A stopover in Abu Dhabi with kids: the chilled approach

There are a plethora of blog posts and articles online detailing things to do in Abu Dhabi with kids; mostly suggesting an exhaustive list of activities that provide an adrenaline rush to the heart and wallet. For us, however, Abu Dhabi has always been about taking a breather between destinations or before overseas big moves. Indeed, it was our stopover destination en route to our move to India, and more recently for our move to Penang, as well as many other trips between Europe and Asia/Australia.

Abu Dhabi has often been our decompression zone, and a nicely timed stopover to help beat jet lag with kids. Top of the agenda is always to ‘relax’. Well, as much as you can travelling with two kids.

Read on for our guide to a stopover in Abu Dhabi with kids, the chilled approach.

Disclaimer: We would like to thank the Sheraton Abu Dhabi and Rixos for supporting this blog post. However, these are all my own thoughts and words. This post contains affiliate links. Should you click on a link to purchase, it is at no extra cost to you, but I get a small commission that goes towards the running of this blog.

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Lonely Planet Pocket Abu Dhabi: top sights, local…

Lee, Jessica (Author)
English (Publication Language)
160 Pages – 09/13/2019 (Publication Date) – Lonely Planet (Publisher)

Contents

Where to stay in Abu Dhabi with kids

Accommodation in Abu Dhabi seems to be a lot more affordable than in its glitzier brother Dubai and the two family-friendly Abu Dhabi hotels we recommend are Rixos Marina and Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort. It’s also worth checking out these best Family Beach Resorts in the UAE from Family Travel Middle East.

Rixos Marina

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If you’re looking for a world-class resort to decompress during a stopover in Abu Dhabi, the Rixos Marina comes highly recommended. The hotel building stands alone on the edge of the city and is visible from several miles away.

We stayed in a family room which suited our family of four perfectly, with two separate interconnecting rooms, two double beds, two en-suite bathrooms, with panoramic views across the hotel grounds and the blue waters of the Gulf. There are numerous clever and thoughtful touches, ranging from luxury-brand toiletries, mini-bar, mineral water, Nespresso machine, chocolates, fruits and nuts, safe, dressing gowns, slippers, and high-speed internet.

If you opt for the full-board option, you’ll get breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus soft-drinks. The hotel also provides complimentary fruit and ice-creams during the day and, if you decide to choose the all-inclusive package, you also get unlimited alcohol.

The food at the Rixos is outstanding, constituting one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in our travelling lives. The majority of the meals are taken at the Turquoise restaurant which offers a buffet service, with seating both inside and out. The restaurant staff are happy to make suggestions, tweak dishes, and generally make you feel like their favourite guests ever.

If you can drag yourselves away from the restaurants, you’ll find a small beach area which is ideal for kids to splash around in. The beach is fully exposed to the midday sun so, unless you get one of the parasols, it can get hot at times. However, if you’re lucky enough to get some shade, it’s a relaxing place to unwind with a cold drink, take in the Abu Dhabi city skyline in the distance, and watch the kids play.

Away from the sea, the resort has four swimming pools; one adults-only, two general pools, and one splash-area aimed at toddlers. The water is warmer here than the sea and more conducive to longer swimming time.

The hotel ticks all the boxes you’d expect; beautifully stylish rooms, top-notch service, attention to detail, good entertainment and food options, but adds an extra layer on top of them all. It’s a fantastic option if you aren’t too interested in visiting the sights of the city and prefer to just relax and let time drift slowly by.

Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel

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It’s a sign of the progress sweeping through Abu Dhabi that the Sheraton Hotel, once a significant landmark on the city skyline, now lies partially hidden from view, as newer buildings encroach on its territory. But, like an old friend, it holds a special place in our hearts, partly because it was the first place Jay stayed way back in 1988. Despite some arguably glitzier and better value options on its doorstep, we still love the Sheraton and stayed for three nights in one of the Executive Double rooms.

The rooms and hotel lobby receive semi-regular updates, but the old-school style and décor have become part of the appeal, so you’ll have a good idea of what to expect. The friendly staff were happy to entertain our boys when we arrived and nothing feels like too much trouble for them.

The Executive Double room was very smart and well-appointed and, despite being on the small side, it had a massive (and extremely comfortable) double bed and a luxuriously large bathroom. It also came with a balcony (just about big enough for two people to sit on once the kids were asleep), complete with dazzling views of the city and Corniche. If you manage to get a good deal, the room type is a good option for young families, especially if you don’t intend on eating out too much in the restaurants. As elsewhere in Abu Dhabi, the food and beverage bill is where you really notice the expense. There’s plenty of supermarkets nearby where you can buy snacks, breads and drinks to keep you going.

The main selling point for families at the Sheraton however is the pool complex. It’s worth the room rate on its own; a fact confirmed by the numerous other families visiting as day-guests. It’s cleverly planned so that the non-family guests (requiring serenity, cocktails and super cool chill-out music – gah, we’re jealous!) are very separate from the family guests who are whizzing down the slide and splashing excitedly as Jay pretends to be a crocodile.

There is also a beach area for sandcastle building and a dip in the sea (although there’s a steep drop just one metre in, so keep hold of your little ones).

Things to do in Abu Dhabi with kids

Abu Dhabi is quite spread out and, combined with the daytime heat, it means that most of the time you’ll need to use a taxi (the Careem app, which works like UBER or Grab, is superb). That’s if you can tear yourselves away from the beach or pool.

However, a short walk from the Sheraton is the Corniche. A beautifully clean and wide stretch of footpath along the shoreline, free from traffic. A fantastic place to let the kids run free, whilst allowing parents a moment to admire the impressive skyline. There are lots of shaded spots under the palm trees to take a breather (take lots of water!) and even a couple of shaded playgrounds in the green parks alongside the Corniche.

From the Sheraton, you can follow the Corniche towards to the World Trade Centre Souk. We loved looking around the shops and buying some postcards to send back home (the first of many, no doubt). It’s just the right length walk in the heat for little legs and it’s easy to then flag down a taxi back to your hotel.

A real highlight of our sightseeing though was the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a twenty minute taxi ride out of the city.

The truly spectacular building is perhaps the one ‘must-do’ activity whilst you are here and you won’t be disappointed – the interior is mesmerising and the scale of the place is incredible. We were there in the morning when the sun was already high, but were able to avoid the worst of it by wandering around the marble building, marvelling at the pristine wonder of it all.

And if you do want to put a day aside and treat the kids to something special there is Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World, and Yas Waterworld. However, the heat in Abu Dhabi can be overwhelming, especially if you’re visiting in the summer months. To escape the heat, check out these indoor activities in Abu Dhabi for kids.

Final thoughts on a family stopover in Abu Dhabi

Etihad are a great airline and Abu Dhabi is a fantastic stopover option with young kids. The next time you are going long-haul, we really recommend stopping over here. Both parents and kids will be fully refreshed and ready to tackle the onward flight, only this time with some brilliant memories to take back onboard with you.