Recently I stayed a week at the Hyatt Regency Austin. I’m regularly traveling to Austin for business and the Hyatt is one of my favorite hotels to stay in the downtown area. Please read my review of the Hyatt Regency Austin.
Location
One of the main reasons for staying at the Hyatt Regency Austin is the location. Even though the traffic – direction downtown – late afternoon/early evening is horrendous, I think it’s still worth it. I love crossing the bridge by foot in the evening and visiting one of the great restaurants downtown. Views are spectacular and knowing that you don’t need to park or drive anymore is great.
The JW Marriott is another hotel downtown I like to stay at. In fact, I think the JW Marriott is actually a better hotel than the Hyatt Regency. Among other things, it’s newer and more modern, the breakfast is a lot better, and they have a cool swimming pool overlooking down-town. But in general, the JW is more expensive. Hence, I often just visit the restaurant of the JW in the evening – which is pretty good – and the bar. It’s on the other side of the Colorado river so short scenic walk from the Hyatt!
Room & Breakfast
Rooms in the Hyatt Regency Austin have a pretty decent size. The rooms look a lot more modern than the rest of the hotel and I think the style is very nice. Try to get a room overlooking the Colorado river and downtown, and you’re guaranteed a spectacular view.
The one area where the Hyatt Regency Austin falls short is the breakfast. One thing I just cannot get my head around is the fact that you cannot order cappuccino or espresso in the morning. Only black drip coffee. I believe the Hyatt Regency Austin is the only Hyatt Regency I ever visited, where you cannot order cappuccino or espresso in the morning. Luckily there is a Starbucks in the hotel, so before heading to the breakfast area, I always visit the Starbucks to get my cappuccino. For me, a breakfast without a cappuccino, is not a breakfast!
In the past, when checking out of the hotel and I sometimes got the question if all was OK. I then commented that there was only black drip coffee available for breakfast. This was always noted, but I’m guessing it will never be acted upon. I’m guessing I’m the only one complaining about this.
Or maybe most guests skip the breakfast all together. And that’s very understandable. The breakfast buffet selection is really small. Sliced fresh fruit is served in small cups and there are only a few pastries to choose from. You won’t find croissants anywhere – at least I didn’t see them during my stay. This breakfast fits more with a complementary breakfast of a Hyatt Place than a Hyatt Regency… If you love a good breakfast, you are definitely better off at the JW Marriott.
Conclusion
The Hyatt Regency Austin definitely has its positive points; the location and the rooms are the positives. The on-site restaurant is OK for a quick bite. The only downside is the breakfast. Because I’m globalist with Hyatt, breakfast is complementary for me which is good because I wouldn’t like to pay more than $30 for what you’re getting.
You won’t be finding a lounge at this Hyatt Regency which I always found a bit strange. Even before the corona virus, this hotel never had a lounge.
However, since the roommate is normally very competitive, compared with the other luxury hotels in the area, I believe the Hyatt Regency Austin is still an attractive offering. Note though that the overnight parking fee has increased substantially over the last couple of years and is now $52! Definitely something to take into account.
Also have a look at my review of the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile. If you’re looking for a hotel with spectacular views and serving a great breakfast, definitely worth considering. Maybe also a recommendation for the staff of the Hyatt Regency Austin to learn what’s a good, solid breakfast…
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