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Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sitting off the mainland on an island in the Arabian Gulf.  I was privileged to visit this amazing place on an Educational Trip this month for 4 nights. I flew from Edinburgh with Etihad Airways which were amazing.  Great luggage allowance, service and in-flight entertainment.  With only 7 hours flight it is only a hop, skip and a jump away and +4 GMT time difference. We had a jam-packed itinerary, so was looking forward to getting to know Abu Dhabi better and experience it first-hand. ACCOMMODATION I stayed at the Bab Al Qasr hotel – an Arabian hotel http://www.babalqasr.com/ A 5* hotel, set in an enviable position overlooking the Emirates Palace and the Presidential Palace, in the Corniche area of Abu Dhabi.  With its own private beach at the back of the hotel.  Transfer time from the airport approximately 40 minutes.  With a hotel of 412 rooms, 114 suites and 265 apartments. My bedroom was extremely spacious with a very impressive bathroom and a great view of the beach.  Hotel is equipped with a gym, sumptuous spa, outdoor pool, private beach and five restaurants and bars.  I would recommend this hotel for couples looking for something special, who appreciates luxury with a more traditional theme. The first stop on our itinerary the following day was a hotel visit to the impressive Emirates Palace offers unprecedented luxury in the heart of Abu Dhabi, with a 1.5km private beach, 85 hectares of landscaped gardens.  You can even have afternoon tea there if just wanting a visit.  https://www.kempinski.com/en/abudhabi/emirates-palace   I visited the Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/uae/abu-dhabi overlooking the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.  I fell in love with this hotel with its Italian theme. This spectacular hotel has a wonderful setting, including a kids’ program, waterpark, spa, super outdoor pool.  It also has a beautiful choice of restaurants just outside the hotel which looks like a little Italian village (not included on the half board basis).  I would recommend this hotel for families and couples looking for an upmarket, relaxed hotel with a good choice of restaurants and amazing views. To another contrast on Saadiyat Island – the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas is a 5-star luxury beach resort nestled along the pristine white sand beach. It would be easy to forget you were in Abu Dhabi here and may think you are overlooking the Indian Ocean.  It is an Eco-friendly hotel, where you can even catch a glimpse of whales swimming or seeing the turtles on the beach.  It is a secluded location, however just 20 minutes from Yas Island attractions and 10 minutes to the Corniche.  You can even stay in a private villa with pool overlooking the beach.  There is even Camp Hyatt for kids.  If you like modern luxury with relaxation this is for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIDstDXmQmc&noredirect=1   Then onto Yas Island – Playground of the Emirates. Hotels on Yas Island have access to the Yas beach club free of charge with an Ibiza feel, great for watching the sunset.  I stayed in the modern Crowne Plaza, sitting in a commanding position overlooking the pool, Yas links golf course and in the distance Ferrari World. Gorgeous views, with sumptuous interiors, a 25-metre outdoor pool, and numerous restaurants, bars and brasseries.    The highlight of the trip was visiting the Yas Hotel overlooking the racing circuit and easy access to Ferrari World.   It is a modern world-class hotel, which looked quite futuristic.  Guest rooms were modern and extremely spacious.  You can even have a room overlooking the racing circuit.  They also have a nightclub between their 2 buildings.  The hotel’s roof features an LED lighting system that illuminates all 5,389 glass elements individually.   OUT N’ABOUT We managed to fit in lots of recreational activities to try out on Yas Island – https://yasisland.ae/ The newest attraction on Yas Island, Warner Bros. World opened this past July. Featuring a total of 29 state-of-the-art rides, interactive family-friendly attractions and unique live entertainment, as well as a variety of authentically themed dining and shopping outlets.  This was great for families, whether looking for thrilling rides or something for younger kids – I particularly liked the Bedrock area, prepared to get wet on the water ride though! Other major attractions are Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Water world, where you can use a Yas Park Pass to go between both parks with free transport.  Yas Mall shopping adjoins Ferrari world so can combine shopping and dining.  Loved both parks with the Ferrari World hosting the world’s fastest roller coaster and amazing kids play area and an opportunity to see the amazing Ferrari car’s close up.  I love waterparks and Yas Water world didn’t disappoint.  Abu Dhabi is also featuring the Formula 1 https://www.yasmarinacircuit.com/en/formula-1/ in November this year where you can book a package suited to your requirements.  Or you can book your own driving experience.    I was excited to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque https://www.szgmc.gov.ae/ar/Home.  WOW – absolutely beautiful.  There is a dress code, but I wore a black Abaya and headscarf which allowed me to get into the spirit of it.  It is huge and has the capacity for more than 40,000 people.  It has only been opened for 10 years. The architecture is stunning.  It’s worth going with a guide to tell you all about the history and traditions which is worth pre-arranging. We visited the recently opened Louvre museum https://www.louvreabudhabi.ae/ which is a Jean Nouvel-designed building, the first branch of the Louvre to open outside France. Its permanent collection comprises more than 600 pieces of art.  It even has a kid’s area which looked amazing.  The roof itself filters sunlight to create is described as “a rain of light”, throwing flecks of illumination on the white blocks and promenades that forms the building’s interior, best apparently seen when it is foggy outside.  Views of the city area great also from here.   A trip to Abu Dhabi wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Sand dunes.  I travelled on

With Gran Canaria enjoying a great all-year-round climate, you can’t help but fall in love with the Island. Take a look at what you can do whilst there:   Acuario Poema del Mar Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Get up close and personal with the weird and wonderful creatures of the Atlantic at Sanapú Dock’s amazing aquarium. Fun for (nearly) all the family as this would suit everyone aged four and older.     Angry Birds Activity Park Puerto Rico Have fun with Red, Chuck, Bomb and other feathered friends at this miniature version of bird Island. The perfect day out for those aged three to thirteen.   Aqualand Maspalomas Maspalomas You don’t have to be at the beach to have a wet and wild time on Gran Canaria. The inland Aqualand water park is the venue to make a splash at on the island with fast and furious rides for those in need of adrenaline fix.   Hangar 37 Tarajalillo Call of Duty fan? Step inside the game at this airsoft battlefield which is 10,000 square meters of a warzone.   Atlantida Submarine Puerto de Mogán The state-of-the-art Golden Shark modern submarine descends daily from Gran Canaria’s Puerto de Mogán, to the depths of Atlantis Submarine Park.   Palmitos Park Maspalomas Maspalomas The sister of nearby Aqualand, save money on a trip to both by investing in a two-park ticket. There are plenty of flyers to see here including birds of prey and parrots, along with fish, dolphins and reptiles.   Sioux City Park Canon del Aguila A Western is filmed every single day here on the island, and you are the star of the film. Sioux City Park, in Gran Canaria, is a theme park that whisks you back to the legendary American western period, with its film-set recreations that take every single detail into account so that you feel just like you are in an old town in the middle of the American prairie.      Car Hire Enjoy the freedom of the road, taking in the sights at your leisure.  Hire a car, either at the airport or in a resort.  From just a few days to weeks at a time

I was privileged to board the MSC Meraviglia 4th May in Greenock, where it was docked for the day during one of it’s Sailing’s around UK & Ireland.  https://www.msccruises.co.uk/en-gb/Discover-MSC/Cruise-Ships/MSC-Meraviglia.aspx We watched a video of MSC and how the company started and how it is family owned.  They are very passionate about their ships and are in the process of building more, larger ships and expanding the business.  Which is great for all you cruise lovers out there. We were then given a guided tour of all the main areas of the ship which was amazing to see. MSC Meraviglia is packed with extraordinary features that offer the perfect experience at sea in every season. On board you can enjoy outstanding, authentic dining options and out-of-this-world entertainment with new panoramic areas, an innovative ocean-view aft lounge, a two-deck “inside promenade” with a 480 square metres LED dome and a spectacular amusement area connected to an outdoor water park. SWIMMING POOLS/OUTDOOR AREAS. Although we didn’t have the best day for the weather, we could imagine everyone sunbathing on the decks and enjoying the outdoors.  There are 4 to choose from including the Aurea Spa. You can also enjoy sail away, dancing and entertainment on the sun deck of the Horizon Pool.  There is also the Polar waterpark for the kids which is amazing.  There is also a big screen to enjoy at the pool. GALLERIA MERAVIGLIA 96m promenade of shops, restaurants, boutiques and not forgetting the chocolate shop/factory which was utterly amazing. With it’s amazing LED dome the entire ceiling of the inside promenade will be covered by a giant 480sp.m. LED screen transmitting visual magic around the deck.  It changes throughout the day/night and is the focal point also for entertainment within the area                                            ENTERTAINMENT/CIRQUE DU SOLEIL You can see the unique Cirque du Soleil show twice per night, 6 nights a week for just a small charge, opting to include a cocktail or meal whilst watching the show. Enjoy exclusive world-class shows performed in innovative venues like the Carousel Lounge and the multi-purpose karaoke bar, comedy club, TV studio & Bar. CHILDREN Children of all ages are very well catered for with various kids club from infants to Teens including baby creche.  There are plenty of activities, including a sportsplex, polar aquapark, TV studio & bar, F1 Simulators, full-size bowling alley.                              RESTAURANTS Food is amazing on cruises and the MSC Meraviglia is no different. You can eat round the clock and choose from a staggering 12 restaurants.  There are 3 restaurants included in the price of your cruise.  You can dine around at the other speciality restaurants for a small fee.  It is a good idea to pre-purchase these before you travel as works out great value for money.  The food we had at lunch was just beautiful and the service was 1st class.                                              BARS/LOUNGES AND CASINO The Carousel lounge hosts the entertainment twice nightly and becomes a disco later on in the evening till the early hours.  There are many bars to choose from catering for different tastes.  You also have the option to upgrade your cruise package to include a drinks package which again is great value – starting at 32 Euros per day. CABINS Although I didn’t see a cabin for myself, there are many to choose from Interior, ocean-view, balcony sea-view cabins, right up to suites, catering for families also. MSC FOR ME A new app which lets you keep in touch with what is going on around the ship. IN SUMMARY This ship is on a grand scale and has something for everyone, however, I would recommend it in particular for families.  The ship has so many amenities onboard and with great itineraries throughout Summer & Winter. If this seems something that you would like to inquire about, please get in touch with Julie on 07944542640 or email Julie.Batchelor@ BrilliantTravel.co.uk

  Ocean or River Cruising? Imagine waking up in a different destination every day? Just a matter of choosing what cruise is for you? Ocean Cruising – Ships are getting bigger all the time, with many, many facilities to entertain all ages. These include: swooshing down scary slides at sea, aqua theatres, outstanding entertainment and Broadway shows, ice shows, spas, bionic bars, sports zones, rock climbing, zip lines and children’s clubs.  Having a choice of many restaurants and bars. Many choices of cabins – Inside, outside, Balcony, suites, family cabins and more. With Itineraries from many ports across the world or sailing from the UK – e.g Newcastle, Greenock, Southampton, Tilbury and more…  Duration of 2 nights to several months around the world. River Cruising –  Is becoming sexier and the average age decreasing of people taking a River Cruise. With many European Ports to choose from taking in Rivers such as the Rhine, Moselle, Danube and more.  Or, Asian River cruising or maybe the USA. As their ships are smaller, the ships can access ports more easily and you can sail nearer Towns and Cities so not as long transfer time.  You see more from the ship, as you sail along the river. Many companies offer excursions in with their pricing structure and regional flights to join the cruise. No matter what cruise you decide, don’t forget you can add extra nights near the Port before or after you Cruise to enhance your overall holiday experience. Most cruises are based on full board basis, but many can include drinks packages. To discuss further options, pls get in touch. Call Julie on: 07944542640 Or Email: Julie.Batchelor@BrilliantTravel.co.ukFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/brillianttraveljuliebatchelor/