While we waited or lunch to be prepared, we continued exploring some of the facilities at the hotel. Upon exiting the Venetian Village, we entered a lush landscaped garden area that surrounds one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in Abu Dhabi. Contemporary chic cabanas framed the edges of this attractive pool and I couldn’t help but just wish I could spend a few days (or weeks) right here.

We had some time to sneak a peek at the Kids Club – a must have for families – and then the finale – this hotel has not one – but two – yes 2 private beaches.

Spectacular – before even having lunch my mind was made up – I am definitely coming back here.

We were treated to a delicious lunch by our hosts and can easily recommend The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi as an experience that makes my top 10 in the middle east.

After lunch, we had just one more stop before heading to our hotel for the night – and I was really looking forward to hitting the sack. The flight from Johannesburg was fantastic, but I was glued to the Inflight Entertainment on Etihad Airways, so I didn’t get much sleep. Add to that all of the stops on the first day, the legendary Marriott mattress was calling my name.

Luckily, our next stop was just across the road – The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. There is absolutely nothing more Grand in Abu Dhabi. The meticulous attention to detail in the construction of this modern wonder of the world is astounding and each time the tour guide spoke, there were more amazing facts. It’s important to note that this is not a museum but rather a fully-fledged, ‘active’ Mosque and thus there are certain etiquettes to observe which ensure respect. Of course, there is a dress code, but if you’re not already prepared, there is a visitors section that is able to assist with the relevant garments – which I can safely say – are actually very stylish. Be careful with your selfies, as they do frown about certain poses etc.

You will need to remove your shoes / footwear and if you’re worried about burning your feet – rest easy because the floors are pure marble and don’t retain any heat, no matter how hot it is. A certain coolness will spread from your feet through the rest of your body.

To be honest, a 1 hour guided tour of the Mosque, while great (and interesting) wasn’t enough for me and I was fortunate enough to visit Dubai a few weeks after this trip and managed to attend the Friday Jummah prayers at the Mosque where I got to appreciate the full scale of its beauty. Read more about it in my Dubai blog here

So far, less than 24 hours in Abu Dhabi and I was duly impressed. We still had a few days to go and as much as I was looking forward to it, at this moment, I needed a shower and some sleep. A short 20 minute drive (from the Mosque to our hotel) and I was checking into another luxury hotel – this time, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, where the first thing you see is the grand staircase which somehow reminded me of the movie scene in The Titanic. I would later learn that this was no coincidence. A century after the Titanic sank, the legacy of the ship’s wealthiest and most famous passenger – John Jacob Astor IV – was restored in a number of ways, including the design of the grand staircase. In case you were wondering… Mr Astor built the first St. Regis in New York in 1904.

To be completely honest, I didn’t pay too much attention to the rest of the lobby and check-in procedure (which I am sure was great), and before I knew it, I was entering my room on he 32nd floor. A generous closet on the right, directly opposite a spacious and elegant bathroom before getting to the bed and full length windows with a spectacular view over the Corniche, the private beach club and the marine.

I managed to catch 40  winks and was ready for dinner.

Dinner was hosted by the hotel and the buffet spread was superb. There was a great variety, but I was in the mood for some simple kebabs, humus, naan bread and the like. After dinner and dessert, our group were escorted to the private beach club. Access to the beach club is through the hotel and to get there, you cross the road via a tunnel that connects the hotel and beach club. At the club, there is a gym, private pool, pool bar and private beach. We had some drinks, walked on the beach and even tested the water (bath water temperature) with some of the group promising to return the next morning for a run or swim or both. I was happy to sleep in before enjoying a scrumptious breakfast in preparation for the busy day ahead.

The itinerary for day 2 was bit more chilled and included some personal time at the Abu Dhabi Mall. This was a terrible idea. The Mall itself was nowhere near the quality you would come to expect from a shopping experience in the Middle East. The stores were average at best and the prices were not cheap at all.

An interesting observation – many of the clothing stores stocked winter gear – why? The temperature outside was a scorching 36 degrees celsius… must be trying to attract European buyers. My recommendation? Skip it!

Well, that was a wasted morning. Next on the list was the Emirates Towers which became famous for THAT scene from the Hollywood blockbuster Furious 7 – that’s the one where Vin Diesel launches a super car from one skyscraper to another. The lobby of Jumeirah at Etihad Towers is sophisticated and elegant. It was just another ordinary day at the office for some, but to find a matte-black Ferrari parked right at the entrance, idling, with no one in sight was surreal. You hear about how safe the UAE is but this was another level. Who would leave a multi-million rand sports car just idling out in public?

Up we went to level 74 at The Observation Deck at 300 – the highest vantage point in Abu Dhabi. We soaked in the uninterrupted views of the city’s skyline, the Corniche and the Arabian Gulf.

A simply stunning experience, especially since it was combined with some light snacks, tapas and drinks for the group. Entrance tickets range from R400 to R1,000 depending on what you want included in your entry.

We made our way back to the hotel for some more chill-time before our Desert Adventure later that afternoon. At about 4pm, we were picked up by our luxury 4×4 vehicles which would transport us to the outer rim of Abu Dhabi. We reached our first stop about an hour later, where the driver does his usual deflating of the tyres and getting prepped for the dune bashing ahead. We took the opportunity to enjoy the solitude of the desert, take some stunning selfies and catch the sun’s slow descent on the horizon.

A 40-minute roller coaster experience ensued, with the vehicle getting some serious sideways action. Make sure you’re strapped in tight, cause this is one heck of trip. We reached the camp just before dark with just enough time to try out some quad biking, sand dune surfing and camel rides and as the blanket of the night settled, we were thrilled by the night sky. The stars reminded me of the Karoo for some reason – where on a clear, dark night, in the absence of all artificial light, you get to see the galaxy in its sheer magnificence.

Top tip: Take a hoodie with as it can get a bit chilly in the desert. Also, make sure you have a power bank to keep you smart phone fully charged for all the photos and videos you’re going to capture.

When the lights came back on, we were entertained with some dancing while enjoying a three-course dinner in the desert. We arrived back at the hotel at about 11pm.

The next day, after breakfast, we were treated to an exclusive tour of the Abu Dhabi Penthouse Suite. This iconic suite is reserved for the most discerning guests (like Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One Grand Prix champion who was checking in later that week) and boast 3-bedrooms, 360 degree views from its two storey 48th & 49th floor location. This suite is extraordinary – it has its own private cinema, private gym, sauna and spa – not to mention kitchen, massive dining room and lounge areas spread all around. The butler’s room was a replica of the standard rooms. Price is on application. To check out an exclusive sneak peak video of the tour, visit the Goodthingsguy.com Facebook page.

The weather for the day was a fantastic 32 degrees and thankfully our next stop was the beach – but not just any beach. We had a reservation at the exclusive Saadiyat Beach Club. Access to the club is reserved and could cost you around R1,200 for a day pass. Another day, another luxury car left idling – this time, a Rolls Royce Phantom just purring away at the entrance of the beach club. Ah, the life…

The Saadiyat Beach Club is nestled away on the island of Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi. It celebrates health and wellness in its natural surroundings and modern facilities. It was awarded as the Best Beach Club in the entire UAE and when you enter, you are mesmerised by the stunning pool that stretches onto the beach. We got allocated our own cabanas on poolside and the constant visits from the waiters ensured that we were always refreshed. Just what the body needed, some sea, sun and fun.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch that was served at one of the four restaurants at the club and a few hours later, we checked out of this oasis in the desert and reached our next stop about 15 minutes later – Ferrari World.

The theme park is attached to the Yas Mall (probably the best mall in Abu Dhabi) and has the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix circuit as its neighbour. Entrance to Ferrari World ranges from approximately R1,300 to R2,200 per person. The expensive ticket allows you to skip some queues, which, depending on the time of the year, is not really necessary. We had general admission tickets and didn’t need to queue for anything.

If you’re a Ferrari fan, you will definitely get a kick out of seeing the many cars on display. From an entertainment perspective though, there are probably just 2 or 3 rides that will excite you – the rest are for the kids. Obviously the Formula Rossa is a big attraction. Billed as the world’s fastest roller coaster, it lived up to the hype.

The sheer acceleration literally takes your breath away – so much so that you can’t even get a scream out! The adrenalin rush was worth the entrance fee, especially since you can go on it again & again & again if you wish. Be warned though, there is a size/weight limit for the ride.

We did a few other activities at Ferrari World before heading to the Yas Mall for a quick stroll around. Much better than the Abu Dhabi Mall – trust me.

The sun was setting and we needed to get checked into our next hotel for the night. This time, it was a stone’s throw away from Ferrari World and adjacent to the race track. I’m talking about The Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi – an iconic landmark in all of Abu Dhabi, as it’s the only hotel right on the race track.

At first, it didn’t quite click – not until I entered my room and upon exploring the ultra-modern interior, opened the balcony doors only to be greeted by the sweet sound of a racing V8 engine roar Yes – there was a race on at  that very moment and 2 speeding Jaguar’s sped past. Unreal!