Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay

This was the most relaxing, enjoyable work trip I've had, and the resort is gorgeous. There's a huge range of things to do, including mini golf, a giant chess board, indoor and outdoor pools, multiple hot tubs, docks, walking trails, golf, and more. The hotel is huge too, with lots of places to get food. Our large corner room had water views, windows on two walls, a balcony, mini fridge, and coffee maker. It was well appointed and very clean. I was disappointed there was no microwave in the room, since I always bring oatmeal for breakfast. There are two in the common area by the cafe, but for this room price I'd expect one in the room, as that's usually standard. I did spot a stain on the mattress pad through the sheet before bed, but the front desk sent a housekeeper within 15 minutes to change the whole bed. The housekeeper also left an apology on our voicemail the next day. The bathroom sinks and shower drained slowly, and there was a little rust around the caulk at the base of the toilet. A few small things need attention, but I appreciated that the room was clean overall.

We just finished our millionth trip to the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay. Our kids, ages 12, 11, 8, and 4, call it our "second home". It's always a great family time, with something for everyone. Arielle at the front is incredible and always helps us with whatever we need, and the whole staff is great. Jess, who runs the entertainment, is unbelievable. She made a very rainy Memorial Day Weekend fun for the little kids with endless indoor activities. The lifeguards and kids club staff are so kind. The whole time you're there, you feel relaxed, like you've flown off to a faraway resort. We can't wait to come back in a few weeks.

The waterfront setting and views are lovely, which is why my family and I have kept coming back several times a year. We live in Annapolis and have visited for more than 19 years; our kids grew up enjoying the facilities. But things have steadily gone downhill, especially in the restaurants. Chairs are torn, some are broken, and the patio door is broken too. The staff seem undertrained: a waiter didn’t know what Old Bay was when my wife asked for it with her crab soup, and the bartenders don’t know basic recipes. Anyone in Maryland knows Old Bay, so that was shocking. I’m not sure whether the Hyatt was sold to an investment group that doesn’t know how to run a resort, or whether another company is managing the restaurants or lobby bar. Whatever the arrangement, it’s strangely hard to find anyone in charge when you ask for a manager. We keep hoping the place will improve, but it hasn’t, and we’ll probably have to find somewhere else soon. I hope management makes changes.

The food didn’t quite feel worth the price, though the breakfast pastries were delicious. Everything else made for a relaxing, memorable stay, and we’d definitely return. My daughters and I loved the clean, well-kept property and excellent service. The kids had fun at the pool, hot tub, and game room, and we enjoyed walking along the little beach collecting rocks.