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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Dubai or Abu Dhabi

117 replies

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 09/05/2023 07:38

Anyone been? Any hotel recommendations?
Thinking of a week from Manchester in October.
( I’m hoping not to have to discuss the politics!)

OP posts:
Fivemoreminutes1 · 09/05/2023 08:47

I love them both. What are you going for? Beach/pool or sightseeing or both? Dubai has more museums and a lovely old town. Abu Dhabi has the mangroves and the better theme parks for adults. Abu Dhabi tends to be more expensive to fly to from the UK. It’s quite easy to travel between them, so you could do 4 nights in Dubai and 3 in Abu Dhabi

Whammyyammy · 09/05/2023 16:11

I prefer Abu Dhabi, more so yas island. The center and dubai are both only about 45 mins to an hour away should you wish to visit.

Crikeyalmighty · 09/05/2023 16:30

I'm not really a fan of either (have been) however looking out my window where it is absolutely bucketing down and seems it has done most days for what seems like months- it's looking tempting!!!

orangeflags · 09/05/2023 16:38

Love Dubai. Hilton at Juremah Beach is perfect.

Original poster
HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 09/05/2023 18:07

Going for sun/ pool/ beach and sightseeing.
We went to Gran Canaria last year and looking for something a bit more exciting. Flights seem to be readily available with Emirates and Ethiad from Manchester.
We have one DS who is 11 and he is an easy traveller.
Budget would be £6k max for flights, hotel, transfers and either AI or HB/FB.

OP posts:
TwigTheWonderKid · 09/05/2023 18:28

It's not just about politics, is it, surely it's as much about ethics and personal morality? I find it incomprehensible that someone could relax on a luxury holiday knowing that the staff looking after them are effectively slaves. If you are seriously considering going I'd really like to try and understand what you think about that?

TakeMe2Insanity · 09/05/2023 19:15

You can stay at lapita while you do the theme parks. Then head to Jumeirah dar al masyaf ideally.

Abu Dhabi is quieter, more relaxing.

ArseMenagerie · 09/05/2023 19:16

TwigTheWonderKid · 09/05/2023 18:28

It's not just about politics, is it, surely it's as much about ethics and personal morality? I find it incomprehensible that someone could relax on a luxury holiday knowing that the staff looking after them are effectively slaves. If you are seriously considering going I'd really like to try and understand what you think about that?

Agree.

grishaverse · 09/05/2023 19:17

They're both really beautiful, but I think I prefer Dubai - the beaches are amazing!

shivawn · 09/05/2023 19:19

I'm afraid I'm not a fan of either either, I just got back from Dubai a couple months ago and it's a few years since I was in Abu Dhabi.

I would say though that you don't need to choose between the two, they're just over an hour's drive apart and taxis are reasonable.

Fernleigh22 · 09/05/2023 19:22

We went to Dubai last year and absolutely loved it. Already booked to go again in October

IsThePopeCatholic · 09/05/2023 19:23

TwigTheWonderKid · 09/05/2023 18:28

It's not just about politics, is it, surely it's as much about ethics and personal morality? I find it incomprehensible that someone could relax on a luxury holiday knowing that the staff looking after them are effectively slaves. If you are seriously considering going I'd really like to try and understand what you think about that?

Agreed.

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 09/05/2023 19:27

TwigTheWonderKid · 09/05/2023 18:28

It's not just about politics, is it, surely it's as much about ethics and personal morality? I find it incomprehensible that someone could relax on a luxury holiday knowing that the staff looking after them are effectively slaves. If you are seriously considering going I'd really like to try and understand what you think about that?

Agree. And I’ve been to both for work (and have refused to go to either again).

gogohmm · 09/05/2023 19:31

If you want more exciting look at Sri Lanka, hot, lovely hotels and amazing things to see. We fly on a Friday night and get home on a Sunday to maximise our annual leave!

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 09/05/2023 19:33

gogohmm · 09/05/2023 19:31

If you want more exciting look at Sri Lanka, hot, lovely hotels and amazing things to see. We fly on a Friday night and get home on a Sunday to maximise our annual leave!

Is Sri Lanka now safe? I thought it was still on the no go list.

Crikeyalmighty · 09/05/2023 20:24

@HalfasleepChrisintheMorning - had you looked at Oman? Personally I think it's nicer and same great weather. I guess it depends what you like doing though , Dubai has a lot of obvious attractions/entertainment.

AgentProvocateur · 10/05/2023 07:09

Emirates and Etihad announced an initiative this week where you could fly to either Dubai/Abu Dhabi and leave from the other. So one flight on Emirates, one on Etihad. You could spend time in both.

Original poster
HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 10/05/2023 08:57

AgentProvocateur · 10/05/2023 07:09

Emirates and Etihad announced an initiative this week where you could fly to either Dubai/Abu Dhabi and leave from the other. So one flight on Emirates, one on Etihad. You could spend time in both.

This is interesting, I will have a look, thank you.
Just priced Gran Canaria with decent flight times for our dates and it was £4500, B&B for our favourite hotel.
Dubai is £5200 for decent flight times, 5 star hotel on the Palm (Anantara), half board.
I would welcome any hotel recommendations.
Oman looks amazing but really want direct flights from Manchester.
I’m ignoring any posts that aren’t about holiday planning.

OP posts:
Fivemoreminutes1 · 10/05/2023 09:25

AgentProvocateur · 10/05/2023 07:09

Emirates and Etihad announced an initiative this week where you could fly to either Dubai/Abu Dhabi and leave from the other. So one flight on Emirates, one on Etihad. You could spend time in both.

Great news! We’ve always used this in the past https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/before-you-fly/dubai-international-airport/shuttle-service-dubai/

Planttreeseverywhere · 10/05/2023 10:48

This reply has been deleted

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sborber · 10/05/2023 11:20

I had family that used to live in Dubai, and I can safely say the Anantara is a gorgeous hotel and for that price, a great deal IMO.

Although, my favourite hotel is Jumeirah Zabeel Saray but it's on the higher end in terms of £££.

SequinDiscoBiscuits · 10/05/2023 11:31

Of all the places in the world to travel to in 2023 with a £6k budget, why anyone would active choose to contribute financially to places built on modern slavery and horrific crimes against humanity will always be beyond me. And let's not mention the extreme misogyny and homophobia in these countries. You may well not wish to have a debate about politics, but it might be an idea to check your moral compass.

Planttreeseverywhere · 10/05/2023 12:01

Awfully sorry, but if you are going to advertise your lack of consideration for your fellow human beings you don't get to control the responses your receive. I guess you are rich, I forget that means you are entitled to luxury regardless of the consequences on others

VestPantsandSocks · 10/05/2023 12:06

What a load of twaddle about slavery. Its what the British Empire was built on!

deplorabelle · 10/05/2023 12:17

Yeah the slavery and ecological crimes are pretty bad but hey this is your holiday so none of that matters. There are probably more detrimental ways of spending six grand but I can't think of many.