On a long overnight transfer to Dubai, I chose to stay at Hyatt Place Dubai Al Rigga and was completely shocked at the upgrade I received.
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Location
The hotel is located a short drive from Dubai International Airport (DXB) which cost around $15 in a taxi when I left the airport around midnight. The property is not in the heart of town but was convenient for my needs.
Address: Al Rigga Road near Rigga Metro Station – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 4 608 1234
Google Maps link
Goods
The property has an incredible lobby, beautiful decor and hallways, and a fitness center. There is a swimming pool but given my very short stay, I was not able to use it during my visit.
Benefits of World of Hyatt
I was greeted at check-in as a World of Hyatt Globalist and offered the benefits associated with my status. I would leave the hotel six hours later, 30 minutes before the start of breakfast. Like all other Hyatt Place hotels, complimentary breakfast is available to all guests. It seemed to be more substantial than other properties, but it was just a way to rest for a few hours between flights, but in a bed and not at the airport terminal.
The main benefit I received was a substantial upgrade. We have both standard hotel rooms and apartments which the front desk offered me as a suite upgrade. The upgrade was definitely the best I have ever found at a Hyatt Place anywhere in the world. On the dining room table, a welcome gift was waiting for me.
For what it’s worth, our credit card link currently offers the World of Hyatt credit card with which you can earn up to 60,000 bonus points, good for up to 12 nights at this property. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (same link) also offers 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points right now that can be transferred to Hyatt (1:1 transfer rate) among more than a dozen other partners.
After
When reception said I had been upgraded to an apartment, I assumed it was just a different translation of ‘suite’. It was not. This apartment has been fully fitted with a guest bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom and master bathroom. If we were to stay in Dubai for a week with family, this would be an ideal location.
Kitchen
The apartment opens onto the kitchen on the right and the guest bathroom on the left. The kitchen is surprisingly complete and open to the living room. There was a washer and dryer in the kitchen making it possible to live in this apartment for as long as needed.
The living room
After the kitchen and the dining room table, a large living room opened up. In the background, bay windows opened onto the city. It is worth saying that the ceiling was incredibly high and the whole layout of the room was spacious. The sofa converts into a trundle bed for additional guests. There’s also a large flat-screen TV and dressers for those settling in for an extended stay.
Room
The bedroom is separated by a door (unique to Hyatt Place properties in general) and allows for privacy and separation of sleeping and common areas.
A pair of wardrobes and a chest of drawers are in the bedroom as well as another television. I received a comfortable king size bed and plenty of outlets on either side of the bed.
Bathrooms
Upon entering the apartment I mentioned a guest bathroom which had a toilet and vanity but no additional shower.
The main bathroom had a large glass shower (not over the tub, which I appreciate), a vanity and a toilet. As is customary in this part of the world, a sprayer was also available in both toilets.
Value
For my purposes, the Hyatt Place Dubai Al Rigga offered exceptional value in both points redemption and cash booking. In this case, I used cash for a rate of $86 USD/night or 5,000 World of Hyatt points. At LiveAndLetsFly, our target value for WOH points is 2¢/point, and since it was a bit cheaper in cash, I opted to use that. I’ve seen rates as low as $47/night, so while you can use points, if the rates are that cheap, use cash to pay for your stay.
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