Things To Do In Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The first place I couldn’t wait to visit after checking into the W Abu Dhabi was Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. I arrived as the sun was going down, so by the time I got to the Mosque, the sun had already settled for the day. When you arrive at the Mosque, you head underground and take a walk(or get a ride in a cart) to head back above ground. As you ascend the escalators, you see how big and beautiful the Mosque is at night & you’ll be amazed for the rest of your visit. Always observe any laws or manners of any place or country you visit. Mosque manners can be found at the link at the bottom. The Mosque has over 80 domes and is beautiful day or night.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Another place to visit in Abu Dhabi is the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. Emirate Palace is a 5-star Luxury Hotel located on a private beach. In the future, I would love to spend a few nights there when I don’t mind spending at least $1,000+/night for the experience. Since I wasn’t staying at their hotel, I took a taxi to see what it looked like inside. The interior of the hotel is aesthetically pleasing. You can use free wifi and plenty of places to sit if you opt not to explore the hotel. Before heading to Dubai, I made one last stop at Yas Mall on Yas Island. Yas Mall is 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport and 45 minutes from Dubai. Besides shopping, you can also visit their indoor skydiving and climbing facility, CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, Fun Works for Kids, roller skating, and Ferrari World. Ferrari World offers the world’s fastest roller coaster, which I did not ride because my thrill of being strapped in and thrown around has diminished. Tickets for FW start around $93 per person, and kids under 3 are free.
Things To Do In Dubai
For the rest of my trip, I spent the last three nights at the W Dubai – The Palm. I booked a few activities after checking in and enjoying the rest of the day at the hotel. The first adventure I booked involved riding ATVs in the desert, dune bashing, camel rides, a few shows, and dinner. I enjoyed riding the ATV, but my least favorite experience was the dune bashing. I sat in the 3rd row of a Toyota SUV, which was the worst place to sit. It was as if I felt every turn and “bashing” as I would bump into the girls to my left and the cupholder to my right. Within the first 2 minutes, it was fun… But after that, it just became annoying. The drivers are pros, but I was over it after a few minutes. I rode a camel that took me in a small circle before their photographer took and offered to sell a couple of photos to me. After the camel ride The following day, I took a taxi to the Dubai Mall. The Dubai Mall is the largest in the world, housing 1,200 stores, an aquarium, an ice rink, the largest candy store, and a Sega Republic – theme park. Next to the world’s largest mall is the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, standing 828 meters (2,716.5 feet) high. Ensure you do not miss the water shows like the one in front of the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab is a 5-star hotel I got the opportunity to tour. Ways to get inside the hotel – Have a room reservation, restaurant/tea reservation, or book a tour. The guided tour was my best option(about $68). My souvenir was the pass they give you with your name printed to go around your neck. The tour ranges between 60-90 minutes. It felt nice to see the inside of the hotel without paying their nightly price of at least $1,000. There are a few other tour options to choose from as well. Visit the link below for tour options.
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