I have walked by it probably a couple of dozen times and you probably have as well – the sign for the Hyatt Regency that sits inside of the Orlando International Airport. If you have an early flight or you are getting in late, there is simply no better hotel for your stay than this one. Once you step off the elevator, you are steps from security – definitely a way to go!
Review: Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
The Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport from the hotel website
Location
You cannot get more central for the Orlando International Airport than the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport! While other hotels may use the word “airport” in their name, the Hyatt Regency is the only hotel that is in the Orlando Airport.
It is accessed by elevator or escalator from the main floor of the airport terminal and is right next to a security checkpoint. Literally, it would take you under 60 seconds to get from the elevator to the security area!
You can also use the main entrance which is outside the airport if you would rather not go through the airport. We made the (wrong) decision to go through the airport and had missed the main entrance. The main entrance is much easier if you are pulling bags! 🙂
Hotel Entrance | Check-In
A view from near the elevator of the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
As I said, to access the check-in desk, you need to go up one floor by elevator or escalator to reach the very spacious check-in area. To the left is a lounge area and there are plenty of desks that had agents at them to get you checked-in. You could also use the main entrance outside the airport entrances.
The agents were very friendly and helpful in explaining some things about the hotel, including parking (which is free for Globalist members that are paying for their stay with points or awards) and breakfast (which we did not get a chance to enjoy since we left too early).
Elite Status
When I checked in, I had Hyatt Globalist status. As such, I would have been entitled to free breakfast (didn’t do it because we left too early). I heard it was very nice though! Also, a really nice perk, is the free parking that is given. The parking for the hotel is in the airport garage so that is around $20 for a day. Getting that parking for free was a nice perk. That applies to Globalist members who are using points for a stay or an award.
The VIP Suite
Let me apologize for the photos – I would really have liked to have taken nicer photos but I had only about 2 minutes to whip through the suite with my iPhone to grab shots as we had kids almost asleep and an early morning flight! Thankfully, I have an understanding wife!
How we stayed in the VIP Suite
About a week or so before our stay, the GM of the hotel e-mailed me to welcome me and let me know that I could contact them if I needed anything (this has nothing to do with me being a blogger – many Globalist members receive such e-mails before various Hyatt stays). I thanked him for the e-mail and asked if it was possible to make sure we had a room that was facing the runway as my kids love airplanes. He said he would take care of that.
When we checked in, I was surprised to find that we were actually given a VIP suite with the runway view. The only thing I felt bad about was that it was dark when checked-in and very early when we left so we did not get a chance to fully appreciate the view (it was in January).
The Living Room
According to Hyatt, the VIP Suites have 1,200 square feet of space. This space includes a living room, a working area, two bathrooms, a bedroom, and a kitchen. There is plenty of room for you and a big family or to host people if you are staying at the airport for more than a day or so.
The living room | Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
The room was huge! We easily we able to setup bed areas for our 4 children and it did not come close to taking up half the space of the huge living room! With multiple seating areas (couches, chairs, dining table and chairs), there are plenty of places for people to sit and relax if you needed it. There was also a large television in the living room as well.
The sitting area | Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
The (first) bathroom is just off the entrance when you walk in, to your left. The other bathroom is located off of the bedroom. The bedroom bathroom is definitely the larger of the two as the first bathroom is more of a water closet.
The bedroom had two beds and a desk. It looks like the bedroom would be exactly the same as a regular room at this property. Even if that is the case, it means that the regular rooms are quite large – especially for a hotel in an airport!
The bedroom at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
The kitchenette was a nice touch if you wanted to throw some stuff together as opposed to going out. It is especially nice when you consider you are not just in a hotel – you are in an airport. That means paying airport prices for any prepared food and if you go to leave the airport to grab something, you have to deal with all of that traffic. Having a little place right inside your suite to cook something up is great!
The kitchenette | Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
The View
A photo from the Hyatt website to give an idea of the view
I did not get a chance to grab a good photo of the view from the balcony. But, we did go outside for a few minutes and you do have a pretty nice view of the runways and gate areas. Definitely a fun spot to sit and watch some airplanes, if that’s your thing! It is also an easy way to kill some time with kids! 🙂
Staying at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
Rates are kind of all over the place, depending on when you stay (season, weekend, weekday, what is going on in Orlando, etc). But, figure at least $170 for a night and it can get much higher.
The rates for the regular room on a random night in July
With points, you can redeem 12,000 Hyatt points for a single night award stay (because it is a category 3) or 6,000 points and $75 for a Points+Cash redemption. Also, you can use an anniversary night from the Hyatt card – and that makes it a very handy redemption!
If you wanted to book the exact suite we had, the VIP Suite, it will cost about a minimum of $500+ per night. And you cannot use a suite certificate to book into that class. But, as a I said, the room attached to the suite is pretty identical to the regular room you would book here so you would be getting the same thing without the living room and kitchenette.
The VIP Suite | Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
Analysis
I have walked by this hotel dozens of times and always wanted to check it out. In our short time here, this property did exactly what I would expect from it – it gave us the convenience of being steps away from security at an extremely hectic airport.
If you are traveling with family and have an early morning flight (or are arriving late), I would definitely consider booking a night here. It is the perfect place to stay for such a flight and makes the travel for kids much easier! Our 4+ hour flight to Phoenix early the next morning went way better than I would have thought!
I would rate the staff and management as A+ for their helpfulness and communication. The room was in great shape and everything was very nice.
The one thing I did not like was that you are not supposed to bring luggage carts upstairs. Given the fact that most people are traveling with bags that are going to be larger than for just a regular one night stay, I really don’t understand such a policy. Fortunately, the agent said, with a wink, to go ahead and do it quickly as we had like 7 checked bags and carryons for the kids. Otherwise, it would have been tough!
Featured image is from the Hyatt website
