Review: Grand Hyatt New York
Hotel Overview:
The Grand Hyatt New York has a prime location in midtown Manhattan, located on one of the largest thoroughfares in New York City on 42nd street, right next to Grand Central Station.
The hotel has a storied history; being originally built and unveiled as the Commodore Hotel in 1919 and then completely renovated inside and outside in 1980 by one of its previous owners, a real estate developer, now turned President, Donald Trump. The hotel is now owned outright by Hyatt and has undergone renovations in 1996 and a $130 million dollar renovation as recently as 2011.
The only remnants of the original 1919 decor and styling is found near the ballrooms:
The modern decor of the hotel now is in stark contrast to the original design of the hotel.
The hotel is one of the largest in New York City with almost 1300 rooms, but during my stay, it never felt crowded or too busy, given the sheer size of the hotel and number of guestrooms. In my opinion, the main highlight of the hotel is its location next to Grand Central Station (and other sights in the city) and the Grand Club Lounge on the 16th floor.
You'll also find standard amenities here that you'd expect of the Grand Hyatt brand, including a Stay Fit Gym, on-site restaurant and more.
I highly recommend upgrading to the Grand Club Lounge floors by either booking it, upgrading with points or asking about upgrading at check-in. The Grand Club Lounge is a "hotel within a hotel" concept, offering all day access to a seasonal outdoor patio, continental breakfast, coffee, tea, water, and soda, evening hors d’oeuvres, nightly dessert assortment, alcoholic beverages (for a nominal fee) and a private concierge.
Accommodations:
Contemporary guest rooms here feel small, but are relatively larger than the standard New York City hotel room. The room featured the signature Hyatt Grand Bed and the bathroom featured granite vanities, stone flooring and marble shower stalls. Overall, the room met my needs and worked out great for my trip to New York.
The view from my room wasn't spectacular, as I was on the 16th floor where the club lounge is located, but still offered a glimpse of the surrounding area.
Dining:
There is one on-site restaurant at the hotel and also a market for grab and go items.
- New York Central is a full service kitchen, bar and lounge offering a diverse menu inspired by local flavors, exquisitely crafted cocktails and a self-service Wine Gallery
- The Market is a 24-hour grab-and-go store offering fresh coffee, breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
Summary:
Overall, I enjoyed my stay here as it was a perfect location for exploring Manhattan and attending an event I was invited to in the city. The only thing that can be a bit of a letdown is the $25 Destination Fee that a lot of big city hotels are now charging, but the fee here does cover a lot of items. If you spend at least $15 daily in the market off of the lobby, the fee is effectively only $10. Add in other perks of the fee (Skyline Rooftop Tour) and it's not too bad of a fee to have to pay.
I expect to be back here for my next family trip to New York, as the location can't be beat and the Grand Club Lounge would come in handy when traveling with my family!
Related Posts:
