I had been to Monterey, California, several times in the past but I never had the opportunity to stay there overnight.
That changed this summer when we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on the Del Monte Golf Course.
Review: Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
Image: hyatt.com
Location & Parking
Located on a hill in Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey sits on 22 acres of a secluded property that includes Del Monte Golf Course.
The hotel is located just off Pacific Coast Highway 1, about a 10-minute drive southeast of the famous Monterey Bay Fisherman’s Wharf.
There was ample free parking in the large parking lot area (as there are 560 different guest rooms and suites), and we always found parking close to our room.
FHOP Tip: There is a Tesla charging station a next to the Valet Circle.
Arrival & Entrance
The Hyatt Regency Monterey’s location is both a blessing and a curse; it’s secluded enough to be a “true hideaway”, although too far away Monterey’s main attractions (like Downtown Monterrey, 17 Mile Drive, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium at Cannery Row) for easy exploration on bike or foot.
After entering the property, we drove up the hill and turned right at the fork and headed over to the Valet Circle.
At first glance, this Hyatt Regency seems almost like any other, that is until you realize it’s actually more of a “destination hotel”.
It’s easy to imagine that at one time (not too long ago) it was probably the most luxurious hotel in Monterey.
The hotel had a huge lobby with its own sports bar (Knuckles), coffee shop (Central Coast Provisions), and Restaurant (Sea Root) with live entertainment (The Hearth).
There were also vintage car classics available for rent, a large lounge area with a fireplace indoors, several large fire-pit areas outdoors, and the golf course which was visible from the windows of the lobby.
On-Property Classic Car Rentals
Redemption
The nightly rate during our stay started at $363.74 USD for a “2 Queen Beds” room.
There was an additional Resort Service Fee of $29 per night that included access to the fitness center, pools and hot tubs, fire-pits, shuttle service to the airport, access to sporting gear and tennis/basketball court times, and internet access (among other things).
However, because the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on the Del Monte Golf Course was a World of Hyatt Category 4 property (15,000 points), I booked the room using a Chase Category 1-4 Promotion Award Night.
This was a very good redemption value of 2.42 CPP.
Lobby
Front Desk & Check-In
Check-in was fast and easy; we were professionally greeted and thanked for our Hyatt loyalty.
As Globalists, we were informed we’d been given an upgrade to a higher with a view of the golf course. We were handed our room keys and welcome package and were off to check out our room.
Although the hotel was showing its age a bit, it appeared to have been newly remodeled/refreshed. Everything seemed to have a shiny new coat of paint, new lighting, and new carpeting.
Welcome Package
Room Key
Elevator Area
Hallway
Room Entrance
Bedroom
The bedroom area of our room appeared thoroughly cleaned, well-lit, and comfortable. I appreciated the photo artwork of the [nearby] iconic Bixby Creek Bridge.
Living Area
Room Amenities
Closet
Bathroom
The bathroom area was also elegantly remodeled, with a large square sink and attractive artwork inspired by the surrounding coastal area.
The Pharmacopia brand’s Argan Oil Collection was the toiletry brand of choice.
View From The Room
The view from our room was a straight shot of the Del Monte Golf Course (that I wished I could’ve played; oh well, next time).
“Roam Service” Menu
Breakfast At Sea Root Restaraunt
As Hyatt Globalists, we could have redeemed our free breakfast for “Roam Service”, but we opted to eat breakfast at the Sea Root Restaurant downstairs.
Image: hyatt.com
Sea Root Breakfast Menu
Globalist Breakfast
We went with the Classic Eggs Benedict ($20) and the Fig and Ricotta French Toast ($16), both of which were unexpectedly delicious.
The Property Exterior
Everywhere we ventured on the property, we ran into families and couples thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Often, it seemed to involve a bottle of red wine in front of one the many fire-pits, out in the gaming area/beer garden with friends, or relaxing with the kids at the pool.
I really got the feeling that the guests staying there were repeat “regulars” who were “in on a good secret”.
Lounge areas everywhere
Bike Rentals
Fire-pits everywhere
Image: hyatt.com
The Outdoor Gaming Area
Pop-up Beer Garden & “Food Truck”
The Swimming Pool
Fitness Center
The Del Monte Golf Course
Image: hyatt.com
The Bottom-Line Review: Hyatt Regency Monterey (CA)
We really enjoyed our stay at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on the Del Monte Golf Course.
While the hotel was slightly dated, that somehow worked to the hotel’s advantage. The hotel’s overall vibe was that of a luxurious 1970’s resort with a fresh paint job, and I mean that in the best possible way. The rooms were good, the service was better, but the highlights were the food and shared public spaces.
I recommend the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on the Del Monte Golf Course for families looking for a family vacation or couples looking for a romantic getaway.
At just 15,000 points a night, this Hyatt Regency is one of the best usages of the Chase World of Hyatt card’s free night certificates in California (and that’s saying something).
Final Rating: 8.5 out of 10
