- Introduction: One “Stan” At A Time
- Review: Wingtips Lounge New York JFK Airport
- Review: Uzbekistan Airways Business Class 787 New York To Tashkent
- Review: Hyatt Regency Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Review: Uzbekistan Airways Lounge Tashkent Airport
- Review: Uzbekistan Airways Business Class A320 Tashkent To Dushanbe
- Review: Hyatt Regency Dushanbe, Tajikistan
- Review: Dushanbe Airport Lounge
- Review: Somon Air Business Class 737 Dushanbe To Dubai
- Review: Saudia First Suite 777 Dubai To Riyadh
- Review: Saudia Business Class Lounge Riyadh Airport
- Review: Saudia First Suite 777 Riyadh To Los Angeles
For our four nights in Uzbekistan we decided to book the Hyatt Regency Tashkent. The paid rate for our four nights would have been a steep $235+ per night.
However, this is only a Category 2 World of Hyatt property, and the hotel had Points + Cash availability. So I booked all four nights at the cost of 4,000 points plus $55 per night, which I’d consider to be an exceptional value.
We took a taxi from the airport to the Hyatt, which took about 15 minutes. The taxi driver initially wanted $20 for the ride, but Matthew negotiated it down to just $10, which we later learned was still way too much given how cheap Uzbekistan is.
The Hyatt Regency is on a huge gated property that almost feels like a government compound. There’s a quick security check before you enter, and then after a few turns you’ll find yourself in front of the main entrance.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent exterior
The hotel had a couple of metal detectors at the entrance, though they were never manned. So I found it a bit odd that they had them but didn’t use them, though I suppose it’s a sort of security theatre.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent entryway
Inside the lobby and to the right was reception, which had a beautiful, backlit mural behind it.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent reception
There I was welcomed by a friendly associate, who did a fantastic job confirming my World of Hyatt Globalist perks. I was informed I had been upgraded to a suite, would receive free breakfast in the restaurant, had access to the club lounge, received free internet, and was also offered late check-out.
Everyone at the hotel was incredibly hospitable, and they seemed genuinely delighted (and somewhat confused) to have guests visiting from the US. The Hyatt Regency is less than a year old, and has a spacious lobby where I spent quite a bit of time sitting and working.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent lobby
Hyatt Regency Tashkent lobby
Hyatt Regency Tashkent lobby
There’s a coffee bar on the opposite side of the lobby of reception, where I had a coffee or three over the course of our stay.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent lobby bar
The hotel has two sets of elevators depending on which wing of the hotel you’re staying in. Based on where my room was located, the best set of elevators for me was on the opposite side of the hotel of reception.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent lobby
My suite was located on the second floor, and upon exiting the elevators I turned right.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent elevators
Hyatt Regency Tashkent hallway
I was assigned room #244.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent room exterior
Hyatt Regency Tashkent floorplan
I had no expectations of the hotel coming in, but my suite was absolutely beautiful. There was an entryway with a half bathroom to the right.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite entryway
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite half bathroom
The room had a large living room with a couch and a chair, along with a desk with chair in the corner of the room.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite living room
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite living room
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite living room
Waiting on the living room table was a welcome amenity consisting of fresh fruit, nuts, and a bottle of Uzbek red wine.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent welcome amenity
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite welcome amenity
On the counter along the interior of the room was some bottled water and an Illy coffee machine.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent coffee & bottled water
Beneath that was the minibar.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent room minibar
Unfortunately the room just faced the interior of the hotel, given that it’s “U” shaped.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite view
Just as a point of comparison, below are the views from the center part of the hotel. Not bad, eh?
Hyatt Regency Tashkent views
There was a door connecting the living room to the bedroom, which featured a king size bed, as well as a chair in the corner by the window, both of which faced a wall-mounted TV.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite bedroom
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite bedroom sitting area
Under the TV was a long table with a chair that could double as a vanity.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite bedroom
The bathroom was along the interior of the room, down a small hallway.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite
The bathroom was spacious, and featured double sinks, a soaking tub, a large walk-in shower, and a partitioned off toilet.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite bathroom
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite toilet
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite bathtub
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite shower
Toiletries were from Portico, which I don’t love. I was under the impression that Hyatt was in the process of phasing these out, but I guess the hotel just has a really big supply.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent suite toiletries
The room was such a pleasant surprise. Wifi in my room was usable, though not fast. I know Matthew had some issues in his room, and Wi-Fi was also sometimes slow in the club lounge. One evening I had a real issue with the Wi-Fi speed, but otherwise it was fine.
Speaking of the club lounge, it was located on the sixth floor. Breakfast is served in the restaurant, so the club lounge is only open from 2PM until 10PM, so you can’t grab a coffee there mid-morning.
The lounge itself is a beautiful space, and was consistently empty. I think we saw maybe one or two other people there throughout our stay. The club lounge had a variety of seating options, ranging from couches to communal tables to dining tables.
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club
Whenever the lounge was open you could help yourself to soft drinks and coffee.
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club drinks
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club coffee machine
On top of that, there were cookies and whole fruit available throughout the day.
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club snacks
The evening reception was from 6PM until 8PM, and was perhaps the only disappointing aspect of the stay, as far as I’m concerned. There were two types of meat (there were no labels, but I suspect it was chicken and beef), some finger sandwiches, and dessert.
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club evening snacks
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club evening snacks
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club evening snacks
Then there were a few alcoholic drinks as well.
Hyatt Tashkent Regency Club evening drinks
This has to be one of the most disappointing Regency Club evening snack selections I’ve ever seen, including properties in the US (which are notorious for their stingy offerings). Ultimately that was fine, after the first evening we knew it wasn’t worth going to the club for the evening reception, though we still spent quite a bit of time there working, as it was a pleasant space physically. The whole setup just seems like a waste, since there were barely any Regency Club guests. I hope they at least let the hotel staff eat the food.
Interestingly right across from the club lounge was a nice patio. This didn’t actually seem to be part of the club lounge, but rather was just a smoking area.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent patio
Breakfast was served from 6:30AM until 10:30AM (11AM on weekends) in Khiva Cafe, the hotel’s signature restaurant. It’s located just off the lobby behind reception.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent Khiva Cafe
Hyatt Regency Tashkent Khiva Cafe
Hyatt Regency Tashkent Khiva Cafe
The hotel also has a patio, where we elected to sit most mornings. While it got hot during the day, the temperature was perfect in the mornings.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent Khiva Cafe patio
The breakfast selection was high quality and everything tasted great. I’ll let the pictures of the food mostly speak for themselves.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent breakfast buffet
Hyatt Regency Tashkent breakfast buffet
Hyatt Regency Tashkent breakfast buffet
Hyatt Regency Tashkent breakfast buffet
Hyatt Regency Tashkent breakfast buffet
Hyatt Regency Tashkent breakfast buffet
There was even sparkling wine included with the buffet.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent breakfast champagne
The cappuccino in the restaurant tasted great as well.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent breakfast cappuccino
In addition to the buffet, you could order omelets and waffles, both of which I tried over the course of our stay.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent breakfast omelet
Hyatt Regency Tashkent breakfast waffles
It’s also nice that the hotel offers a complimentary light breakfast in the lobby for those leaving early (before breakfast starts in the restaurant), including coffee, juice, water, fresh fruit, pastries, and yogurt. I’ve seen some hotels offer croissants and coffee early, but this was very impressive.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent early breakfast
One night we had dinner at Sette Pizza Bistro and Bar, which is the hotel’s Italian restaurant located on the seventh floor. When traveling, I’m sure I’m not the only one who occasionally needs some variety from whatever the local food is, no matter how much I like it.
The restaurant had a similar design to Khiva Cafe on the ground floor.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent Sette Pizza Bistro and Bar
The service in the restaurant was excellent, and we were offered some bread to start.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent Sette Pizza Bistro and Bar — bread
The prices in the restaurant were high — very high by local standards. So high, actually, that we were the only people in the restaurant. A pizza margherita cost $22, though tasted great. It was perhaps a bit oilier than I prefer, but still very good.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent Sette Pizza Bistro and Bar — salad
Hyatt Regency Tashkent Sette Pizza Bistro and Bar — pizza
While the meal wasn’t cheap, it was a nice change of pace from the food we were otherwise getting.
In terms of the hotel’s other features, the spa area was located on the seventh floor.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent spa reception
This included a 24/7 gym, which featured a good selection of equipment.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent gym
Hyatt Regency Tashkent gym
Hyatt Regency Tashkent gym
There was also a beautiful indoor pool, open daily from 6AM until 10PM.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent pool
Hyatt Regency Tashkent hot tub
The spa level also had a nice patio for guests.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent spa patio
Uzbekistan is probably the cheapest country I’ve ever been to, so I was shocked by the spa prices. An hour-long massage cost 120USD, which just seems crazy for a country like this. I know you pay inflated prices at chain hotels, but as a point of comparison, we stayed at the Hyatt in Dushanbe (a market I otherwise found to be comparably priced) which has the same GM, and spa treatments were less than a quarter of the price.
Hyatt Regency Tashkent bottom line
I didn’t have much in the way of expectations when I booked this place, other than being excited that there was a Hyatt in Uzbekistan, which I wasn’t necessarily expecting. However, this hotel really exceeded my expectations. It’s a physically beautiful hotel with great Globalist treatment, big suites, an excellent breakfast, friendly staff, and great facilities.
I really can’t emphasize enough how friendly almost every employee that we interacted with was. They all seemed incredibly eager to help, and also seemed genuinely excited to have visitors in their country from the US, since I really got the sense they didn’t get many of those. Several employees even mentioned to me how excited they were about the new nonstop flight from New York to Tashkent, which had just started a couple of weeks prior.
My only real criticism were the Wi-Fi speeds at times, and the disappointing evening club lounge selection.
But all around this is one of the more pleasantly surprising Hyatts I’ve stayed at. I’d highly recommend this property.
I traveled across the former Soviet Union (from the Soviet Far East to Moscow) back in 1976 and had a chance to make a side trip to Tashkent, but decided not to, which I regret. Perhaps I'll take the non-stop flight from NYC someday.
Regarding Lucky's critics who complain about where he stays and what he eats, I image that with his hotel and airline points he can stay at any of these chain...
I traveled across the former Soviet Union (from the Soviet Far East to Moscow) back in 1976 and had a chance to make a side trip to Tashkent, but decided not to, which I regret. Perhaps I'll take the non-stop flight from NYC someday.
Regarding Lucky's critics who complain about where he stays and what he eats, I image that with his hotel and airline points he can stay at any of these chain hotels for less then he could stay at the local non-chain hotels. What's wrong with that? I have lived 30+ years in the East Asia and have gone the native route, but today I prefer staying in nice hotels when I can do so, like Lucky, at almost no cost. It's my prerogative, and its his choice what he eats. You are not his conscience and your virtue signaling serves no purpose.
@JayLTX: Again, whether he stays at chain hotels or not isn't my point - I really don't give a rat's ass where he stays, and why everyone is focusing on the hotel is beyond me.
The issue was the pizza as the only meal highlighted on a four-night trip to Uzbekistan, having already complained about a lack of Uzbek food on his flight. This has zero to do with the hotel.
@Mike
I agree with Grant wholeheartedly, I've come to terms that Lucky will not stay at non-chain hotels unless he absolutely has to. This blog is all most miles and points, and that's just the way it is. I've seen many people over the years complain at how he always stay at chain hotels and not out there experience, but he has not changed and he will not change.
But I agree with your...
@Mike
I agree with Grant wholeheartedly, I've come to terms that Lucky will not stay at non-chain hotels unless he absolutely has to. This blog is all most miles and points, and that's just the way it is. I've seen many people over the years complain at how he always stay at chain hotels and not out there experience, but he has not changed and he will not change.
But I agree with your point as well, Lucky kept saying how cheap the country is but doesn't give any examples, so I still don't know wether $220/night at Hyatt is really outrageous expensive or just mildly more. I suppose I'll just have to read other blogs to find out.
@Airways and TRavels: "Wholeheartedly agree with Grant."
Except for the fact that your post completely disagrees with his, that is.
Wholeheartedly agree with Grant. He went all the way to Uzbekistan, but his trip review is totally irrelevant for any of us who might actually want to visit the country (which I did btw, and highly recommend). Reviewing Uzbekistan Airways - what value has that for the average points guy? And the Hyatt Regency Tashkent? Why not talking about the impressions of the country, or Bukhara, or Samarkand? This is the worst-written and thought-after report...
Wholeheartedly agree with Grant. He went all the way to Uzbekistan, but his trip review is totally irrelevant for any of us who might actually want to visit the country (which I did btw, and highly recommend). Reviewing Uzbekistan Airways - what value has that for the average points guy? And the Hyatt Regency Tashkent? Why not talking about the impressions of the country, or Bukhara, or Samarkand? This is the worst-written and thought-after report after the Azerbaijan one...
@Grant: "Ergo, he’s not going to review the Tashkent dirt motel that you fancy."
I've been reading this blog long enough to know that I'm not going to see a review of a place like that. Where your argument falls down in defending him, though, is that Lucky himself says that this is a blog about travel, not just a blog about points and miles (see the tagline if you need the proof of that)....
@Grant: "Ergo, he’s not going to review the Tashkent dirt motel that you fancy."
I've been reading this blog long enough to know that I'm not going to see a review of a place like that. Where your argument falls down in defending him, though, is that Lucky himself says that this is a blog about travel, not just a blog about points and miles (see the tagline if you need the proof of that).
Keeping that in mind, then, hyping up a trip to all of the Stans, and then talking only about a pizza you ate at the hotel once over the better part of a week there when you've previously complained about a lack of Uzbek food elsewhere, smacks more of "Hey, look at me!" than it does actually providing useful information about travel.
If that's what floats your boat, though, then more power to you.
It was chicken and horse. Your in Central Asia. They love them some horse.
@Mike - For better or for worse, Lucky is a points and miles blogger. If you've spent five minutes reading his stuff, you'd come to know this. He blogs about effective ways of earning points and redeeming them for the best value.
Ergo, he's not going to review the Tashkent dirt motel that you fancy.
After seeing your complaint about no Uzbek food on your flight to Tashkent, the pizza Margherita is a curious choice for a meal when you were actually in Tashkent.
It makes it kind of hard to take you seriously as a travel blogger.
@Lucky - Were you required to pay for the hotel bill in USD over the local currency? There's been a few articles on bloggers having to pay in USD and not being able to liquidate their remaining Uzbek currency.
@ VX_Flier -- Unfortunately had to pay in USD. :(
Pizza margherita, not margarita. It's not a cocktail.
And i can't believe that somebody would pay 22$ for a simple, plain margherita.
@Jim - owns pointspros a miles and points consulting site and also manages this blog.
You also seem to go considerable lengths in your reviews to tell us how much time you spend "working." Would you please clarify what exactly that means? Blogging/writing? Something esle?
At a rack rate of $235.00 per night, I'll bet that's more than a local Uzbek laborer makes in a month. And that pizza probably cost as much as his monthly grocery bill for a family of 4.
Nice looking property though, shows that the "stan" countries are coming into the modern age. The security is a bit concerning though - the fact they need it, that is...
The world is huge, has various sceneries. But you always stay at some chain hotels which look almost the same. Aren't you bored?