Introduction

I suspect this post reveals something about the inner workings of my brain. But I guess that’s okay. I can explain everything. You see, way back in May, while I was in Tirana, I received a request to go to Brazil. And frankly, I’ll admit that I was rather vocal about my not wanting to go – as my tormented colleague R. will testify, who got the full brunt of my tantrum.

To soften the blow, I booked myself a ticket in La Première from Zürich to Sao Paolo. As the departure from Zürich to Paris would have been quite early, I also booked a night at the Zürich Airport Park Hyatt. Fast forward to November 2024 and the decision was taken to postpone Brazil – which meant I could blissfully cancel all my travel arrangements. But then I figured that I might as well keep the hotel in Zürich to do some Christmas shopping – as a way of celebrating no longer having to go to Brazil. And that’s how I ended up booking afternoon tea at the Park Hyatt and keeping my room reservation at the Hyatt Regency.

Accessing the Hotel

The Hyatt Regency is located in The Circle, which is a building complex that sits on the opposite side of the airport’s bus station and facing the terminal building. It’s not far and in easy walking distance to the terminal.

If you’re coming from the terminal, you’ll likely enter the hotel through the rear entrance in The Circle’s pedestrian zone.

The main entrance is out in front of the building, where there is also a driveway leading up to the hotel.

The Lobby

The hotel is completely deserted when I get there just after 19h00, which may help to explain why the room rate was dirt cheap when I booked, especially for a refundable rate.

The lobby is brightly lit. The space is dominated by a long winding sofa that snakes its way around the lobby. It’s not much to look at, but it’s rather comfortable.

The Room

I’ve booked the bog standard room, seeing as I wasn’t planning on spending any length of time in it when I made the reservation. The room is a good size. It’s very nicely finished, with partially paneled walls and a bare wooden floor. What is immediately noticeable in the room, is that there are no decorations or pictures. What there is, though, is probably the biggest video screen I’ve ever seen in a hotel room!

The room has a good amount of storage space and a nice, large working desk. There are twin beds, and at the foot of each bed is a small divan and a table, which I think is a nice touch and also convenient.

The bathroom is decked out in what I think is real granite. There is no bath, only a walk-in shower. And I must say, it passes the Knight of Malta flood test with flying colours. Not a single drop of water leaks from the shower. I approve! The cosmetics are by a brand I’ve never heard of, but they smell nice – sweet, but not overly so.

The only drawback is that the room doesn’t have much of a view and looks out into a nondescript courtyard. So, if it’s the airport or airplane views you look for in an airport hotel, you may perhaps want to consider going elsewhere.

Amenities

There is a kettle and a Nespresso machine in the room. Tea and coffee are complimentary, as is the bottle of still water. The tea is by Sirocco, which is a Swiss company that makes excellent tea. There’s also a minibar in the room, which is empty, though. Slippers and bathrobes are also provided.

Babel Restaurant

Babel is the main restaurant and specialises in Middle Eastern cuisine and Lebanese mezze. On this visit, I only have the breakfast, which is included in the room rate. Breakfast is a buffet. In addition, there are more dishes that can be ordered with the staff, so I decide to try the shakuka, which is a dish of eggs cooked in a tangy tomato gravy.

Zürich Airport Zauberpark

During the month of December, Zürich Airport is host to the Zauberpark – The Magic Park. Essentially, it’s an outdoor exhibition of sound and light installations. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much when I decided to go check it out. In hindsight, though, I have to say it’s actually rather cool to walk through the installations in the dark.

Conclusion

As far as airport hotels go, the Zürich Airport Park Hyatt is certainly among the nicer ones I’ve visited. It’s very clean and well kept, and the rooms are large and spacious.