Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi

The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi is situated on Saadiyat Island and boasts a beautiful 9 km long completely natural beach. In contrast with many sites in the UAE, the natural environment has been well preserved and adds enormously to the amenity. We had overflown this area on the way home from Muscat to London via AUH and so had glimpsed the coastline, but were not prepared for the delight of discovering that special vivid clear aquamarine water. It really felt like the Indian Ocean at it's sparkly best, there are even turtles which nest here. We were also delighted to be informed by the on-site oceanologist that dolphins pass the beach, usually twice a day. It is possible to arrange night-time kayaking as well as day-time excursions but the dolphins can be elusive.

The hotel is located 5 km from the city centre and 15 km from Hyatt Capital Gate. It is large for a Park Hyatt, with 306 rooms, suites and villas. However, don't let the size put you off. The hotel is tastefully decorated (as you would expect for the brand) with clean lines and feels very luxurious. The lobby is a cool respite from the summer heat of Abu Dhabi and is designed with many different seating options, along with relaxing water features.

Park Terrace Suite

Although the sea-view King room we viewed was a great hotel room, after seeing the suite, we would strongly recommend upgrading. The rooms in the suite were spacious, from the large living area to the airy bedroom. Again, the highlight of the room was a huge bathroom with a walk-in wardrobe space and the features of the standard bathroom (beautiful bath, great rain shower, double sinks) in one of the largest bathrooms I have seen. 

The suites feature a large terrace with day beds, complete with a sea-view from one side, and a long balcony accessible from both living and sleeping areas. The Park Suite is similar, but with just the spacious balcony, rather than the terrace as well.

Additional amenities included for suite guests include a bottle of wine and some snacks on arrival, including an enhanced fruit bowl and various nuts.

Dining

The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi offers a range of dining options: The Cafe serves Middle Eastern dishes; the Park Bar and Grill is an informal fine-dining restaurant offering charcoal-grilled meats and fish, as well as a selection of Asian dishes; the Library serves afternoon tea, and the Beach House offers Mediterranean style cuisine, served in sharing portions.

We have taken lunch at the Beach House, and we were very impressed with the quality of the food, from quinoa salads to fresh mussels and sesame crusted tuna. The sundried tomato, feta cheese and rucola salad was especially good, although the king prawns were the highlight of the meal - large, juicy and delicious. The breakfast buffet at The Park Grill offers everything you'd expect from an international 5* hotel, although there was little in the way of local specialities on view. Friday brunch at The Cafe was superb with cooked-to order scallops, huge prawns and Wagyu beef burgers, as well as countless fresh starters and desserts - great value at 500 AED including free flow champagne.

During Ramadan, the hotel does not serve alcohol during daylight hours and a reduced number of restaurants are open. However, in the evening, they offer a fantastic Iftar buffet with traditional Arabic Meze, international favourites and desserts.

Park Sea-view King

Rooms at the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi start at a generous 50 square metres, most with a sea-view. All rooms have a Nespresso coffee machine and iPod dock. Each room offers a private balcony, equipped with table and chairs, ideal for in-room breakfast or for enjoying the sunset with a glass of wine.

The sea-view king room is the standard upgrade for diamond members (as the best room category below a suite) and is identical to the standard room, except for the view. The room is spacious and perfectly adequate for a couple, with a chaise longue seating area and desk space. The pièce de résistance is a fantastic bathroom complete with large rain shower, separate soaking tub and his 'n hers washstands.

Beach View Suite

This suite is effectively on the beach, there is nothing between it the boundary fence. Still, the poolside area is very private by virtue of being surrounded by vegetation that keeps people away and is quite well screened. Still, it is possible for someone strolling along the top of the beachhead to see you in the pool. You have been warned. There is a nice chaise longue but it is strange that there are no sun loungers, merely two comfortable chairs in addition to the dining table and chairs with sunshade. 

The suite itself is generously proportioned and extremely well equipped. The rooms are similar in size to the Park Terrace Suite but of course the pool and terrace takes the place of the balcony.

There are very good entertainment centres in both the lounge and the bedroom, Nespresso machine, refrigerator and freezer complete with ice cube maker in the kitchen. A huge outdoor shower compliments the very large wet room indoors. This is a fabulous place to unwind and should you wish to take a dip in the Arabian Gulf's cosseting waters, you couldn't get closer.

Leisure

Atarmia Spa offers a range of treatments based on four philosphies - Brilliance (focussed on detoxifying and brighteneing), Opulence (treatments using luxurious products such as caviar and diamonds), Majestic (designed to energise and revive) and Lustrous (aimed at replenishing and soothing). Treatments are reasonably priced, although you do of course pay a premium for location. 

The couple's treatment room includes a steam room and jacuzzi, which we definitely look forward to using when we next stay in the hotel. In addition, many of the treatment rooms have terraces, enabling an outdoor massage. The spa has luxurious changing rooms, including a jacuzzi and sauna.

The view from the lobby across the main swimming pool to the beach beyond is bound to put a smile on your face. Loungers project over the swimming pool in pairs and there are small plunge pools with loungers by the side of the main pool, ideal for couples.

The gym is well equipped for a hotel with a range of Life Fitness cardio machines, weights and the all important chilled scented towels. 

Overall Impression

The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island seems to us to offer the best value luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi. On our most recent stay, we negotiated a paid upgrade to the Beach View Suite with private pool after using a diamond confirmed upgrade certificate - this was a fantastic room and we strongly recommend booking it if you can. All rooms are generously proportioned and fitted out to a high standard. The spacious bathrooms (with great Bergamote 22 by Le Labo toiletries) are a treat to relax in and the views of the gardens, the beach and the Arabian Gulf are beautiful. Although the main pool can get busy during peak season, the spa pool is a quieter option and the sea is always warm (just be careful the sand isn't too hot to walk on). Dining is mostly good, although prices can be a little high. Breakfast is pretty typical for a 5* hotel, although the fresh fruit was the tastiest we have experienced in the Emirates. Friday brunch is superb and great value. Both the Beach House and in-room dining options are also really good for dinner. 

This is one of our favourite locations for a few days of rest and relaxation. Rates during the summer months offer incredible value if you like very hot weather. Currently the hotel feels very well run - it is a large property with a number of demanding guests but we have never had a problem during our stay. However, the GM Stuart Deeson will soon be leaving to open the new Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi. As such, it will be interesting to see how the hotel develops. We look forward to retuning to our beautiful beach suite with private pool and absorbing the heat of the Arabian sun - this is a great hotel to combine with a trip to Oman but also a trip-worthy beach destination in its own right.