Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World is a revolutionary development by the airport. For years New York JFK has been a hotel wasteland. The two top properties used to be the Hilton Garden Inn and Sheraton JFK. That Sheraton left the brand in mid-2018 and was mostly used as a homeless shelter after that.
In recent times I’ve preferred the Hilton JFK. It’s a mediocre property but towered above other options near the airport. Rooms were generally clean, there was a restaurant and a club lounge, and a coffee shop where employees often showed up late.
I want to love the TWA Hotel. It’s gorgeous and certainly most convenient since it’s literally on the airport grounds. However it’s expensive, even before you start talking about food options, and the nickel and diming there is outrageous (they charge guests extra for use of the pool after 11 a.m. much of the year!).
Recently I needed a JFK airport hotel night, and I really did want to stay at the TWA Hotel but couldn’t justify $295++ out of my own pocked when I could try the still-new Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World using a category 1-4 free night certificate. I normally have a hard time using these (and just take 10,000 points when they expire) because my leisure stays are mostly with my wife and daughter, where I want a confirmed suite, but suite upgrades can’t be used with free night certificates. On this stay I was on my own.
Getting To The Hyatt Regency JFK Resorts World From JFK Airport
The Hyatt Regency JFK Resorts World turns out to be a fantastic hotel! The only downside is that there’s no hotel shuttle. Then again, hotel shuttles if you have luggage can be a pain at JFK. You need to factor in transportation to and from the hotel. Both Uber and Lyft wanted ~ $24 from JFK terminal 8 when I arrived.
Arriving At The Hotel
There’s an entrance straight into the hotel before first there’s an entrance to the arcade that leads to the casino. I walked in that door on arrival, and was struck by how separate the casino element was here. You can see it in the distance. Instead I turned left down a corridor and into the hotel portion of the complex.
I walked past the 24 hour market and up to the check-in desks. There was one person checking in ahead of me, but I was quickly assisted by an agent at the next desk.
The woman let me know I’d been upgraded to a suite, and provided a welcome letter. This hotel is reportedly very good about upgrading Globalists to available Executive Suites. A manager stepped in and explained the club lounge, which is down a corridor behind the check-in desk. We were past evening appetizers, but he suggested I grab a drink there once I’d put my stuff down in my room. He walked me to the elevator and told me about using my key card for access to guest floors. And I was on my way up.
Suite Upgrade At The Hyatt Regency JFK
I was assigned to an Executive Suite on the 10th floor, room 1013. It had a half bath in the entryway and then a corridor to the living room with desk area, coffee bar and refrigerator, and a couch.
Then there was a separate bedroom, and off of that the master bath that was quite large, with separate shower and toilet room as well as bathtub.
Rather striking for a Hyatt Regency – Le Labo toiletries – not wall mounted, but in individual bottles – this hotel was speaking my love language.
Club Lounge
Here was the welcome letter, which – among other things – explained the club lounge (which was available as an upcharge for any guest).
The club lounge is on a ground floor. It’s small, but it was never busy while I was here. In fact there were never more than a couple of other guests there. The hotel itself seemed remarkably empty at the time though. Operating at anything close to capacity goals I wonder if this club would be overrun.
It’s accessible 24 hours via key card, with drinks in a refrigerator and a coffee machine, providing coffee access before the 24 hour market offers it.
I wasn’t there for the evening spread, but the morning breakfast offerings were quite good – hot items (eggs, potatos, pancakes, pork and chicken sausage), smoked salmon, breads, meats, cheeses, fruits, pastries and more.
Overall, just like with the hotel’s overall design and little touches like Le Labo individual toiletries in my suite, I was impressed by the club’s lounge.
24 Hour Market
The hotel has a 24 hour market, and I was excited to think it meant access to proper espresso drinks when I first woke up. I walked downstairs, only to discover that it’s a grab ‘n go (you register your purchase at the front desk) until 7 a.m. when service is available. So I stopped in at the club lounge for a coffee from their machine with a packaged creamer. That wound up sufficing, albeit barely.
Hyatt Regency JFK Overall
There’s a roughly $50 roundtrip transportation cost to factor when considering this hotel for an airport layover, compared to an airport property with complimentary shuttle. However the hotel is also clearly nicer than anything besides the TWA Hotel. And as a Globalist I’d choose this hotel over the Hilton, since it’s far nicer and the Hilton never did upgrade me to a suite when I was a Diamond. The club lounge at the Hyatt is also nicer than the Hilton.
Overall the property – from Globalist recognition, to details in the room, to the club lounge – exceeded my expectations.
The Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World will be my new go-to for New York JFK airport overnights, and the cost of a roundtrip Uber will be worth it for the speed and convenience compared schlepping over to the shuttle pickup and then waiting for a hotel shuttle.
What is the parking situation? Is there long term parking available?
When my wife and I stayed there in May the club lounge evening spread was stunningly good. Great hotel overall.
Take the HB air train to Lefferts , then the 1 mile Uber ride for $7-9 to the hotel. Works perfect. Saves $15 for maybe 7-8 minutes longer.
How far is it from the A Train?
@ Gary — Took you long enough…We’ve already stayed at this property 5 times. Love this hotel.
Gary. Great Advertorial. Wrong for your blog.
Do I understand correctly, that you get compensated, from various suppliers at times? Or, not?
This article is Spot “Off”! We all have favorite hotels. And clips accompanied with several photos of stays, are acceptable. But, those of us who contribute to your blog, don’t get compensated, (my bad if you don’t get com and we, unlike you, are not able, to gush, post dozens of pictures and get upgraded to an Executive Suite, because we are not able to. Or, at least, I don’t recall ever seeing a post, that parallels yours by a reader of your blog.
If I am wrong, kindly correct wherever I err’d. And tell me, if readers on your blog, have the opportunity to mirror your post, on our favorite place of rest?
Or, is that only you, who I believe you said in your blog, was referred to, from subject hotel, a “globalist”?
I already have my favorite hotel, but will need to take another 10-15 photos
Notwithstanding, take several days, to eloquently, attempt your masterful depiction of every square inch of this hotel.
Kindly advise, when and where, I send my package.
It sure would be wonderful if they liked my article, to receive an upgrade to “any” suite. They don’t have to pay me. Heck, I’ll do it for free.
I am confident, this will thrill all of those, that read your blog. I thank you, from every one of us. And, thanks a bunch!
It would be nice if they offered a shuttle either from the Federal Circle or the Lefferts Blvd Airtrain stations. It ought to be easy for them for Lefferts since it’s quite close. I had trouble getting an Uber at Lefferts. One got assigned but drove past on the Belt Parkway and didn’t cancel.
I have stayed there once during an off-peak period, and as a Globalist I was not offered a suite. It was a short stay so I didn’t even ask. I too missed the evening in the lounge but breakfast was solid.
@Robert – This was my honest impression of a stay. I have never taken payment for a hotel (or airline) review. Period. In fact where an airline or hotel comps something to me, such as an experience I couldn’t gain access to myself (for instance I took a media preview flight on United’s first plane with Polaris business class seats before it went into service) I make a charitable donation for what it would have cost.
I was upgraded to a suite and had access to the club lounge because of my status in the Hyatt program, which readers of this blog are generally familiar with.
@ Robert — I am Globalist and have received the exact same treatment every stay at this hotel. It is a great airport hotel.
@ Gary — The big question I have is, where does our resident Hilton expert stay when at JFK? I would assume the JFK Hilton, which is a vastly inferior compared to the Hyatt at Resorts World.
Before the new Hyatt, we would pay the $125-$150 round-trip and stay at a nice hotel in Manhattan. The hotels at JFK were just SO HORRIBLE.
Hotels that brand themselves as airport hotels (“JFK” in the name) should offer an an airport shuttle. Otherwise its not an airport hotel.
@Gene – pre-Hyatt Resorts World and TWA Hotel the best property was the Hilton JFK and before that the Hilton Garden Inn (there were odd partisans for the Sheraton but they were wrong)
@ Gary — We’ve stayed at the Hilton JFK, and it was better than the other JFK hotels, but still crappy. We would rather pay the extra $125+ for uber and stay at IC Barclay or Conrad Midtown (on an AMEX award). We try not to put revenue to programs other than IC or Hyatt unless Hilton (LT Diamond for $450/yr) or Fairmont (LT Platinum) are the only nice hotel.
I really liked this hotel for a layover option, and was also upgraded to a suite when staying as a Globalist Guest of Honor.
We flew in the night before and had all day before a night time flight to Europe. If you’re in the same boat and like nature, the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is a short walk and bus ride away.
Plentiful parking and a subway stop (I think the A train) across the parking lot if you want to go further afield.
The A train is a little confusing, but convenient.
The casino is attached to the Aqueduct racetrack, and there are two ‘Aqueduct’ stops on the A train. The first on the way to Manhattan is the ‘Aqueduct – Conduit.’ That one is about a 10 minute walk across a parking lot. The second is ‘Aqueduct’ – that one has a covered walkway directly into the casino. Shaves a few minutes off the walk.
On the way from the hotel to the airport, the ‘Aqueduct’ stop with the covered walkway has no service – it’s a Manhattan bound only platform. So you need to walk the 5 min to the ‘Aqueduct-Conduit’ stop.
For the record, the casino-hotel have a shuttle that runs something like 8am – 2am from the hotel entrance to the ‘Aqueduct-Conduit’ subway stop.
I agree this is the top JFK airport hotel. The grab and go prices are insane because the resort charge includes a $10 credit. So $5 for a Quaker oatmeal cup.
Nice review!
Any idea why they don’t allow TSUs on a free night very. Seems like an odd irritant for such a good program.
@ Beachfan — TSUs can be used on points stays but not certificates.
@ Greg — If you have bags, the only practical (and time-saving) way to this hotel is taxi/uber. The public transit options are a PITA.
Nice review. It does speak to how much of traffic in NYC airports is origin and destination (LGA hotel options are no better) that there has never been significant demand for more hotel properties. There’s plenty of land near JFK and the area is generally safe.
You can get to the Hyatt Regency Resorts World hotel from any terminal by taking the Airtrain to Howard Beach, then going on the subway A train (it’s outdoor)o only two stops. Get off …you’ll see the hotel and casino and racetrack …. and a short walk thru the parking lot to the Hotel. Airtrain is $8 and $2.75 for the subway train. There used to be a free shuttle to Resorts World from The Jamaica Airtrain station, but it hasn’t been operating, so I’d go to the Howard Beach.
@ Robert
“If I am wrong, kindly correct wherever I err’d. And tell me, if readers on your blog, have the opportunity to mirror your post, on our favorite place of rest?”
(As no doubt you would already know), hotel loyalty programs can and do reward loyalty status with upgrades, even suite upgrades (e.g. Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond, etc). Receipt of an upgrade is not necessarily evidence of preferential treatment because the author is a travel blogger, rather recognition of their loyalty tier as defined by the terms and conditions of the hotel loyalty program.
This reality is not hidden from the reader.
Indeed, regular readers herein will be entirely familiar with the status tiers and their respective benefits of the various hotel loyalty programs: noting that associated topics are discussed extensively on this very travel blog and can trigger much debate, in the comments sections, comparing how successful readers have been in securing their status-respective benefits (thanks to their allegiance per credit cards and hotel stays).
Several readers have commented most favourably on this particular hotel, including a couple before you posted.
To note that the discussion is based on comparisons with other JFK airport hotels – a limited selection. Suffice to say, the topic is favourite hotel close to JFK, not favourite hotel!
So, it would seem that the review above is consistent with the experience of others (certain readers herein). The obvious “downside” of this hotel (access from the airport hen there is no hotel shuttle) is made plain in the article and alternatives discussed by readers in the comments.
(As no doubt you would also already know), there are certain bulletin boards / blogs which encourage readers’ contributions / reviews / reporters of their personal experiences – for example there are 16 pages of readers’ comments on Flyer Talk and 279 reviews on TripAdvisor (some favourable and some not) on this very hotel.
Please do let us know if you post any of your own reviews – it would be great to read them. Thank you.
Gary, keep hotel reviews coming! Much better than credit card drivel….
I got (empty!!) Wall mounted toiletries in the regular room on Dec 28. Called down to housekeeping and front desk who both NEVER did picked up the calls, so finally walked down to the front desk to report. They sent up a single bar of Le Labo soap. No shampoo, no conditioners. A huge service fail to an otherwise physically beautiful hotel with plentiful free parking.
I stayed at the Hyatt Regency JFK also using a Category 1-4 Free Award night. As a Globalist, I was also upgraded to the same type of suite. The room, hotel, and Regency Club were all amazing and I found the staff to be incredibly friendly, professional, and helpful. Only one thing I’d like to nitpick in your review: the “half-bath” in the entryway of the suite is actually a full bath. It has a shower on the other side of the sink that isn’t shown in your picture.
How come nobody has mentioned the $25 * tax destination fee? Maybe a recent change. Many of the amenities included are part of Globalist status. Mostly ‘junk fees’, so a free night is NOT a free night.