Introduction
I've just spent a week in New York, staying at the Hyatt Grand Central on 42nd Street in midtown Manhattan. The hotel is very conveniently located adjacent to the Grand Central Terminal. There is an entry to Grand Central Terminal from within the ground floor of the hotel, which is so convenient if you are staying in New York during a snowstorm.
The hotel is a Category 5 Hyatt property, with rates varying from 17,000 points on off-peak dates, and 20,000 at regular rates, and 23,000 during peak times. At those "prices", the hotel is not a good value for money for reedeming points. I paid $133 per night for a Queen size room. The hotel charges a $40 a night "destination fee", which is exorbitant for the facilities being offered by the hotel. As a World of Hyatt Globalist, this fee is waived.
As a Globalist, I would have expected to have an upgraded room (to a "standard suite"), but this was not offered on check-in, and I didn't push the issue, as I was traveling by myself and wasn't too concerned about the size of the room.
The hotel has a welcome area on the first floor, staffed by security, who were checking room keys before allowing visitors to proceed upstairs to the hotel lobby on the second floor.
I arrived on a Sunday afternoon, and check-in was fairly smooth; there is a dedicated check-in line for World of Hyatt status members, but as there was nobody else waiting in the "regular" line, there were no issues getting checked in. I was assigned to a room on the 24th floor.
Hyatt Grand Central Hotel: The Room
The first thing I noticed on entering the room was the size - it was quite small; the "work area" comprised a small oval table, with a chair, and a small sectional. As I was traveling alone, the size of the seating area was acceptable, but a week-long stay as a couple would be somewhat cramped. The seating area wasn't large enough for two people to sit and watch TV, or just relax.
The bathroom was tiny; there was a single vanity and a largish shower. Bathroom amenities were single-use Pharmacopia products.
The room did have a mini-fridge, but there were no coffee or tea making facilities. I don't drink either, so it didn't worry me, but I imagine that most travelers would be disappointed with the lack of a coffee maker.
The closet was roomy, and included a room safe, and an ironing board & iron.
Hyatt Grand Central Hotel: Globalist Benefits
As a World of Hyatt Globalist, I was given access to the "Commodore Study" on the 16th floor. Access was granted with the use of my keycard. There was a stocked refrigerator with water, wine, and yogurt. At breakfast time, there was cereal, packaged pastries, and fresh full pieces of fruit.
Coffee and other hot and cold beverages were available throughout the day.
A buffet breakfast was available for all guests in the restaurant on the lobby level. As a Globalist, this was free of charge; otherwise, for non-Globalist members, the buffet breakfast was $57, which included the breakfast charge of $45, an 18% automatically applied gratuity, and taxes. The selection of food was underwhelming; I ended up eating a bagel and some fresh fruit each morning. At $57, the price was eyepopping. I would not have eaten there if I had to pay for the breakfast!
For those looking for better value for money, the dining concourse at Grand Central Terminal next door offered better options for under $10.
The $40 "destination fee" included a $15 per day credit at the Market - a small convenience store, which sold a small selection of hot food, and other snacks and sundries. Everything was overpriced ($5 for a packet of chips or a candy bar). I think the Hyatt would have been better served by scrapping this credit, and reducing the destination fee.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Hyatt Grand Central Hotel met my needs for a last minute booking for a week long visit to New York City, and the price was reasonable (with the destination fee of $40 being waived it was the cheapest Hyatt property in Manhattan for the week I stayed). The location is perfect for first-time visitors to New York. The hotel feels very tired and in need of an upgrade - the rooms, the lobby, the elevators. The breakfast buffet is ridiculously overpriced. There are no coffee/tea facilities in the room. The hotel does not have a laundry service. The rooms and bathroom are small, which would not be ideal for a couple or small family staying at the hotel.
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