This year, I dropped to Hyatt Explorist thanks to not being able to get the nights required for Globalist last year. However, I did really use my Globalist status a lot before it expired this year with about 20 nights in January and February.
My First Stay as a Hyatt Explorist
But, I had not yet stayed in a Hyatt since I dropped to Hyatt Explorist. That changed today! I am in Belgrade for the Belgrade Marathon tomorrow and had booked the Hyatt Regency Belgrade. This is my first time at this property (actually, my first time in Serbia!). Review will be coming!
Excuse these photos as this is just show at I snapped when I got in and then had done another round that will be in the review. 🙂
But, I had booked the Hyatt Regency Belgrade and kept getting upgrade options when I would look at the reservation in the app (paid upgrades from $40 to $180 for things like Club Access to an Executive Suite upgrade). I would not choose anything like this because I really wanted to see what the situation would be as a Hyatt Explorist.
They Gave Me a Suite Upgrade As an Explorist!
At check-in, the hotel agent recognized my Hyatt Explorist status and said that, as a result of being Explorist, they had upgraded me to a suite! Woo-hoo! 🙂
They upgraded me to the base suite, the Executive Suite. This suite goes for around $280 – $320 on random dates and I paid under $100 for my reservation. Being an Explorist actually does not give a suite upgrade but I have found that smaller international city hotels do tend to recognize mid-tier hotel status more than you would think.
Also, she gave me a 4PM checkout (even though I am only supposed to be able to get 2PM) – which is perfect to let me to change quickly before heading out after the marathon.
So, first Hyatt stay as a Hyatt Explorist? Pretty pleased! Of course, I don’t get a free breakfast 🙁 but the suite was an unexpected surprise!
Maybe with it being harder to qualify explorists will get more upgrades