Trip Report Index:

1. Introducing and Strategy
   
2. New York JFK – Abu Dhabi, Etihad First Class
   
3. Park Hyatt Dubai
   
4. Touring the Burj al Arab
   
5. Tea at the Burj al Arab
   
6. Abu Dhabi – Male, Etihad Business Class
   
7. Male – Kaadedhdhoo, Maldivian and Transfer to the Park Hyatt
   
8. Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives
   
9. Kooddoo-Male-Abu Dhabi, Maldivian and Etihad Business Class
   
10. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
    
11. Abu Dhabi – Dusseldorf – London, Etihad First Class and British Airways Club Europe
    
12. London Heathrow – San Francisco, British Airways New First Class

It was slightly after midnight when I arrived at the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi via Etihad car from the airport. The place was virtually deserted but for bellmen at the door at front desk agents ready to assist.

Even though I was pretty exhausted I still had a the presence of mind to try the upgrade trick that worked so well at the Park Hyatt Dubai: “My friend Ben recently stayed here and was upgraded to a Park Terrace Suite and I was hoping you might be able to do the same for me?”

They actually seemed amenable, had a look and told me that there are only a couple of Park Terrace Suites at the property and they both were occupied, but they assured I’d be happy with my entry-level Park Suite.

And indeed I was. I have to say that the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi has one of the two nicest entry level suites of any Hyatt I’ve stayed at (the other being the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur).

In fact, the architecture of the hotel and the suite itself .. just stunning.

The room had a small bathroom off of the entryway

While the master bath was quite large with separate shower room, tub, dual sinks, and toilet room.

There’s a large living room

And a decent-sized bedroom with a walk-in closet open on both sides.

Both the living room and bedroom had balconies with small seating areas (as opposed to one longer balcony running the length of the room)

The view from the room and out over the balcony offers a stadium perspective out towards the beach.

The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi provides one of the most impressive Diamond amenities I’ve seen. Chocolate. And cookies. And more chocolate. Sitting in still more chocolate. And a bottle of wine (not really with any chocolate notes, though perhsps they could have selected the bottle to better correspond with the chocolate theme).

In the morning on the way to breakfast I explored some of the public spaces.

Breakfast is available in a lovely indoor/outdoor space, with outdoor overlooking the pool and out towards the beach.

The food, while certainly good and plentiful enough, wasn’t quite as satisfying as the breakfast offered at the Park Hyatt Dubai, and there was no complimentary menu option included on top of the buffet.

Not ordering a la cart (other than at the omelet station) reduces the level of service required, and yet service in the Café was mediocre at best. Getting attention of s server for a coffee refreshed involved either waiting a long time or getting up an flagging down a waiter.

After a short stay it was time to head back to the airport to begin the journey back to the States, and Etihad’s chauffeur service arranged online was prompt.

I liked the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, a lot. It’s a large hotel, probably too large to really provide exceptional service, though it’s no worse in this regard than any Ritz-Carlton of similar size. The indifference and inattentiveness in the breakfast café left a stronger memory that clouds the stay a bit than is probably even warranted, because the hotel really is gorgeous and the suite is just fantastic — the base suite confirmable with points by any Gold Passport member (paying the Hyatt Daily Rate) or with a confirmed suite upgrade (on any discount rate booked through Hyatt).

If I need to be back in Abu Dhabi I’d definitely stay here again, it was a world apart from the city but not far by distance or time and would serve as something of an oasis. But my hunch is that I’d be more likely in most cases to need an airport overnight, and I understand we’re just a few months off from having a decent enough airport hotel there.