Review: W Abu Dhabi Yas Island

I stayed on the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island throughout a latest journey to the Center East, as I popped over to Abu Dhabi for a couple of days in between attending the World Cup in Doha. 

The W Abu Dhabi Yas Island is a revamp of the previous Yas Viceroy lodge. Upon its refresh, it turned the second W lodge to open its doorways within the UAE, following the W Dubai The Palm.

As an iconic landmark on Yas Island and the primary lodge to span a Formulation One racetrack, the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island was very a lot a property that I had been eyeing for a very long time previous to this long-awaited go to.

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island – Reserving

Money charges on the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island usually fall between 600–800 AED ($220–300 CAD) per evening for the standard room. In the course of the summer time months, you possibly can anticipate money charges on the decrease finish of this vary, however in any other case, they’ll are likely to lean towards the upper finish.

An award reserving on the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island usually hovers round 32,000–41,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors, with the typical falling someplace within the center.

This property is certainly fairly moderately priced on factors. With our valuation of Bonvoy factors at 0.9 cents per level (CAD), redeeming factors can actually be advantageous, particularly when money charges are larger.

Likewise, this property may be a wonderful alternative to make the most of a topped-up Free Night time Award price 35,000 factors, with charges persistently falling beneath 50,000 Bonvoy factors per evening.

That is exactly the route I took, burning a Free Night time Award and topping it up with a further 7,000 Bonvoy factors.

Remember that W Abu Dhabi Yas Island participates in Marriott Luminous, which is Marriott’s most popular companion program. By reserving the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island by a certified journey advisor, you’ll take pleasure in elite-level perks resembling free breakfast, a $100 (USD) lodge credit score, room upgrades, early check-in, and late check-out (topic to availability) on the similar charge you’d discover by reserving straight with the lodge.

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island – Location

As its identify would possibly counsel, the W is situated on Yas Island, considered one of Abu Dhabi’s man-made islands related to the mainland through a bridge.

It’s nestled straight on the curve of the Yas Marina Circuit within the island’s leisure district, between the Formulation One racetrack and Yas Marina.

The fast space has established itself as a significant vacationer hub, filled with a various mixture of leisure and leisure, simply minutes away from the W.

The Yas Parks embody Ferrari World, Warner Bros World, and Yas Waterworld, all of that are a five-minute drive north of the lodge. The Yas Mall is conveniently situated close by as properly.

When you’re eager on exploring these points of interest on Yas Island, the Yas Specific is a complimentary shuttle service which conveniently stops at the most well-liked points of interest on the island.

For these trying to escape the hustle and bustle of the leisure district, Yas Seaside is a five-minute drive south of the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island. Right here, you’ll discover the seashore, swimming pools, personal chalets, and an array of eating venues and eating places.

From Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport, it’s solely a fast 10-minute drive to the W, making it fairly an appropriate alternative should you’re passing by the UAE capital on an in a single day layover.

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island – Examine-in

As a result of restricted availability of flights between Abu Dhabi and Doha, Jessy and I took separate flights, so she arrived on the lodge and checked in first.

The W Abu Dhabi Yas Island has a placing presence. The façade is daring and futuristic, with an illuminated veil overlaying the glass construction.

The lodge is fabricated from two towers, one contained in the racetrack and one within the marina, related by a glass bridge that jets over the racetrack.

Stepping inside, I used to be met by an imaginative foyer decked out in a signature W fashion.

In 2019, the lodge’s public areas went by a refurbishment to higher replicate the trendy growth and route of the W model.

A lot of the design attracts upon regional influences, together with touches of Formulation One-inspired décor all through.

There are 4 check-in desks to the precise, depicting “oil drops” impressed by the nation’s financial historical past, while the wall behind is embellished with pegs as an ode to pearl divers within the area.

Adjoining to the check-in space, there’s ample jewel-toned seating with velvet upholstery dotted round The Roastery, the lodge’s foyer café.

W Motels are identified for his or her unimaginable suites, so naturally, I had utilized a Suite Night time Award to my reserving and was in a position to safe a Fabulous Suite. This was the best room kind obtainable through Suite Night time Awards, characterised by its spectacular Formulation One racetrack views from the balcony.

(Certainly, as some of the iconic motels on the island, straight located on the Formulation One venue, bookings right here can get extremely hotly contested through the Formulation One weekend.)

I used to be then knowledgeable of my privileges as a Titanium Elite member, and headed as much as our Fabulous Suite, which was located within the lodge’s essential constructing.

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island – Fabulous Suite

Upon coming into the suite, I used to be greeted by the identical futuristic fashion of the lodge’s exterior. The furnishings and design have been minimalistic, with smooth jet-black flooring contrasted by gentle upholstered furnishings.

A desk is on the forefront of the dwelling space, adjoined to a big column within the room and strategically positioned going through the floor-to-ceiling home windows.

I appreciated that the desk was geared up with ample common chargers for handy connectivity.

To the precise of the desk is the pantry geared up with a Nespresso espresso maker and a minibar with gentle snacks, in addition to alcoholic and smooth drinks within the mini-fridge.

On the far aspect of the room is a small eating desk for 2 with vintage-style chairs.

The seating space contains a small sofa paired with a contemporary espresso desk. Mounted on the wall reverse the seating space is the flat-screen TV.

The suite includes a small half-bathroom with a marble self-importance and a classy vessel sink. An everyday bathroom and bidet are discreetly housed behind a half wall for added privateness.

Instantly to the left on the suite’s entrance is a compact kitchenette with a microwave, sink, electrical kettle, and well-stocked cupboards.

Persevering with additional into the suite, the bed room is supplied with a cushty king mattress, a small chair, and secondary flat-screen TV.

The views afforded from this Fabulous Suite’s balcony are fairly unimaginable. The balcony wraps across the dwelling space and the bed room with improbable views of the Formulation One monitor beneath from a number of vantage factors.

Nonetheless, given how excessive up this Fabulous Suite is, the veil which covers the façade of the lodge creates a good bit of obstruction. Thus, a Fabulous Suite on a decrease flooring might supply a clearer view of the tracks.

Drawing our consideration again to the suite, there’s a spacious walk-in closet with ample space for storing, full with an opulent gown and slippers.

Simply off the bed room is a well-appointed, fashionable, and spacious essential toilet. Upon entry, you’re greeted by a tasteful stone-clad walk-in bathe to the left and a dual-sink self-importance to the precise.

Tucked on the toilet’s rear is a free-standing outsized round bathtub, thoughtfully positioned by the floor-to-ceiling home windows for views of the circuit.

This Fabulous Suite bestows a real W-style suite with a really distinctive and classy look, but additionally with wonderful performance.

The suite had every thing we would have liked for a cushty keep, full with a desk, dwelling space, bed room, outsized bathtub, and ample area, whereas the floor-to-ceiling home windows, regardless of the partial obstruction, provided spectacular views of the racetrack beneath.

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island – Fantastic Room

I additionally had the possibility to tour a couple of different base-level room sorts, together with a Fantastic Room with twin beds.

The room was spacious, with a pristine and ethereal color scheme amongst up to date furnishings, smooth flooring, and partitions.

Reverse the dual beds is a prolonged curved desk geared up with a Nespresso espresso maker and two mismatched seats.

A stupendous picket accent piece full with the flat-screen TV and mirror is a placing point of interest within the room.

Positioned by the home windows are an opulent brown couch and a glass desk, accentuated by two metallic artworks hung above.

The bogs supply a single self-importance and outsized tub to the left and proper, respectively. A walk-in bathe is situated on the again, and the bathroom is hid behind separate frosted glass doorways.

It’s price noting that a few of the rooms on the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island face the racetrack, whereas some face the marina. The lodge has two separate buildings related by a hallway, so total, there’s fairly a spread of room sorts to select from.

The Fantastic Room additionally embodied the W model, with a further contact of heat achieved by bronzed and brown tones.

Total, the visitor rooms at this W property are maybe a tad subdued in comparison with the newly refurbished public areas of the lodge, in addition to in comparison with a few of the different, extra boisterous W properties world wide.

Maybe a refresh to the rooms would carry them consistent with the lodge’s vibrant public areas and additional elevate the visitor expertise, however I wouldn’t name it an pressing want both.

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island – Breakfast

Breakfast is served buffet-style on the lodge’s all-day eating restaurant, Storage, on the bottom flooring close to to the foyer from 6:30–10:30am.

As a Titanium Elite member, breakfast was complimentary, so we headed downstairs the following morning to partake within the buffet.

The restaurant has ample seating each indoors and outside, starting from giant communal tables to common four-person eating. The interiors evoked a road meals ambiance, with some stations mimicking meals vehicles.

There was a very good vary of worldwide breakfast gadgets, resembling sambar, vada, samosas, and upma, and a choice of Asian-inspired dishes, together with fried noodles and dumplings.

Western sizzling gadgets included porridge, beans, eggs, hash browns, roasted potatoes, waffles, pancakes, and roasted potatoes.

On one finish, there’s a wide array of bread, pastries, and jams obtainable.

Then there’s an assortment of dips, spreads, chutneys, and a salad bar.

You’ll additionally discover your staples of cured meats and cheeses, cereal, yogurt, and an intensive fruit show with unique choices.

I believed the breakfast provided at Storage was very spectacular. The buffet was fairly beneficiant and different, unfold throughout many various cooking stations all through the restaurant, and we walked away from breakfast feeling full to the brim. 

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island – Eating

The lodge has three eating places, a bar, and a café, all situated on the bottom flooring of the principle constructing.

Amici is the lodge’s Italian eatery, open for lunch and dinner. The restaurant provides an off-the-cuff eating setting with quite a few chef specials and aperitivo choices within the evenings.

Angar offers a extra upscale eating expertise with a complicated up to date ambiance, higher suited for a night or evening out. The restaurant provides a twist on conventional Indian delicacies.

The Residing Room, a signature area present in all W Motels, is swanky and dynamic, with interplays of eclectic patterns and textures adorning the partitions, flooring and furnishings.

The design was impressed by tales of a desert botanical miracle, the place excessive rainfall results in the flourishing of native flora.

The W Lounge, situated within the Residing Room, is open from 6pm to 1am, with three separate bars and a resident DJ. 

Energetic plush seating lends splashes of colors, which fluctuate from bench-style preparations to shiny purple cubicles accentuated by bronzed caging.

The Roastery is situated within the foyer and is open from 9–12am. The small café provides specialty coffees and distinctive brews which can be rigorously crafted for any espresso aficionados on the market.

I ended by and had a clean and velvety cappuccino with a well-balanced flavour.

Moreover, there’s an outside terrace with ample seating straight adjoining to the Formulation One race for prime views of all of the motion.

The terrace is accessible from the eating places, the place we loved a burger and caesar salad from the Storage.

There’s a central shallow pool as a water characteristic, which was creatively embellished and displayed the FIFA World Cup on the time of our keep.

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island – Swimming pools

The rooftop WET Deck is situated on the nineteenth flooring of the principle constructing and is residence to the swimming pool, solar deck, and bar, which provides cocktails and an in-house DJ.

The pool is spacious, separated into an higher and decrease space with ample loungers dotted round. There are particular person solar loungers after which bigger daybeds in assorted sizes.

The bar on the WET Deck has a vibrant and funky stylish vibe, as do the daybeds, with splashes of color and distinctive shapes and designs.

A secondary household pool is situated on the ninth flooring of the second constructing.

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island – Different Amenities

The lodge’s services are additionally situated within the second tower, among the many bigger suites.

The FIT health centre is giant and well-appointed, with a various vary of apparatus. The health centre has two sections, one with cable machines and free weights for energy coaching, then the cardio tools and weight machines are dotted alongside the home windows.

There’s ample pure gentle that floods in by the home windows, which is all the time nice when understanding, and you’ll soak up views of each the racetrack and the lodge’s pool.

Moreover, locker rooms, saunas, and steam rooms are accessible by the gymnasium.

The spa on the lodge contains two-stories and appears out over the marina. There are 9 therapy rooms, after which a {couples} therapeutic massage room and hammam.

The lodge has a couple of different distinctive facilities. The W Retailer is the lodge’s unconventional tackle present store merchandise displayed between giant illuminated metallic loops.

It’s also possible to discover a full vary of hair companies on the Saal Magnificence Salon situated straight contained in the lodge.

Conclusion

The W Abu Dhabi Yas Island is one other wonderful W lodge, and I used to be happy so as to add it to my assortment of stays with the model.

The property embodies a fusion of liveliness, creativity, and conventional Center Japanese components in a particular W fashion that was showcased by every thing from the Fabulous Suite to the base-level rooms to the general public areas.

What’s extra, the lodge’s breakfast providing was expansive and different, with quite a few cooking stations distributed all through the restaurant.

The WET deck is a standout characteristic of the lodge, with a gorgeous and full of life setting to take in the solar or cool off whereas taking a dip. And naturally, the views of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix circuit from the visitor rooms, rooftop, and out of doors terrace are fairly merely an unparalleled characteristic that no different lodge can match. 

The W is a improbable choice for anybody visiting Abu Dhabi and on the lookout for an lively edge to their keep, particularly should you’re redeeming factors at an incredible worth – exterior of Formulation One season, in fact, whenever you’ll probably have to pay out the nostril for a front-row view of the motion.