The Pike is kind of cool but it's in what's mostly a wasteland; no real dining options and nothing much interesting close by other than a few tourist traps. Garden Grove is often a great value, and has some of the most consistent and best elite recognition in the system, but it's further from beaches. I have steered clear of Newport Beach due to the reviews posted here, but it seems they are finally taking the idea of hospitality seriously so will consider them for the future.

I've had 4 or 5 stays at Irvine this year and while the hotel itself is nothing spectacular, the service was consistently very good to excellent. Upgrades were nominal, higher floors or rooms with balcony, but they always extended benefits that were perhaps small but meaningful: voluntarily waived parking fee; the half dozen small water bottles given to me at check-in with instructions to please come ask for more if I wanted; the quite decent Diamond breakfast buffet (with omelets or eggs to order off menu encouraged); points always posting quickly and accurately including club closure; all were appreciated and usually came with no prompting by myself. And the bar had some decent happy hour offerings and the restaurant is quite decent. I will certainly miss the easy, quick access to much of that area, especially as Garden Grove is further from Laguna Beach, not closer. Sad day in my book as I wish there were more reasonably priced, consistent quality Hyatts like this has been.