18 Underrated Hyatts You’ll Love: Affordable Luxury That Exceeds Your Expectations
Hearing an interesting discussion about the most underrated Hyatt got me thinking about underrated and best hotels. I love the Park Hyatts in the Maldives, Abu Dhabi, and Paris, and very few people consider them underrated. They are frequently discussed and are very good, but they also have a fair amount of recognition.
Park Hyatt Maldives Reef Residences
On the other hand, you can also find hidden gems in non-resort cities where you can save money with points (e.g. Thompson Madrid, Andaz Prague, Park Hyatt Jakarta).
Many lower-category hotels outside the U.S., despite offering a luxurious experience, often sit in surprisingly low award categories (Park Hyatt Chennai, Hyatt Regency Doha are Category 1) . That’s because the category is determined by room rates and is located in a cheaper market with high overall quality standards.
Park Hyatt Chennai
Some locations have a strong family following, including Hyatt Place Cabo, Lost Pines near Austin, and Hana Maui, but each offers a different level of atmosphere and amenities.
“Underrated” is either (1) a luxury hotel in the category with surprisingly low points, or (2) a solid hotel in a city/resort area that people rarely talk about but consistently exceeds expectations. It means a nondescript hotel. Underrating means different things to different guests, so it’s important to understand what’s causing the rating and whether it matches what you’re looking for.
hidden gem
luxury for less
It doesn’t get talked about much because it offers something that is not popular with most guests
clean and cheap accommodation
Some of the notable properties are listed below.
Hyatt Place Cabo (San Jose del Cabo) Good restaurants, grocery store, swimmable beach (a rarity in Cabo), decent free breakfast, Category 1 only so only $5,000 a night at the midpoint, so you can do Cabo without doing anything. Enjoy affordable ways to pay resort fees and all-inclusive rates. But this is not a resort! Hana Maui Resort (Hawaii) Secluded and quiet setting away from the tourist crowds, oceanfront bungalows with stunning views, relaxing atmosphere, 24-hour pool, and friendly staff. For some, it’s the best or most relaxing option in Hyatt’s Hawaii portfolio. But when it folded into Hyatt, I looked at it and dismissed it because it needed renovations to even put air conditioning in the rooms. Hyatt Regency Amsterdam Less touristy, but close to the main attractions, offers a very generous breakfast buffet, and even has a club lounge, often overshadowed by the Andaz Amsterdam. I chose this place last year because the rooms are bigger than Andaz. They also gave us a temporary room when our suite wasn’t ready before our check-in time. There are lots of great reports about Elite Upgrade Treatments here. I thought it was great overall.
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines (near Austin, TX) Great for families (lots of activities), beautiful grounds, 40 minutes from downtown Austin, and 10-15 minutes from the airport (not in heavy traffic). Our rates may be higher, but we still value points and are keen to upgrade to a junior suite, which is a true suite. My daughter really likes the kids club.
Thompson Madrid Great city location, good breakfast, stylish hotel. In fact, I’ve found Thompson’s to be consistently good. While guests loved the ground-floor restaurant breakfast, several said the Globalist rooftop breakfast felt “mediocre.” Andaz Prague Gorgeous design, great breakfast (Czech Benedict, etc.), centrally located, and not as over-hyped as other famous Andaz hotels. Some of Europe’s Lindner hotels (Prague, Cologne) are category 1 hotels, with great city center locations, good breakfasts and good overall value. Hyatt Regency Vancouver (Canada) Good location downtown, great staff, decent breakfast, pretty standard Regency but I’ve had good experiences there myself and tip is included in the breakfast bill for the Globalist. I love that I’m here.
Park Hyatt Mendoza (Argentina) I’m not sure if it’s a good fit for the brand, but considering the pricing, it works very well. A luxurious building, centrally located, the casino is hidden away so it does not affect the atmosphere of the hotel. Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay (Montenegro) Beautiful beach, pool with beautiful views of the Bay of Kotor. Perhaps how much will travel from Americans to Montenegro cost?Similarly, I’m looking forward to the opening of the Hyatt Regency Zadar in Croatia this year. Park Hyatt Jakarta (Indonesia) Great suite, great breakfast, first class service, category 4. Hôtel du Palais Biarritz (France) Old palace, luxurious setting, close to the beach, indoor and outdoor pools, sumptuous breakfast/brunch including champagne and lobster. Commenters call it a great “splurge” or treat. It is rarely mentioned in normal discussions. Hyatt Place Bangkok (Thailand) Category 1 or around $100 per night, very clean rooms, decent breakfast, good location. It’s not “spectacular”, but it’s great value – something you can find at many cheaper brands in Bangkok (Holiday Inn, etc.). Hyatt Regency Doha (Qatar) Even the best brands like Mandarin Oriental are surprisingly affordable in Doha, especially out of season, so getting a solid brand (which is often expensive in the area to begin with) It will be of great value. This Category 1 semi-luxury hotel exceeds most expectations, with an extensive pool and spa, and an excellent breakfast.
And Doha is actually worth a stop (although I don’t think it’s worth it for a long stay). It’s worth 36 hours just to visit the Museum of Islamic Art. This was IM Pei’s last major design, and he rejected all proposed locations and built an artificial island creating a spectacular approach underwater. The objects of everyday life from the 12th century are well worth a look (although you can sample them at the airport if you can’t make it to Doha, as the objects are on display at Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa Lounge).
Park Hyatt Chennai (India) Great as a Category 1 with great suites and breakfast. When I stayed there, I paid $99 a night, had a nice suite, and had a Globalist breakfast served as a buffet or room service. And the spa was great and very cheap. However, you can hear the cars below from the rooftop infinity pool.
Hyatt Regency Bali Sanur Beachfront, multiple pools, all-day club lounge for globalists, and an on-site turtle sanctuary. Although considered a solid Bali option with good perks, I tend to look for extreme experiences over solid value when traveling to the other side of the world. Alila Jabal Akhdar (Oman) Dramatic mountain locations, ultra-luxury experiences, Oman doesn’t get much attention. Some call it the top five Hyatt in the world. Haven’t visited yet. Hyatt Regency Rochester (New York) Here’s what I disagree with. The bar was OK, but I thought the establishment was pretty mediocre. Not a great area, but the Starbucks on the ground floor had several aggressive homeless people clashing with staff when I was there. This hotel is located downtown, near the river, and some say it was “better than expected.”
What are the most underrated Hyatts? And what category do they fit into? Are they great value, better than expected, or some other reason?
