At WOW! Travel we are extremely fortunate to visit many exotic countries and interesting places on educationals. These educationals allow us the opportunity to visit destinations, experience airlines, stay in numerous hotels and visit interesting sites that we can in turn pass onto to our clients as first hand knowledge and advice. Even when on holiday we still take part in hotel inspections and take note of details to better know each destination we visit.
In 2010 WOW! Visited
Lisa Myers
Robyn Lawley
- Singapore
- Ecuador & Galapagos Islands
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Melanie Brown
- UAE - Abu Dhabi
- Fiji
- Papua New Guinea
UAE - Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Most people have heard of or visited Dubai on a stop over, well Abu Dhabi is just next door. This was my first visit to Arabia and l loved it. What a unique place. A place of Arabian adventures!
We landed in fog, believe it or not, and inspected a few of the main hotels in Abu Dhabi city.
Defiantly the first choice would have to be the Emirates Place, with the Shangri-la running a very close second. Just amazing properties that have such character and detail.
We left the city for Sir Bani Yas Island and the Desert Island Resort & Spa. I would definitely recommend the flight from Abu Dhabi, as the water in the Arabian sea was crystal blue/turquoise water. This takes around 30mins. The island has had over 2million trees planted, in the hopes of creating a friendlier environment for the safari park of African and Arabian animals. We are driven around the island on safari, looking for the endangered Arabian animals that are part of the rather successful breeding program. We see many species of buck and deer plus giraffe and cheetah. We return from our safari to a lovely dinner and some hubbly bubbly by the pool. What a way to spend a day!
From this amazing hotel on an island, we then venture into the Empty Quarter and the most amazing hotel l have ever seen!!!
The fort like hotel rises up from the sand and amongst the dunes as if it has been here for hundreds of years. It was actually completed in an unbelievable 4months and has just opened in November 2009. This place is truly breath taking. Sunset is the best way to awaken in the morning, however leaving the opulent rooms is a big ask. The food is scrumptious and there is so much on offer that it takes you about 15mins just to walk past it all before you know where to start. We even had the chance to try some camel curry (no, it didn't taste like chicken, more like lamb!). Of course you can spend the mild desert evenings relaxing on the balcony with some hubbly bubbly and decide if tomorrow you will endure a strenuous day of camel trekking, 4WD through the dunes or perhaps some archery. The girls from the Abu Dhabi Tourist Office really did need to pry us all out of this hotel, as we were no where near ready to leave.
The city of Abu Dhabi has much to do. Of course you can go shopping in the numerous huge shopping centres with all the big brands, however make sure you visit the local shopping centres (more like a bazaar, but Abu Dhabi style) for traditional items. There is also the Gold Bazaar and the camel markets too. You must try the local delicacy, a stuffed date! My favourite was the date with an almond in the middle then encased with chocolate, lovely. You can also bring these back into Aust with you. The Grand Mosque is a must and for us girls, a black robe and head scarf.
Yas Island is one of the new island developments. This is where you go to see the F1 racing and by the end of this year, Ferrari World! The largest indoor theme park in the world. Abu Dhabi is definitely a destination for at least a week, not just a stop over.
Emily Finch
- Cruise - Sydney to Melbourne
- Broome
