Just returned from an exceptional four-night stay at the Hyatt Centric Key West -- for those asking upthread, the Centric brand is intended to mark properties that are central to the action of a given locale -- in this case that's spot-on since the HCKW is a block from one end of Duval and right on top of the ocean. Unless you want to stay on Sunset Key -- which is not central at all of course :-) -- I can think of no better spot in KW.

Room -- we had one night booked on a Cat 1-7 cert (for which there was only an ADA room available) and the other three nights on points (King room). I don't recall what the going rate was for spring break week but we were better off on points. The hotel cheerfully confirmed in advance that we would not need to move rooms during our stay. On arrival we were upgraded to a Partial Ocean View room with a King. It was 3412, on the top floor of building 3 one from the end -- the room next door would have had a perfect ocean view but we were very happy in our room over Lagerhead's next door. Despite the outdoor hallways, the building are built out of solid concrete and there was no noise at all except the waves of the ocean when we left our doorwall open. Loved the high water pressure shower and the "nook" for the toilet -- great bathroom layout.

Service -- this is where the boutique spirit of the hotel shines! From the moment we were checked in (by Freja, who is an exchange student from Norway doing a co-op toward her hotel management degree) to the moment we checked out, the service was awesome. By chance the island's power went out just as we checked in and while the hotel has backup generators that kick in within a couple minutes to run the computers and outdoor lighting, the elevators were off. As Freja led us to our room, every staff member who saw us joined out little group and then when we reached the stairs, each of them picked up one of our bags and carried the up the four flights of stairs without hesitation or show. The staff walked slowly, smiled constantly and seemed to love what they do.

Atmosphere -- Key West, how can you go wrong? Now as many have noted this is NOT a beach resort and the pool is nothing special. However there were always open chairs, and frequently staff strolling around checking in. Both the bar servers, who were quick (drinks were good and not overpriced) and also the general staff who came out twice a day passing around treats and asking guests if they needed anything. We enjoyed club wraps, pretzel bits, banana bread, and sherbet while at the pool, from happy staff making the rounds with trays and platters. There were pool noodles and floats in the pool and live music in the bar most nights. There were little places everywhere to be alone, like the double-swing at the end of the dock, the double chairs on the floating platform, and three areas of loungers. My big negative was that smoking is allowed at this resort at a central location, basically right in the middle of the pool/bar and it's a small enough location that the smoke blows around a lot. As a non-smoker I really wish the resort would place the smoking area farther away from the main action. Breakfast on the deck at Shor is gorgeous and also the food was 8/10.

Globalist treatment -- top 10 for me. No hassles about breakfast (we ordered whatever we wanted at Shor and it was all taken off at the end), great room upgrade, when we arrived in our room there was a note indicating a gift was in the refrigerator and sure enough -- a six-pack each of mine and my husband's favorite drinks. I had put a note a couple years ago in my Hyatt profile that we're not wine drinkers but enjoy sparking water and diet Pepsi -- we have literally received one can of each once, previously so not sure most hotels even check these notes (GHHK gave us a bottle of wine each day LOL and we sadly had to leave them behind). It was awesome to arrive at the room with ice-cold drinks in the fridge!

This is not the most beautiful hotel in Key West nor the poshest. We will be back because it is super well-located, and just overall very pleasant and relaxing, with wonderful staff. This place has heart.