Elite Traveler January-February 2017

EXPLORE ABU DHABI PLAY

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: YES TO YAS Speed, excitement and fun provide thrills on Yas Island, nestled to the east of the city and home to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix each November, and the fastest rollercoaster on earth at Ferrari World STAY: Five-Star car fans can be trackside for high-speed races and practices year round at the Yas Viceroy . This iconic hotel sits astride the route of Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Kimi Räikkönen and others. F1 Grand Prix options in November include a four-night stay in an Island Suite with wraparound balcony and a panoramic view of the track, Grand Prix tickets, a pit-lane walk among the drivers and crews, plus invitations to on-track concerts and entertainment. $38,400 per couple viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/abudhabi If you plan to arrive by water, Yas Marina has fully serviced berths for superyachts up to 150m. This is a great option for staying close to the track during F1 race week. Berthing rates include guest passes to concerts and a pit-lane walk, although not the grandstand. Express early interest from April. yasmarina.ae/berths EAT: Executive chef Cesare Romani oversees all food offerings at the Yas Viceroy including Angar and its Indian cuisine – try the signature butter chicken and salmon tandoori, followed by the Desi Opera dessert. Pineapple carpaccio sets the taste buds tingling at Italian Amici . Party later on the terrace at Iris or at MAD , the biggest indoor nightclub in the UAE. Alternatively, try the urban roof deck and club at Skylite and Rush and dance above the F1 track. ENTERTAINMENT: At Ferrari World you will be pulling 4.8Gs and traveling faster than an F1 driver on the Formula Rossa rollercoaster, so goggles and a serious seatbelt are essential. After reaching 150mph in 4.9 seconds, put yourself back in control of the wheel at the Karting Academy or zip around the professionals’ track in a Ferrari California. Safe from the roar of the engines, you can cycle the track on Tuesdays. There are 18 holes to try at the Yas Links Championship Golf Course and shopping at Yas Mall . Yas Waterworld has free-fall slides, a hydro-magnetic tornado raft and special women-only days.

An exclusive seaplane charter can be arranged from Yas Marina for stunning views of Abu Dhabi’s iconic architecture, including the seemingly miraculous Capital Gate (aka the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi) and the disc-shaped Aldar HQ building, known as the Coin, Penny or Dirham, depending on where you are from. seawings.ae