- Bling it on: Introduction
- Bling it on: British Airways Terraces Lounge Seattle
- Bling it on: British Airways First Class Seattle to London Heathrow
- Bling it on: Emirates Lounge London Heathrow (after a surprise!)
- Bling it on: Emirates First Class London Heathrow to Dubai
- Bling it on: Grosvenor House Dubai
- Bling it on: Afternoon tea in the Skyview Bar at Burj Al Arab
- Bling it on: Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island
- Bling it on: St. Regis Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island
- Bling it on: Qasr Al Sarab
- Bling it on: Etihad Airways First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi
- Bling it on: Etihad Airways First Class Abu Dhabi to New York JFK
- Bling it on: British Airways Galleries Lounge New York JFK
- Bling it on: Cathay Pacific First Class New York JFK to Vancouver
Saadiyat Island is a brand new leisure destination in the UAE, just a few miles from Abu Dhabi. I briefly visited it last year while in Abu Dhabi, and even had the chance to tour the Park Hyatt the week it was opening. I was struck by how beautiful (and deserted) the beach was, which was something I wasn’t expecting in Abu Dhabi. Both Park Hyatt and St. Regis have brand new properties here, so I was anxious to return once both were fully operational.
I figured this trip would be a great chance to do so, and they had plenty of availability for my dates. This is a category five Hyatt property, so I could have redeemed 18,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points per night for our two night stay. Rates were 1,000AED (~$270) per night, so it was one of those situations where one value wasn’t all that much better than the other.
The tiebreaker for me was that I had two expiring Diamond suite upgrades, and they can only be applied on a paid stay. Furthermore, the hotel belongs to Virtuoso, and by booking through them I’d receive a free lunch (up to $100), free breakfast, and a room upgrade (though I already get the last two benefits for being a Diamond member). At that point paying for the same seemed like a substantially better value.
Virtuoso benefits for stay
We took a car from Dubai, which was roughly a 60 minute drive, and once at the hotel were assisted with our bags by the bell staff.
View of hotel driveway
Hotel driveway
Hotel signage
Hotel entrance
While all Park Hyatts are minimalist, this property has to be one of the more extreme cases, which I like.
Lobby
Lobby
There was a short queue for check-in (I believe this is the largest Park Hyatt in the world at over 300 rooms, so at times that’s noticed), though once we were helped the agent was extremely friendly. She thanked me for my Diamond status and confirmed all the benefits we’d receive (free internet, late check-out, breakfast, lunch through Virtuoso, etc.).
She also informed us that we had been upgraded further from a Park Suite to a Park Terrace Suite on the top (sixth floor). She escorted us to our room, and on the way told us about all of the property’s facilities.
Our suite was located at the far end of the resort, and actually had a whole hallway leading up to just it.
Hallway to suite
Suite 607
I’ve had the opportunity to stay in a lot of amazing hotel rooms, though this was easily the nicest. Not only was it huge, but I loved the way it was decorated.
At the entrance was a small hallway with side table.
Entryway
That faced the kitchen and guest bathroom.
View from entrance
The guest bathroom featured a toilet and sink.
Guest bathroom
In the kitchen was a minibar and coffee machine.
Kitchen
Minibar
The kitchen faced the living room, which was huge. There was a table with four chairs, desk, and “L” shaped coach facing a flat screen TV.
Living room
Living room
Entertainment center
Also in the living were were the Diamond welcome amenities, which must be the most impressive I’ve ever received. On the living room table were both a fruit plate and box of goodies.
Diamond welcome amenity
The box of goodies consisted of three layers of sweet goodness. Two layers were pralines/chocolates, and the center layer had macarons.
Diamond welcome amenity
Then on the kitchen table were both a bottle of red wine and three containers with pralines, each presented on a bed of vanilla “balls.”
Diamond welcome amenity
Both a door and hallway (with tons of closet space) led to the bedroom.
Hallway to bedroom
The bed was firm yet comfortable, though only took up maybe a tenth of the bedroom.
Bedroom
There was also a lot of open space, along with a day bed and chair.
Bedroom
Bedroom chair and TV
Then a hallway led to the bathroom, which had double sinks, a tub, a walk-in shower, and a toilet.
Hallway to bathroom
Tub in bathroom
Bathroom
Toilet/bidet
Shower
The room was called a “Park Terrace Suite,” so as you may have guessed the terrace was equally impressive. The terrace was massive, and had more furniture than my apartment. The views of the Gulf and the rest of the resort were impressive as well.
Terrace
Terrace
Terrace
Terrace
Views from the terrace
Views from the terrace
Fortunately it wasn’t just the room that was beautiful, but the entire resort. While we were there it seemed extremely empty, so at times we were the only ones at the pool.
The hotel has several large pools. Or decorative bodies of water. I’m not quite sure. The main one is lined by palm trees and has some cool lounging areas that hang out over the water.
Pool
Pool
Pool or reflection pond?
Beyond the pool was the beach, which is really what stood out to me the most when I toured the hotel last year. It’s a beautiful beach, and much like when I toured it, it was more or less deserted. You can’t beat a private beach. The sand was powdery and clean, though the water was a bit too cold to swim in (I’m more of a pool person anyway).
Boardwalk to beach
Boardwalk to beach
Beach
The hotel also has a nice spa and gym.
Entrance to spa
The gym is open 24 hours a day and has all the equipment you could want (at least while on vacation). They also have a personal trainer on staff during the daytime.
Gym
Gym
I was also happy to see that most of the spa facilities (sauna, hydrotherapy pool, etc.) were complimentary for hotel guests.
Awesome hydrotherapy pool
Hydrotherapy pool lounging area
I was a bit surprised by the spa prices, however. Admittedly this is the UAE, though massages were $120USD+ per hour, which is a price at which I’m not interested.
Also by the spa was an adults only swimming pool, though the main pool was so empty that it wasn’t really necessary during our stay.
Spa pool
Next to the pool is a tennis court and the villas.
Tennis court
The hotel also has several dining venues, though we ended up eating at The Cafe most of the time, which is where breakfast was served from 6AM till 10:30AM.
The restaurant featured an extensive buffet with everything you could possibly want, with both western and Middle Eastern options.
The Cafe
The Cafe
The Cafe
Cereal
Veggies/cheese
Meats
Pastries
Yogurt/fruit
Fruit
The hotel is extremely well staffed and service was very good by UAE standards. I don’t find service in the UAE to be quite as polished as elsewhere, which may simply be because it’s such a “salad bowl” of workers, with very little cohesiveness. All of the employees meant well and for the most part execution was excellent, more so than at the other properties I stayed at in the UAE. But I still don’t find service to be quite as polished or heartfelt as in Bali, for example.
I’ll talk a bit more about Saadiyat Island in the next installment, though on the whole I really enjoyed this resort. I think Saadiyat Island is a great place to vacation for a few days, as you feel like you’re in complete seclusion when in fact you’re only a few miles from Abu Dhabi. And if you’re traveling from the US to somewhere via Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways, this is a great place to have a stopover for a few days, as it’s only about 30 minutes from the airport.
Was there an issue with the pool area? reading around i get the impression that the actual pool area is considerably smaller than depicted in their site - there's a couple which are ornamental I'm being told. Also, were the pool heated?
I have 2 days but am going to stretch one night in a hyatt for both days (Diamond)...should I stay at Park Hyatt for 20k (or $231) or Hyatt Capital Gate for 15k (or $164). I know you have stayed at both and want your opinion!
Fabulous hotel. Was double upgraded on arrival to beachfront villa. Wow! Great. Own plunge pool on the terrace, villa bigger than many NY city apartments! Private access to the beach. Used husband's corporate rate for the first night and upgraded it using diamond suite upgrade; next two nights were complimentary (won at the Hyatt DO in London last year). Was supposed to just be a sea view room, but they kept us in the villa...
Fabulous hotel. Was double upgraded on arrival to beachfront villa. Wow! Great. Own plunge pool on the terrace, villa bigger than many NY city apartments! Private access to the beach. Used husband's corporate rate for the first night and upgraded it using diamond suite upgrade; next two nights were complimentary (won at the Hyatt DO in London last year). Was supposed to just be a sea view room, but they kept us in the villa for the whole stay.
Will be sad to leave tomorrow!
Just left after two memorble nights here. Agree with everything Ben wrote. Used two free suite night awards, and as a platinum was upgraded to a Park Executive Suite on the 5th floor.
A draw to such a place is clearly a remote-like feel to the area. Saadiyat Island is still being developed so you'll notice far more construction workers than visitors to the area.
Ok. Thanks for the quick reply.
@ Dan -- It wasn't free. To the best of my knowledge it's only free at the Park Hyatt Dubai.
I'll be staying here next month in a Park Suite. Was the minibar free during your stay (for suite guests)?
Thanks --
You should revisit in August for the AUH/MLE Megado - a chance to try the spa with 20% off! Also got a fantastic rate at PH MLE and Capital Gate. The PH AUH is a beautiful hotel (love the terrace suite) and food there fantastic.
@ Talha -- It was about $270USD per night.
@Tim: The use of toilet paper is not the favorite way of cleaning up 'afterwards' in this part of the world.
Maybe some people prefer the bum gun over the bidet?
Excuse the ignorance but why the spray hose next to the toilet with a bidet right next to it?
How much per night with virtous
Wow, you weren't kidding about the minimalism... made even moreso by the fact that the walls were white, and with next to no artwork in the room either. It could almost double as a white canvas in a photography studio.
@ jpgisbd -- Once the reservation was made and your Hyatt number is on the reservation you can call and have a Diamond upgrade applied. Virtuoso bookings are eligible for points and stay credit.
@ Joelfreak -- Nothing was mentioned.
Did you have any trouble being 2 male guests checking into the same room with one bed? (actual question due to culture)
Lucky, can you explain how you are able to use a Diamond suite upgrade with a virtuoso rate? I thought you had to call the diamond line to redeem suite upgrades.
@ Chris -- ROFL!
Thought that was Emily in the photo of "The Cafe." Then I realized I'm not reading that blog.
@ I am sorry -- Fixed, thanks.
"and the center layer had macaroons."
those look like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaron 's to me, not http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaroon 's
I think the breakfast buffet looks extremely poor by UAE standards. A bowl of chopped fruit salad and plates of luncheon meat are nothing less than 3 star hotel standard.