For March Break, we often search out locations that supply heat climate, memorable experiences, and the chance to make use of our factors and miles to assist scale back the general value. Subsequent 12 months, we’ve booked one thing just a little totally different, a household journey that blends the desert luxurious and amusement park enjoyable of Abu Dhabi with the cultural attraction of Italy.
At first look, it’d appear to be an uncommon pairing, however I feel it’s an ideal mixture that satisfies my yearning for a particular journey, the children’ want for enjoyable, and our shared love of Italian delicacies.
Why Abu Dhabi and Florence?
The unique plan was Italy, however anybody who’s been in March is aware of the climate will be unpredictable, with an excellent probability of rain and funky temperatures. So, we pivoted and determined to begin someplace heat and family-friendly, then tag on a shorter keep in Europe to fulfill the Italian cravings.
Abu Dhabi checked each field. The climate in March is sunny and excellent (round 25°C), the vacation spot is protected and clear, and there are numerous points of interest for households, from world-class theme parks to abandon resorts the place youngsters can journey camels or slide down dunes. Town additionally has an awesome mixture of lodge choices that may be booked on factors, free night time certificates, or at cheap money charges.
Then, to finish the journey, we added just a few days in Florence on the best way dwelling that may give us simply sufficient time to discover Renaissance artwork, take a day journey to Pisa, and revel in pizza, pasta, and gelato in one of many world’s most stunning cities.
How We Booked Our Journey
Flights
To get there, we booked Qatar Airways QSuites from Toronto to Doha to Abu Dhabi utilizing Qatar Avios. My husband and I had been in a position to seize saver fares for 70,000 Avios every, and after some debate, determined to e book the children in QSuites too for a once-in-a-lifetime expertise at 140,000 Avios every on the flex fare. Meaning we’ll fill a full quad suite to ourselves, a enjoyable setup for a household flight.
Even higher, the quick Doha to Abu Dhabi phase books into Qatar Airways First Class, giving us entry to the spectacular Al Safwa First Class Lounge at Hamad Worldwide Airport, one of the vital luxurious lounges on this planet.
Whereas it was actually a steep redemption, the affect was softened by a 30% switch bonus from RBC Avion to British Airways Avios (and from there transferred to Qatar Avios). I transferred half of my Avios in the course of the promotion, successfully decreasing the overall value of the Qsuites flights by about 15%. Timing your transfers throughout bonus durations can result in substantial financial savings.
From Abu Dhabi to Italy, we booked Etihad Airways Financial system Class to Rome utilizing 20,000 AAdvantage miles per particular person, adopted by a 1.5-hour prepare journey to Florence.
For the return journey, we’ll fly Florence to Toronto by way of Frankfurt with the long-haul phase in Premium Financial system for 59,100 Aeroplan factors per particular person, offering a snug option to finish the journey. We gained’t rely on it, however we’d attempt to use our eUpgrades to improve to enterprise class.
Accommodations in Abu Dhabi
We’ll start our trip on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s household leisure hub. Right here, inns just like the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island and The WB™ Abu Dhabi, Curio Assortment by Hilton embrace complimentary park admission for visitors.
The WB™ Abu Dhabi, Curio Assortment by Hilton is nearer and inside strolling distance to the theme parks, however in the event you maintain Diamond standing with the Hilton Honors Program, you may get pleasure from lounge entry on the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island.
Throughout March Break, rooms at each properties common round $300-$400 CAD per night time for a household of three, as much as $800-$900 CAD per night time for a household of as much as six or seven. Connecting rooms can be found. Remember the fact that that is earlier than taxes and charges, which in Abu Dhabi is a whopping 23.5%.
If redeeming factors, a normal room reward would value 70,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time. At Prince of Journey, we usually worth Hilton Honors factors at 0.7 cents per level (CAD) or 0.5 cents per level (USD), so this may be an awesome worth in your factors when you think about that taxes and charges are additionally lined with redemptions. Redeeming a free night time reward is also an possibility when you’ve got one.
If in case you have US Amex Platinum or Enterprise Platinum playing cards, you can even use your Fantastic Accommodations & Resorts $300 USD semi-annual credit score towards The WB™ Abu Dhabi, Curio Assortment by Hilton, which makes it a good way to avoid wasting whereas nonetheless having fun with all of the park advantages and Fantastic Accommodations & Resorts perks like every day breakfast and a resort credit score.
In the event you choose a room that may accommodate all the household in a single area, however don’t want the complimentary park entry every single day of your keep, the DoubleTree by Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Residences is a superb different. Its one- and two-bedroom residences embrace full kitchens and separate residing areas, with an onsite laundry facility, making it an awesome selection for longer or extra relaxed stays for comparable pricing however for a household of 4 or extra. Additionally it is positioned inside strolling distance of the theme parks.
In the event you’re Marriott loyalist, for comparable charges you may keep on the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island. It’s a common selection amongst households and is positioned proper above a Components 1™ racetrack. This lodge participates in Marriott Luminous, a most popular companion program you can entry by way of our in-house journey company, Prince Assortment.
By reserving by way of us, you’ll pay the very best accessible fee (and typically even much less), and have entry to unique advantages, comparable to a $100 (USD) property credit score, complimentary breakfast for 2, one-category room improve, early check-in, late check-out (topic to availability), plus a welcome present and letter.
After an action-packed few days, we’ll commerce curler coasters for tranquility on the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, one of many UAE’s most iconic luxurious properties. Nestled amongst rolling sand dunes within the Liwa Desert, it’s a desert oasis for each youngsters and adults. Friends can get pleasure from camel rides, dune bashing, falconry demonstrations, and stargazing beneath crystal-clear skies.
As a household of 5, we wanted both a two-bedroom villa or two rooms. Thanks once more to the US Amex Platinum and Enterprise Platinum Fantastic Accommodations & Resorts credit, we had been in a position to e book two rooms at a considerably decreased value.
Anantara is a part of the GHA Discovery loyalty program. I standing matched to GHA Titanium standing, whereas my husband can be gifted the identical standing from fellow author Jason on our crew, who raves about this system. Titanium standing comes with advantages like double room upgrades if accessible, complimentary breakfast, early check-in and late check-out, and a welcome amenity.
Accommodations in Florence
In Florence, there aren’t many inns that may accommodate a household of 5 in a single room. Accommodations in Florence are on the pricier finish. I’ve tentatively booked the Il Tornabuoni Lodge – The Unbound Assortment by Hyatt, a classy boutique property positioned proper within the coronary heart of the town close to Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Repubblica.
As a Class 7 Hyatt lodge, we booked one night time in a collection for 60,000 Hyatt factors, and the opposite two nights utilizing a mixture of factors and money, which secured us a two king beds suite spacious sufficient to accommodate our total household of 5.
Sadly, there was a latest Hyatt devaluation, and the identical room now prices 80,000 factors per night time, making this reserving an excellent higher worth in hindsight.
If inns in Florence are past your finances, think about staying outdoors the town or in different areas of Tuscany, and making day journeys in and across the space as a substitute.
For instance, the Grand Universe Lucca, Autograph Assortment, positioned simply over an hour’s drive from Florence and solely 20 minutes from Pisa, gives commonplace king rooms throughout March Break for €340 or 27,0000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time. Every room accommodates as much as two visitors, so reserving two rooms for 54,000 factors or utilizing a pair of 35K free night time certificates will be a wonderful worth for a household of 4.
This lodge participates in Marriott Luminous, a most popular companion program you can entry by way of our in-house journey company, Prince Assortment for some extra perks in case you are paying money. There may be presently (on the time of writing) a particular household fee the place you may e book a second room for 50% off.
Household-Pleasant Points of interest
Abu Dhabi
Yas Island Theme Parks: Yas Island is Abu Dhabi’s household leisure capital, and with choices like Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, households may simply spend days right here with out working out of issues to do.
SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi: Opened in 2023, this next-generation marine park combines cutting-edge expertise with conservation-focused reveals. Children will love exploring huge aquariums, assembly dolphins and sea lions, and studying about ocean ecosystems by way of immersive experiences.
Mangrove Kayaking: For a change of tempo, households can kayak by way of Abu Dhabi’s Mangrove Nationwide Park, a peaceful community of waterways lined with lush greenery. It’s a peaceable, simple paddle the place you may spot herons, crabs, and even flamingos, all simply minutes from the town.
Louvre Abu Dhabi: An architectural masterpiece in itself, this museum showcases reveals that hint the historical past of human creativity from historical civilizations to fashionable artwork. There’s additionally a devoted Youngsters’s Museum with interactive actions that make artwork and tradition partaking for youthful guests.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: The biggest mosque in UAE is a must-visit for households, showcasing beautiful white marble structure that blends world Islamic kinds. Its serene environment and breathtaking design supply a stupendous glimpse into Emirati tradition and spirituality.
Desert Adventures at Qasr Al Sarab: Few experiences evaluate to waking up surrounded by rolling dunes that stretch endlessly to the horizon. Along with stress-free on the resort, we plan to attempt camel using, go sandboarding, and perhaps take an exhilarating 4×4 dune-bashing tour by way of the desert.
Florence
Duomo & Piazza del Duomo: No journey to Florence is full with out visiting its most well-known landmark, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. We plan on climbing Brunelleschi’s dome for sweeping views of the town.
Uffizi Gallery & Galleria dell’Accademia: Florence’s artwork museums are world-renowned, and they are often surprisingly partaking for youths when visited strategically. On the Uffizi Gallery, households can marvel at masterpieces like Botticelli’s The Delivery of Venus, whereas the Galleria dell’Accademia gives an opportunity to see Michelangelo’s David up shut, an unforgettable introduction to Renaissance artwork.
Museo Leonardo da Vinci Firenze: This interactive museum brings Leonardo da Vinci’s innovations to life by way of picket fashions, hands-on shows, and multimedia reveals. It’s an excellent cease for curious guests who need to experiment with replicas of his flying machines and engineering creations.
Day Journey to Pisa: A fast prepare journey from Florence takes you to Pisa, the place we plan to go to the well-known Leaning Tower, stroll by way of the Piazza dei Miracoli, and revel in a relaxed Tuscan lunch close by. It’s an ideal, low-stress day journey.
For the budding chef, you may be part of a pizza or pasta-making class. We did one in Rome when the children had been youthful, and so they completely beloved it. Italian meals is at all times a spotlight for them, so we’ll be sampling loads of native trattorias and, after all, ending every day with gelato. A cone is often all they should re-energize after a day of exploring.
Conclusion
This March Break, we’ll be combining two very totally different locations, the trendy desert surprise of Abu Dhabi and the timeless attraction of Italy, into one unforgettable journey. Between the posh of QSuites, theme park thrills, desert adventures, and Italian meals and historical past, it’s a visit that I’m very a lot trying ahead to.
Because of a mix of lodge factors, airline miles, and journey credit, this in any other case very costly journey that includes world-class flights and 5-star inns has grow to be a way more reasonably priced actuality and an awesome reminder of simply how far your rewards can take you.
