Help planning Abu Dhabi GP trip
Discussion
I am planning on booking a trip to the Abu Dhabi grand prix, and I am hoping for some guidance.
I have tried the F1 website and it looks good for booking the hotels and flights (more hotel choice than ebookers), although it does not give you access to all grandstand ticket options unless you book them separate.
I am thinking of flying out on the Thursday and back on Monday so not rushing around. Can anyone help with grandstand choice? Would like main stand, but does this only mean start/finish view, when West stand has more corners? I would love the paddock access tickets, but at £5k for two tickets I will unfortunately have to give them a miss.
Which hotels would be best, and is car hire preferable? How is parking at the circuit?
Can anyone who made the trip last year offer any help, or just a pointer on Abu Dhabi itself? This would be the first GP me and the wife have been to, so would like to make it special.
Thank you in advance.
I have tried the F1 website and it looks good for booking the hotels and flights (more hotel choice than ebookers), although it does not give you access to all grandstand ticket options unless you book them separate.
I am thinking of flying out on the Thursday and back on Monday so not rushing around. Can anyone help with grandstand choice? Would like main stand, but does this only mean start/finish view, when West stand has more corners? I would love the paddock access tickets, but at £5k for two tickets I will unfortunately have to give them a miss.
Which hotels would be best, and is car hire preferable? How is parking at the circuit?
Can anyone who made the trip last year offer any help, or just a pointer on Abu Dhabi itself? This would be the first GP me and the wife have been to, so would like to make it special.
Thank you in advance.
It was decided between a bunch of us that the South Stand had the best view as you saw the cars go through all the dynamics - Flat out down a straight, hard on the brakes, left, right, left, left complex before shooting off and disappearing under the hotel and back round to the start/finish. You're right next to some superyachts in the marina and a massive screen in front of you as well to watch all the action.
There are a whole lot of 3/4 star hotels that have recently opened up in Dubai and you can get some cracking deals - £45 a night in this place http://www.citymaxhotels.com/hotels/al-barsha.php and it's brand new, very shiney and clean - car hire is cheap as chips for a basic run around and it's about a 45min drive from Dubai and then around 30 minute (ish) transfer from the carpark to the track. I did it all 4 days last year and it was fine.
Abu Dhabi will be very expensive plus you have more nightlife in Dubai - that said, you'll probably end up going to the end of day gigs at the Ferrari theme park depending on the line up.
There are a whole lot of 3/4 star hotels that have recently opened up in Dubai and you can get some cracking deals - £45 a night in this place http://www.citymaxhotels.com/hotels/al-barsha.php and it's brand new, very shiney and clean - car hire is cheap as chips for a basic run around and it's about a 45min drive from Dubai and then around 30 minute (ish) transfer from the carpark to the track. I did it all 4 days last year and it was fine.
Abu Dhabi will be very expensive plus you have more nightlife in Dubai - that said, you'll probably end up going to the end of day gigs at the Ferrari theme park depending on the line up.
Edited by Asterix on Tuesday 27th July 07:43
Thanks for that Asterix.
Didn't think about Dubai, that hotel is coming out at £70 per night, so could be done on a cheaper budget, although the wife may prefer some of the expensive ones if she knows we are staying in Dubai....
I thought some of the other stands may be better, it's just watching the start would be great (and the noise), but after that it's just a procession past the main stand.
I did have a look at the Thomas cook website, as they do a four day package, but it looks like I can do just the flights and hotel for far less than £2,500.
Didn't think about Dubai, that hotel is coming out at £70 per night, so could be done on a cheaper budget, although the wife may prefer some of the expensive ones if she knows we are staying in Dubai....
I thought some of the other stands may be better, it's just watching the start would be great (and the noise), but after that it's just a procession past the main stand.
I did have a look at the Thomas cook website, as they do a four day package, but it looks like I can do just the flights and hotel for far less than £2,500.
Trax said:
Thanks for that Asterix.
Didn't think about Dubai, that hotel is coming out at £70 per night, so could be done on a cheaper budget, although the wife may prefer some of the expensive ones if she knows we are staying in Dubai....
I thought some of the other stands may be better, it's just watching the start would be great (and the noise), but after that it's just a procession past the main stand.
I did have a look at the Thomas cook website, as they do a four day package, but it looks like I can do just the flights and hotel for far less than £2,500.
Something else to bear in mind is that it's not just the F1 - all the support races had massive punch ups where we were and it was brilliant to watch. I agree that the start of an F1 race is something special but seeing the whole field come from flat out down to 2nd gear was mental, then they twist and turn through the complex in fornt of you - very exciting. You are very, very close in the South stand.Didn't think about Dubai, that hotel is coming out at £70 per night, so could be done on a cheaper budget, although the wife may prefer some of the expensive ones if she knows we are staying in Dubai....
I thought some of the other stands may be better, it's just watching the start would be great (and the noise), but after that it's just a procession past the main stand.
I did have a look at the Thomas cook website, as they do a four day package, but it looks like I can do just the flights and hotel for far less than £2,500.
Well after some research, looks like we might book a long weekend in Dubai, possibly through Virgin, and book the tickets separate.
Does anyone else have any pointers? Will probably do south or paddock stand, depending on any comments I get.
What is the parking like? You get a parking ticket if you buy three tickets, but there is only two of us going. Also, is the kangaroo tv gadget worth it?
Does anyone else have any pointers? Will probably do south or paddock stand, depending on any comments I get.
What is the parking like? You get a parking ticket if you buy three tickets, but there is only two of us going. Also, is the kangaroo tv gadget worth it?
Cheers Dan, I thought South and Paddock looked good, was not sure about West. West looks like you can see the start finish if your at the Northern end of it, but I guess you get whatever tickets are handed out when you purchase them.
Care to share any experiences if you went last year.
Think it will be great for our first GP, perhaps we should have chosen something a bit more local first..... Lol
Care to share any experiences if you went last year.
Think it will be great for our first GP, perhaps we should have chosen something a bit more local first..... Lol
The park & ride last year was really good, mind you they only finished the exit from the motorway 3 days before the GP! Surprisingly it was better than parking in the circuit. I don't know who's on at the concerts this year but that was a highlight last year.
My main advice is get lots of water, really good sun cream and plot the route to the beer tent early.
My main advice is get lots of water, really good sun cream and plot the route to the beer tent early.
Cheers all, think I will buy two south stand tickets this weekend, then look at booking the accommodation next month, and book 5 nights in Dubai.
Are thereany sites where you can see which seats the tickets are for? Ones I have seen don't seem to show what is available. Also is high or low seats in the stands best? I would have though high so you get more of a view round the bends further away from the stand.
I would have thought Southstandwould be nicely shaded from the sun? Or is a cap necessary for my baldy head? Also the pit walk on Thursday, how can you get on this, as I have seen no tickets for Thursday.
Thanks again.
Are thereany sites where you can see which seats the tickets are for? Ones I have seen don't seem to show what is available. Also is high or low seats in the stands best? I would have though high so you get more of a view round the bends further away from the stand.
I would have thought Southstandwould be nicely shaded from the sun? Or is a cap necessary for my baldy head? Also the pit walk on Thursday, how can you get on this, as I have seen no tickets for Thursday.
Thanks again.
Trax said:
I would have thought Southstandwould be nicely shaded from the sun? Or is a cap necessary for my baldy head? Also the pit walk on Thursday, how can you get on this, as I have seen no tickets for Thursday.
A hat and strong suncream are vital for the UAE at all times. Don't underestimate the power of the sun. Hydration is critical also, drinks like Pocari Sweat / Gatorade are needed.Thursday - last year I believe these were included in the three day tickets. Best to check the website for details.
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