Jen's Trip To Abu Dhabi

Step into the dazzling world of Abu Dhabi through Jen's eyes! Join her exhilarating journey as she uncovers the hidden gems and iconic landmarks of this vibrant city. Jen's recent escapade is a delightful blend of culture, luxury, and excitement.

Get ready to be whisked away on a virtual adventure filled with anecdotes, tips, and breathtaking snapshots, as Jen shares her unforgettable experiences in the heart of the UAE's capital.

Journey

Who did you fly with?
Outbound we flew with Emirates direct from Glasgow to Dubai.
Inbound we flew with Etihad, connecting with KLM via Amsterdam to Inverness.   

Did you get any connecting transport from the airport?
We got a private transfer from Dubai to Saadiyat Island (approx 1hr 30mins) this was during the night so it could be longer during the day in traffic.
We flew home from Abu Dhabi which is only a 10-minute transfer in comparison.   

How was the journey?
Both journeys were good.
The outbound flight with Emirates was delayed by 3 hours meaning we didn’t arrive at our hotel until 5am which was tiring.   

Did anything memorable happen?  
A hurricane!
Worst weather in over 75 years. I can’t believe I went all the way to the desert for worse weather than we get in Scotland - but this is very unusual.       

Hotels 

Where did you stay?
We stayed at the Rixos, Saadiyat which was all-inclusive for 3 nights.
We then stayed at the Rotana Resort & Villas for 2 Nights, this hotel offers B&B up to all-inclusive.   

Were there any special features?
Both hotels have spas, various pool bars, A La Carte choices, wellness classes, sports activities and Kids Clubs. Rixos also has a snow room!   

What was your stay like? Did you enjoy it?  
We were very well looked after, the service was first-class. 
Both hotels we stayed in had a very chilled vibe without compromising on standard.     

Did you receive any special service/treatment?
When we arrived at our rooms, most of us were upgraded.  Considering there were 25 of us, this was a very nice touch. 
Both hotels offer free chauffeur-driven cars around Abu Dhabi. This is a drop off and pick up service if you state a pick up time.  This is a great service as everything is quite spread out.  This option is available for all guests, you don’t have to be in a club-level room for example.   

Any recommendations?
The Snow Room at the Rixos is very unusual, this is the biggest spa and wellness area on Saadiyat Island.       

Activities 

Where did you go?
We travelled between Saadiyat Island and Yas Island.  The journey between the two takes approximately 10-15 minutes.  

What did you see/do? 
We went to The Louvre and travelled across to Yas Island where we visited the Warner Brother Studios and got a tour of the Presidential Palace.   

Did you learn any fun facts or see anything exciting? 
Saadiyat Island has the best beach in the UAE which stretches for more the 10 miles! There is also a Saadiyat Turtle Conservation program, the nesting season runs from March to June when females return to the beach they were born to lay their own nests.   

What was the weather like?  
Clear skies and around 30°C each day. 
Apart from the extreme storm we had! But this is very unusual and there hasn’t been one that severe in over 75 years!   

Any recommendations? 
Warner Brother Studios is great, more suitable for younger children I would say.  This is also completely under cover and air-conditioned, so you can enjoy it even in the height of Summer.  Ferrari Land is across the road with more adrenaline-fuelled rides available! 
There is also Sea World and Yas Island Mall, all within the same vicinity.  They are currently building a Natural History Museum and Guggenheim Museum, due to open 2025/2026. 
We visited Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, designed by Golf legend Gary Player. The 18-hole championship course is available to pre-book in advance and all equipment is available for hire.     

Food/Drinks 

Did you go to any local restaurants/cafes? 
We went to Saadiyat Beachfront Promenade and had lunch in a local Italian restaurant. It was lovely fresh food, service was excellent and popular with locals. 

What did you enjoy eating/drinking? 
I enjoyed the cocktails…We visited the Rixos Signature Mixology Corner where we had the choice of over 15 cocktails! My favourite was ‘Love Potion’.
The food was good, usually served as a buffet but everything was freshly made.
The staff were very attentive and eager to help and please.   

Did you try any new dishes? What did you think of it?
I tried lots of new cheeses... there was a great variety of fresh food stations and the biggest selection of cheeses I have ever seen!  

Did you go to any quirky places for food/drinks?
The majority of our meals were hotel-based.
Although we did enjoy the most amazing lunch at the Warner Bros Studios. We were expecting fast food but instead we enjoyed a lovely 3-course lunch!  

Any recommendations? 
If you are a beach lover, definitely stay on Saadiyat Island! The beach here is beautiful, stretches for over 10 miles and the water is so warm and safe to swim in.
Yas Island has more to do, this is where all the theme parks, shopping mall, F1 circuit and much more are based.   

Conclusion 

Would you recommend this holiday and who to?
With hotels offering complimentary transfers I would personally stay on Saadiyat Island and go over to Yas Island when I was looking for an activity to do as it’s only a 10 minute drive away. I would recommend it to all age groups. I was surprised by how well suited it would be for Golfing Holidays as well with a lot of choice when it comes to courses. 

If you would like to explore Abu Dhabi, please get in contact with Jen
[email protected]
0808 169 8208