It’s definitely no secret that the UAE boasts a number of the most luxurious motels and expertise globally – an accolade that extends to their two most well-known airways. Each Abu Dhabi and Dubai are fashionable city-break locations, and due to the stopover choices supplied by Emirates and Etihad, it’s simple to mix exploring these cities along with your major vacation spot.
With each airports being key hubs on worldwide routes between Asia and Europe, chances are high you may need the choice to go to the UAE as a stopover.
However, which airline is best? What are you able to squeeze right into a stopover in both metropolis? How are you going to benefit from your time there? Effectively, I’ve tried and examined each choices, so let’s have a look.
Dubai with Emirates
With their base in Dubai’s trendy and swanky airport, Emirates has rapidly turn into one of the vital celebrated airways globally.
Flying with Emirates
Emirates is, indisputably, considered one of my favorite airways on the planet. After all, their enterprise and first-class suites are well-known – particularly if you throw in an upstairs cocktail bar on the A380s; nevertheless, their financial system class can be nice.
I flew Emirates between the UK and Australia, and each flights have been nice. Glorious cabin crew, spacious and trendy planes, and the food and drinks was top of the range and saved on coming – there was definitely no scrimping on these little bottles of wine.
In addition they make it moderately simple to guide a stopover flight, whether or not you simply need to make your personal day-trip by deciding on a later flight possibility or choosing the official Emirates stopover package deal. With the latter, you’ll guide and get your lodge, transfers, and non-obligatory excursions all booked through Emirates at a reduced worth after confirming your flight, or through a journey agent.
Learn how to spend your Dubai stopover
Whereas I solely had 12 hours in Dubai I definitely crammed loads into my go to, due to the wonderful public transport and well-organised planning of such a contemporary metropolis – and I spent loads lower than cash than I imagined!
It goes with out saying that luxurious in Dubai is definitely achieved due to the array of high-end motels and premium providers, so it’s undoubtedly price overnighting not simply to relaxation earlier than the subsequent flight, however so you’ll be able to check-in to one of many worlds greatest motels. Plus, if designer procuring is your factor, you’ll be properly spoiled within the metropolis!
For a bit extra tradition, enterprise to previous Dubai, the place the Gold and Spice Souks are buzzing, the normal wood Abra boats crossing the river are a cut price. The Al Fahidi Historic Neighbourhood, the place little lanes and sandstone homes result in markets, museums and cultural areas, some relationship again to earlier than Dubai even knew what a sky-scraper was, was my favorite.
It wouldn’t be a go to to Dubai with out marveling at a number of the most spectacular trendy buildings on the planet. Whether or not it’s the Palm Jumeirah, the well-known fanned out synthetic archipelago close to Dubai Marina, or the tallest constructing on the planet, the Burj Khalifa; you’ll spend a superb a part of your journey staring upwards in disbelief.
If you’re visiting Dubai quickly, then the spectacular Expo 2020 is going down till March, having been delayed final yr – take a tour world wide on the spectacular stands arrange by every nation.
Abu Dhabi with Etihad
Though not as fashionable with the Brits as Dubai, Abu Dhabi is properly price a stopover for the Grand Mosque alone, and Etihad typically presents decrease costs than its neighbouring emirate airline.
Flying with Etihad
Sadly, my expertise flying with Etihad was a far cry from the rave opinions I’ve heard from different travellers. Whereas the onboard service and meals have been glorious, and the fleet can be very trendy, it isn’t fairly in the identical league as Emirates, and infrequently the costs mirror that.
I flew Etihad from the UK to Oman, with a stopover in Abu Dhabi. Sadly, the aircraft had a fault, so that they put us up in a lodge whereas delayed 12-hours, then my baggage didn’t arrive, and the customer support and communication all through was missing. That stated, they did come by way of with compensation and apologies after some time, and this stuff can occur with any airline, so it wouldn’t put me off flying with them once more.
Like Emirates, Etihad presents an official stopover programme. I didn’t benefit from this and simply determined to make my very own day cease there by selecting a morning arriving flight and night departure. After all, this wouldn’t work if, for instance, you might be visiting the Abu Dhabi F1 – however it’s a terrific selection in the event you simply need to get pleasure from a number of of essentially the most well-known monuments. Nonetheless, what is really nice about Etihad’s stopover programme is that eligible flights can get pleasure from a free one or two-night keep, making it much more engaging for the value!
Learn how to spend your Abu Dhabi stopover
I had one most important motive to go to Abu Dhabi, and actually the entire motive I took the flight with Etihad: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
This unforgettable bejewelled mosque opened to the general public in 2007, and it actually is a sight to behold. Shimmering large chandeliers hold above detailed rugs, the pristine white marble displays in numerous swimming pools, and the entire advanced will go away you speechless.
Abu Dhabi additionally serves up a wide variety of historic and cultural monuments and museums, with the Miraj Islamic Centre being a must-visit. Islamic artwork items from world wide are housed right here, whereas the modern and trendy constructing housing the Louvre Abu Dhabi will delight art-lovers with its 9,200 sq. metres of galleries.
The spectacular trendy buildings discovered across the metropolis, just like the circular-shaped Aldar HQ, are contrasted by extra historically designed and pure sights corresponding to Al Jahili Fort, a ninety-minute drive from town. As with Dubai, you might be properly positioned to expertise the desert if in case you have a few days in your stopover, Whether or not you need to admire the views from atop Jebel Hafit Mountain, spend the evening tenting out within the desert, or simply go dune bashing in a 4WD, it’s additionally simply performed from town.
