The Hyatt Regency Kathmandu is somewhat of an oasis surrounded by a hectic city. We used this as our base before and after our hiking trip in the Annapurna range. We spent one night here after our Drukair flight and our time in Bhutan. Here we met our outfitter, and got our permits before starting our hiking trip.
After our hiking adventure, we returned to the Hyatt Regency before flying home. We had 2 nights on the return to allow for some buffer in case of weather or other delays. Thankfully this was not needed, so we had time to relax and explore more in Kathmanudu. The 3 nights we spent were all booked on points. Cash rates aren’t that expensive for a 5 star hotel, (in excess of US$220) but are very much high end for Kathmandu. Since the hotel is a Category 1 property within World of Hyatt program, we used 5,000 points per night.
The hotel is close the the airport, and walking distance to several UNESCO Heritage sites. Upon our arrival we checked in in the Regency club, relaxed for a bit, and then went to the Boudhanath Stupa, a large Buddhist temple. I’ll discuss more Kathmandu sightseeing in another post. Continuing a theme on this trip, for both stays we were upgraded to a large suite. Again, we booked a room with 2 beds, but got a free upgrade to a large suite with only a king sized bed. Here we had a rollaway bed, and had plenty of space. I’m not certain of the room type we were assigned, while it is not the presidential suite, it is on the same floor, and no exact room type matches what is shown on the hotel website.
Hyatt Regency Kathmandu suite
We had the same room (701) for both of our stays, located on the 7th floor, just above the Regency Club. The hotel website shows several types of suites, none of which match the room we had. Our room is not the large presidential Suite, presumably room 703, but it is larger than the other suites listed.
While the room had lots of space, the layout is a bit unusual. The bathroom is large, the bedroom is pretty typical, and there is also a desk and various areas with storage space. The most unique feature is probably the large patio with a city view. Monsoon season, so intermittent rain, and we didn’t really hang out in our room that much, but it was nice to have this space, especially to air out some clothes after returning from our trek.
The room has more than enough space for our needs, and is perfectly nice, but not particularly modern or in the best repair. Everything seems to be in working order, but clearly there hasn’t been a major renovation in a while. The bathroom has maroon colored tile on the walls and floor, a large jacuzzi tub, and a separate shower.
Near the entrance there is some local art, and then around the corner is a desk and a built in dresser.
The bedroom has a king sized bed, 2 closets, and a couch, plus a tv. In our case, we put a rollaway bed here as well. There are windows facing the city, and glass doors to the patio.
Waiting in our room was a small fruit basket, some 1 liter bottles of water and some sweets. Nice to see the welcome amenity isn’t totally gone everywhere in Hyatt world.
These sweets were tasty enough. Basically a doughnut, and a chocolate macaron type thing. Same exact thing both times we checked in.
Regency Club
The Regency club is a really nice spot. Service there is excellent, and we checked in and checked out here. I also arranged for airport transfer, which is included thanks to my Globalist status. Breakfast is served here, but also available in the restaurant on the ground floor. There are snacks offered throughout the day, and the evening there are free drinks and canapes. The evening food spread is pretty elaborate, and it could certainly suffice as a full meal. There seem to be nightly specialty offerings, and the staff seemed to want to have us try most everything. We tried to oblige.
I apologize for the lack of photos of the club. The service was so attentive, I didn’t feel like having the conversation with staff as to why I was taking so many photos.
Public Spaces
The lobby has shops, and across the driveway, there is a casino. I didn’t explore either. We stored some baggage with the bell staff between our stays while out hiking. Since we used the club for checking in, we didn’t do much in the lobby other than pass through on our way in and out of the hotel. There is some interesting artwork, including replicas of many of the temples around Kathmandu.
I also enjoyed this sculpture:
The hotel is located on a large landscaped area, and has an excellent pool. The gym is well equipped, along with a spa on site.
Dining options
As for dining, there are several options. Generally, I avoid dining in hotels when possible other than for breakfast. The Cafe is an international restaurant, and where a diverse breakfast is served. We opted to take breakfast here instead of the lounge.
The selection was extensive, with countless western, local, and Indian options available. There is a wide range of seating options, and we sat outside, overlooking the pool. Based on how busy breakfast was, I presume breakfast here is included in many rates. In any case, the area is large, and service is attentive.
Besides The Cafe, Rox restaurant and bar serves dinner mostly Italian cuisine, and a lobby lounge offering afternoon tea and cocktails in the evening.
Final thoughts
For 5000 World of Hyatt points per night, I got great value out of our stays here. The extra large suite upgrade was a nice plus, and the Regency Club and breakfast in The Cafe are excellent. The location of the hotel isn’t in the city center, but it isn’t too difficult to get around Kathmandu, other than rush hours as traffic can be a mess. While there are certainly cheaper options for cash prices, for a category 1 redemption, I’d happily return to the Hyatt Regency on future trips.
