February 15, 2025

Springswines

The Tour And Travel Enthusiasts

Hyatt Regency JFK At Resorts World Review

Hyatt Regency JFK At Resorts World Review

Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World is a revolutionary development by the airport. For years New York JFK has been a hotel wasteland. The two top properties used to be the Hilton Garden Inn and Sheraton JFK. That Sheraton left the brand in mid-2018 and was mostly used as a homeless shelter after that.

In recent times I’ve preferred the Hilton JFK. It’s a mediocre property but towered above other options near the airport. Rooms were generally clean, there was a restaurant and a club lounge, and a coffee shop where employees often showed up late.

I want to love the TWA Hotel. It’s gorgeous and certainly most convenient since it’s literally on the airport grounds. However it’s expensive, even before you start talking about food options, and the nickel and diming there is outrageous (they charge guests extra for use of the pool after 11 a.m. much of the year!).

Recently I needed a JFK airport hotel night, and I really did want to stay at the TWA Hotel but couldn’t justify $295++ out of my own pocked when I could try the still-new Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World using a category 1-4 free night certificate. I normally have a hard time using these (and just take 10,000 points when they expire) because my leisure stays are mostly with my wife and daughter, where I want a confirmed suite, but suite upgrades can’t be used with free night certificates. On this stay I was on my own.

Getting To The Hyatt Regency JFK Resorts World From JFK Airport

The Hyatt Regency JFK Resorts World turns out to be a fantastic hotel! The only downside is that there’s no hotel shuttle. Then again, hotel shuttles if you have luggage can be a pain at JFK. You need to factor in transportation to and from the hotel. Both Uber and Lyft wanted ~ $24 from JFK terminal 8 when I arrived.

Arriving At The Hotel

There’s an entrance straight into the hotel before first there’s an entrance to the arcade that leads to the casino. I walked in that door on arrival, and was struck by how separate the casino element was here. You can see it in the distance. Instead I turned left down a corridor and into the hotel portion of the complex.

I walked past the 24 hour market and up to the check-in desks. There was one person checking in ahead of me, but I was quickly assisted by an agent at the next desk.

The woman let me know I’d been upgraded to a suite, and provided a welcome letter. This hotel is reportedly very good about upgrading Globalists to available Executive Suites. A manager stepped in and explained the club lounge, which is down a corridor behind the check-in desk. We were past evening appetizers, but he suggested I grab a drink there once I’d put my stuff down in my room. He walked me to the elevator and told me about using my key card for access to guest floors. And I was on my way up.

Suite Upgrade At The Hyatt Regency JFK

I was assigned to an Executive Suite on the 10th floor, room 1013. It had a half bath in the entryway and then a corridor to the living room with desk area, coffee bar and refrigerator, and a couch.

Then there was a separate bedroom, and off of that the master bath that was quite large, with separate shower and toilet room as well as bathtub.

Rather striking for a Hyatt Regency – Le Labo toiletries – not wall mounted, but in individual bottles – this hotel was speaking my love language.

Club Lounge

Here was the welcome letter, which – among other things – explained the club lounge (which was available as an upcharge for any guest).

The club lounge is on a ground floor. It’s small, but it was never busy while I was here. In fact there were never more than a couple of other guests there. The hotel itself seemed remarkably empty at the time though. Operating at anything close to capacity goals I wonder if this club would be overrun.

It’s accessible 24 hours via key card, with drinks in a refrigerator and a coffee machine, providing coffee access before the 24 hour market offers it.

I wasn’t there for the evening spread, but the morning breakfast offerings were quite good – hot items (eggs, potatos, pancakes, pork and chicken sausage), smoked salmon, breads, meats, cheeses, fruits, pastries and more.

Overall, just like with the hotel’s overall design and little touches like Le Labo individual toiletries in my suite, I was impressed by the club’s lounge.

24 Hour Market

The hotel has a 24 hour market, and I was excited to think it meant access to proper espresso drinks when I first woke up. I walked downstairs, only to discover that it’s a grab ‘n go (you register your purchase at the front desk) until 7 a.m. when service is available. So I stopped in at the club lounge for a coffee from their machine with a packaged creamer. That wound up sufficing, albeit barely.

Hyatt Regency JFK Overall

There’s a roughly $50 roundtrip transportation cost to factor when considering this hotel for an airport layover, compared to an airport property with complimentary shuttle. However the hotel is also clearly nicer than anything besides the TWA Hotel. And as a Globalist I’d choose this hotel over the Hilton, since it’s far nicer and the Hilton never did upgrade me to a suite when I was a Diamond. The club lounge at the Hyatt is also nicer than the Hilton.

Overall the property – from Globalist recognition, to details in the room, to the club lounge – exceeded my expectations.

The Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World will be my new go-to for New York JFK airport overnights, and the cost of a roundtrip Uber will be worth it for the speed and convenience compared schlepping over to the shuttle pickup and then waiting for a hotel shuttle.