Wanted: Sidetrip within a holiday recommendation

I'm visiting Abu Dhabi in March 2009 for 1.5 weeks. I plan on spending time in Dubai and Al-Ain, and am eager to find a nice beach area to visit during my stay. Here are a few places I was thinking: Muscat, Maldives or Mauritius (flights are expensive though), Istanbul. I'm even open to skipping the beach idea to see Petra in Jordan, or the pyramids in Egypt. I'm open to ideas and would appreciate any advice. Thanks!

OK - I'll be first. You need to decide what you want. I'm never going to tell you to go to a beach instead of seeing Petra or the pyramids. No matter how beautiful the beach - it is just a beach.

Now - March is good time for beaches and there are some beautiful beaches in and near Muscat (and you can either drive there - with extra insurance) or take relatively inexpensive public transportation.

I liked Al Sawadi Beach Resort very much (an hour north of Muscat) - but it is a resort for all the good and bad that entails - it is not a cultural experience - the beach is great however and the food quite good. The places right on the beach in Muscat are often expensive - but some folks here have recommended the Oman Dive Center. It is much closer to Muscat - but not in the center of town.

S - thank you so much! I am open to hear all recommendations and realize that at the end of the day that I'll have to decide exactly what type of side-trip I want to take. I'm personally leaning toward taking a beach vacation, although being from the US, half of me wants to take advantage of being in the proximity of seeing the pyramids and Petra (both on my lists of things to do before I ... well, you know). In the meantime I will mark down your suggestions which are very much appreciated. Thank you!

I'll be back in Abu Dhabi in November (probably) and I was thinking of going back to Al Sawadi. I've stayed at Sohar Beach resort (did NOT like it) and one night at the Al Bustan (I"m not sure if it has reopened after a LONG closure). The very expensive Al Bustan was a bit too ritzy for me (separate from the price - the personality as well). What I was looking for was a relaxing and pretty beach but without a lot of pretentiousness (but with a few resort amenities such as a beach restaurant/bar etc) and Al Sawadi met them for me. Note that it is not first tier and perhaps could do with a bit of` updating - but not to the extent it bothered me - just trying to be fair.

If you're only in AD for 1.5 weeks I would have thought it is a little ambitious to do such big side trips. If you want to spend a few days at a nice beach where you can do some snorkelling and/or diving you could try Sandy Beach in Fujairah (09 244 5555). It's part of the UAE and only about 3 hours' drive from AD. The accommodation is not the swankiest, or the cheapest, but it is a lovely setting.
Or head into glorious Oman as suggested by Suzanne.

Petra and the pyrmids are a must see and you can add a beach in either Jordan or Egypt.If you go to Egypt see the pyrmids and the museum along with anything else you want to see then head to the red sea[El gouna,Hurgada, Sharm or Dahab]you can take a night bus or fly down to the red sea.

If you are heading or to Petra why not go over to the dead sea or head to a beach around there.

You can fly Air Arabia from Sharjah to Jordan and maybe to Sharm.

I had stayed at the Beach Resort in Al Sawadi as well and liked it a lot.
Isn´t Al Ain at the border to Oman?
If I am right, you can even drive to Al Sawadi and cover some interesting and pretty things by the road.
Apart from Offroad and Muscat itself, driving should not be the problem.

Hmmm unlike others I would recommend not to go to the UAE at all, rather go directly to Istanbul. If you like historical places with pleasant weather you will adore Istanbul as I do. No AD or Dubai can overwhelm this city full of phenomenons starting from Blue Mosque and Haqia Sophia through Dolma Bahce and Donkey Islands where you can find places for swimming as well. However for swimming in Istanbul you have to come in July. Otherwise you can make a night trip with a bus which is very cheap to South Turkey to Mersin, Alanya or Antalya, see Pamukkale and other sight seeings and swim in amazing Mediterranean Sea.
And as I am living in the UAE I know what i am talking about ;)

Thanks Vicky - I have to agree with you. With the replies that I'm receiving, I am realizing that I can indeed find my beach vacation within close proximity to Abu Dhabi. I think I'll save the pyramids and Petra for different visit, and ditto for Istanbul (ideally I'd really want to spend at least a week in Turkey). Thanks a lot for the help - you helped me confirm my decision! Please let me know what you recommend in Oman. I believe we are going to pick up a car in Abu Dhabi, drive to Dubai, spend a night there, then move on to Al Ain for a day and then move onto the border toward Muscat. If anyone has suggestions along the route, I'd really love to hear them!

Best,
J

Nirtak - did you do this drive? I believe we are going to start in Abu Dhabi and drive to Muscat, with stops in Dubai, Al Ain, and perhaps Al Sawadi. If you have done this trip, or are familiar with the route, please let me know if this makes sense and is feasible/advisable. I'm completely open to suggestions and am very grateful for the help!

Thanks!

Dont forget if you are in the UAE on visit visa and go to Oman (where you need visa as well) you cant come back to the UAE.

You can do your route one of two ways:

1. Abu Dhabi - Al Ain - Dubai - cross to Oman at the Hatta border post (from Dubai) which puts you onto the Sohar coast road - Sawadi Beach - Muscat and then on to wherever you like. Or

2. Abu Dhabi - Dubai - Al Ain - cross at the Jebel Hafeet border post (from Al Ain) which puts you on the mountain road through Ibri and Nizwa - then Muscat, then Sawadi Beach.

If you want to spend time in the mountains, then its good to do a circuit, entering through one border and exiting through the other, but if you only want beach time, then I would recommend using the Hatta border post, via Dubai as its a much shorter trip to Sawadi Beach and / or Muscat.

Also, Davisna's comment at #10 is not correct.

If you are one of the 33 nationalities that get a visit visa on arrival, then you can come back to the UAE without any problems. If you have to get your visa in advance, then you will have to arrange a new visa before you re-enter the UAE.

The Immigration authorities have confirmed that despite what the new laws (from Aug 1st) say, it is NOT necessary to stay out of the country for 30 days, or to return to your own country before getting a new visa, so technically, even if you needed to get a new visa, it could be arranged while you are in Oman.

Thank you so much Genghis! This is my first time using Thorntree.com and I am really surprised and happy about the helpful responses and suggestions! My friend in Abu Dhabi has confirmed that you are correct with regard to the visas, esp. travelers from the US and EU.

We are thinking about doing a circuit just to see more..that would be your second suggestion correct?

Thanks again!

Since I lived in Al Ain - this was the border where I normally crossed. However, only once did I take the (long) way Vicky suggested as the way from Al Ain. You can also take the shorter route that cuts straight across. This is quicker than the Hatta crossing if you are leaving from Al Ain and also FAR quicker than the route through Nizwa.

If you're planning on doing a bit of sight-seeing en route, then yes I would recommend the second of the two options I suggested. As Suzanne says, it is the longest road route to get to Sawadi Beach, but the Nizwa / Bahla area is one of my favourite parts of Oman and well worth the extra driving if you stay a night or two there to have a look around. Basically there are two major border crossings in the Al Ain area - one from Al Ain that goes straight down to the Sohar coast, and one at Jebel Hafeet that heads into the mountains - and the Jebel Hafeet one will give you the chance to see much more of the interior of Oman.

On the way home, you can choose to come up the coast, through the Hatta crossing and on to Dubai, or you can turn off the coast road a wee bit earlier, and come back through the Al Ain crossing.

Thank you all for the valuable tips - my trip was fantastic and I am so grateful my friend introduced me to the Thorntree forum. Safe and happy travels to all!

So how did you use your 1.5 weeks in the end then?!

Hi Vicky,

Thanks for asking! We spent a few days in Abu Dhabi at the beach club, then moved onto Dubai for a few days and in that time, we did the Mussandam dhow excursion (departing Khor Fakkan), and some sightseeing. Then we went to Fujairah to scuba dive but ran into a bit of foul weather, and no boats were allowed to take divers out. So we ended up coming back to Abu Dhabi and went dunebashing and the whole bit. All in all, it was a great trip and I am looking forward to perhaps coming back in September for Ramadan/Eid.

Sounds good! Shame about the diving though.
If you're going to come back for Eid just be aware that hotel prices will probably be high!