Originally Posted by
USHPNWDLUA
This reads like a sales piece, rather than a commentary.
Overall:
- I never saw the strong number of caring pleasant professionals.
- I never saw the less empowered front desk folks (they would have shown remorse or caring if they had simply been unempowered).
- I saw a non-existent management staff that had paid no attention to customer service training
Booked on points:
- points or not, you paid something, so should not matter what you "paid." If you're Diamond, you're a Diamond. PERIOD.
- I wasn't spellbound, but the views from our room were beautiful.
- The room was in poor shape.
Can't emphasize enough:
- If you're a Diamond, you should come to expect MORE THAN STANDARD elite treatment. Otherwise, I may as well switch to SPG.
- "Confirm it or roll the dice???" This isn't a ringing endorsement.
- How does "communicate in advance" work with "weaker, less-than-empowered" staff? Who do you think it taking your phone call??
Breakfast:
- No matter how you tart up the service, the food in this place was awful.
- you'd get better food on United Airlines than this place.
Pacific Edge 1970s Restaurant
- honestly this restaurant was spectacular.. ly overpriced and over-hyped.
- not horrible, but the hostess greeting was abysmal, the food mediocre, overall just bad.
Sunset Lounge:
- your review says it all, but rather than justify it, let's pass it off as "encouraging diners to spend more than is reasonable at a tourist trap restaurant..."
New World Class Highlands:
- about time... for the rates, the name "Hyatt" and "Resort" this place should be so much more.
And the tidbit:
- it has major warts and wrinkels
- in good conscience, any Hyatt guest could not recommend this place after staying at any other Hyatt, including some minor city Regency locations.
Diamond Gold Passport Recognition: None. Absolutely none.
Food and Beverage: :-:
Public Areas :-::-::-:
Gym: Have no idea. For God's sake, I was here on a vacation with my wife!
Entertainment select nights: who cares?
Rooms and Suites standards: :-: (worn, tired, boring, 1970s)
Team overall -:-::-: (yeah, that's negative two stars - uncaring, poorly trained, awful)
Reads like a sales piece with criticisms?
Who cares about great entertainment?
Uh I do
Glad you enjoyed my review
I would hope someone might.That's why I have been on FT since 2000
The point off posting is about sharing good and bad experiences
And we all know that is highly subjective the world over
Obviously we cant all ever agree.It might be boring if we all did
My first suggestion when you feel that strongly about a property being a reasonable failure is to pick up the phone or email
"Hyatt Consumer Affairs"
Agree the Highlands Inn its not for everyone but many do enjoy their stay here self included.
There are numerous fans of this property, time share owners and major celebrities who like to stay and visit there too
Are we all crazy to do so?
I regret and believe you miss a number of my key points especially as they too are a Diamond friendly property when they know your individual accommodation preferences.
One of my more important points of my post I tried to stress to be helpful
Deal directly with front office management do not speak with the front desk or phone operators
Using points I agree its a form of revenue but in the right instance as in this case it also waives the resort fee something I personally appreciate
And with the recent promotional rebate I thought it made fair sense
Having said all that I don't disagree with some of your comments that there are problems in both kitchens
Camel isn't San Francisco either yet the breakfast is still a perfectly satisfactory experience overall.
Lunch and dinner do need an overhaul and improvement I agree it has gone downhill.Rooms could use a refresh and upgrade
Still Its one of my favorite properties in the world
I saw nothing but the majority of caring polite professionals who I am happy to see year after year stay after stay
I genuinely like a number of folks at this property and think highly of them
Some have been working there way before I started staying here
Also believe you also get back a lot from others in the world when you put good energy out there
I never stated this is a Park Hyatt Vienna or Tokyo room and service standard nor is it meant to be.Its more log cabin style here
It is rustic old world and earthy for lack of better words.
Sure there are some rough edges
and for some that is the charm just the way it is fireplaces and all
I was turned off a bit when I first stayed there years ago but the overall experience grew on me immensely.My home is a much higher standard
Typically I like to exceed the standard I live
But when I travel sometimes I like the off beat if the surrounding factors make up for it.
On the other hand where ever you travel you have to consider the region and the alternatives.
Pebble Beach is more polished and perfect in every way
You might enjoy it better and golfers including Tiger Woods certainly do.
I absolutely feel privileged to stay at the Highlands
Even the Iconic Post Ranch Inn nearby at 1000 dollars plus per night has a legion of complaints if you read Trip Advisor closely
And the rooms and hotel architecture were considered exceptional in their day
There are high expectations but when you get down to it there are no Relais & Châteaux style properties in this region
I'd argue that the Hyatt is actually a good enough deal based on the extremely high cost of owning property in the area and the cost of other area resorts and properties.
Yes the rooms could use some renovations but I am happy to stay there just as is..
Other than that please do tell me where I can get this near perfect experience that exists with a similar setting that meets your standard of excellence on all counts
with the beauty of nature all around in or out of the Carmel area within Northern California.I'm there if you can actually come up with it
Cheers and Happier stays