5 Family-Friendly Staycations That Will Surprise You In UAE
Planning to have a fabulous staycation with your family and loved ones? We have compiled the most fascinating places in the UAE where you can spend a perfect staycation filled with fun, adventure and exciting experiences. Let’s check out what options you have got!
1. Explore the Safari Experience
If you are thinking of venturing to Africa for a grand safari escape, the Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island will offer you a training ground where you can have a practice run. From Dubai it’s just 3-hour drive while from Abu Dhabi may take you 2 hours by road to get to the island. A better option, however, would be to catch a flight with Rotana Air to get there. If you take the roads, you should also expect a 20-minute ride on a boat to reach the island. Nevertheless, it’s really worth it with all the dolphins swimming just around you.
The Sir Bani Yas Island is located in a 31 square kilometre island which was envisioned by the late His Highness Sheik Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nayhan. The nature reserve offers scheduled tours every day and opens at 6:45 in the morning. You’ll have a 30-minute stop to take coffee, croissants and enjoy the fascinating sunrise view. Get a close up encounter with the wildlife including flamingo, striped hyena, Indian spotted deer, giraffe, Arabian rock hyrax, ostrich, eland, cheetah, gazelle, Barbary sheep, Arabian oryx, antelope and peacocks. The family can also enjoy exciting activities in the animal paradise like horse riding, kayaking, wadi walking, archery, water sports, mountain biking, PADI lessons and private pool swimming.
2. Enjoy An Extravagant Beach Getaway
The Zaya Nurai Island in Abu Dhabi is a magnificent getaway for those who love the beach and the sun. This 5-star island will make for a luxury staycation with its pampering atmosphere. The gorgeous beaches will offer you a whole new paradise-like experience and you’ll surely enjoy your time in one of the contemporary villas here. Getting there will take 60 minutes from Dubai and only 10-minute boat ride from Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island. There are also beach houses which are perfectly designed for young couples and families. If you have little ones with you, baby sitting services are also available and you can have everything you need at the front desk from bottle warmers, safety rails, and sterilizers to swim toys, arm bands and cots.
While you get yourself pampered at the Nurai Spa, the island has Petit Z Kids Club for your kids aged four and above where they can enjoy a lot of activities such as arts, mud kitchen and farm shop. Taste the sumptuous local cuisines at Ginger Mermaid, Frangipani and the Dusk. In short, it’s a perfect getaway for the entire family.
3. The Gulf is Yours to Cruise
What could be more extravagant and tantalizing than taking a cruise from Dubai or Abu Dhabi for seven days and get around the Gulf? Experience a resort-like getaway at the sea cruising on the world’s 11th longest cruise ship – the MSC Splendida. While on your cruise trip, pamper yourself with some amazing freebies on the row – from round the clock buffets and five star cuisines to entertainment options like Masterchief competition, dance classes and the Broadway-style night shows. There are also outdoor and indoor play areas for kids, bars, bowling alley, F1 race car stimulator, 4D cinema and an aqua park.
4. Bonding With Your Kids At Readymade Camps
Experience a magical night stay at the iconic Ras Al Khaimah. The Bedouin Oasis Camp is perfect for family camping trip where there are readymade tents and you can feel comfortable with the traditional hospitality of the locals. You will never get bored spending your staycation on this Arabian desert hideaway because there are a lot of activities to keep your family occupied all the while. Kids will truly love quad biking, dune bashing and sand boarding while belly dancing, traditional henna painting and Tannoura are for parents to get indulged in.
5. Traditional Mountain Escapade
If taking a trip to the mountainside is what your family would love on your staycation, the Hajar Mountains has a lot to offer! This attraction is close to the Hatta Dam and it would an hour’s drive from Dubai. The Hatta Fort Hotel is one great choice for bigger families considering its enormous rooms. The rooms are designed with balconies where parents can have a romantic moment overlooking an expansive lawn with peacocks roaming around. The foods prepared are impressive while there is some exciting stuff to make kids busy as well like playground, mini golf, swimming pools and archery.
So, how do you plan to make your family staycation perfect then?
