The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach offers a fun place to get some rest and relaxation in Southern California. Bonus points if you’re here during a holiday.

Booking the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach

I had a Category 1-7 free night certificate to use up for hitting 100 elite nights with Hyatt last year. Our original plans to use it didn’t happen and so I figured it’s best to use it on a staycation than to not use it at all. Thus we found a free night available at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach on the night before Easter. We were going to be in the area both days, so it seemed to make sense to give it a go. This hotel is a Category 6 hotel, normally costing between 21,000 and 29,000 Hyatt points/night.

Cash rates at the hotel are around $400-500/night before taxes. Note that this rate includes the resort fee but does not include the parking charge ($60/night for valet). There are self-parking options but generally there are offsetting restrictions. Thankfully, since we were here on a free night stay and I’m a Globalist, valet parking was free. Plus anywhere here on a points stay will not need to pay the resort fee.

Since I value points at 2 cents each, the cash price is right around where I’m indifferent on what to use. But I still think of the hotel as a great use of the Category 1-7 free night certificate because that award has a short six month expiration policy. I just wish Hyatt allowed more time to use it.

And one thing I should point out: the room that I booked on points only officially allowed three people in the room. There wasn’t any issues having two adults and two children in the room (aside from it being cramped). The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach even comped everyone’s breakfast even though technically Globalist benefits apply to registered guests. Score!

Resort fee

The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach has a daily $45 resort fee (plus tax). This fee is waived for any guests here on a free night or Globalists on any rate, and you’re still entitled to the benefits listed below. So what do you get?

• Access to pools and waterslides, and sunscreen at pools
• Two refillable bottled waters, and water refill stations
• Beach essentials (chair, umbrella, towels)
• Daily koi fish feeding
• Fire pit experiences
• 15% off spa services
• On-property electric car charging
• $5 credit at Surf City Grocers
• Seasonal benefits
  • Fitness classes
  • Outdoor movies
  • Cosmic sliding
  • Interactive sand castle building
  • Shuttle service to Disneyland

Personally, I think the items listed as benefits don’t come close to making up the cost of the fee. There is electric car charging, but there are not enough chargers for everyone to use. But the thing that brings the most surprise is the shuttle service to Disneyland. We (mostly) like the theme park, but the problem is that we wouldn’t think of staying here to visit it. The hotel is far from the freeway and shuttles tend not to operate at great times to maximize your time at the theme park. We’d recommend you stay closer (the Courtyard is a better option).

Earning World of Hyatt Points

Full disclosure: in this section are refer-a-friend links where I may earn some points for referring. There is no requirement to use the below referral links to apply but note your offer may differ when going directly to the card issuer.

Chase has a couple of cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points that can transfer to Hyatt at a 1:1 rate:

• The Chase Sapphire Preferred card (refer-a-friend link) that offers 75,000 points for spending $5,000 in the first three months.
• There is currently a limited-time offer (refer-a-friend link) on the Chase Ink Business Preferred that gives an excellent 100,000 points for spending $8,000 in the first three months.

The Hyatt personal credit card (not an affiliate link) offers a 30,000 point bonus when spending $3,000 in three months. On top of that, you get 2X earnings during the first six months until you reach $15,000 in spend. At most, this is a 45,000 card for spending $15,000–and most certainly not the 60,000 bonus it claims disingenuously claims. But, on the bright side, if that $15,000 spend happens within the same calendar year, you’ll also get six elite night credits and a Category 1-4 free night certificate.

The small business version of the Hyatt credit card (refer-a-friend link) offers a limited-time 80,000 point bonus when spending $10,000 in three months. The main appeal here is the easier path towards earning elite status (5 elite night credit for every $10,000 in spend per calendar year), but it also gives up to $100 back on Hyatt purchases.

Arrival and First Impressions of the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach

We arrived at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach around 4PM. Since it’s a local hotel for us, we drove our own car (and thankfully no traffic!). Once we pulled into the driveway, a valet attendant quickly opened our doors and helped us inside.

Once inside, there was a short wait to speak to a representative. There wasn’t a World of Hyatt elite line operational when I checked in to move me along faster. But once I got the chance to talk to someone, things moved pretty quickly. I wasn’t proactively offered a late checkout, but when I inquired, the agent asked me what I’m looking for. All I needed was a 2PM checkout time and he said that was no problem.

The Room

Our room at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach was on the 4th floor in Room 4122.

Bedroom

The room has a very fresh decor and looks very inviting. The room faces the sun in the afternoon, so it can get a little bright.

The king bed looks fine, but I wonder if it needs replacement. On this bed more than any other I can recently recall, I could feel the vibrations from anyone else on the bed. Not quite at the same level as a water bed or an air mattress, but it kept me up at night.

Of course, as a family of four, we’re getting close to the limit on us all fitting in the same bed. It worked a couple of years ago when the kids were smaller. But they keep getting bigger despite my requests for them to slow down.

Next to the bed are some nightstands that have power outlets built in.

Across from the bed is a TV. We didn’t use it much but it’s nice to have just in case.

And next to the TV is the desk. I did do a little bit of work from the desk. At least the chair was comfortable enough!

A more comfortable chair for lounging or reading a book is directly across from the desk. The kids enjoyed this one more.

And off to the side is a small nook with the coffee machine and a mini-fridge. Inside were a couple of refillable bottles of Aquafina water.

The room also has a small patio. You certainly could spend some time outside but it’s probably best just for people-watching.

The one thing I’ll say about the sliding glass door is that the locking mechanism is rather dingy and it seemed easy for a child to open it. I’m used to the locks being higher up on the door.

If you’re outside, you can see some water far in the distance. Don’t expect awesome ocean views from the hotel.

Bathroom

The bathroom was… fine. I didn’t enjoy the space in the bathroom as much as I did in the rest of the room. There is some indirect lighting in the bathroom, which is nice, but for some reason I wasn’t as much of a fan of the decor in this space.

One good thing is toothpaste and dental kits are provided. I miss when all Hyatt hotels would standardly provide.

The shower is what I dislike the most about the room, both functionally and visually. I don’t like the shower/tub combo in hotels and would prefer them separated. And the shower pressure was a little on the weak side.

Toiletries are the standard Hyatt Regency brand (Pharmacopia).

Breakfast at Watertable

At check-in, the front desk provided a card with a QR code, which took me to a website where I can book a table for breakfast tomorrow. It was simple enough to choose a future date and my desired time. I’m not sure if there are any crowding issues at breakfast, but it’s nice for Globalists to have a way to book a table in advance.

Breakfast is at Watertable, where the breakfast hours are as follows:

• Monday – Friday between 7:00AM and 11:00AM
• Saturday – Sunday between 7:00AM and 11:30AM

You’ll find it on the first floor. It’s a little disappointing that the restaurant doesn’t open until 7AM, but us Californians are just laid back? We ended up not needing a reservation, but some of that is potentially because many guests seem interested in a different buffet for the Easter holiday (more on that later).

We sat inside, right next to the buffet. Globalists can eat from the buffet for free for up to two adults and two children.

The buffet area has plenty of fresh options. Your best bet is to start off at the egg station and get a few items while the chef prepares your meal. In terms of buffets, it’s above average and would be something we’d consider paying for even if we didn’t get it included. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Lunch at Pete’s Surf City Sunset Grille

Since we were able to get late checkout, we ate lunch at Pete’s Surf City Sunset Grille. I know that technically you’re less likely to get late checkout at resorts for elites in any program. But resorts should find a way to reverse that. If we didn’t have late checkout, we most definitely wouldn’t have dined here. But let me get off my soapbox.

We enjoyed our meal here. There was no wait, and we used this lunch as a way to pass the time between Easter egg hunts (more on that later).

The menu has a little bit of a coastal feel to it, which makes sense given the hotel’s location and the name of the restaurant.

The kids meal is also not bad, but it’s always a little disappointing to see Kraft macaroni and cheese on the menu. I’d prefer the kids get something a bit fresher.

The poke bowl is quite massive and will surely fill you up. The fish is fresh, along with all the other tasty ingredients. It’s an above average poke bowl for being outside the state of Hawaii.

We also ordered a Surf City roll. I normally don’t care too much for a roll that has cooked fish on it, but it kind of works. The seared salmon is fine and adds a little bit of heft to the dish. And though the description says it included spicy tuna, the dish wasn’t particularly spicy. I think the poke bowl is the better option, but this one isn’t bad.

And on to the kids meals. Char ordered a grilled cheese with fruit, her favorite side dish. She seemed pretty enthusiastic about her choice.

Alex chose the kids burger and fries. The burger probably could have used a little more height to it, but it could be because he didn’t want any toppings with the burger.

Surf City Grocers

There is a little outdoor area at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach where you’ll find a clothing store and the Surf City Grocers. This is relevant for anyone wanting to use their $5 credit from the resort fee. It’s also important for Globalists, since they get a $25 credit to use in the market.

The grocery store has all kinds of knick-knacks to go along with the normal grocery store inventory.

The kids in particular were looking at water toys for the pool (but we said no).

As you would expect, the price of the goods is inflated. So the $5 credit probably help offsets the surcharge to where you’re getting what you want at a slight discount.

If you want a coffee, this is also the place to go.

But the kids saw the ice cream stand and immediately knew what they wanted. You first pay for your ice cream at the counter and then you come here to get your scoop. It’s $4.50 for a small and $6.00 for a large, and they include one topping. The kids each got a small, Jenn got a large (to share?), and we also bought some overpriced Hi-Chews. In total, it was all taken off the bill thanks to the Globalist credit.

But we got some happy campers for the rest of the evening.

The pools and waterslides

Let’s take a moment to review the map of the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. There are three pool areas: one has a large pool near the center of the property, one has the waterslides on the south end of the property, and one is only intended for adults.

In the main pool area (and by the waterslides), there is a towel hut.

Conveniently, there is complimentary sunscreen at the hut for you to use.

The large pool is quite large and seems like the most popular place to be when the sun is blazing. We didn’t have a problem finding a seat, but we also weren’t here during the popular summer months.

There are chairs that face the beach, but you can really get a sense of how far away the property is from the beach and ocean.

The adult’s only pools are in what’s known as the Spa Grotto. I wonder if the adult’s only moniker is just a suggestion, as I did see other people bring their children in here. And, no, that wasn’t us.

I hope you weren’t expecting a full swimming pool for the adults. Instead, it’s just a collection of three hot tubs. It seems like an area more for being social while wet.

The last pool area has the waterslides. But aside from the waterslides, there are a couple of family-friendly pools. The first is this lengthy pool, though this one also felt the coldest.

There’s also a very shallow wading pool, perfect if you have little ones just learning about the water. It also seemed perfect for the ducks that wanted to stay cool.

And there’s also a rather large hot tub that wasn’t operational. While it did create foamy bubbles, it wasn’t heated (but still felt warmer than the lengthy pool above).

What I’m sure most kids want to do is the waterslides, open from 10AM to 5PM daily. Note that there is a height requirement, but there are two ways shorter guests can still enjoy it per a lifeguard:

• Wear a lifejacket, but those aren’t available until the pool bar opens at 11:30AM
• Have a parent stand at the bottom of the shortest slide to catch the child

Given the time we were here, we could only do the second option.

The waterslides are simple and vary in length. The shortest one moved you along the slowest, naturally.

The other two slides were a little longer. Jenn and I preferred the medium slide, but they were both good and simple.

The kids didn’t want to leave the slides and had fun in the morning going down the slides before other kids showed up. It’s nice not having to wait in a line.

Huntington Beach

Let’s say you want to go to the beach itself. Well, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach thankfully does have its own overpass to get there.

Just walk along the bridge to get to the other side.

And once you’re there, you’ll find a staffed beach hut, open between 10AM and 5PM. The one downside is that if you want someone to assist you with the chairs and umbrellas, you’ll have to pay for it ($15/guest or $25/couple).

Beach chairs are clearly marked with Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach branding.

Once across the bridge, head down the stairs (or elevator) and walk across the parking lot.

And then walk across a lot of sand to get to the ocean. We’ve been to this beach many times and it’s a good place to spend a day.

Other Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach amenities

By the front desk is an activity board identifying the activities available that month. Some of the activities listed don’t start until the middle of the day, making it difficult to see them if you’re only here one day like we were.

But we did get a chance to check out the s’mores. While the service is technically available between 7PM and 7:30PM, you’ll want to get here as close to 7PM as possible. When they run out, that’s the end of the freebie. In our case, they were completely out with at least 10 minutes to spare before the official end. They do sell s’mores kits in the Surf City Grocers but it’s not cheap ($12). You’ll find the fire pits and the free s’mores by the grocery store.

The resort also has a small arcade, but we didn’t see anyone using it. As is the case with many arcades these days, it’s not cheap. But the one thing I’ll say is that the A/C was pumping hard into the arcade more than anywhere else at the hotel. So on a hot day, this might be the place to go to cool off quickly.

Extra activities for Easter

We stayed here over Easter, as were many others. The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach had a few special events set up to celebrate. In talking with employees, it sounds like this is a well-known tradition for those in the area, and many guests not staying in the hotel come here to check it out.

Easter brunch

First up is a special brunch. No, Globalists can’t get this one for free. It’s hosted in the Lighthouse Courtyard near the mermaid fountain.

It was completely packed, with long lines to get seated and plenty of people already dining. How much does it cost for brunch? How does $155/adult and $55/child sound to you? I’ve seen expensive buffets along the Las Vegas Strip, but this one takes the cake for breakfast.

Since it’s in a public area, and it’s otherwise nearly impossible to get around it without going through it, I did get a chance to see what was raising the price. Crab legs, oysters, sushi and sashimi are the higher priced items. And they still had the typical low-value items on the buffet like eggs and potatoes. Let’s just say I’d love to have so much money that dropping $500 after tax and tip for a family of four for breakfast is chump change.

Easter activities

The hotel opened up a conference room for all to come hang out. They played what they called an “Easter movie”, which was Up. They also had coloring sheets for the kids to enjoy while they watched.

There are also some arts and crafts available for kids to enjoy. This is where Char spent much of her time.

Not pictured is the photos you can take with the Easter bunny. The kids didn’t want to take a pic, and while I was tempted to do it by myself, I decided not to be weird.

Easter egg hunt

Out in the California Courtyard, they had some Easter egg hunts. There were three hunts they hosted this day (11AM, 12:30PM, 2:00PM). There are also separate sections for kids 0-4 and 5-12 so the little ones don’t get run over. Be here about 5-10 minutes early to avoid being stuck in the back. And instruct your kids to ignore all the eggs on the tile. Go immediately to the eggs on the grass. The vast majority of kids will be picking up the first eggs they see so the grass offers an opportunity to get eggs with little competition.

The kids got quite a haul. In fact, they did it twice and we weren’t the only ones doing it multiple times. Most of the eggs didn’t have candy in them, so I’m fine with them enjoying themselves opening the eggs on the car ride home.

Recommendation of the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach: Yes

We like the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. In fact, we like it more than either the Park Hyatt Aviara or The Seabird. The service, vibe, and pools are better than other Hyatt resorts along the drive between Los Angeles and San Diego. Between the breakfast, the $25 credit at the market, and the free parking on award stays, there is a lot of value to be had here for Globalists.

If you’re coming here from outside the area, you’d need to stay here more than just a single night. I wouldn’t use this hotel as a base for visiting Disney or to check out Los Angeles. Rather, this might be the place to go after you get annoyed at the LA traffic and you want a relaxing break from it. This hotel also works as a spot to stop if you’re driving up or down Pacific Coast Highway.

And if you happen to come here over a holiday, the hotel seems to do a great job with extra activities to make your stay memorable.

Have you been to the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach?

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