Grand Hyatt DubaiDon't be fooled by the exterior view from a distance, this is no soulless corporate template design disaster. This is one large city hotel that rewards closer acquaintance with unexpected marvels at every turn. To enter the atrium and witness the sheer scale and beauty of this palace of hospitality is awe inspiring. The creative use of decorative materials is constantly surprising. Opulent but always tasteful and with fantastic attention to detail. Every fitting is of the highest quality.
A stroll in the 37 acre landscaped gardens surrounding the pool could convince you this is a country hotel. I have seen few better kept lawns. A large and well equipped gym, multiple swimming pools, a spa offering every opportunity for pampering, 16 screen Cinema complex next door, extraordinarily beautiful events facilities, (including two ballrooms and Al Manzil which has hosted Bollywood film launch parties) I cannot think of anything this hotel lacks in facilities. The excellence of the surroundings was matched by the service. From the arrival and welcome on the steps (by two members of staff), to the departure, every member of staff displayed the warmth, courtesy and efficiency we have come to expect from the Hyatt family. Club King and Emiri SuiteAt 39 square metres, the Club King is a large double room by the standards of most destinations. Here, it is equipped to the same high standard as the suites. There is a full size king bed (twin available) comfortable sitting area and even in this most humble room in the house, there is a desk with a printer! The bathroom still has twin washbasins and a good size shower. All fixtures and fittings are to the same standard as the more expensive rooms. King rooms are available as additional space adjoining suites.
Popular with Middle Eastern families who will often spend weeks in residence here, there are 10 Emiri suites. Extending to 132 square metres and further extendable with connecting Club King rooms, this is very luxurious accommodation. The dining table seats six in comfort and there is a fully equipped kitchen adjacent. All the amenities of the Grand Suites also apply and I would guess the quality of service is correspondingly high. If this is not enough space, there are 7 Prince Suites of 196 square metres, with views both of the Creek and the City skyline. Prince suites contain whirlpool baths and dining for 8. DiningThe Grand Hyatt Dubai offers a bewildering array of dining facilities. Eating in a different restaurant every night, it would take two weeks to visit them all.
The cuisine choices include: Lebanese (Awtar, sumptuous North African interior with tented ceiling, live music and belly dancing); Singaporean (the only one in Dubai - Peppercrab); Sushi; Italian (Andiamo and adjacent Vinoteca wine bar, Panini cafe and deli); Tandoori- iZ with very cool seating arrangements, open kitchen real tandoors you can see into American favourites at The Manhattan Grill; Wox - Malaysian noodle bar, very informal, and if that's not enough, there is the Market cafe serving an international menu from no less than FIVE open kitchens, the Al Nakheel Lounge serving continental breakfast, Cooz cigar bar and of course a poolside bar for moonlit assignations. It'll be a long time before you feel the need to go elsewhere. Oh and as the GM John Beveridge started his career as a chef, you can be sure that standards are maintained in the restaurants too. Overall Impression |
Grand Suite KingAt 88 square metres, this is very generous accommodation for a couple. The sense of space is further enhanced by panoramic windows affording stunning views of the Creek. The king bed is vast and still in my opinion the best in the world, and complimented by a range of pillow options. There is a walk-in wardrobe large enough to call a dressing-room. The bathroom is huge and beautifully appointed with dark granite contrasting with the lighter mosaic tiled walls. As is usual in the region, there are twin washbasins. The shower is heavenly. Both shower and bath easily accommodate two. All fixtures and fittings are to a high standard. The lounge is as large as the bedroom, with a range of seating adequate for entertaining a few friends. The desk is sizeable and not only is there wi-fi but a laser printer is provided.
Other amenities include Nespresso (thank you Hyatt), mini-bar (complimentary at the time of our stay), large safe, huge flat-screen TV, lots of adjustable lighting, hairdryer, lovely dressing gowns (is there a better sight than crisply laundered white robes hanging in a good bathroom?). This represents fantastic value for money, especially in low season. Club LoungeOr rather, club lounges. Overall, the Club Lounge covers a vast area. Apart from the central hall with the food and beverage facilities, grand staircase and chandelier, there are two large seating areas with comfortable lounge style chairs, one on either side. Then, across the corridor is a further lounge, set aside with families in mind.
The views are spectacular, by day it is a very light airy space. By night it assumes a grander air. The ambience is calm, though there is a pleasant bustle about the place at peak times. The food offering in the evening was good, with a nice mix of local and international flavours. Sparkling wine was available and while we are always disappointed when it is not from Grand Champagne, the South African offering was very astutely chosen. Only a true connoisseur would detect the difference. The staff were simply wonderful. Gracious, efficient, friendly. Discreetly attentive. Spa and Leisure FacilitiesThe Grand Hyatt Dubai has superb leisure facilities, including an indoor and 3 outdoor swimming pool (toddler's, children's and main pool), gym, jogging trail and sports courts. The indoor changing rooms include a small spa area with relaxation room, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and experience showers. In addition, the hotel boasts the best hotel spa (award given by Middle East Spa Awards). We had bought a voucher from a daily deals site for a 90 minute treatment incorporating exfoliation and massage. We were disappointed that male guests were unable to have a treatment with a female therapist as other hotels in the region allow this when in a couples' treatment room. However, Mrs d2t decided to book in for the treatment whilst Mr d2t explored the hotel. After an initial confusion over what treatment I had booked, I was invited to choose a welcome drink (water or mint juice), music to be played during the treatment and a choice of tea for after the massage. It was great to have such a personal touch with a 1:1 consultation. I was then shown to the changing room in the spa (I was the only one using it) to change into a light and cool robe, before being escorted to the relaxation room to await my therapist. The treatment itself was blissful - it started with a relaxing foot bath (including exfoliation and massage), then the full body exfoliation with desert sand and spices. After a warm shower, it was time for the full body massage, including a scalp massage. This was executed at the pressure I requested (medium firm) and with care and skill. After the treatment, I was left to come round, then shown to the relaxation room with my flowering tea.
|
The Grand Hyatt Dubai is one of 4 Hyatt properties in the Emirate (including a Hyatt Place, a Regency and a Park). The styling is indeed grand, but we were pleasantly surprised that it was not over the top. Unexpectedly, the service was superior to that we received at the Park Hyatt. The 2 hotels (we have not been to the others) have different atmospheres and I cannot honestly say I prefer one to the other. However, we were so overwhelmed by the friendliness of the staff at the Grand Hyatt, that we have moved our next stay in Dubai from the Park to the Grand. The one small negative we experienced was with regard to the service at the leisure centre. Whilst the massage treatment was highly enjoyable and the spa area is beautiful, we felt that the leisure club had a little way to go before reaching the perfect service we received elsewhere in the hotel. One small example of this is when we went to use the swimming pool but were not advised that we had to have a locker key for the outside changing area, nor were we told there was an indoor changing area.
The question of which Hyatt to stay in when visiting Dubai is often asked. The Grand is larger, has better service and a good club lounge. The Park is beautiful and has a very different atmosphere, but service can be disappointing. Next time you come to Dubai, why not try both and see which you prefer?
The question of which Hyatt to stay in when visiting Dubai is often asked. The Grand is larger, has better service and a good club lounge. The Park is beautiful and has a very different atmosphere, but service can be disappointing. Next time you come to Dubai, why not try both and see which you prefer?