Editor's Summary

Our experience with this tour company was disastrous. We were misled about the excursions, and the guides were unprofessional. We ended up spending a lot of money on taxis and tickets, and we didn't get to enjoy the experience as much as we could have. If you're visiting the Emirates, avoid this tour company at all costs.

Our Horrific Experience

We visited Abu Dhabi from August 1st to 12th, 2024.

Initial Disappointment

Upon arrival, we were not contacted by the tour representative, and we had to reach out to them ourselves to arrange a meeting the next day.

The Excursion Scam

We were offered two excursions: one to Abu Dhabi and another to Dubai, both inclusive. We paid $350 for the two of us and were told to wait for August 6th for the Abu Dhabi excursion and August 9th for Dubai.

However, on August 5th at 9 PM, we were informed that the excursion was being postponed to August 11th or cancelled due to technical issues. We were told it was postponed.

The Dubai Excursion

The trip to Dubai took 1.5 hours without a guide, and we were left to ourselves.

The program included:

Visiting a museum (not the museum itself, but the area outside, where entry was not included in the excursion)Going to a palm island to see the view from the 52nd floor (175 dirhams per person, which we had to pay on the spot)Visiting a local indoor market (free entry)Taking a 30-minute boat ride and having lunchVisiting the Dubai Mall and watching the fountains at the Burj Khalifa (free access), and shopping for 3 hours (climbing the Burj Khalifa was not included in the excursion)Returning to Abu Dhabi in 1.5 hours without a guideThe guide provided minimal information during the bus rides, equivalent to a 5th-grade level.

We ended up spending $90 per person from 11 AM to 11:30 PM shopping.

The Abu Dhabi Excursion

We were picked up at 9:30 AM and arrived at the Louvre at 11:30 AM (it would take us 20 minutes by taxi to get there from Abu Dhabi, and tickets were provided upon entry).

There was no guided tour of the Louvre - we were left to explore for an hour and wait in the bus.

We visited the date market, had lunch, and then visited the presidential palace (tickets were provided, and we had an hour to explore).

We also visited a mosque (tickets were provided, and we had an hour to explore).

The cost per person was $85.

We ended up spending a lot on taxis to visit the main tourist spots in Abu Dhabi without any information.

Expert Opinion

If you're visiting the Emirates, avoid this tour company at all costs. The hotel representative was unorganized and uninterested in her work, and the guide for the Abu Dhabi excursion was unprofessional. You can visit all the locations mentioned above on your own using taxis (Uber works) and buy tickets separately, saving you a lot of money and allowing you to enjoy the experience more.

Featured FAQ

What was the problem with the excursion?The excursion was postponed due to technical issues, and we were not informed until the last minute.

How much did the excursions cost?We paid $350 for the two of us for the Abu Dhabi and Dubai excursions.

What was the program for the Dubai excursion?The program included visiting a museum, going to a palm island, visiting a local indoor market, taking a boat ride, visiting the Dubai Mall, and watching the fountains at the Burj Khalifa.

How much did the Abu Dhabi excursion cost?The cost per person was $85.

Can I visit the locations mentioned above on my own?Yes, you can visit all the locations mentioned above on your own using taxis (Uber works) and buy tickets separately.

What was the problem with the hotel representative?The hotel representative was unorganized and uninterested in her work.