Review: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables

Miami’s not a place I visit very often but my business travels are starting to take me there more frequently.  I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Miami last time and wasn’t thrilled.  So, I decided to figure out which property would be my go-to in this area.

Keeping in mind that I’m a Hyatt Homer^TM, I decided to try out the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables.  While I’ve never spent any time in Coral Gables, I’ve always had the sense that it’s something of an older people’s area, a place rich 60-something New Yorkers might swing by for a weekend.  Not sure where I came up with that stereotype, which makes it even funnier that the HR Coral Gables screams this out to a T.

It’s a short drive from MIA, the valet is easy to access at the front of the hotel.  The lobby definitely has a more reserved feel, and this hotel was definitely built in a time where natural light was not a priority.

 

 

Check-in was friendly and efficient, and I was quickly on my way to my room.  From the general layout of the property, it appears I was upgraded to a suite for my 1-night stay.  This has been happening quite a bit with my Hyatt stays, and I’m not going to protest.

The room was spacious, but the furnishings were definitely not my taste.

 

 

I mean, I know some stuff is decorative, but who sits in a chair like this?

 

The room was a bit worn around the edges, but the bed was perfectly comfortable.  Housekeeping wasn’t at it’s peak efficiency.  Pretty sure this wasn’t mine, since I’ve never actually smoked a cigarette.

 

The bathroom was quite spacious, with both a standard bathtub and a huge walk-in shower.

 

 

My room was on the same level as the pool and actually came with a small patio area.  If you told me it would be possible to have a private patio that close to the actual pool I would have thought it unlikely.  But, they do a pretty good job with the foliage and planters.  In the shade it wasn’t a bad place to sit in the morning.

 

The pool itself was empty while I was there but seemed inviting enough.  The exercise room was in better shape than I would have expected for the property.

 

 

I ordered room service, but forgot to take pictures.  I had a few appetizers that were okay but uninspiring.  The Kobe beef sliders were decent and I was famished, so they disappeared pretty quickly.  The hotel doesn’t have a lounge, so Diamond guests receive free breakfast in the restaurant.

All in all, not my flavor of property.  The service was perfectly fine, but I prefer something a bit more modern.  The price for the property was actually less than the HR Miami on this specific night, so it might work for budget conscious travelers.

Looks like I’m still hunting for my ideal Miami business hotel.  I’ll finish out trying the Hyatt properties in the area then venture elsewhere if I still haven’t found something suitable.