Travel Review on Abu Dhabi
Last weekend was my first visit to Abu Dhabi so I thought I’d give a run down on my overall experience.
Getting There:
Wanted to fly with Etihad as I’ve heard great things about it. Checked their website and they were asking for KD 140 for the cheapest fare !! There was no way I was paying that. So I booked with Kuwait Airways as the tickets were only KD 56. And here’s the weird thing. When I got the ticket I found out the flight was operated by Etihad ! So flying with Etihad was cheaper by booking through Kuwait Airways website than their own website !!! Anyway the in-flight experience was distinctly average. The planes were small, no entertainment and just a cold sad sandwich for a snack. At least it arrived on time and was direct.
Getting Around:
Plenty of cabs waiting at the airport and found out that the taxi fare to the city is fixed at 70 Dhs which is not bad considering the journey takes over half an hour. Unfortunately for the rest of the time that we were there getting a taxi was a real pain. They never seemed to come by the hotels and I lost count the number of times we tried waiving one down only to watch them just drive past. The best way was to get them was while they were waiting by the lights (just get in). We found three classes of taxis
1. Crappy small beige ones – Easiest to hail. Very cheap but didn’t smell very nice and usually had ripped seats.
2. Mid size silver ones - clean and had rates similar to Dubai ‘s. Picked them up at the malls and airport
3. Expensive luxury ones (Audi station wagons fully loaded) probably only worth taking if you’re going to the airport. These were the only ones that ever came by the hotels.
The Hotel:
Booked a “deluxe suite” at the Le Royal Meridian (not to be confused with The Meridian by the beach). Here are the +ve and -ve points :
Positive
1. Good location just off the corniche lying about 10 mins by car from all the places to go (malls, Emirates Palace , Beaches)
2. Great breakfast buffet
3. Nice outdoor pool (but didn’t use it)
4. Brilliant shower
Below: A photo of the Hotel suite I stayed in (the bed is behind the screen)
Negative
1. Took over an hour an hour to check in. They didn’t have the room ready even though it was 2:30 pm ! What really pissed me off was that they initially said it would be 15 mins max and it ended up being an hour. This was really unacceptable for a 5 star hotel.
2. The reception felt like a travel agent’s. You check in sitting at a desk while others stand in line waiting to be served. Check-in/check out for everyone seemed to take ages.
3. Tiny bathroom.
4. Pitiful fruit basket. They made a big thing about this which is why I’ve mentioned it. On check-in the famous fruit basket consisted of 3 lychees and a kiwi fruit on a plate. Pathetic.
5. Absolutely useless kitchen. Had a sink, kettle and small over frosted fridge. That’s it. Loads of cupboard space and drawers which were all completely empty !
Overall had I not got a decent deal on this place I would have been majorly pissed off. The hotel is OK. Nothing special. Wouldn’t call it 5 star and probably would not stay again if I had the choice.
The Malls:
Marina Mall is a hit. Abu Dhabi Mall is a miss.
Below: A photo I took of the cool cafe’s in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall
Eating Out:
Didn’t have much time to try different restaurants so we had lunch at the malls. Was really disappointed with the choice of restaurants at Abu Dhabi Mall. All fast food in the food hall. We went for Kebab Irani at Hatem as we thought that was the best available. Was surprisingly good. I had the mixed grill. Shame about the plastic plates and cutlery though !
The second day we went to Marina Mall and had lunch at Biela. Biela used to be in Marina Crescent here in Kuwait went it first opened but unfortunately it closed down a while back. The pizza Quattro Stagioni was excellent but the main courses (pasta with shrimp and risotto with meatballs) were a bit disappointing. However the tiramisu’ was out of this world and as good as anything I’ve had in Italy.
Tips If You’re Going to a Concert in Emirates Palace
1. Be careful who you book your tickets with. I booked with Virgin ME who were very efficient and picked the tickets up from the Virgin Shop the day before the concert. DO NOT book with Time Out as you have to pick the tickets up at the venue. The line was just massive at the ticket collection point.
2. It is almost impossible to find a taxi when you leave the concert. So try to organise your pick up in advance.
3. The best tickets (and most expensive) are for standing. At Coldplay it was called Diamond Standing. Worth it for the experience but be prepared to stand for a while. The seating is so far back from the stage.
Overall View of Abu Dhabi
Worth it for a weekend break especially if you are attending a concert. Dubai probably has more to offer in terms of shopping and nightlife. But Abu Dhabi will soon have its own F1 track, and is building a Warner Bros.Theme Park and Guggenheim museum. From what I saw though Abu Dhabi looks like a better place to live,especially for families. Its less congested, less intense and more spacious than Dubai. Oh and its really green too !
6 Responses Leave a comment
Great post! Really enjoyed reading this. A few things though –
1)I liked your description on the sandwich you had on the plane
2) how much is 70 DHS in KD?
3) Waiting an hour to check in?! That’s ridiculous, did they make it up to you in any way?
4)Im guessing the fruit basket..or should I say plate is that in the picture – I find it hard to believe that anyone really knows what Lychees are – let alone like them! It looks like a nice room though but very surpised that was a 5*.
This has definitely given me a good insight about Abu Dhabi.
Keep up the good posts!
Thanks Za !
1) I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear that I only managed to eat half the so called “tuna sandwich”
2)About KD 6
3)Yeah after the 4th time of complaining they offered a complimentary drink in the lobby but that was after 45 mins of frustration!
4) Bingo ! Yes you spotted the famous fruit basket (plate). I had to double check on the net that those were indeed lychees !
What a great review. I think you could give Gordon Ramsey a run for his money with your descriptions of the sandwich on the plane and the fruit basket…or I should say plate…lol!!
Maybe in Abu Dhabi when u wave your hand for a cab it means u don’t want one…lol!! Your description of the cheaper cabs echo the old orange cabs in Kuwait.
Keep up the great blogs!!
looooool i cracked up at the ‘fruit basket’ in the pic! hahaha maybe it was the remains of the last guest in that room and they didnt bother to get another one for you :P
and yup i second..(or third?) the opinion that this was a good post! =D
Alia: NOTHING can compare to the Orange Taxis in Kuwait, which you hardly see anymore. But at least they had their own “style” LOL! Actually we took one of those very cheap taxis to go to the Coldplay concert. And you are not going to believe this but the taxi driver hit a bus and had to drop us at the first light so that he could continue the argument with the bus driver! We had to walk the rest of the way for almost half an hour to get to the concert ! Those guys can’t even drive properly !
desert palms: You know that’s exactly what crossed my mind. In their rush to try to get the room ready they left the previous guest’s fruit “basket.” But then when I got back to the room the following day after they had cleaned it, they gave a new fruit basket. Consisting of only 3 miserable apples…they could’ve at least left the lychees and kiwi!
Thanks for all your comments and feedback everyone ! :)
Wow Mix, good post….made me feel as though I was there with u :-)