Abu Dhabi do?
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AB

Original Poster:

18,830 posts

213 months

Heading there on Friday, staying here https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/auhsi-sherat...

Ferrari World is a must and the main aim is for some winter sun and some nice food and drink over half term, somewhere we've never been before. I'm with wife and 2 kids (4&6).

Any hints and tips appreciated!

GiantEnemyCrab

7,861 posts

221 months

The roof in the Louvre is nice. The rest of it I thought was fking waffle and bks!

toon10

6,856 posts

175 months

We visited the Emirates Palace just to see how the other half live. Grabbed a nice cup of tea there and did some supercar spotting in the car park!

AB

Original Poster:

18,830 posts

213 months

Supercar spotting sounds good. It's not really my thing either to be honest, all the waffle and bks, but the weather will be nice and the hotel pool looks good. Rooms will be comfortable and clean and the place is safe. Should be ideal.

Countdown

45,548 posts

214 months

Qasr-al-Watan is nice.

Observation Deck at 300 is (IMHO) far better than the Burj-al-Khalifa

AB

Original Poster:

18,830 posts

213 months

That's the sort of thing I'm after, enjoyed Burj Khalifa, the kids will love the view. Thanks.

Markytop

637 posts

237 months

Yesterday (01:17)
quotequote all
We went as a family (with kids age 4 & 5) earlier in the year and there were two standout highlights that they keep talking about still to this day.

We did Ferrari World, Warner Bros World and SeaWorld, and we all thought Seaworld was by far the best of the three. Will certainly go back and visit again in the future, but unlikely to visit the other two again.

The other place that we loved was TeamLab Phenomena www.teamlababudhabi.com - really cool art installations (both wet and dry) that is really hands on.

Suspicious_user

4,031 posts

211 months

Yesterday (07:00)
quotequote all
Definitely go to Sea World, I was really amazed by the place. I found Ferrari world a bit meh, to be honest.

You could always drive to Dubai and take the kids to the Atlantis water park - biggest in the world, apparently.

parabolica

6,908 posts

202 months

Yesterday (07:57)
quotequote all
Suspicious_user said:
Definitely go to Sea World, I was really amazed by the place. I found Ferrari world a bit meh, to be honest.

You could always drive to Dubai and take the kids to the Atlantis water park - biggest in the world, apparently.
Same; our F1 tickets included admission for 3x attractions in Abu Dhabi; we did Ferrari World, the Palace and Seaworld. All three were decent but Seaworld was next level.

Marshall878

71 posts

12 months

Yesterday (07:59)
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Get the package for all the parks, works out good value. Seaworld is 100% the best attraction, my boy loves it. Yas Waterworld too. Warner Bros is good when the kids are a little older (mine is only18m and he didn't get much from it). You can also get 15% off entry if you show your Etihad boarding pass (if flying with them that is).

UFC is this weekend so Yas Island will get busy...but Yas Bay is worth a wander for some food. Hit up Yas Marina for some superyachts and views of the famous F1 track and the W hotel.

Mamsha Al Saadiyat is stunning too especially now the weather is better.

Galleria Mall isnt far from you for a wander indoors, plenty of softplay for the kids too if they're interested in that.

Snow Park on Reem Island is good fun (especially when you live here and you never see rain let alone snow)

If you're here for the Saturday, brunch is the best way to expose yourselves to the food scene. Plenty to pick from. Brunch at Emirates Palace is incredible,...tbh pretty much everywhere is! Our favourites are the hotels on Saadiyat. McAffertys on Yas is always packed and has a great vibe if into the Irish bar thing. Directors Club at Warner Bros has a great sunday roast deal too.

Check out https://www.bestbitesuae.com for ideas.


Edited by Marshall878 on Tuesday 21st October 08:05

shirt

24,659 posts

219 months

Yesterday (15:56)
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I don t have kids so thinking of things they d enjoy / find novel.


Emirates national motor museum. The one from Clarkson s motorworld with the massive dodge power wagon.

At the port, on that pier opposite the Guggenheim (ie same side of the river as your hotel) you can sit and watch the supertankers and super container ships come by super close. There s a very decent Karak stall in the car park.

The mangrove marine park. Various options from kayaking to self hire boating.

SZ grand mosque. Extremely impressive building. Look on the website for times of the free tours, it s 10x better with a guide.

Al Ain zoo has white tigers

Badda

3,372 posts

100 months

Yesterday (15:58)
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Went there years back and thought a trip round a traditional open market would be fun. Teenage Sister was sexually assaulted by a local and they all closed ranks. Wouldn’t ever return and definitely wouldn’t take my kids there.

bad company

21,002 posts

284 months

Yesterday (16:32)
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Don’t miss the Grand Mosque, it’s amazing. I’m not generally one for religious stuff but this mosque is phenomenal .

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45,548 posts

214 months

Yesterday (21:12)
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Badda said:
Went there years back and thought a trip round a traditional open market would be fun. Teenage Sister was sexually assaulted by a local and they all closed ranks. Wouldn t ever return and definitely wouldn t take my kids there.
To be honest i think you were quite unlucky. I know the UAE gets a bad press for various human rights issues but Dubai and Abu Dhabi felt like the safest places we've ever visited (admittedly we generally stayed in the touristy bits but we made a few trips to the Souks). There was just none of the "vibe" that you can sometimes get late at night in some UK cities.

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45,548 posts

214 months

Yesterday (21:13)
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bad company said:
Don t miss the Grand Mosque, it s amazing. I m not generally one for religious stuff but this mosque is phenomenal .
I completely agree. My wife is very religious and loved it, especially being able to pray there.