Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa

"Centrally located and family-friendly"

Situated 5 minutes from Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, and the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort and Spa is an ideal spot for families to call home base while exploring the area. The resort is the largest in town with 550 rooms, including 32 suites which are ideal who families like mine that love space.  The property underwent a remodel in 2009 and the use of ecological materials as well as blending into the surroundings seemed like a top priories.

Truth be told, I wasn't overly impressed with the décor choices made. The room felt a bit drab, especially when the dreary morning clouds that are typical of the region were hanging around. Our couch, while most certainly contemporary, sacrificed style for comfort; I am a firm believer you can have both. The master bath had an amazing (and huge) rain shower head which definitely a luxury and the sink was large, attractive, and modern but once again style was sacrificed for function. The sink itself took up almost the entire vanity area leaving little room for a makeup bag, curling iron, or the normal spread of products that some of us gals are accustomed to traveling with.  But nitpicking aside, the rooms left plenty of space for families to spread out and most important of all the beds were comfortable and the wifi was free.

My favorite thing about the Hyatt Regency Monterey is the multitude of activities offered on-site. There are two pools, one near the spa which is heated and for adult only and another larger pool that is not heated but does have a water basketball hoop and a whirlpool. I found it quite strange that an outdoor pool in Monterey wouldn't be heated as most days are not above 75, but there were plenty of crazy kids splashing about in the 65 degree water!  Just above the pool area are some great outdoor games including foosball, table tennis, and shuffleboard.  This area of the resort always seemed to be busy with kids having a great time.

The resort sits on the Del Monte Golf Course so golf enthusiasts will feel right at home here. Tee times can be arranged with the concierge. Those who are not golfers can still enjoy the beauty of the course while sitting around the fire pit or on the patio enjoying a meal. Those that prefer tennis will enjoy the resort’s lighted courts.

The resort is quite popular with those who love to travel with their four legged family members. There are special ground floor rooms with a grassy patio area for dogs to "do their business" and the rate for pet-friendly room is flat, no matter how many doggies you bring along. There is a nice dog walking path which is great for strolling even if you do not have pets.

SPA

If spa is more your speed, you will be happy to know that Accista, the resort’s 12,000 square foot spa is the crown jewel of the property remodel. The spa is clean, calming, and spacious, all crucial characteristics of a relaxing spa experience. I indulged in the spa's signature massage which combines aromatherapy with classic massage technique. When guests check in for their massage, they are given four different custom blend scents to sniff and asked to pick the one that is most appealing. The scents are blended by Ajne, a local business which specializes in developing custom scents for the individual. My massage was relaxing and the masseuse focused on the areas I specified but the only time I noticed scent played any role was during the initial inhale I took at the beginning of my treatment. I would have preferred a bit more "aroma" involved in my aromatherapy session.  Either way, I would definitely head back to this spa for future treatments. The sea kelp scrub and fresh harvest wrap particularly caught my eye. I love when the natural elements of a region are incorporated into a treatment.

After my massage, I enjoyed relaxing in the steam room (a dry sauna is also on site) and while I did appreciate the separate male and female facilities, I do wish there was more coed space since I was there with my husband. The spa does have access to the outdoor pool and whirlpool but so do the rest of the hotel guests so there is no real exclusivity in that respect.

DINING

The resort features two restaurants, TusCA and Knuckles Sports Bar, as well as a coffee stand serving Starbucks in the mornings and the option to dine in the fireplace lounge or outdoor patio using a condensed TusCA menu.  TusCA is the resort's signature restaurant offering, you guessed it, entrees with Tuscan and Calfornian influences. My husband and I enjoyed dinner at this restaurant and were impressed by our meals. We both ordered the special which was sea bass served with an heirloom tomato salad. It was light and refreshing in contrast to many heavy dishes that many restaurants serve and the fish tasted incredibly fresh. There were several other members of our party and everyone only had positive things to say about their dinners as well.

Knuckles Sports Bar is the kind of place my family loves. This sports bar is popular with locals (voted #1 eight years running) and visiting families alike, offering reasonably priced food in a casual but fun atmosphere. The walls are made of old basketball courts and stadium seats and private tvs are set up at every booth so diners can watch their team play.  One corner booth even has its own private beer tap in the center of the table. Peanuts and popcorn are always complimentary at Knuckles' guests are encouraged to grab a bag and scoop up some goodies on their own. Lunch options featured typical sports bar fare such as wings, burgers, nachos, and sandwiches, but my husband and I couldn't pass on the artichoke clam chowder which combined two of the region’s most popular foods. It was served in a bread bowl and was quite tasty. Kids menu options are priced very reasonably ($5 to $6 including a drink) and the normal kid's options were listed.

Bottomline: I would recommend this hotel to families visiting Monterey. It was a short 3 minute drive from Cannery Row and all of Monterey’s main attractions and had plenty to keep kids entertained onsite.

Disclosure: I visited the Hyatt Regency Monterey on a media stay. All opinions are my own.