Review: Grand Hyatt Hong Kong’s relaxing and indulgent 24-hour staycation

Treating your loved ones to a quick getaway — especially to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries — is a fabulous idea, but it takes a considerable amount of time to plan and it’s not always easy to find the time to get away, especially when you live amongst the hustle and bustle of our city’s busy lifestyle. Fortunately, some of our favourite hotels keep busy locals in mind, offering packages designed for harried Hongkongers who have a special occasion to celebrate — or just need to relax. With that in mind, we recently tried out one such option: Grand Hyatt Hong Kong‘s Escape 24 staycation package.

From now through 30 December 2017, Hong Kong residents can indulge in this 24-hour vacation at the 5-star hotel, which includes checking into a luxurious Grand Deluxe Harbour Room; access to either the Grand Club or a HK$1,000 spending credit for food, beverage and Plateau Spa treatments; complimentary parking for one vehicle per stay; and access to the 50-metre outdoor heated pool and 24-hour fitness studio. Intrigued? Here’s the full review of our 24-hour staycation experience.

Checking In

While it’s standard practice for hotels to set mandatory check-in and check-out times to sort out room allocations efficiently, it can be rather annoying as a guest to arrange your entire schedule around them. Sure, you can always check-in at a later hour if you must, but your expected check-out time will remain unchanged, possibly leaving you with the feeling you haven’t got your money’s worth from the experience.

With Escape 24, you decide when you want to arrive, and your 24-hour experience begins from the moment you check-in. Simply notify the hotel representative of your estimated arrival time when you make your booking, and they’ll have someone waiting to greet you — a perfect arrangement for those who, like me, prefer to start slow on a day-off.

For my experience, I chose to check in at 5pm on a Saturday, which left me plenty of time to sleep-in and have a late lunch before slowly heading over to the hotel to begin my birthday staycation. Upon arrival, a representative was already waiting for me by the entrance, and guided me straight to the counter for registration. That’s when I realised the bonus advantage of deciding when to check-in: avoiding the hotel’s rush hours. No one else was checking-in or out (standard check-in and check-out times at Grand Hyatt are 2pm and noon), meaning no queues or crowds, and the check-in process was smooth and stress-free.

The Room

This staycation package includes a 24-hour stay at the hotel’s Grand Deluxe Harbour Room, which is amongst the premium rooms located on floors 30 to 36. Guests who stay in these rooms will enjoy a breathtaking view of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline and Victoria Harbour.

To reach these rooms, I had to switch to a different lift on the 30th floor, one that only serves guests staying on that level or higher. Since I was there for my birthday weekend, a colourful display of balloons and handwritten cards was waiting for me as I stepped into the room. I later learned that these special greetings were prepared by the hotel’s guest experience team, and they can be arranged for all guests who choose to celebrate their birthdays and anniversaries at the hotel — a great touch if you’re looking to treat your loved ones on their special days. Just make sure you notify the hotel staff in advance of your stay.

On another note: For those who may be concerned about being disturbed by the MTR construction site just outside the hotel, rest assured that at such a height, you’ll hardly even notice it.

All-Day Refreshments

Located on the 30th and 31st floors, the Grand Club is a luxurious, two-storey living space that exclusively caters to suite and club floor guests. There, you can enjoy a sumptuous menu that’s available throughout the day (for a maximum of two guests per room), which is a great option considering that the Escape 24 package already includes access to the outdoor pool and fitness studio. Simply stop by to enjoy a quick pick-me-up between activities, as you make your way back to your room.

While there are light refreshments such as Champagne, fresh juice, coffee and tea, as well as fresh fruits and nibbles that you can enjoy all day, there’s also a dedicated cocktail section from 5:30pm to 7:30pm every evening, when you can mix your own concoctions accompanied by an array of small treats. My favourite, however, was the Continental breakfast. On top of a buffet, it also includes three daily specials on the menu, all made to order including options such as XO sauce rice rolls (a.k.a. cheong fun) and wonton noodles.

Dining

After enjoying a drink or two during cocktail hour at the Grand Club, head to Grissini for a taste of traditional Italian cuisine. While their famous freshly-baked breadsticks are most certainly to die for, try your best to save room for the extensive summer menu, designed by chef Alessandro Cozzolino to bring “sunny Italian days” to you. Even the complimentary birthday “cake” captures an authentic Italian summer vibe, featuring green apples breathing in fumes of dry ice — and of course, a birthday greeting — to offer a great visual for a photo (also complimentary, provided by the restaurant).

Verdict

Exclusive to HKID holders, Grand Hyatt’s Escape 24 staycation package (HK$2,800 + 10% service charge) is a great way to indulge yourself and your loved one with a relaxing and indulgent escape from the hustle and bustle, all without having to go through the trouble of travelling and, potentially, the jet lag.

Though the Grand Club offers all-day refreshments for you to lounge about anytime you fancy, we recommend choosing the HK$1,000 spending credit, which allows you to roam freely and test out different wine and dine facilities within the hotel. If you’re more of a beauty guru, a spa treatment is a great choice, too. We highly suggest you to check out the hotel’s summer treatment package for a great deal.

Other than Escape 24, there’s also a Celebrate Romance staycation package at Grand Hyatt that includes even more benefits that specifically cater to lovebirds looking for a sweet celebration.

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, +852 2584 7038