EMIRATES PALACE HOTEL - ABU DHABI

[Lucy88]

Hi

Has anyone stayed at this hotel? Any feedback/tips/hints would be very welcome.

many thanks

yes, bloody marvellous! gorgeous hotel

Hey Mabs - what was bloody marvellous about it - can't wait to hear more!

everything! service, style, food was incredible, very lovely. can't comment on kids stuff am pleased to say i didn't take them:) Toiletries in room fantastic, gorgeous bedlinen etc. am v jealous. T'is pretty pricey tho :(

Thanks for getting back to me Mabs.

My sister lives in Abu Dhabi, but decided to treat my DS and I this time and stay in a hotel for some of the time we are there. I got a serious bargain. Half Board for 4 nights for 2 of us for £640. It was too good to turn down.

great deal :) Is your sis happy there if you don't mind me asking? probably moving there myself later this year!

Mabs - she loves it.

She moved there 11 years ago (she is a teacher), met her husband out there and they came home for 2 years and settled in Liverpool, where her hubby is from. She missed it so much, so went back.

Her feedback about the place is - lovely place to live, very safe/no crime, rents a lot higher than they used to be and can be too hot July to Sept.

She does have a great life. Tax free wage and no utility bills. More or less spends her wage on going out, clothes and food. Got mates in Qatar and between them they earn enough money to buy 4 houses over here (pension fund).

There are loads of ex-pat's ther and she has made friends with people from all over the world. She is a member of The Club (used to be the British Club) and spends a lot of time there - swimming, gym, social events, eating etc. I have been and its lovely.

My Cousin is also there. She is a mid-wife. Took some time off to have her on and now works part time. She has sid that she has no intention of coming home either.

I would move there myself, but am divorced and it wouldn't be fair to my DS and his Dad if they didn't get to see each other on a regular basis.

You are SO lucky.

Forgot the other downsides. The Arabs all drive like nutters. People drive into your car and scrape it and it is no big deal. You get 12 points on your licence for not displaying a number plate, but only 6 points if you kill someone.

Its not as strict as Dubai, but don't go snogging or cavorting in public - its a big no no.

If you get pregnant and you are not married, then you get the first plane out of there before anyone finds out.

If you have children - make sure you get them into Al Kabairat British School (not the best spelling), its the best school over there. The others have struggled to come up to its standards, but it is expensive.

Buy your toiletries over here and take them with you and then get freinds to bring them for you - shampoo is at least £5 a bottle. Our traditional veg is expensive £6 for a cauli sometimes.

Because of the mix of heat, humidity and air con, you will need to shop for fresh bread and fruit every other day. Loaf of sunblest bread is £4.

Hope this helps

thanks Lucy, know what you mean re the driving, we are over there 3 or 4 times a year. No more kids for me thanks god, and I have got places for mine at BSAK, good to hear you endorse it too.

How old are your children Mabs. My sister is the year leader for year 2 - she is a fab teacher. Makes the lessons really fun and the kids really develop, but she stands no messing at all.

good to hear,mine are 10 and 16 tho

ooh MABS, is it on again. We MUST organise a ME meet up
prices of toiletries sound shocking there though. Here (in KSA) it is not nearly that bad. A Boots has opened here recently and I was amazed to get No 7 perfect and protect (still kidding myself it will do what it says on the box) and it was much cheaper than in the UK.

sorry for brief hijack. By the way,ref your original question, a friend stayed at that hotel in November and said it was fabulous

think it's on MOS :) x