Hyatt Regency LAX Review
This past weekend, my friend and I went on a domestic mileage run on Virgin America. The schedule of the flights had us on a layover for 9 hours at LAX from 2:00-11:00 PM right in the middle of the mileage run. Knowing we would be tired and wanting a shower, we decided to book a hotel.
My friend had a free night through hotels.com so we booked the Hyatt Regency LAX; the closest hotel to the airport. I was hoping to use a Club Lounge Access Certificate that I have as a Hyatt Explorist, but because we used a third party booking, I was not able to use the certificate.
I had stayed at the property before, when it was known as The Concourse Hotel. It was bleak back then but they have done a great job of renovating the property.
Location
The Hyatt Regency LAX is located on W Century Blvd, as close to being to part of the airport without being part of the airport. It is less than 1,000 feet from the terminal.
There is a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel that you will likely want to use; walking would require crossing a number of very busy streets. The shuttle picks up/drops off on the arrival level. It seems like the shuttles run non stop so you likely won’t have to wait more than a few minutes.
Check In
We arrived around 3:00pm and there was no line at check in. I asked for a view of the airport and the desk agent said she would get us one on a high floor. It was a Saturday so maybe they were not very full. I confirmed with the agent that since it was a third party booking I would not receive points or a stay credit. Like most Regency properties, check in was quick and professional; not warm but more geared towards the business traveler.
The lobby is quite nice and modern. It is somewhat sterile, however they have added in some colorful orbs to break up the gray and white. The whole property has a mid-century vibe, which is appropriate since that is likely when it was built.
Room
We were assigned room 918. There are 12 floors of guest rooms so it was a high floor. Getting to the rooms you take the elevators which open up to a lobby on each floor. Two long hallways go out in each direction.
And the hallway before renovation:
As you enter the room, the bathroom is on the right. Straight ahead is the main portion of the room.
The mid-century modern decor is also present in the guest rooms. A table and chairs are in one corner while the wall mounted TV faces the beds.
Back towards the door is an open closet, coffee maker, and mini fridge.
Compare that to what the rooms looked like before the renovation.
The views of the airport are fun for those that enjoy watching planes come and go.
Bathroom
The bathroom is separated from the rest of the room with a sliding barn door. It is solid with a mirror on one side for decent privacy although the door doesn’t shut super tight.
I was quite taken by the wallpaper. The bathrooms are very modern and functional, what you would expect from a Regency.
The shower is enclosed with sliding glass doors. There is no tub. The shower head is a combination rain shower and hand held wand. Water pressure was only so-so.
Standard Kenet MD bath amenities.
Again, some photos of the old bathroom for comparison:
Pool and Gym
The pool is clearly original; in a good way. It is a huge pool with a true 9′ deep end. They would not build this big of a pool at an airport hotel these days. The grounds have been nicely updated and there is plenty of seating and cabanas for use. I visited in the evening and the pool was still very warm. There is no hot tub.
The lights just beyond the pool in the photo below is the runway at LAX.
The gym is located on the Penthouse level. It is kind of hard to find; I’m thinking maybe they are still working on adding event space to the Penthouse floor. The gym is large and has great views of the airport. They also have bottles of water available.
A view of the airport from the Penthouse floor:
Restaurants
There is a bar, snack bar and full service restaurant on the first floor. The full service restaurant, unity LA, is only open for breakfast and dinner. The market is open 24 hours.
Overall
I didn’t get the full experience of staying at the Hyatt Regency LAX as we were only there for a few hours and not overnight. I also didn’t get the full “Explorist” treatment, though really Explorist status has very little meaning any more. I would have liked to see the Regency Club though the website makes it look nice.
You can’t get any closer to LAX. I would highly recommend it for a layover or the first/last night in LA. The renovations are complete and the hotel feels fresh.