Abu Dhabi / Dubai 2023: Conclusion, Tips & Tricks

So, we have now completed our 7th visit to Abu Dhabi, this time during the Easter holidays. Here is a little review:

Weather:

We found the weather to be perfect in early to late April. It was supposedly too cold for the season in Abu Dhabi, but we mostly had temperatures of only +26-28 degrees Celsius, with occasional winds and a few days with temperatures over 30 degrees. The weather was ideal for outdoor activities and exploring attractions like Global Village and Miracle Garden, which are usually closed during the autumn season.

The weather was also great for desert tours. It was not cold in the evenings and nights, and not too hot during the day. Just perfect.

At the beach and water parks, it was a bit chilly due to the wind, especially because the water in the parks is cooled down.

Overall, it was perfect weather for us. In the past 9 years, our autumn holidays were always between late September and late October, with temperatures well over 30 degrees. Not everyone enjoys such hot weather.

Other than that, it depends on personal preference whether one likes the heat or not. From May onwards, temperatures usually rise to +35 degrees and above, and the summer months are extremely hot....

Driving:

Driving in Abu Dhabi and Dubai is similar to driving in Germany. The parking garages are huge, and we never had any parking issues. Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai can be challenging during rush hour, but other than that, there is no significant difference from other major cities (except for the 6-lane city highway 😅).

I find driving in Abu Dhabi much more relaxing than in Dubai. Navigation can sometimes be challenging, as on and off ramps are often under construction, change names, or simply do not exist yet. The cities are constantly changing, especially Dubai. We have seen entire neighborhoods in Abu Dhabi that were not there during our last visit...

Other than that, driving in the UAE is not any different from driving in other cities.

Theme Parks:

With an average entrance fee of over €80, the many fantastic theme and water parks can be quite expensive, especially when you have to calculate the price for a family of four like us.

Abu Dhabi: If you only want to visit the Abu Dhabi parks, including Warner Bros., Ferrari World, and Yas Waterworld, I recommend getting a combination ticket. They are available in all three parks with various options (2 parks in one day, 2 parks, or 3 parks). The cheapest option is the ticket for 3 parks, and I highly recommend visiting all 3 parks, especially with children.

If you want to visit the Dubai Parks (Legoland, Legoland Water Park, Motiongate, Bollywood), you can also get a combination ticket offered there.

Unfortunately, the Atlantis Aquaventure is not included in any combination ticket, and as far as I know, the IMG is also not included (Wild Wadi is not included in the CityPass as of May 2023, it is permanently closed).

Since we had a mix of parks in Dubai & Abu Dhabi on our agenda, we opted for the 'Go City Explorer Pass'.

Best decision ever!!!

'Go City Explorer Pass': You choose the number of parks/attractions you want to visit. 3, 5, or 7.

We chose 5 parks (the 3 parks in Abu Dhabi, MotionGate, and Atlantis Aquaventure).

To my luck, there was a 15% Easter discount coupon, which reduced the price from €80-90 per person per park to only €43 per person per park. It's definitely worth it!

Using the pass is easy, you receive a barcode via email (or directly on the app on your phone) for each person. With this code, you go to the park, have it scanned at the ticket counter (it is NOT an online ticket! You need to redeem the code for a ticket at the counter), and receive your ticket. Apparently, the system keeps track of how many parks you have visited. We had no issues using it in all 5 parks during our visit.

Therefore, I highly recommend it!

Exploring Alone (without a guide)

I am often asked if it is possible to explore the UAE without booking a tour.

Since we have family there, I can confidently say: why not??? Abu Dhabi is not as overrun by tourists as Dubai, but you can safely undertake all activities on your own. It's no problem at all, whether you are alone as a woman or with your family. We have been traveling 'individually' to the UAE for almost 10 years and have never had any problems. You just have to be confident.

However, we always have a rental car - I cannot say anything about public transportation.

We have also experienced the desert both on organized tours and independently. Both options are possible. When exploring alone, you just need to know where you can enter the desert and have an appropriate car (an SUV is sufficient). It should be mentioned that private tours do not include dune bashing, and you cannot drive on the dunes with private cars. You drive on paved side roads into the desert and then walk into the dunes from there.

Discount Websites and Coupon Books - Entertainer & Co.

In the UAE, coupon books are standard. Everyone uses them, whether it's for a fast-food restaurant or a 5-star restaurant. There are all kinds of coupon books available, for hotels, food and drinks, activities, excursions, etc.

The most well-known one is 'The Entertainer'. It is available for Abu Dhabi & Al Ain and for Dubai. However, there is some overlap, so the Abu Dhabi Entertainer also offers deals for Dubai and vice versa.

In the early years, we bought it as a thick book with tear-out coupons, but now it is available as an app on your phone. Since many park offers are no longer included (e.g., Yas Waterworld), it didn't make sense for us this year. If you enjoy dining out, consider getting it. Many offers are '2 for 1' or offer discounts of 20% or 50% off, etc.

My family always used the Entertainer to, for example, have IFTAR dinner in the 5-star hotel 'W' in Abu Dhabi - '2 for 1'. That's definitely worth it!

If you want, you can download the 'Free Entertainer' for free. It only offers a few deals, but if you happen to have a suitable place around the corner where you can dine 2 for 1 or get a free coffee, you haven't risked anything :-)

For activities, there is a wide range of websites. I compared prices in advance and then checked where to get the best deals for some attractions on the spot.

I can recommend:

Tiqets and Headout, which often have daily offers and vouchers. That was worth it during our visit.

Get your Guide also offers a wide range of tours and activities. Here's a tip: compare prices! The prices are not always cheaper with travel providers...

Some websites lure with alleged discounts and cheap prices, but in the end, they are just as expensive as the activity's own website - so it's better to make the effort and compare prices.

Can I eat 'cheaply' in restaurants?

Of course - if you don't need a 5-star hotel with a menu and fancy ambiance, you can go to the mall, either to the food court where you can find all the usual fast-food restaurants, or discover restaurants with affordable daily specials.

Here, the Entertainer can be very useful, as you can get many dishes 2 for 1.

In many Carrefour supermarkets, there is a counter where you can put together various dishes. From fresh salads to pasta dishes, falafel, meat dishes, pastries, and more.

These are usually available for a fraction of the price you would pay at the food court or in a restaurant. Some Carrefour supermarkets even have tables and chairs right in front, where you can eat directly (e.g., Yas Mall).

Dubai: Hotel vs Apartment

Note: this applies to the holiday season! Prices are usually much lower outside of the holidays....

When we planned to stay in Dubai for 2-4 days or if the family in Abu Dhabi was still on vacation, we usually rented an apartment in Dubai. We were only there to sleep anyway. Of course, it's great to say that you stayed in one of the expensive fancy hotels, but we prefer to explore the city and visit parks, museums, etc. - and that can be expensive! So, forgo the luxury of a hotel.

After years of opting for apartments, we finally stayed in a hotel for 5 days in 2023. We stayed at the 'Tryp by Wyndham Dubai' because it was incredibly cheap during the Easter holidays (€50 per double room including breakfast). Unfortunately, this rate does not apply during the autumn holidays, where you have to pay more than double - but it should still be significantly cheaper than the usual beach and city hotels.

If you just want to relax on the beach, you should book a beach hotel, but be prepared to pay the corresponding price. A fancy city hotel in a certain location is usually just as great. If you want to explore a lot, see sights, make trips, etc., I would always opt for the affordable hotel or apartment option and spend my money on other activities.

And IF you really want a beach hotel exclusively for the beach, then book Saadiyat Island - the beach there is truly a dream! It also has good access to Yas Island and its activities and parks.

I can recommend both options - if you can switch to a cheap hotel, it's comfortable to have breakfast included. Otherwise, an apartment has always been a good alternative.

In the end, everyone has to make their own decision - how much they can and want to spend on hotels/apartments, as there are no limits...

PS: The Tryp Dubai offers a shuttle service to the hotel's own beach club several times a day. Unfortunately, I don't know where it is located, as we didn't use it.

... to be continued