I realize there have been many less than favorable reviews complaining of lack of room availability on points, upgrades and how breakfast is handled - all very valid points for Hyatt's supposed flagship location.

We had a recent three night stay at the property and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We booked a king bedded room based on points availability but requested a twin bedded room on a higher floor. We were upgraded to a deluxe double bedded room on the 20th floor. I can understand the views would be less enjoyable on lower floors but thought the view was perfectly fine. I have had significantly worse views on paid stays at the St. Regis, New York. We very much enjoyed the bathroom having both a shower and stand alone tub. The in room iPad was great for easily ordering room service, scheduling housekeeping and other miscellaneous requests - i.e., bath amenities for a baby. All these requests were entirely seamless.

I know there are some complaints about breakfast but being able to order room service and only paying tax and gratuity doesn't strike me as a bad deal (the delivery fee I don't think posted to the folio aside from one day). We ordered the set breakfast and something from the kids breakfast menu and the total for three days was approximately $75. I appreciate some other Park Hyatt properties have more extensive breakfast menus and some allow room service breakfast with no cost, but I think Hyatt is probably concerned with people trying to "maximize" their benefits and bloggers promoting how much they got away with. There are plenty of places nearby for a great breakfast if it isn't included as part of the room rate or as a Diamond member. Eric Kayser is a favorite - Columbus Circle at 58th St - 1800 Broadway.

It would be great if the property loosened the breakfast limitations somewhat. Gold Passport T&Cs states the Diamond breakfast as "Daily complimentary full breakfast inclusive of one entrée (or standard breakfast buffet), juice and coffee (tax, gratuity and service charges included)". Allowing one to order coffee, juice and any of the entrées wouldn't in most instances cost more than the 57th Street breakfast.

The location is great, the pool is great, the actual physical plant (hotel level of design and finishing) is great. I really, really don't understand all the negative complaints from many of the reviewers. The downside I see is Hyatt reading many of the reviews and them deciding to thoroughly overhaul the program benefits to weed out a small percentage of "maximizers" and total cheapskates to the detriment of the average Hyatt proponent.

With points, 30K (24K if you have the Chase Hyatt card and are signed up for their current 20% back promotion), I question if you can find similar value in New York.

Constructive feedback to this post is more than welcomed.