We were planning to visit Dubai, primarily, with our Etihad First Apartment suites awards. But after taking an 8 and 7 hour flight, and arriving around 1 a.m. local time in the U.A.E. with a five year old I didn’t relish the idea of a further 75 minute drive.

I thought that a bit of decompression time might be in order, and booked a couple of nights at the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, paying 21,000 Hyatt points per night and applying a confirmed suite upgrade.

Paying for a ‘full night’ when arriving at a hotel around 2 a.m. always feels like I’m cheating myself, but that’s too early for an “early arrival” without paying that night.

Most people don’t realize that early check-in is actually an official benefit of Hyatt Globalist status, but it’s not before 9 a.m. and requires a room to be available (if it isn’t, then a globalist is entitled to the first available room in the category that they’ve booked). I remember first learning this about a dozen years ago and practically slapped my forehead like in a V8 commercial.

My immediate reaction pulling up to the hotel is what a gorgeous hard product it is. That was true when I stayed here a decade ago, but the property has aged very well. In terms of service and food, the property is actually way better than a decade ago. I loved this short stay.

We were the only guests around in the middle of the night but the hotel was properly staffed and we were greeted on arrival in the driveway and helped at the check-in desk where there were two staff members waiting. They fully understood that I wanted an expedited check-in and to get to the room right away (better would have been in-suite check-in, to be honest).

We’d been booked into a Park Suite, which is 1,076 square feet and a standard suite (and the room I’d received on my last stay here). However we were further upgraded to the 50% larger Panoramic Ocean View Suite. And Oh. My. Gosh. the suite was beautiful, and that’s even in darkness before seeing the views in the morning and having a look at the tremendous outdoor deck.

Entering the suite, there was a kitchen followed by a large dining area and living room. It was both massive and gorgeous.

The kitchen area was pre-stocked with plenty of water bottles (I’d mentioned my preference for this ahead of time to the hotel). There was also a welcome treat with chocolates and with fresh coconut water.

The room had a large bedroom with comfortable bed. They also pre-set up a large bed for our daughter in the room.

A long closet connected the kitchen and entryway with the bedroom and the master bathroom (there was also a small bathroom in the entryway, next to the kitchen).

The bathroom was large with dual sinks and tub in the open, and separate toilet and shower rooms.

But the masterpiece was the large deck with direct views of the water, and wraparound balcony offering a panorama of the resort.

On property for less than 36 hours, we didn’t make it into Abu Dhabi on this stay. We slept, ate, hung out by the pool, went to dinner on property and simply relaxed to start our trip. We’d have plenty to do in Dubai and in London.

And with this room it was perfectly comfortable just staying in, except when strolling the beautiful grounds of the hotel. For instance, pool service was good, with prompt towels and offers of refreshments.

For dinner my daughter picked the Italian restaurant, and it was surprisingly excellent.

Here’s something that’s really spectacular. On my last stay I thought that the breakfast buffet here was only alright, and that the Park Hyatt Dubai’s was better, they offer Globalist free breakfast via room service as an option. In fact no bill is even brought with breakfast if ordered before 11 a.m. (though breakfast itself is available 24 hours).

Grounds at the resort are beautiful.

We didn’t make it down to the beach, but from afar it looked lovely. The Park Hyatt occupies a privileged spot on Saadiyat Island, away from the city but not too far.

Soon enough our 36 hours of relaxing after flying from Austin to London to Abu Dhabi was done, and it was time to head off to the Park Hyatt Dubai where we had more on our agenda.

Despite the brevity of our visit, and not taking advantage of everything the hotel had to offer, I have to say that I loved my stay at the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi. The hotel still feels new and modern, service was excellent, and Globalist treatment unbeatable – from a confirmed suite upgrade and further upgrade, to complimentary breakfast via room service without so much as bringing a bill. I’d gladly return, in fact coming back for a longer stay is now top of mind.