Pictured left to right outside the new store are: Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Director of Retail; Emma Bailey, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Tutti Taylor, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Councillor Candy Vaughan, Mayor of Eastbourne; Trevor Ridler, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Business Development Manager; and Shirley Waters, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents..
Step aside Canary Islands – Abu Dhabi could just be the winter-sun destination you’ve been waiting for! Kerrie, Area Manager for the Eastern Region, visited in December to find out just what’s on offer in this dynamic city. Packed full of amazing things to do and see, Kerrie was absolutely blown away, “Abu Dhabi is only a couple of hours more on a flight than it is to the Canaries, and in winter the temperatures are much higher. When I visited in December it was 29-30 degrees every day, with warm evenings. I was amazed by how safe it is, how friendly the people are, how much there is to do and how accessible it is.”
Kerrie visited over the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix weekend, an electrifying experience like no other, as fans from around the world gathered to witness the climax of a thrilling 2024 season. “Formula 1 was a huge draw for people, so the city was absolutely buzzing,” says Kerrie, “We watched both the qualifying rounds and the Final - it really was amazing.”
But there’s a world of excitement on offer in Abu Dhabi at any time of the year, and it certainly is a place for packing in experiences, as Kerrie can confirm! “There is so much to do! We visited Yas Waterworld; attended a Maroon 5 concert at Etihad Park; visited Abu Dhabi’s Presidential Palace, Qasr Al Watan; attended an Eminem Concert; and visited Warner Brothers World and Ferrari World!” Quite the itinerary for her 4 night stay!
“The Water Park, Ferrari World and Warner Brothers are not to be missed for any thrill seekers,” she continues, “Old and young would find plenty to do at these parks, and don’t be fooled by some of the ‘cutesy’ rides - they can get a bit hairy!”
For a more sedate outing Kerrie really recommends Qasr Al Watan, which translates as Palace of the Nation, “The Presidential Palace is not to be missed, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited - hugely recommended.” If stunning architecture is your thing, then Abu Dhabi is also home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, accommodating over 40,000 worshippers and housing the largest carpet in the world. After all the high-octane thrills and sight-seeing, you can also make time for chilling out on the city’s 10km of public beaches.
Kerrie sums up her experience of Abu Dhabi, “I was blown away by this amazing city - I could not get over how beautiful everywhere was, so well-kept and clean, with gorgeous buildings and architecture, and the people are so friendly.” If you are thinking that a trip to Abu Dhabi may be just what you’re looking for, Kerrie has some top tips for this destination:
• I see Abu Dhabi as a great place for couples, weekends away with friends and an amazing place for family holidays.
• We flew with Etihad from Heathrow, Terminal 4, on an airbus which was gorgeous, I had an aisle seat and had plenty of room. The entertainment was good and staff on board spoke English and were really pleasant. The food was not to everyone’s taste, so I would pack some snacks. I did notice that the children were given little bags with activity packs in, and I thought this was a really nice touch to keep them occupied - our flight was approximately 6 hours 40 mins long.
• Keep an eye out for developments in Abu Dhabi - Miral have just bought a cluster of hotels and will be refurbishing them, as well as adding in a man-made beach near the Hilton Hotel. The Hilton Hotel on Yas Island is, in my opinion, a fantastic all-round option - from the back of the hotel there is a beautiful strip of bars and restaurants, and there is a shuttle bus to all of the theme parks. The Warner Brothers Hotel is also a great location for families.
• In certain areas you need to be culturally respectful. In the Palace we had to cover toes, knees and shoulders, and in 2 of the theme parks we also had some of the group requested to cover their shoulders as they were wearing tops with spaghetti straps. Outside and at the Formula 1 there were no such rules in place, but I think in general it is best to be mindful of where you are visiting and wear appropriate attire.
• I’d recommend taking a power pack, plenty of sunscreen, and have lots of memory on your phone, for all the amazing pictures you will want to take!
To plan your own Abu Dhabi trip, please get in touch with your local shop
