(P.S. This page had recently been landing in searches, if you're looking to better compare Iceland with the other waterparks, please do also check my posts here: WILD WADI and AQUAVENTURE. Again I think, the value in money of going to Iceland is when it comes free with a hotel stay).

Summer in the sandpit could sure drive people away, but it also means that there more hotel promotions that equates low rates + pools + water parks + breakfasts. We were in Atlantis last week, and now we just came home from Acacia Hotel and Iceland Waterpark in Ras Al Khaimah.

At AED 330 net, two persons can have a room, buffet breakfast and complementary entry tickets to Iceland Waterpark. Isn't that a great deal? For having a five year old (three Iceland tickets, three buffets), we had a junior suite for AED 440 net.

When Iceland opened in Ras Al Khaimah last year, we found the AED 225/ adult and AED 175/ child rates expensive. They were not on our Entertainer (buy-one-free-one) vouchers book and I was hoping to come across a promotion.

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Since it's summer, the waterpark has extended evening hours. Last night, a weekend, the lifeguard said they're up until 1 am. We went at 5pm when the sun was down and left 10pm. The high humidity (I sweat real wet)  did not really matter. The waters were warm, except for the Penguin Falls.

Somebody who just came from either Wild Wadi and Aquaventure is not to find The Rapids, Torrent River, Master Blasters, and the dares of Burj Surj and Tantrum Ali.

Even without these, the Husband thinks Iceland's Plunge Point made his knees tremble more than Aquaventure's Leap of Faith. Plunge Point gets the thrill seeker to jump five meters down a 3.34 meters high pool. Of course, the faint-hearted-me-who-cant-even-jump-on-a-meter-high-pool just watched and cheered.

Iceland's quality is in the number of rides. I found it tiring though to pace the stairs up each time. Oh, if they only have interconnected rides to cater to the lazy-us. Or a pulley to bring us up the top, like those in Aquaventure (again, laziness).

By the way, Filipino food is now available in The Platter's Kusina Ni Nanay, I hope they make good business.

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Iceland's walkways are covered by rubber mats which slightly feel uncomfortable. Meanwhile, some areas are painted and I found them slippery as I tiptoed fast when they were a little burning hot. Some of the water pools were painted with blue and are were scraping/ chipping out. The Gremlin's toes and knees used them a lot, and he had his skin blue :)

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The Gremlin enjoyed the night of course.

Information:
Website: www.icelandwaterpark.com
More of my photos: click here


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ACACIA HOTEL

Acacia Hotel from E311

This hotel is found within the Ras Al Khaimah industrial zone, catering mostly to business travelers. For those who wants the pool minus the sun's heat, it's best to use it before 11am when the building's height can still give a good cover.

Overheard: 'Ang lakas ng loob'

The Gremlin sketching a view from outside

Acacia's Junior Suite

Acacia Hotel's Lobby

Iceland Waterpark

Iceland Waterpark

The sea side by the road at Um Al Qwain

The inland water in Um Al Qwain

Lifting our butts awhile

Late lunch.  A drive just past Dreamland Aquapark in Um Al Qwain

Notice the body of water that formed at the right side

Iceland Aquapark is along E11. Winter meant low sales for waterparks

Dubai - Falaj Al Moalla - Al Dhaid - Masafi - Dadna - Zubara - Al Bidiya - Khorfakkan - Fujairah

This house must feel so secured sitting on rocks in Masafi, Ras Al Khaimah

This was our sight for hours, but we loved it along with the curvy two way roads

Looking at these creations caught my interest in geography

There's no fancy food courts on the road. Either stock food in the car, buy corn and fruits from this vendor,  or eat at local restaurants which could be in the next 50 kms

Hungry after four hours drive, at last by 3:30 pm we found a perfect spot for our packed lunch

After a filling lunch, we let our tummy do good work while we wonder on the blue horizon

...while the Gremlin and his Dad worked on the sand.

Then here's Bidiya Mosque, believed to have been built in 1446 AD. It's the smallest mosque I've seen so far.

As the sun was about to set, we reached our destination after seven real good hours. Small water swamps are a sight on the roads after the rain of ice earlier.

I asked the husband to drive in this house that cradled my first sleep in the UAE -- in Fujairah.

This is in Khatt by the foot of Hajar Mountains,  surrounded by resorts because of its springs

Wondering how it is up there, we scaled Hajar mountains from Khatt.  Of, what a sense/ feeling of peace up there!

The Gremlin exclaimed "Canyons" overlooking these seemingly waterless gorges

I thought if dogs are in the Philippines, it's goats for Ras Al Khaimah

The Gremlin was screaming in excitement as the car swayed on the rough terrain  but he shrieked scared that we turn back when we first drove past here

At the foot of Khatt is lush vegetation, you would think you're in Tarlac

Then we got curious on the brown mountains.  We followed the sign to Wadi Koob.  We found these girls outside their gates at the opening to the wadi.

We thought we were driving alone when this 4X4 convoy were at our back.  We signaled  them to go ahead for us to follow. The tailing BMW was the least powerful, or maybe us? =)

Once in a while, there are plants.  I kept wondering how they grow in these rocky places

We were too excited to climb that we left our Gremlin behind, and then he emerges, =)

And the Gremlin was more excited, he got me scared as he climbed the steep rock/s

From this distance, the rock mountains flashes brown color,  but at an arms length, they are maroon.