From Chauffer to Champagne: Etihad is the Ultimate Business Class Family Experience.

When travelling with the family, I try to avoid long stopovers; flight connections fill me with dread. So when it came to flying to Singapore this summer on our family trip, Etihad seemed the best choice with their offer of a stopover. Proving that a stopover can become a memorable holiday in its own right. Flying Business Class to Abu Dhabi, combined with a two-day stopover, allowed us to enjoy world-class luxury while creating family memories, before continuing on our journey.

From the moment we arrived at Dublin airport, the business class experience felt seamless. Priority check-in, fast-track security and then access to the premium lounge made travelling with the children much less stressful. Instead of rushing through terminals, keeping them occupied whilst queueing, we sailed straight through and then were able to relax and enjoy breakfast in the lounge and let the excitement of the trip begin before we had even boarded.

Once onboard, Etihad's business class was fantastic; we were lucky enough to be on one of their newer aircrafts. The TV screens were larger touchscreen. The spacious seats converted into fully flat beds. The excellent entertainment system kept the kids occupied with games, TV shows and movies. The onboard dining was another highlight, with plenty of choice for both adults and kids.

One of the main reasons we chose Etihad was its complimentary Abu Dhabi stopover programme, which encourages passengers to spend a couple of days exploring the UAE's capital rather than simply passing through the airport. Whilst this two-day stopover took away any stress of connecting flights. We were able to experience a new city, country and culture, reset ourselves, adjust to time zones and felt exhilarated and refreshed for our next journey.

Although Etihad offered a selection of hotels as part of the package, we decided to choose something more family-focused. We decided to stay in the Radisson Blu Hotel and Resort instead as it was much better suited to the kids. It turned out to be the best decision. The Hotel has access to the fantastic West Bay Beach Club, which quickly became the kids' highlight and it was very much needed in the 40-degree heat. The kids adored the wave pool, floating down the lazy river, and racing down the zip lines over the pool while we relaxed by the beach. It was the perfect balance and start to our family holiday.

With two days in Abu Dhabi, we also had plenty of time to explore some of the city's famous attractions, from the stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to the beautiful Corniche waterfront. Abu Dhabi offers a wonderful mix of culture, luxury, and family-friendly experiences. There is something for every age.

What impressed us the most was how effortless the long-haul journey to Singapore was. Business class removed much of the stress of a long-haul flight, which comes from how the kids will cope with 2 flights back to back and long layovers in the airport. The Eithad lounge was another huge highlight , set over 3 floors, with a spa. It has an international buffet, a roof top lounge, family rooms, gaming areas, cocktail bar , luxury shower suites and a smoking lounge. It was a huge hit with the kids between stop over flights.

The Abu Dhabi flight to Singapore was just as wonderful as the previous flight. We were picked up by the Etihad chauffer and taken direct to the private check in desk . After that we got to experience The Etihad lounge which was a huge highlight , set over 3 floors, with a spa. It has an international buffet, a roof top lounge, family rooms, gaming areas, cocktail bar , luxury shower suites and a smoking lounge. It was a huge hit with the kids and again got us excited for the next adventure that lay ahead.

So if you are planning a long-haul trip with Etihad, don't overlook the Abu Dhabi stopover. Upgrading to a family-friendly hotel made our experience even better. It set the tone for the holiday, a luxury family adventure, visiting 3 countries in 3 weeks, memories that will last long after the holiday ended.

For bookings, please visit Flight Tickets – Book flights directly at etihad.com