Tokyo for the New Year: Park Hyatt Zurich

Austrian Airlines Business Class Chicago to Vienna
Austrian Airlines Business Class Schengen Lounge Vienna
Austrian Airlines Regional Business Class Vienna to Prague
Turkish Airlines Regional Business Class Prague to Istanbul
Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul
Turkish Airlines Business Class Istanbul to Tokyo Narita
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Shinjuku Kuyakushomae Capsule Hotel
Ushigoro
Hilton Narita
Narita-san Shinsho-ji
Swiss Business Class Tokyo Narita to Zurich
Park Hyatt Zurich
Oneworld Lounge Zurich Airport
Swiss Business Lounge Zurich Airport
Austrian Airlines Regional Business Class Zurich to Vienna
Austrian Airlines Business Class Vienna to Chicago

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For my overnight layover in Zurich, I decided to spend the other free night certificate from my Chase Hyatt card at the Park Hyatt Zurich, which is now a category 7 hotel. The hotel was relatively easy to get to via train and tram.

Upon walking into the hotel, it definitely felt expensive and luxurious, but the service wasn’t quite as good as the service I experienced at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. There was nothing outwardly wrong with the service, but in general, things felt less polished, and the staff felt more inexperienced, so it’s not the same effortless magic that you can experience at other hotels.

I checked in at the front desk and was escorted to my room. The room was large for just myself, and there were multiple seating options and a large bathroom. There are sliding doors between the bathroom and the bedroom in addition to a normal door, so you can stare at someone taking a shower from the bedroom if you wish. I’m not sure why they do this?

The amenities in the bathroom were Blaise Mautin, just like at the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome, and when I called to ask for a shaving kit, it was promptly delivered by housekeeping. It was also an actual kit and much nicer than the normal stuff that comes stocked in rooms, so perhaps it’s better to have some toiletries on demand so they can invest more in them.

I explored the hotel’s amenities, and this part was definitely a bit of a letdown compared to the Park Hyatt Tokyo. The gym was rather small without much useful equipment (for me), though they did have a sauna. But it’s no iconic swimming pool and exercise rooms with sweeping views of the city.

Overall, this hotel was nice, and the downtown of Zurich is quite walkable so it has a good location. But I really don’t understand why people would pay the rack rate for the hotel, as most things about the hotel are nice but unremarkable, like the service and the amenities. Then again, Zurich is a ridiculously expensive city, so maybe it makes sense, but you’d be much better off spending your points at a different Park Hyatt.