ZIPPING AROUND YAS VICEROY

IT SEEMS Abu Dhabi doesn’t settle for mediocrity.

The thriving city is home to the world’s fastest roller coaster, the highest roller coaster loop on the planet, the world’s furthest leaning man-made tower, the most complex bridge and one of the world’s largest mosques, to name a few.

So it was almost no surprise (although no less impressive) when we rolled into the five-star Yas Viceroy to find it is the only hotel to straddle a F1 race track.

Two hotel towers are linked by a connecting bridge which doubles as a brilliant vantage point during the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The hotel boasts 499 luxurious rooms, which are all meticulously well maintained and impossible to fault.

Fans of the sport who can’t afford the premium rate during the F1 can get lucky out of peak period, with drivers often conducting training at the track during the off season.

The hotel is well-practiced at hosting large events, featuring six meeting rooms, four boardrooms, and a 504m2 grand ballroom which can be divided into three separate spaces.

Meeting spaces are equipped with high-tech facilities, including projectors and teleconferencing equipment, TV broadcasting infrastructure, centralised AV control system, wireless touch panels and more.

But the Yas Viceroy doesn’t draw the line there.

The hotel is a destination in its own right, boasting six international restaurants, two rooftop pools with sunset views, a gym and spa.

The entire hotel exudes opulence, highlighted by a glistening gridshell made up of over 5,000 diamond shaped glass panels which wraps around the towers and lights up at night.

But what really makes this hotel fantastic is its warm and attentive staff.

Each passing exchange feels personal and unique, revisiting tiny details from passing conversations and appearing almost out of nowhere when needed.

The Yas Viceroy leaves nothing to be desired, offering an all-rounded, spectacular venue for business, leisure or a blend of both.