The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Discussion
Hello, i am planning on going to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this will be the first time i've ever been to an F1 race, so i'm looking for some advice from anyone that has been before.
First of all cost i've got a quote from a travel agency which will sort out the flights and hotel. I'll be flying from sunny Scotland to Amsterdam then onto Abu Dhabi, the hotel on offer is the Jemeirah Etihad towers apparntley the 2nd best hotel in Abu Dhabi. Now it'll be me and a friend and the total cost for this package is just shy of £2.5k excluding race tickets, is that roughly what prices are like? Also has anyone stayed at said hotel ?
Now the race itself, Which stand is considered best as i would like to see some overtakes and the cars at speed, from what i've seen the west Grandstand has the best view onto the long straight then onto the hairpin. Anyone have any other opinions? Also is there any point in opting for "lounge" or "club" grandstand ? Where is best to buy tickets, is this site any good ? http://www.bookf1.com/f1-abu-dhabi/tickets.htm
Any other advice would be highly appreciated.
Thanks
First of all cost i've got a quote from a travel agency which will sort out the flights and hotel. I'll be flying from sunny Scotland to Amsterdam then onto Abu Dhabi, the hotel on offer is the Jemeirah Etihad towers apparntley the 2nd best hotel in Abu Dhabi. Now it'll be me and a friend and the total cost for this package is just shy of £2.5k excluding race tickets, is that roughly what prices are like? Also has anyone stayed at said hotel ?
Now the race itself, Which stand is considered best as i would like to see some overtakes and the cars at speed, from what i've seen the west Grandstand has the best view onto the long straight then onto the hairpin. Anyone have any other opinions? Also is there any point in opting for "lounge" or "club" grandstand ? Where is best to buy tickets, is this site any good ? http://www.bookf1.com/f1-abu-dhabi/tickets.htm
Any other advice would be highly appreciated.
Thanks
I'm told you best way is to stay in Dubai and rent a car.
Normal hotel prices
Normal hotel prices
MPWRS62 said:
Hello, i am planning on going to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this will be the first time i've ever been to an F1 race, so i'm looking for some advice from anyone that has been before.
First of all cost i've got a quote from a travel agency which will sort out the flights and hotel. I'll be flying from sunny Scotland to Amsterdam then onto Abu Dhabi, the hotel on offer is the Jemeirah Etihad towers apparntley the 2nd best hotel in Abu Dhabi. Now it'll be me and a friend and the total cost for this package is just shy of £2.5k excluding race tickets, is that roughly what prices are like? Also has anyone stayed at said hotel ?
Now the race itself, Which stand is considered best as i would like to see some overtakes and the cars at speed, from what i've seen the west Grandstand has the best view onto the long straight then onto the hairpin. Anyone have any other opinions? Also is there any point in opting for "lounge" or "club" grandstand ? Where is best to buy tickets, is this site any good ? http://www.bookf1.com/f1-abu-dhabi/tickets.htm
Any other advice would be highly appreciated.
Thanks
First of all cost i've got a quote from a travel agency which will sort out the flights and hotel. I'll be flying from sunny Scotland to Amsterdam then onto Abu Dhabi, the hotel on offer is the Jemeirah Etihad towers apparntley the 2nd best hotel in Abu Dhabi. Now it'll be me and a friend and the total cost for this package is just shy of £2.5k excluding race tickets, is that roughly what prices are like? Also has anyone stayed at said hotel ?
Now the race itself, Which stand is considered best as i would like to see some overtakes and the cars at speed, from what i've seen the west Grandstand has the best view onto the long straight then onto the hairpin. Anyone have any other opinions? Also is there any point in opting for "lounge" or "club" grandstand ? Where is best to buy tickets, is this site any good ? http://www.bookf1.com/f1-abu-dhabi/tickets.htm
Any other advice would be highly appreciated.
Thanks
The Jemeirah would not be my first choice (I live in one of the apartments at Etihad Towers). The area is a bit isolated from the bits if the city where you can have a beer etc. depending on what you want it's a 15 minute walk to the main Corniche (beach area) where they are having free entertainment and beach concerts. Google Yasalam for more info on the build up.
http://www.yasalam.ae/
Transport to yas is typically a taxi ride away (30km) and around 70-80AED (£12-£13).
There is nothing much to do on Yas Island, it has Ferrari world but check what's operating on the day before you buy your tickets. There has been a lot of closures recently.
Both Abu Dhabi & Dubai have plenty of 4* and 5* hotels to pick from. It may be cheaper hiring a car and travelling from Dubai. 40-50 minute drive you can easily do 140-160k all the way but just watch out for the speed cameras.
If you like golf then consider St Regis or Monte Carlo club on saadiyat island.
Cheap beer can be found in the Irish bar at la meridian hotel, but another good one I would consider hemmingways at the hilton. Walking distance back to the Jemeirah
http://www.yasalam.ae/
Transport to yas is typically a taxi ride away (30km) and around 70-80AED (£12-£13).
There is nothing much to do on Yas Island, it has Ferrari world but check what's operating on the day before you buy your tickets. There has been a lot of closures recently.
Both Abu Dhabi & Dubai have plenty of 4* and 5* hotels to pick from. It may be cheaper hiring a car and travelling from Dubai. 40-50 minute drive you can easily do 140-160k all the way but just watch out for the speed cameras.
If you like golf then consider St Regis or Monte Carlo club on saadiyat island.
Cheap beer can be found in the Irish bar at la meridian hotel, but another good one I would consider hemmingways at the hilton. Walking distance back to the Jemeirah
I went to the first one. It was much, much better than Silverstone (the only other GP I have attended live) live as you are significantly closer to action and don't have to worry about passing out due to hypothermia while you're there.
We sat in the 3rd row from the front in the South Grandstand (at turn 11). I would hazard a guess that we were maybe 40' from the cars. There was a massive TV opposite us so it was easy to follow the race and, importantly, it was shaded all afternoon / evening so, whilst still being very warm, sunburn wasn't an issue. From there, we could see the cars coming flat out down the curved straight, braking and overtaking through the chicane and then disappearing off under the hotel. The whole stand was on its feet cheering as Button (in the Brawn) was hunting down Webber over the course of 5 or 6 laps towards the end of the race and pulled a very late brake to try and pass him down the outside into the yacht club complex.
Access to and from the circuit was excellent, as the car parks empty straight out onto Sheikh Zayed Highway.
It's a bit of a trot from the car parks to the Grandstands, but no more than a 10 / 15 minute walk.
Food was plentiful, tasty and reasonably priced.
As it's a dry state, you can't buy a drink from outside bar stands round the circuit, but underneath the South Grandstand was a massive bar and marquee where the booze was flowing freely.
All in all, I had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and would wholeheartedly recommend it. It may not be quite as exciting as some of the traditional circuits on TV, but live, that makes no difference at all. The benefit of it being evening time is that you can get on with stuff during the day (I had to help my sister and BiL do some DIY on their house in the morning - a small price to pay for being given a ticket by him for the GP).
I would strongly recommend that you stay in Dubai, as it's only and hour or so up the SZ Highway and access to that from the circuit is pretty damned good.
We sat in the 3rd row from the front in the South Grandstand (at turn 11). I would hazard a guess that we were maybe 40' from the cars. There was a massive TV opposite us so it was easy to follow the race and, importantly, it was shaded all afternoon / evening so, whilst still being very warm, sunburn wasn't an issue. From there, we could see the cars coming flat out down the curved straight, braking and overtaking through the chicane and then disappearing off under the hotel. The whole stand was on its feet cheering as Button (in the Brawn) was hunting down Webber over the course of 5 or 6 laps towards the end of the race and pulled a very late brake to try and pass him down the outside into the yacht club complex.
Access to and from the circuit was excellent, as the car parks empty straight out onto Sheikh Zayed Highway.
It's a bit of a trot from the car parks to the Grandstands, but no more than a 10 / 15 minute walk.
Food was plentiful, tasty and reasonably priced.
As it's a dry state, you can't buy a drink from outside bar stands round the circuit, but underneath the South Grandstand was a massive bar and marquee where the booze was flowing freely.
All in all, I had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and would wholeheartedly recommend it. It may not be quite as exciting as some of the traditional circuits on TV, but live, that makes no difference at all. The benefit of it being evening time is that you can get on with stuff during the day (I had to help my sister and BiL do some DIY on their house in the morning - a small price to pay for being given a ticket by him for the GP).
I would strongly recommend that you stay in Dubai, as it's only and hour or so up the SZ Highway and access to that from the circuit is pretty damned good.
I went to the 1st two Abu Dhabi GP's (easy for me as I live in Dubai). 1st year we were in the last section of the grandstand at the end of the long back straight, 2nd year we were in the last section of the grandstand at the start of the long back straight.
If I went again I would pick the last section of the grandstand at the end of the back straight as you see more and there is "more" overtaking.
If I went again I would pick the last section of the grandstand at the end of the back straight as you see more and there is "more" overtaking.
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