I'm a resident here too. Recommend the South Stand as I think it is the best view, a bit more of a walk to the concerts though but handy for the Yas Marina Bars and nightlife after the race. The North was good but you won't see much overtaking there, the West is good as if you get a decent seat you can seat back up the start/finish straight and are sitting where most of the overtaking happens.
Plenty to do in both cities but hotel prices in Abu Dhabi frequently double over race weekend and unless you've already booked you won't get into one on Yas Island and will have to look towards the city. In that case you are looking at potentially a 20-30min drive in and 60dhs in a taxi or hanging about for buses in a park and ride.
If you are staying in Dubai and aren't too bothered about staying on the Palm the Downtown Sofitel is a cracking hotel for the price. Driving in from there to Yas is doable in just under an hour.
Plenty to do in both cities but hotel prices in Abu Dhabi frequently double over race weekend and unless you've already booked you won't get into one on Yas Island and will have to look towards the city. In that case you are looking at potentially a 20-30min drive in and 60dhs in a taxi or hanging about for buses in a park and ride.
If you are staying in Dubai and aren't too bothered about staying on the Palm the Downtown Sofitel is a cracking hotel for the price. Driving in from there to Yas is doable in just under an hour.
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