What it’s like staying at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
Editor's Note
The seaside town of Monterey, California, has long been alluring, thanks to its natural beauty, barking seals and more recent dramatic turn as the backdrop to two seasons of the HBO hit "Big Little Lies."
For those looking for a hotel with plenty of amenities and ample areas to wrap oneself in a luxe beige sweater and stare off in the distance a la Reese Witherspoon or Nicole Kidman, I might have just the hotel for you.
Here's what it was like staying at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course.
What is the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course?
The 22-acre Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course complex is spread out among several spacious buildings that feature guest rooms, suites, seated and grab-and-go restaurants and wellness amenities situated around the Del Monte Golf Course. Guests have access to two outdoor pools, tennis and pickleball courts, seating areas with firepits and lawn games.
The property is a Category 5 property on the World of Hyatt award chart, meaning you can find award night redemptions as low as 17,000 World of Hyatt points per night or as high as 23,000 points per night.
How to book the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa
Booking direct via Hyatt is the best way to earn and redeem World of Hyatt points and enjoy your full suite of loyalty benefits. While my stay was complimentary, rates this winter typically start around $200 per night. The hotel charges a $35 daily resort fee on top of the nightly rate.
When booking the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, you'll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hyatt stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic World of Hyatt elite status for value-added benefits. These include:
- World of Hyatt Credit Card: Up to 9 points total- Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, automatic Discoverist status, and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier. Plus, up to 5 Base Points from Hyatt per eligible $1 spent for being a World of Hyatt member.
- World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Up to 9 points total- Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, automatic Discoverist status, and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier. Plus, up to 5 Base Points from Hyatt per eligible $1 spent for being a World of Hyatt member.
The location
The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a 5-minute drive from the Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) and a 2-hour drive from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Complimentary shuttle service is provided between the hotel and the Monterey airport, but you'll have to arrange transportation to get to major airports further away, like SFO or San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC).
I used the Groome Transportation airport shuttle to get from the San Francisco airport to the hotel, and it cost $94.30 one-way, including tip.
Thanks to its golf course location, the hotel is secluded from most of the surrounding city but is still convenient to much of the seaside action. The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is about a half-hour walk from downtown Monterey or a 5-minute drive.
Checking in
Checking into the hotel was quick and easy. The living room-style lobby featured a cluster of smaller seating areas around a large, central fireplace just off the main restaurant and cafe area. While checking in was quick for me, I did notice it could get backed up with guests waiting for rooms at certain times of the day, as the hotel appeared to be very popular with traveling families, golfers and flight crews.
The rooms
I stayed in a Monterey Suite One King Bed accommodation for the duration of my stay. My suite was in a building just off the swimming pool area closest to the lobby, so it was very convenient. The suite was actually two adjoining rooms with the doors propped open, and one room had been fashioned into the living area with a pull-out couch and small dining table, while the other room was the sleeping quarters with a king-sized bed and small seating area. There were coffee makers and mini refrigerators on each side of the suite. The bedroom setup featured plenty of built-in electrical outlets on each nightstand.
There was ample space to stretch out in the suite, and blackout shades made sleep easy at night. However, the rooms weren't the most soundproof, so it was easy to make out entire conversations taking place in the room next door.
Further, the bathrooms were a bit inconsistent (though still sufficient and functional) in that the bathroom off the bedroom was more modern — with a walk-in, glass-walled shower — than the tub-and-curtain setup in the bathroom on the living room side of the suite.
Wi-Fi at the hotel was hit-or-miss, and I heard multiple guests complaining about this during my stay. However, the service was attentive and thorough, both with daily housekeeping and laundry services, which I utilized after taking advantage of the surprisingly good gym at the hotel.
Dining at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa
The Hyatt offered a variety of dining options, from the sit-down Sea Root restaurant to the grab-and-go Central Coast Provisions, a spot to grab morning coffee or premade salads and sandwiches. During the weekend, guests could also head to Bench Kraft, an outdoor grill venue that served hamburgers, hot dogs and tacos by the pool.
Sea Root offers a mix of Mediterranean and California fare all day from its open-concept kitchen. The restaurant was busy even later in the evening when I went for dinner one night to enjoy a wedge salad ($15) and a flatbread with salami, pepperoncini, arugula and Aleppo pepper ($18).
The herb focaccia starter ($5) came highly recommended, so I jumped at the chance to carb-load in the name of research. I popped in for breakfast one morning to enjoy a Greek breakfast flatbread ($16) with eggs, kalamata olives, tomatoes, basil, spinach, red onion and feta.
Prices certainly weren't the worst I've seen at hotels, and while it might not be the same caliber of California fare getting served up the road at Chez Panisse or The French Laundry, Sea Root was certainly tasty and popular with guests.
My personal favorite was to take a nightcap or a morning cup of coffee onto the patio area of Sea Root and enjoy it by the firepits overlooking the golf course. Sometimes it was hard to find seating, but it was well worth it if you could squeeze in and enjoy the moonlight or sunrise over the gorgeous course.
Wellness amenities
One of the many strengths of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course was its robust lineup of health and wellness options. Along with the Del Monte Golf Course, the resort features pickleball and tennis courts. While the resort fee only offers guests discounts on using the golf course, pickleball and tennis court usage is included in the daily fee. Guests also have access to activities like table tennis, bocce and a giant outdoor chessboard.
The Hyatt's gym was surprisingly robust for a hotel fitness center and featured plenty of free weights (both barbells and dumbbells), strength training machines, cardio equipment and a stretching area. The gym is in the same building as Spa Adeline, which is upstairs from the fitness area.
The locker room has a spa and steam room for posttreatment relaxation, and the treatment rooms are spacious. I enjoyed a 60-minute Swedish massage ($234), which was a nice way to unwind after a few days of getting sore from weight training downstairs.
Reasons the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa might not be for you
While the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course has plenty to offer guests, it might not be perfect for everyone. Here's what to know:
- Couples looking for quiet relaxation may want to look elsewhere, as weekends can get loud with families here enjoying the pools and outdoor activities.
- If you're looking to be in the heart of Monterey or on the ocean, the Hyatt's secluded golf course location might not be on the top of your list.
Accessibility
The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course features accessible paths to the lobby, guest rooms and suites, swimming pool, meeting room areas and restaurants. Accessible guest rooms feature doorways with 32 inches of clear width and can feature either accessible tubs with grab bars or roll-in showers with handrails.
Assistive listening devices for meetings are provided upon request, and there are chair lifts at the swimming pools.
Checking out
My stay at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course was enjoyable, with plenty of ways to kill time, whether hitting the gym or unwinding with a massage — and let's not forget the delicious flatbreads and focaccia from Sea Root.
While the stay didn't come with the drama found in an episode of "Big Little Lies," most would tell you that's a good thing.
Those looking for a golf getaway to Monterey will have plenty to do and be happy about with a stay at this Hyatt.
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