What to Do and Where to Stay on a Family Vacation in Yas Island Abu Dhabi

Do you know that Abu Dhabi is the top family vacation destination in the world? The Family Vacation Guide computes a composite score of the leading global destinations’ ratings on specific categories (e.g., attractions, hotel prices, safety, weather, etc.) and ranks the result.

This year, Abu Dhabi has landed the top spot with a family-friendly vacation score of 8.05/10, ranking particularly well in the safety and weather categories.

Yas Island Abu Dhabi: An Excellent Family Vacation Destination

There are many places to visit in Abu Dhabi, but Yas Island Abu Dhabi should be on top of anyone's list. This man-made island, some 15 minutes north-northwest of the Abu Dhabi International Airport and approximately 30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of the Abu Dhabi city centre, is a destination in itself. It has everything your family could ever want and need on your vacation.

Yas Island has four world-class theme parks:

• Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, for those who love roller coasters

• Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, for those who love Warner Bros. television, film, and comic book characters

• Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, for those who love water fun

• Seaworld Abu Dhabi, for those who love the ocean and marine life

If you are looking for something active to do, you can:

• Experience indoor skydiving and wall climbing at CLYMB Abu Dhabi.

• Play a round of golf at the Yas Links golf course.

• Drive or ride a race car on the Formula One racetrack, Yas Marina Circuit.

The members of the family who would prefer more leisurely activities will like:

• Yas Bay, where you can stroll around the promenade, take in the unique art installations  and try different cuisines

• Yas Marina, a waterfront destination with restaurants and soothing water views

• Yas Mall, the biggest shopping mall in Abu Dhabi

• The Fountains, a must-visit for its spectacular music, light and water show and the available dining options

• Yas Beach, the best for swimming and water sports

If you like concerts, shows, and festivals, Yas Island has:

• Etihad Arena, the largest indoor multi-purpose venue in the Middle East, a favourite among world-class acts and organisers of conventions, exhibitions and fairs

• Etihad Park, the region’s largest open-air venue, the usual host to music festivals and concerts headlined by international A-list stars

You and your family will not lack anything to do on Yas Island. There are hotels on-site, too, so you can make the most of your vacation time.

Yas Island’s Top 5 Family Hotels
Yas Island has some of the top hotels in Abu Dhabi, and the following are your best options when visiting with family. Note that every hotel in this list has stay packages inclusive of daily access to a Yas Island theme park. 

The WB™ Abu Dhabi

The WB™ Abu Dhabi, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection line of hotels and resorts, is a five-star Warner Brothers-themed hotel with a dive-in movie theatre, an extensive pool complex with a kids' club and splash pad, and five restaurants. It is also located adjacent to the Warner Brothers-inspired theme park, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, across the street from Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and not too far away (approximately 4 minutes by car) from Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. This is definitely the ideal place to stay if you’re on a theme-park tour of Yas Island.

DoubleTree by Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Residences

If you are on Yas Island to visit its theme parks but need more room than The WB™ Abu Dhabi can provide, stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Residences.

This hotel has 156 serviced apartments with a studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, or three-bedroom configuration. Each unit has a living area and a kitchen equipped with a cooker, a washer/dryer, a microwave, and an espresso machine.

Larger families will especially appreciate the home-like comfort of this four-star Hilton-branded hotel. It’s also very close to Warner Bros. World, Yas Waterworld and Ferrari World, and DoubleTree by Hilton guests can freely enjoy the leisure and dining facilities available at The WB™ Abu Dhabi next door.

Crowne Plaza Yas Island

If members of your family love watersports and golf, this is the hotel for you. Crowne Plaza Yas Island is a four-star Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) hotel that offers sweeping views of the sea and the breathtakingly beautiful Yas Links greens.

The hotel has an outdoor pool, a kids’ club and play area, a spa and three on-site restaurants (aside from a pool bar, a shisha garden, and a lobby lounge). If you’re in the mood for a swim, you can walk down to the private Cyan Beach or take the free shuttle to the nearby Yas Beach. You can also take the four-minute drive to the Yas Links golf course and enjoy a true links golf experience.

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island

If you like speed, cars, and Formula One, you’d love W Abu Dhabi Yas Island. W Abu Dhabi Yas Island is a five-star Marriott luxury hotel on Yas Marina.

Families with older children would love this hotel. It gives you direct access to the Yas Marina Circuit. You and your family can try its unique motorsports offerings or enjoy running or walking on the track. Your children can have fun at the Kids Zone, and the entire family can spend the day lounging at the Wet Deck or the Sun Deck, both with heated outdoor pools. The hotel also has six dining venues on-site and a lot more nearby.

Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island 

Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island is the best place to stay if your family enjoys strolling on the beach, trying new restaurants and catching shows.

This five-star hotel is located on Yas Bay, commanding gorgeous views of the Al Raha Creek skyline. More importantly, it gives you convenient access to a three-kilometre-long beachside avenue (i.e., the Yas Bay Waterfront promenade), remarkable dining destinations along the waterfront and the pier (e.g., Bushra, Paradiso, Daikan Izakaya, Cafe Del Mar, The Lighthouse, etc.) and Etihad Arena, where you can find the best acts and shows in town.

You may also choose to stay in instead of going out. Hilton Abu Dhabi has a magnificent temperature-controlled outdoor pool, a kids’ club with a splash pad and flowing fountain, a spa with a whirlpool and steam room, and a fully equipped gym with workout studios and fitness classes.

Plan Your Abu Dhabi Family Vacation

Abu Dhabi is an ideal family vacation destination, and Yas Island Abu Dhabi is a must-visit for its theme parks, activities, and other unique attractions. It has something for everyone in the family, and you can stay in a family-friendly hotel on-site for convenience.

Author Bio

Jinky Elizan is a content writer for SEO Sherpa. She has more than 15 years of experience in producing content for SEO, inbound marketing and link building as well as in creating copy for web pages and social media. She also develops WordPress websites.

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