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Adam Rosales returns with one other journey report, this time masking his maiden journey to the season-ending 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.
Yas Marina Circuit
Yas Marina Circuit nonetheless looks like one in all System 1’s latest circuits, regardless that it’s truly been round since 2009. Taking on as the ultimate race of the yr from Interlagos in Brazil was at all times going to be a tough act to observe, however the circuit additionally had a repute for not at all times delivering probably the most thrilling racing. Modifications to the monitor forward of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix have undoubtedly helped enhance the spectacle since then, and I personally witnessed among the finest overtakes I’ve seen dwell since beginning to go to races.
Chances are you’ll keep in mind the clip from final yr’s race when Lewis Hamilton overtook George Russell on the ultimate lap because the fireworks began to go off within the background. I noticed that from the South grandstand and it was much more spectacular in particular person. Being there to witness Hamilton shut out his profession with Mercedes in such a method was a particular second.
2024 Season Sandwich
I wasn’t planning on attending the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, since I had already been to fairly a couple of different races throughout the season, notably Bahrain, Suzuka, Zandvoort and Brazil. Satirically, it was the brand new pals I’d comprised of organizing meetups at races final yr that contributed to me reserving Abu Dhabi – in addition to the prospect of championship battle, after all.
The group chat we’d created in Bahrain received bigger as new pals joined in, and a few pleasant peer stress throughout our meetup in Zandvoort pushed me into on the lookout for flight offers to Abu Dhabi. As soon as I’d made my plans to attend the race, our group chat was renamed “2024 Season Sandwich” to indicate the truth that we had been going to the primary and final races of the season.
Flying from Austin to Dubai
I discovered flights that minimized days off work and price me solely $850 USD return, but it surely was undoubtedly a ‘flying go to’. I departed from my house airport in Austin on Thursday evening and arrived in Dubai late the next night. I missed the monitor motion on Friday however was in a position to attend the final two days of the race weekend earlier than my flight house from Dubai at 2am on Monday morning. I returned house to Austin at 5pm on Monday night.
I flew with KLM, direct from Austin to Amsterdam. The layover in Amsterdam was about 4 hours; the proper period of time to get some breakfast, take a bathe and have a beer on the KLM Crown Lounge earlier than boarding my second flight to Dubai.
The journey took about 20 hours every method. It’s a protracted technique to go for the weekend, but it surely was nicely value it! Since KLM is a part of the Skyteam alliance, my Delta Platinum Medallion allowed me to decide on KLM’s Economic system Consolation seats for no additional price. The additional legroom helped lots, as did the free entry to the Skyteam airport lounges. I ate, drank and showered totally free on the lounges. Having a shower is the very best ‘reset’ for me after I fly in a single day and wish to begin a brand new day. It’s my no 1 journey tip for longer journeys like this one.
Yas Marina Circuit Group
This monitor looks like its personal metropolis, particularly because it has a lodge inside the circuit (and extra shut by), together with a mall close by and a number of other theme parks. A round bus service operates between the sights on the island, and also will drop you off at your designated entrance gate.
As soon as inside, there’s loads of distributors for meals, drinks and workforce merchandise. I entered through the South grandstand and located the realm between the south and marina grandstands (referred to as the South & Marina Oasis) was food and drinks distributors, and likewise had a stage the place that they had music and interviews with F1 Academy drivers. It was fairly heat within the solar throughout the center of the day. The umbrellas on the tables made an enormous distinction but it surely was nonetheless a sweaty afternoon!
South Grandstand Views
I bought a weekend ticket (Saturday & Sunday) for the South Grandstand from P1 Journey for €650 EUR ($765 USD) and was positively stunned by the quantity of monitor motion at this part. I used to be assigned an higher stage seat and with the 2021 monitor modifications, this space provided among the finest views of any circuit I’ve been to for medium to excessive pace overtakes.
Most circuits that present grandstand views of overtakes are typically on the slower corners however this sooner part highlighted the attributes of the totally different automobiles and the totally different driving traces. You might see drivers lining up their strikes alongside the again straight and making them stick into Flip 11. South Grandstand additionally provided views of the sluggish part beneath the W Resort. I received to witness some loopy mid-corner switchback overtakes and naturally the last-lap transfer by Lewis Hamilton on George Russell. I’ll always remember how the gang erupted for that. (Try Adam’s video of the cross right here).
Ticket Checks
One tedious factor in regards to the group at Yas Marina was the ticket examine to get into the grandstand. Proper earlier than qualifying the scanners stopped working, so the attendants had been holding everyone again on the identical time the session was about to begin. Folks finally received annoyed and simply pushed via the turnstiles. I ended up discovering a path to enter via the restaurant on the backside of the stand with out having to scan your ticket. I ended up utilizing this every time I returned to the grandstand.
I didn’t attend the live shows however one draw back I heard was that the South/Marina space was pretty distant from the live performance space. The live shows required a wristband to enter, which was handed all through the occasion and simple to get. However for a well-liked artist like Eminem, they did run out pretty early within the day. For those who plan on going to the live shows, hold a watch out for the wristbands being handed out on the Ask Yas factors close to the entry gates and in every of the fan zones (Oasis areas).
Meals & Drinks at Yas Marina
There have been not less than a dozen totally different meals distributors within the Marina & South Oasis between the 2 grandstands. Fundamental stadium fare like hamburgers or rooster tenders with fries was obtainable, in addition to native, vegan and vegetarian choices. Traces had been pretty minimal and the service was fast. Costs had been affordable, costing round 60-80 AED ($16-22 USD) for a meal. A pint of Heineken price 60 AED ($16 USD), which was expensive. Water was low cost at 5 AED ($1.25 USD). I used to be stunned to see liquor and wine choices obtainable.
Attending to Yas Marina Circuit
I had organized a driver to choose me up through the service welcome pickups after touchdown at Dubai Airport. I communicated with the service through WhatsApp prematurely and was met with an indication that had my identify on it on the arrivals exit. I used to be proven the way in which to my driver and was on the lodge about 20 minutes later.
I booked 2 nights at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor Metropolis for 1780 AED ($485 USD). It helped lots having pals attending this weekend and staying in Dubai. They provided to provide me a experience to and from Yas Marina Circuit, which took about an hour every method.
Driving appeared pretty simple and there’s loads of freed from free parking at Yas Mall, plus shuttle buses to get you from the parking space to the grandstand areas. It’s value being conscious of the zero tolerance legal guidelines for drink driving within the UAE and it undoubtedly helps to have a chosen driver. You too can take a taxi, which prices round $80-100 USD every method; not dangerous for those who cut up with a couple of pals. The draw back of taxis was that it was taking round two hours to get one after the race. It wasn’t a lot faster to depart the parking and island, taking 1-2 hours. The heaviest site visitors was after the live shows every night.
After the race, our group met up for a couple of drinks and to debate the race, since all of us had totally different grandstands over the weekend. I didn’t wish to keep too lengthy, nonetheless, as I used to be already nervous about lacking my 2am flight from Dubai. Fortunately, I had loads of time to get again to Dubai, swing by the lodge to choose up my luggage and get to the airport. I even had time to get pleasure from a late-night meal within the Skyteam Lounge earlier than boarding. I ended up falling asleep earlier than takeoff and awoke with 4 hours to go earlier than touchdown in Amsterdam.
I had a few 5 hour layover, which allowed me to observe my regular journey routine of a meal and bathe earlier than boarding my final flight house. I received fortunate with an improve provide to KLM World Enterprise for $600 USD. It was an 11 hour flight and this worth was nicely under the $100 per hour threshold I usually use when contemplating enterprise class upgrades. The improve helped me compensate for sleep for about half the flight and arrive house in Austin feeling much less drained than I may have, contemplating the distances I coated the world over in only some days.
Visiting UAE
This journey was my second go to to the Center East and my first time leaving the airport in Dubai, moderately than transiting. Every part felt very Western, with loads of acquainted eating places and retailers that you will discover again in Austin, and even some traditional American automobiles on the highway. Dubai generally is a little bit of a concrete jungle, however among the structure (like Burj Khalifa) is cool to see. Locals and vacationers are pleasant though I did expertise some folks attempting to chop the road for reception in my lodge. A bit of little bit of assertiveness will help in conditions like this!
Ultimate Ideas
Total, I might undoubtedly wish to revisit the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and spend extra time exploring town and being a vacationer. It wasn’t doable this time on account of my brief keep. A few of my pals did actions like skydiving, ziplining and indoor snowboarding, whereas some visited the statement deck at Burj Khalifa. It looks as if there’s a lot to do and costs are affordable. There are lots of methods to expertise the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, together with a lot of hospitality and yacht choices. However I’d be comfortable to return and sit within the grandstands. The views had been good and the environment was vigorous. If there’s a title combat that appears prefer it’s coming right down to the ultimate race at Abu Dhabi, I wouldn’t hesitate to guide an analogous journey once more. Subsequent time I’ll remember to guide an additional couple of days!
Price Abstract
Return Flight: Austin-Dubai (KLM) = $850 USD
Enterprise class improve (return leg): Amsterdam-Austin = $600 USD
2-Day Race Ticket (Sat/Solar): South Grandstand = €650 EUR ($765 USD)
2-Night time Keep: Resort in Dubai = 1780 AED ($485 USD)
Learn our detailed journey information for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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