Winter sun / fun - Dubai

[Pvapour]

Looking at getting away end of feb begin march for a 2 week recharge, looked at egypt but thats out now (to much unrest apparently)

So looking at Abu Dhabi / Dubai now, lots to do and some nice temps, not much culture but we can live with that if theres plenty of other things to do, maybe more days in Abu is it looks a bit cheaper.

Thing is budget, premium economy flights and a 4 star hotel with a hire car looks ok price wise and will eat up about 3k (2 people)

But reading reviews its says everything to see and eat is pretty expensive, we tend to visit local supermarkets on this kinda holiday and stock the room up with stuff (might go apartment as theres quite a few on offer). Probably eat out once a day though, either lunch or dinner.

So what sort of spending cash have you guys got through out there? Considering the above..

[Pvapour]

Looking at the Sheraton in Abu Dhabi and their price includes breakfast for £100 a night, will see if theres a half board option, if not much extra it could be worth having, sort of stops you eating lunch or dinner out though if youve paid for it already (umless a dirt cheap addition)

Anyone been to the Sheraton? TA rates it as pretty good.

Edited by Pvapour on Sunday 15th January 20:53

[Pvapour]

Freds said:

Can't help with the Sheraton I'm afraid, we've only ever stayed at the Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi and the Burj in Dubai.

What were they like in your view? Will take a look on TA etc

schmalex said:

I stayed at the Sheraton A. D for a couple of nights back in August whilst on a business trip to the region.

It's OK. The pool's quite nice and there's a little beach that opens out into a dock area where you can swim in the sea. Breakfast is the usual buffet affair. The Mexican restaurant was OK. The air on unit in my first room leaked and creaked and rattled so I asked to move for the second night. There's not much round it (although, to be fair, I arrived at midnight, spent the next day in meetings, had dinner with clients and then left at 0530, so I didn't get much of chance to look around the area). My abiding impression was it could do with a refurb. Overall, I'd give it a 5.5/10

Thanks for the detail, one thingI dont like is a hotel feeling tired tbh, i guess you get what you pay for and as a short stay bsiness option it'd be ok, doesnt sound very holiday material though, imediate surrounding area sounds like its worth a closer look but we'll be off doing stuff most of the time so not massively important, the corniche walks of bars and cafes attracted us, maybe theyre tired to though... thanks again

[Pvapour]

Bloody hell thats some good info, will go have a look, the BA site wont do 14 days for some reason, 10 days works out a real bargain with PE seats & 5* hotel inc breky, £1000 each! Will work out the 14 day thing when off phone..

Cheers gents!

[Pvapour]

Equilibrium25 said:

Which hotel did you go for?

Not booked yet, sometime over the next couple of weeks, i know i wont be booking the grosvenor though £350 a night!

Needs to be under 1/2 that.

[Pvapour]

Found this 5* within budget Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan By Rotana, its right at the end of corniche street, near the marina (have i got the right marina?)




Eta: the sister hotel to the grosvenor you mentioned, the royal miridien comes in on budget to...

Edited by Pvapour on Tuesday 17th January 19:13

[Pvapour]

Booked up today at the Hilton, so; 5* - 2wks - full breky inc. - sea view - premium economy flights £2.5k total for 2 people which i think is pretty good, booked through BA and cheaper than it was 2 weeks ago, sale ends this week so probably why, late March booking were about 20% more, assume thats half term?

Anyways, thanks for the help and pointers, will post back after trip

[Pvapour]

Back now and have to say we were pleasantly surprised by Abu Dhabi and the people, locals and workers, very welcoming, polite and respectfull of eachother (not so in Dubai)

Visited the Mosque which was stunning, Gill loved wearing the Araya..
spent a day at Al Forsan sports park which was just arrive and play with everything, wakebaord, archery, shooting and karting were done, brilliant purpose built kart track (best ive been on)
Yas water park, desert safari (not the dubai ones)

Everywhere we went in AD was deathly quiet, absolutely loved it, not a single queue at any event or venue we went to (except Dubai). Any reason why it was so quiet?

Hilton is 70s built but felt in no way dated, maybe we're old but we loved it, Hilltonia beach and gym were fantastic and far better than any other hotel we saw there, a walk beneath the corniche was no effort and didnt bother us but we're very active

By shear chance there was a day of display by all the forces of the UAE military on the beach re-creating a hostage rescue off a boat in the water, bloody brilliant and all free just in front of the hotel.

Eat out everyday apart from breky as the food in the hotel was extortionate compared to local restaurants, with three malls within walking distance and all containing food from round the world (and very good) we loved walking out and sampling all these.

Did the main mall at Dubai and the Burj Kalifa, incredible building but we absolutely hated Dubai and the attitudes of people, not fair to judge a place on that alone really but just from that it was so so different to Abu Dhabi, would not go back to Dubai but would Abu in a heart beat.

I could go on but wont, thanks for the advice and we had a brilliant holiday!