Nobody
wants to come home from their holiday, especially not if a long haul flight is
involved. But there are ways to soften the return trip. I booked our flights online
through Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airlines, and made substantial savings by taking connections
with a long delay in between. It's understandable why people are put off the
idea, especially if travelling with kids. But there are benefits. A rest
between two long haul flights helps adjust to the time at home and ultimately eases
jet lag. The bonus is the chance for a mini holiday en route.
I
was travelling with my friend and our two young daughters, with sixteen hours
in Abu Dhabi we got a taste of middle-eastern hospitality. Abu Dhabi is a newly
built city, shiny and well laid out without the constraints of old
infrastructures. The city is divided into seven distinct islands and because we
were travelling with an 11 and 13 year old, we headed straight to Yas Island.
Yas is an oasis for little kids and big ones who are fans of fast boats and
Formula One motorcars.
We
checked-in at midday to the Viceroy Hotel which peered above the motorway like
a modern sculpture. This marvel of architecture straddles across the Formula One
Grand Prix Racetrack and nestles cosily next to the luxurious yachts in Yas
Marina. The observant kids were quick to recognise the patterns of the race circuit
in the building's design and decoration.
After
depositing our bags in a generously spacious suite with two bathrooms, we took
the girls and ourselves up to the ninth floor for a refreshing swim, a treat
after our six hour flight. The Viceroy caters for all with a family friendly
pool and an adult only pool on the other side of the hotel. We imagined what it
must be like on race days with the roar of the engines zipping around the
track. It was a Saturday and the hotel hosts family events and entertainment in
the grounds attracting locals to the hotel.
The
Viceroy has a beautiful spa which carries the ESPA range − a calm and tranquil
spot in the middle of so much other activity. There are six restaurants to
choose from and all lined up with great views of the race track. But we had a
full day in this sunny capital and we couldn't leave without visiting The Grand
Mosque which is also the biggest in the world. Only a twenty minute taxi ride
from Yas Hotel, it is one of those pieces of architecture that leaves the kids
in awe and the parents glad that they slipped some culture into the trip.
After
our return we gave the girls the option of beach or shopping the later won out.
The Yas Mall is the second largest in the UAE and located beside the theme
part, Ferrari World. A free shuttle bus leaves the hotel every 38 minutes,
bringing guests from the Viceroy to the Mall, Beach and Waterworld theme park
so it is possible to spend a day on Yas without changing money into the local
currency as all the amenities, shops and restaurants take credit cards.
Ferrari
World is a dream for little boys and girls who love cars but it is more than
that, it boasts the world's largest indoor roller coaster and fastest roller
coaster. It's located only a short stroll across a bridge from shopping heaven at
Yas Mall so we popped in for some thrills before shopping. To get the best
value for this park spend a full day.
My
daughter approved of the choice of stores and we hurried along to one of her
favourites, Bath and Body Works, for those couple of presents that she had
forgotten to buy. Every imaginable taste is catered for in the variety of
restaurants from Italian, American diner food, Japanese but we opted to hop back
on the bus and dine at our hotel.
The
Noodle Box at The Viceroy Hotel has a wonderful menu for children. Our kids
love Chinese food and with prawn crackers and mocktails to start the kids
wanted everything on the menu. Our waiter Tung from Vietnam took great care to
provide dishes that weren't even on the menu. The mums opted for noodles and
seafood while the kids had their favourite savoury rice with beef. Three of the
hotel restaurants have recently won international awards and everything about
this hotel exudes excellence and great attention to detail. I had popped into
the Japanese restaurant earlier and the buffet presentation was a work of art.
Delicious sorbets in real fruit skins rested in frozen bowls of ice with edible
flowers frozen into the design.
So
was it worth stopping off? When booking our flights there was a saving of over €100pp
by taking the long stopover. The cost of a hotel room at the Viceroy was half
that and the luxuriously large ESPA toiletries in the bathroom would cost this
in a Dublin Spa. The stopover was especially exciting for the kids so yes, we
hope to return to Abu Dhabi someday soon.
Factbox
For
more information see www.visitabudhabi.ae
The Yas Viceroy
Hotel
Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi is the only hotel in the
world suspended over a Formula 1 racetrack
Rooms start from €185 EUR (AED749) per night (incl. tax). To
book visit http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/abudhabi
Tel: 01
4081999
100%
Irish owned & bonded Travel Agency.
New record-breaking rollercoaster at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
The world’s largest indoor theme park, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, which is
already home to the world’s fastest rollercoaster, Formula Rossa, and now the
record-breaking ‘Flying Aces’ ride www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com
Prices: Adult full day ticket €84 Child €74
Published in Irish Mail on Sunday 29th May 2016
