A few weeks ago, I visited Seattle with my dad. The reasons we chose Seattle were two fold: first, my dad’s best friend lives in Seattle. Second, I wanted to attend Frequent Traveler University. For this stay, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Seattle.
Overall, I enjoyed this hotel, as it met our needs. I’m not sure if the other Hyatt’s in the area are better or worse, but, as the only full-service Category 4 (where you can use a free night certificate), this hotel was perfect for a quick father-son trip.
We spent a decent amount of time there (we ran around Seattle and got tired). Given that we primarily just wanted to hang out, we quite enjoyed our stay.
Booking & Price
I actually had the Hyatt Place Seattle / Downtown booked for us, as it was the only Hyatt hotel around downtown Seattle that had award availability with two beds.
However, 4 days before we were scheduled to check-in, I found award availability at the Hyatt Regency Seattle for 4 nights, so I booked it and cancelled my stay at the Hyatt Place.
For this stay, I used one Category 1-4 free night certificate and 45,000 points (15,000 points per night). Room rates were going for about $450 per night, so points & certificate were absolutely a better value here. All of the other Hyatt’s in Downtown Seattle (not by the Space Needle) were category 5 or higher, so this worked perfectly for us.
Note that there is a $25 destination fee. This is waived for all Globalists and anyone making a points booking. You can find all of the inclusions here.
The only things that I used from the destination fee were the $10 per day self-parking credit (our friend from Seattle parked there and charged it to my room) and the $15 credit at the Market (reviewed below). I wouldn’t have stopped by the Market for anything besides pictures. However, we had the credit everyday, so we loaded up on snacks. Additionally, I purchased a box of chocolates from a Pike Place Market small business that was also selling them at the Market to take home to my wife. The box is cool, and we have it sitting up in our home on one of our bookshelves. It’s a good memory of my trip with my dad.
As with most destination fees, this destination fee is really only to raise the room rates, not to add any thing of real value to your stay.
Location
The Hyatt Regency Seattle is perfectly situated in Downtown Seattle about 1/2 mile to 2/3 a mile from Pike Place Market. We took a taxi from the airport. However, it’s about 5 blocks from the light rail line that goes directly to the airport, so you could absolutely take the train if you wish.
Additionally, it’s right next to the convention center, making it a great place to stay if you need to be at the convention center.
The actual address is 808 Howell St, Seattle, WA 98101.
You can’t miss the entrance. If you’re parking, there is both valet (free for Globalists on points stays) and self-parking.
I really like this location, as it’s a 10-15 minute walk to the waterfront. Additionally, there is the convention center if you’re there for a conference across the street, and the Hyatt Regency Seattle right across the street from its sister property, the Hyatt at Olive 8. Note that you can use the facilities at Hyatt at Olive 8 and charge them to your room. The Hyatt at Olive 8 have a steam room and sauna that I would have used if I didn’t have to pay ~$50 (maybe a little less), which seemed outrageous to me. If you’re going to advertise using facilities that you don’t have, charging that much seems ridiculous, especially given how much a night would cost in cash.
Check-In & Lobby
Check-in took place on the ground level. The lobby is 2-3 stories tall. A tall lobby appears to be pretty standard for a Hyatt Regency.
We walked to the elite check-in desk, where we were greeted and thanked for being a Globalist. The agent checking us in explained the Globalist benefits we would receive, what the destination fee includes, dining options within walking distance of the Hyatt Regency Seattle, and a sheet with a variety of information about the hotel on it.
She then directed us to the elevators, where we made our way up to the room on the 40th floor.
Nowhere else to really talk about this, but note that there is a FedEx Office on the second floor.
Two Queen Bed Room
Exiting the elevators, we made our way to room 4025. I really liked the art along the walls of the hallways (I wouldn’t be surprised if this hotel was renovated recently).
Upon entering the room, it was fairly basic. Immediately to the left was the bathroom. To the right was an exposed closet with two drawers, followed by a full length mirror.
Going further into the room were two queen beds. The beds were comfy, but made to be used for a while, so a bit firm. We had no trouble sleeping (but we had busy days, so general tiredness might have played a role as well).
Across from the bed was a flat-screen TV, which had Chromecast to which you could connect your phone.
Past the beds were a desk on the left, a chair and small table, and then the mini bar.
The mini bar had bottles of water, a small fridge, and the safe.
On top of the min bar was a single-serve Keurig machine with several pods.
The best part of this room was easily the view. What a beautiful view of Elliott Bay!
I don’t remember how low the temperature got in the room, but I do know that it got nice and cool. Internet worked will the entire time we were there.
Housekeeping was provided everyday. If there was an issue where they could not provide for that day, they left a note on your door.
Overall, it’s a great room for exploring the city.
Two Queen Bed Bathroom
The bathroom was a traditional conference hotel bathroom. The door is a sliding barn door. Take that into account if you’re sharing a room with someone.
In terms of the bathroom itself, the sink was right across from the door.
There was a lot of travel-size toiletries along the sink.
The toilet was to the left.
The shower was to the right. It did not have a door (Come on!).
Water pressure was good. Cleaning products were wall-mounted bulk containers. They were from Pharmacopia, which is the brand standard.
It’s a clean bathroom that got the job done.
Dining at Hyatt Regency Seattle
There are three different dining outlets that serve a variety of purposes depending on what you are looking for. I’ll review the two outlets that we visited first, and then I’ll discuss the vibe of the final outlet.
You can find links to the menus here.
Andare Kitchen & Bar
This is the main restaurant at the hotel. This is where you can eat breakfast everyday. Upon entering, a hostess took us to our table. As there were two of us, we either sat at a “bar” that they had lining the window or sat at a 2-person table.
The buffet is the main thing, but you can also order signature items as well. Globalists also get a coffee and juice.
My dad doesn’t drink coffee, and they were more than happy to bring him a Coke or a Dr. Pepper. I also ordered a cappuccino one morning. I was never charged for either of them.
The buffet was extensive. There was all kinds of “normal” breakfast food, such as eggs, bacon, sausage, etc. There was also a rotating special such as biscuits and gravy or chilaquiles.
The also fresh made breakfast pizzas. I ate a slice or two of the meat lover’s breakfast pizza every morning and really enjoyed it.
For a lighter meal, there was a continental side of the buffet. Here, there was fruit, yogurt, granola, cold cuts, and cheese.
There was also an entire case of various breads and pastries, as well as whole fruit such as apples and bananas.
Overall, I thought it was easily one of the better breakfasts I’ve seen at a hotel in the US.
They also do lunch and dinner, as well as have a bar. We did not use them for any of these meals.
The Market
Located on the second level, this “restaurant” is set up like a grab-and-go station. As mentioned above, you get a $15 credit every day to use there.
They have your traditional grab and go, like chips, candy, and sodas.
They also have a variety of hot items and memorabilia. I found that the mark up wasn’t too bad as compared to convenience store prices.
We ended up grabbing a ton of candy and stuff like that to stock our room with snacks (as well as have some snacks for the day we left). This, coupled with the well-stocked grab-and-go lounge, should mean you have plenty of water, sodas, and snacks throughout your stay.
Daniel’s Broiler
We never ate here, but this is the hotel steakhouse located on the second floor just past the Market. They also have an accompanying bar named Daniel’s Broiler Lounge that looked like it was primarily a whiskey bar.
We looked at the menu, and it seemed like a nice place to have a meal. There were some nice restaurants around the hotel, so I’m not sure I would eat here even if I were looking for a nice meal. It is definitely convenient though if you’re looking for that.
Note that, as of the time of publishing this review, you can’t charge that meal to your room.
Hyatt Regency Seattle Gym
The gym was on the 6th floor. The gym took up one half of the floor, while the lounge took up the other half of the floor.
You use your keycard to access the gym.
This was an incredibly extensive gym, one of the best I had seen in a while. Right across from the entrance, you’ll see a large partition with towels, equipment cleaning materials (always wipe down your equipment when you’re done!), and corded earbuds.
Directly to the right against the wall by the door was a cooler with chilled towels, which is a nice touch.
Directly to the left of that was a core training set similar to what you’ll find at the Park Hyatt Maldives and a water cooler.
Heading back to walking in the door, to the right, you’ll see a collection of Peloton bikes. They may get more given Hyatt’s new relationship with Peloton.
Along the window are several elliptical machines.
To the left once you walk in were probably 15 treadmills. I would have gotten a picture, but there were always people using them.
Past the Peloton bikes were several weight machines, a cable machine, and a Smith machine. I always love seeing barbells in a gym! Always difficult to find, so it’s quite nice.
You’ll also see a vending machine with all sorts of drinks you can purchase as well.
After you pass the weight machines, there is another room that you can turn right into. Immediately there, you’ll find a scale.
The rest of the area is filled with dumbbells, kettlebells, and benches. You’ll also find medicine balls, cords, and Technogym plyoboxes, as well as some mats.
Overall, it was a fantastic gym. I was able to get a great workout when I used it.
Hyatt Regency Seattle Lounge / Regency Club
The lounge / Regency club is located on the same floor as the gym. Access is given to those who purchase access, as well as Globalists (who get both club access and a full breakfast in the restaurant). You use your key card to enter.
This is easily one of the largest lounges I’ve ever been in (to be fair, I only got Globalist starting around 2019, so most clubs have been closed when I visit). It’s an L-shaped lounge. I’ll go over each section, as well as the outdoor terrace.
Upon entering, to your left is the check-in desk. I never saw it staffed, but, given key card access, I don’t think it’s really necessary.
To the right was a large sitting area. There was a mixture of tables for both small and large groups, individual sitting areas, and couches. This is also where you access the outdoor terrace.
Going around the check-in desk, you’ll find more seating. It was a nice place to get some work done, as I did for an hour one day.
This is also where you’ll find some desktops and printers if you need it.
This is also where you’ll find the food and drink area. As you can see, you’ll find all kinds of snacks and whole fruit. I had no problem taking some back to the room for us to snack on throughout our stay. At breakfast time, you’ll find cereals and other “breakfasty” items.
Along the left side of the food area is the drink station. They have two automatic coffee machines, as well as a variety of teas. I got a coffee once or twice, but that was mainly because I didn’t feel like leaving the hotel for good coffee (I was in Seattle!). I would avoid this coffee if possible. Additionally, there were a variety of drinks under the coffee machines. This was a great place to grab water bottles. I’ll also note that they had soy, almond, and oat milk, which was a nice touch.
The outside terrace is available whenever the lounge is open. It reaches around the entirety of the lounge and is full of lots of patio furniture. Thankfully, it’s in great shape, probably due to the lack of pollen!
There is also a fire pit open between 7 and 9PM every night. We hung out for a half hour one night just drinking some sodas and chatting. It’s a cool feature, but at the time we were there, it would be on for 10 seconds then off for 5 seconds. We got used to it, but it was weird.
Service at Hyatt Regency Seattle
It’s a conference hotel – it’s going to be somewhat factory-like. However, I found that everyone was incredibly courteous and professional. The staff explained benefits well, all of our requests that could be met were done quickly, and people were quite friendly.
I would like to send a shout-out to the wait staff at Andare. We ate their every morning, and, by the last morning, staff welcomed us back and even remembered our drink orders. It was a very precise, yet artistic, mix of friendly and professional.
Conclusion
For this trip, the Hyatt Regency Seattle provided a perfect outpost for my dad and I. Given that it’s the only full-service Hyatt in downtown Seattle where you can use a free night certificate, I will definitely be back if I am in the area and have a certificate.
I’d still like to try out Hyatt at Olive 8, as I’ve heard it’s better for actually vacationing in the area (particularly for families, as it has an indoor pool). However, the Hyatt Regency Seattle is a perfect alternative for any one looking to save a few points.
What do you make of the Hyatt Regency Seattle?
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