Grand Hyatt Macau

First impressions are everything, and in modern-mad Macau, that's especially the case. With a futuristic glass exterior defined by its fast-looking lines, the Grand Hyatt Macau is a contemporary hotel that sparkles both inside and out. This is a massive property, with 800 rooms spread across two towers and all manner of public spaces and lounges for guests to mingle, relax, or simply pass through on their way to any number of business meetings taking place on-site. The hotel is part of the City of Dreams complex, a lifestyle destination that's essentially a mall, with entertainment, dining, and drinking just downstairs. Ceilings soar, there is polished marble everywhere, and shimmery gold and silver accents in the lobby add a dash of glitz to an otherwise fairly corporate-style luxury property. The atmosphere is sharp and refined throughout, from the the two posh restaurants to the more laid-back lobby lounge. The hotel attracts a large number of business travelers due to its own event facilities and proximity to other luxury, corporate-friendly hotels in the Cotai Strip, but plenty of well-heeled tourists, including families and couples, stay here as well, drawn by the brand's reliable style.

This luxury hotel is
located in the City of Dreams complex along with Crown Tower Hotel and Hard
Rock Hotel. The complex is swish and high-end, with all manner of luxury boutiques and shops, plenty of dining options, and even a casino. The Cotai Strip, which holds the Grand Hyatt and the City of Dreams, is also home to many other top-notch hotels and casinos. Taipa Village is a touristy historic quarter that offers a blend of local and Portuguese cultures as well as the Tapia Homes Museum -- it's about five-minutes away from the hotel by road. The lion's share of Macau's most interesting sights, and its most lively neighborhoods, are across the harbor. It will take about 20 minutes to reach destinations like the historic Ruins of St. Paul's and the oldest parts of the city by car or taxi. There's a free shuttle to the city center (around
a 25-minute drive) along with Macau International Airport and the ferry terminal (both around a 10-minute drive from the hotel). From there, it's a one-hour ferry ride to Hong Kong. 

Bright, spacious rooms have a sleek, contemporary look defined by white walls, warm wood accents, and plenty of large windows. Decor is kept to a minimum -- in fact, it may look plain to some -- but the overall feeling is serene and uncluttered. You're getting a lot of space here, with even the entry level Deluxe Rooms offering 52 square meters (560 square feet) of room in which guests can spread out and relax. Expect to see alternating use of off-white carpets and hardwood floors, hardwood furniture that almost has a mod look to it, and soft golden-orange accents alongside sharp charcoal gray in the soft furnishings. Many rooms have separate
bedrooms, and there are artsy touches like the white, decorative headboard above the beds in the Deluze Room that we saw. All rooms have large 42-inch flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, safes, minibars, Nespresso machines, and free Wi-Fi. Marble and mosaic-tile bathrooms are sleek and modern, with basin sinks, rainfall showers, and separate soaking tubs. Bathrobes and June Jacobs
toiletries are provided. Suites are available with extra luxuries including in-room
elliptical machines and soaking tubs next to floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests
staying in Club Rooms are entitled to a host of additional out-of-room perks detailed below.

The hotel offers plenty of features that include great dining options, and for those who want even more to chose from, the City of Dreams complex is attached. The two posh on-site restaurants at Grand
Hyatt Macau -- Beijing Kitchen and mezza9 --  earn good reviews for their cuisine, and there’s a lobby lounge
where guests can grab a drink. At Beijing Kitchen, Beijing Style Duck and hand-pulled noodles are served in a homey dining space with brick walls and artfully arranged traditional potery. At mezza9, guests can watch their Thai food being prepared in the show kitchen. Guests staying in Grand Club Rooms rooms have access to the Grand Club Lounge with its outdoor terrace on the 37th floor. It's an attractive space bordered by a wall of leafy bamboo and panoramic windows. Grand Club guests are entitled to a free breakfast, but other guests must pay for breakfast. There’s a spacious, 24-hour fitness center
with modern equipment and a spa offering massage and facial treatments. The hotel has a large, outdoor infinity pool surrounded by palm trees and lounge chairs with umbrellas where guests can relax. Tennis courts are also available. There are extensive facilities for business guests or those planning events like weddings, including two meeting
rooms and two ballrooms. The hotel offers
free parking and a free shuttle to the city center and airport. Wi-Fi is free throughout.