With incredible attractions in both places, unique sights, and tours that take you to the deserts, you can’t miss both during your trip.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the different ways to get to Abu Dhabi from Dubai and vice-versa.
What Distance is Abu Dhabi from Dubai?
Dubai is about 160km from Abu Dhabi, but the distance and journey duration will depend on the area where you’re travelling from. Both cities stretch out without a definitive centre so it greatly varies.
Taking public transportation from either city’s outskirt, the journey will likely take around three hours from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and vice-versa. On the other hand, if you’re taking a taxi or a shuttle bus, it will take about 1 hour.
What is the Most Cost-effective Way to Get to Abu Dhabi from Dubai?
Getting from Dubai to Abu Dhabi is quick and affordable renting a car from either Dubai or Abu Dhabi. If you’re planning your trip this way, the cost for the car will be from £30 to £40 for a basic vehicle to £90 and more for luxury ones.
On the other hand, the overall journey won’t cost you much, averaging £10 depending on where you leave from.
Note that renting a car in Dubai is not as easy for travellers from other countries. Depending on the country, you may need an International Driving Permit and you also need to be aged 21 or more.
What is the Best Way to Travel to Abu Dhabi From Dubai?
All in all, the best way to travel to Abu Dhabi from Dubai is by renting a car. On a side note, if you’re flying to either Dubai or Abu Dhabi with Emirates or Etihad, a free shuttle is provided and included in your flight ticket. That said, the pickup locations aren’t the most convenient and you’ll probably need to get on a taxi to the meeting point.
The Malagasy Ariary is Madagascar’s national currency, however other major currencies are accepted. Euros and US dollars are the most frequently utilized currencies. As there aren’t many locations to convert money in Madagascar, try to exchange enough money when you arrive to last you at least a week (or before you leave). There are relatively few cash machines/ATMs and those that do exist only dispatch Malagasy Ariary. Travelers’ cheques are not accepted at Ivato Airport in Antannarivo, and credit card use is relatively restricted across Madagascar (the most frequently accepted is Visa), but it is a great backup option. Madagascar is one of the safest and nicest places. Locals, employees, and guides are all warm and courteous, eager to answer your questions and engage in conversation. As with any other vacation, you must take care of your things, store money in different areas in case of loss or theft and avoid going out alone at night.
With a diverse range of climates and geographies crammed into a tiny island, Sri Lanka offers a variety of activities from the tops of mountains to the depths of the oceans. Scuba diving and surfing are the most popular beach sports in the nation, aside from swimming and snorkeling. In the country, scuba diving has a long history. Today, the waters of Sri Lanka provide one of the greatest diving experiences in the world, with coral gardens, a plethora of exotic fish, and historic wrecks. The sea surrounding Sri Lanka is also one of the most popular and demanding marine game fishing locations, while the country’s other water sports include canoeing, kayaking, white river rafting. Sri Lanka also provides numerous possibilities for keen hikers and trekkers, with a myriad of routes meandering through growing mountains, lush green forests, rice fields, parks, and peaceful villages. When conquering numerous mountains in Sri Lanka, experience the thrills of crumbling rocks beneath your feet, head-spinning heights, and the ground spreading beneath your feet, or take on waterfall climbing with exhilarating climbs such as the rock face of Bambarakanda waterfall, the tallest in the country.
Zanzibar has a tropical climate due to its location south of the equator, allowing you to plan your beach holiday in this area of Eastern Africa at any time of year without experiencing severe temperature variations when compared to Southern Africa.
Peak season (December to February) Since this is the most popular season to visit Zanzibar, expect to pay 30-40% more for your flights and accommodations. Keep in mind that the later you book your flights, the more you may spend. Off-peak (March to May and November) Though there may be some rain, booking during Zanzibar’s wet season may save you up to 50% on flights and accommodations! Bear in mind that you still want to book your flights as soon as possible, even during the off-season, to obtain the cheapest pricing. Although there is much rain and you might want to carry an umbrella, it is far from monsoon-like and you will not be confined in the hotel room in Zanzibar’s rainy season. Throughout this season, from March through May, temperatures will be about 29°C.
Namibia, located on the continent’s west coast between South Africa and Angola, is a location known for its stunning desert scenery and unique wildlife.
- Etosha National Park: This park is Namibia’s premier wildlife attraction, located in the country’s north on the outskirts of a huge salt pan. It is one of the best sites in the world to see endangered white and black rhinos.
- The Skeleton Coast: Stretching from Swakopmund all the way to the Angolan border, the Skeleton Coast gets its name from the shipwrecks and whale bones that litter its lonely beach. The water is cold, the surf is unrelenting, and there are no freshwater sources in the dunes.
- Sossusvlei: The Sossusvlei dune sea is situated in one of the world’s oldest deserts, the Namib Desert.
- Swakopmund: Swakopmund is Namibia’s main coastal town. There are numerous pubs, restaurants, and German bakeries.
- Brandberg Mountain: Home to one of the world’s most extensive collections of ancient rock art, there are almost 43,000 unique pictures representing local animals, hunting scenes, and mythology that were created by the San Bushmen thousands of years ago.
South Africa offers an accessible opportunity to view some amazing wildlife in a tourist-friendly and budget-friendly country. Not only that, but the Big 5 can be found in a variety of national parks and private game reserves, so you can see them all on a single safari – or, if you’re lucky, on a single game drive! The African elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, and rhino were dubbed “the big five” by hunters because they were thought to be the most deadly and difficult African creatures to kill while hunting on foot. Other than the Kruger National Park, these parks offer the Big 5 experience:
- Addo Elephant Park- Eastern Cape
- Aquila Private Game Reserve – Western Cape
- Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park – Kwa Zulu Natal
- Klaserie Private Nature Reserve – Greater Kruger Area, Limpopo
- Madikwe Game Reserve – North West Province
- Pilanesberg National Park – North West Province
- Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve – Western Cape
- Pumba Private Game Reserve – Eastern Cape
- Sabi Sands Game Reserve- Greater Kruger Area, Mpumalanga
- Thanda Private Game Reserve- Kwa Zulu Natal
- Samara Private Game Reserve- Great Karoo, Eastern Cape
Mozambique has a warm tropical environment, making it an ideal vacation location. The dry season, which is also the peak tourist season, is regarded to be the ideal time to visit Mozambique. The ideal months to visit are between June and October. Although still tropical, June, July, and August are Mozambique’s colder months. During September and October, the weather remains dry despite rising daytime temperatures, but it does cool significantly at night. Mozambique has a variety of attractions for visitors. Although diving is feasible all year, your experience will be influenced by the weather. The windiest months are February and August, which will have an impact on visibility during dives. Game fishing is available all year, but September is a particularly good month for King Fish and marks the conclusion of the Sail Fishing season.
Cape Town Tourism takes tourist safety seriously and has invested in significant security measures and pushed for a strong police presence in areas popular with tourists. This being said, most crime occurs in the townships, and going there alone is not recommended. However, should you wish to visit the township, it is advisable to travel with guides or local friends who are familiar with the region. Most crime occurs at night, so if you go out after dark, you may become a target for opportunistic criminals. As soon as you arrive in South Africa, download a taxi-hailing app like Uber or Bolt; they are handier and less expensive than taxis. Alternatively, you may rent a car for the length of your trip to South Africa. The Atlantic Seaboard is one of the safest locations to stay in Cape Town. Tourist-friendly districts in Camps Bay, Clifton, and Sea Point provide premium accommodation, and the vacation houses contain adequate safety elements to assure your safe stay in the Mother City.
Visitors to a nation with a distinct culture, such as Japan, may be intimidated by the regulations and social conventions that govern public life and interpersonal relationships. Foreign visitors to Japan are not expected to be fluent in Japanese etiquette but understanding a few fundamentals will help you adjust to local traditions and prevent a cultural faux pas. If you’re considering a vacation to Japan, here are a few cultural blunders to avoid:
- Don’t wear shoes indoors – There’s a reason each house has a shoe rack at the front door. Some restaurants may also request that you remove your shoes before entering.
- Try not to eat on the go. Eating or drinking on public transportation is generally impolite,
- Do not enter a bathtub without first bathing.
- Avoid blowing your nose in public.
- Do not leave a gratuity.
- Avoid pointing. It is also considered rude to use chopsticks to point or wave at people or objects.
- Shouting and raising your voice are just not acceptable in Japan, and those who do so are seen as rude.
In Thailand, lèse majesté is a crime according to Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code. The law, which was adopted in Thailand in 1908, renders any image of the Thai royal family criminality to defame, insult, threaten or degrade. This includes defacing Thai cash, so avoid stepping on the Thai baht (in Thai tradition, the foot is regarded unclean, but the head is considered sacrosanct.) It’s against the law and may land you in jail. Even discussing the Thai monarch and his family is frowned upon, especially in public. If you are in Thailand, it is advisable to avoid any public conversation or writing about the issue if you do not want to be “blackballed” or worse, imprisoned. Since World War II, Thailand is the only constitutional monarchy that has reinforced its lèse-majesté statute. It has been regarded as the “world’s toughest lèse majesté legislation,” with penalties ranging from three to fifteen years in jail for each conviction.
