Last month, when my daughter was visiting from Houston, I thought a lazy afternoon at the Grand Hyatt pool, including lunch and cocktails, would be a novel experience for the two of us and my son, as we have already experienced pretty much everything Park City has to offer. Although I live in a development with a lovely pool, there is no food and beverage service.
The Grand Hyatt Deer Valley is the first building completed at the new Expanded Deer Valley. It is so new, in fact, that when I asked my son (who was raised in Park City) to meet us there, he drove towards Snow Park Lodge, completely forgetting about this new side of Deer Valley.
Rooms at the Grand Hyatt start at just $199/night for Utah residents, but we didn’t want to spend the night. We wanted a daycation, not a staycation, for this trip.
A Poolside Daybed, Craft Cocktails & A Delicious Lunch
There is a wonderful free app called Resort Pass, which allows you to book day passes at resorts around the world. There are a few options in Park City, but I wanted to visit the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, since I heard that their pool menu included signature craft cocktails by James Beard Finalist Water Witch, my favorite bar in Salt Lake City. I decided to splurge and book a Pool Daybed.
When you visit with Resort Pass, you get free valet parking. The staff guided us to our daybed at the pool. A waiter soon brought over an ice chest with cold water and a delicious fruit plate. My daughter, Whitney, and I made a quick study of the cocktails. She ordered an espresso martini, and I ordered “The Sunspell,” a kind of spicy and smoky margarita. My son chose a mocktail with ginger beer.
The food menu offered some great choices, and the prices were pretty reasonable, considering we were poolside at a luxury hotel. Whitney ordered chicken fried rice served in a pineapple, Lance had his usual burger and fries, and I opted for the salmon Caesar salad. Everything was delicious.
My kids and I enjoyed a great afternoon, laughing and joking. When it was time to leave, we drove back to my house, showered and changed there, fed the dog, and joined our friends for dinner in Oakley. If you are looking for a getaway without going anywhere, then check out the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley. You will come back feeling pampered and refreshed.