Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa

The resort experience I wanted turned out to be a cheap-looking hotel, and the trip was not cheap. I found less expensive hotels by the beach, and I wouldn't recommend this one or return. It was our first wedding anniversary, and I had been promised a bottle of champagne in the room. There was none when we arrived. Our room looked old and hadn't been cleaned; the toilet paper holder was hanging off the wall. Both pools were so packed with kids that I couldn't use them. Trash sat by the jacuzzi for days, along with cigars and whiskey glasses that weren't cleaned up. Pool towels weren't available until 11 am. I was by the pool at 9 am trying to get two chairs before everyone else. I could go on and on. We were extremely disappointed.

I like that the property is near the Bay Area in a quiet spot, and the location is good with a lot of space. The rooms are clean, the linens are high quality, and having two restrooms in a suite is great. The breakfast buffet is a highlight for some guests with hotel status. Still, the carpet and decor make the place look dated, and many building entrances don't require a key card, which feels concerning these days. I really wish Hyatt would update the whole facility.

For families, this is our favorite Hyatt resort. We've tried quite a few Hyatt locations around the Bay Area, but we keep coming back. The grounds are great, with a game area for ping-pong and bocce, plus swimming, pickleball, and evening smores. The amenities have what we need, and a room near the pool makes it easier to go back and forth with kids. The breakfast buffet at Sea Root is the best. My kids loved the juicer. Carl's section is the one to ask for: he's easily the best server we've had in a while, kept our coffee warm, and did magic tricks for the kids. Cruz helped with our stay and accommodations, too. He's friendly, patient, caring, and understanding, and worked hard to make things enjoyable without being pretentious. He sorted out every request we had. We were so happy to spend spring break there and highly recommend it.

The juice bar was my favorite part of breakfast and really the whole stay. It's such a nice, unusual touch. I'd gladly pay an extra fee to have it open 24/7, since fresh fruit or veggie juice whenever you want sounds great. The buffet was good, and the server was extremely kind and helpful. I wish I'd caught his name; he's an asset to the restaurant and the Hyatt chain. The room was nice, too. It was cold at first, but warmed up after I switched off the fan and raised the heat by 2-3 degrees. The bathroom was nice, and the shower was above average. The airport is a short drive away. Everyone we met was kind, from the late-night shuttle driver to the woman who checked us in at the front desk after midnight. Thanks for hosting us. Can't wait to come back!