Hi there,
I will be arriving in Abu Dhabi on the 1st May and have booked into the above resort which is 100 minutes or so away.
Besides hiring a car does anybody know the best way to this resort without breaking the bank.
I then need to get from the resort to Dubai. Best way?
Also any reasonably priced hotels in Dubai that can be recommended.
Thank you all in advance.
Cheers Suze
OK - I've tried to reply to this twice, and been blocked by LP. Assuming this time will work, I'll try again:
You have 3 choices: resort Limo (ouch), rental car (best option), or taxi (ouch).
A taxi will cost you in excess of 300 AED (85 USD) to get from Abu Dhabi Airport to the resort, one way. Its unlikely that any of the airport taxis will be happy to do a 4 hour round trip without prior notice, so you'd be wise to book in advance.
Ditto on the way back. If you want to get to Dubai, I'd recommend a taxi to the Airport and then jump on the Etihad shuttle, but it aint cheap. The reason the resort has that "out in the middle of nowhere" atmosphere is because its out in the middle of nowhere.
Can you contact the resort and ask IF there is anybody else arriving on a flight CLOSE to your time of arrival?. If so you can share whatever transport is cheapest.
Although the resort limo as genghis has listed is expensive for a solo traveller, it can be a guaranteed way to travel since the driver is contracted through the Resort and it is an agreed price. Also depending on what time you are arriving it can always be reassuring to get off a long haul flight and see your name listed on a 'meet and greet' board aftr you have cleared Immigration.
I am guessing that you booked this independently rather than through a travel agent who would have done as I have suggested from the beginning.
Thank you everybody.
I would love to hire a car but a bit chicken without a navigator.
Guess I am just going to have to suck it up and pay the resort.
By the way love the fact it is in the middle of nowhere :)
Also not going straight there from flight so a little difficult to share.
But I thank you all for your help and love this forum and it is the first time I have used it and am impressed
Safe travels
Suze
@ Suze - As Pella mentioned, you may want to hitch a ride with a fellow traveler living there, if the hotel will provide you the details. Otherwise, it'd be best to pay up for the resort's transport. You can check if the hotel has a shuttle to Abu Dhabi city (sometimes resorts provide such services) and then it might be easier, and cheaper, for you to go from the airport to the shuttle point (usually a known mall, corniche, heritage village, place of interest etc).
You can use the same option when you want to go to Dubai. Go to the Abu Dhabi city point, and then take a bus to Dubai. The RTA (Road & Transport Authority) bus cost AED 25 to Dubai (Euro 5). It's air-conditioned, and comfortable.
Regarding hotels in Dubai: Bur Dubai, Deira and Barsha are likely areas for cheaper hotels. You can also try to sign up for www.couchsurfing.com and search for a host in Dubai - which would mean that while the accomodation may not be as comfortable as a Hotel's, you'd have the advantage of having a resident as a flatmate, and zero accomodation expenses. I'm one of the Ambassadors for Dubai Couchsurfing, and would be glad to help you out if you were to visit Dubai.
Hope this helps! :)
Peace and Love :)