Diamond breakfast – Buffet or menu
 

I have only been a Diamond at Hyatt for a short time so I do not have a long track record to determine what the general Hyatt policy is on Diamond breakfast vouchers. My question is do most Hyatt’s allow you to apply the value of the buffet against ordering anything off the menu… or do they insist you take the dreaded buffet?

Buffet is OK in Europe and Asia because they put out high quality food, but in most US hotels of all flags, buffets are usually horrible vs ordering a freshly prepared hot dish.

I assumed it would as I found the Hyatt Fairfax allowed me to order off the menu, and the Hyatt Morristown did not (and hence my ?). I was just trying to get a general sense such as most do or most do not… or it is 50/50.

I am afraid it totally varies by property. Not very helpful as an answer but if you have a specific location in mind, please post as someone may know.

I assumed it would as I found the Hyatt Fairfax allowed me to order off the menu, and the Hyatt Morristown did not (and hence my ?). I was just trying to get a general sense such as most do or most do not… or it is 50/50.

I always prefer ordering from the menu. I've gotten a lot of pushback when asking to do so. I'd guess I've had about 50:50 success in the States.

I am generally told at US Hyatts that the breakfast voucher can be used for up to $XX (between $15-$20) which always seems to coincide with the cost of the buffet.

Most of my Hyatt stays are in Asia. I usually do not get an option to choose from the menu except where they do not have an exec lounge, like HR Fukuoka. Some hotels like Park Hyatt Tokyo let you order breakfast off the menu with a small sum of surcharge.

Depends on the property, but used to be less than $ 15 at some places.

Many Hyatt properties in the US do not have a breakfast buffet, so they allow you to choose anything from the menu, or, as pointed out already, subtract a certain amount from any meal of the menu.

Some properties, however, will only offer you a choice of some items that make up a typical full american breakfast.

In Europe, at least in many countries, it is less common to order meals for breakfast, so you should always get the full buffet.

There has never been a difference between continental and full breakfast for Diamond members in the past in Europe, however, some US properties used to charge some $$$ in the past, when a guest intended to consume items from the full breakfast buffet and not only the continental breakfast buffet.

All of my stays in Australia have indicated breakfast as part of club access. The GH Melbourne informs Diamond guests that you may have a discounted full buffet breakfast in the Collins Kitchen for $20. Standard price was $38. I took up the offer on the 2nd day as a croissant and fruit only provides so much sustenance!

Ialways get the buffet but then again I don't push back as that is what I prefer

as in anything travel related

ymmv

Hyatt Hill Country - San Antonio, TX let me have $28 (incl tax) of food instead of the continental breakfast for 2.

($28 is a lot of food for one person. Great breakfast though!)

Not only varies by property, but often the property varies their policy too; be sure to ask your b'fast server.

On different visits, Hyatt Sacramento offered diff usage on buffet, menu credit, Sunday Brunch credit, and even off the lunch menu as well. YMMV, but probably depends on whether the certs are a result of a closed RC or b'fast rate, if they offer buffet, if it's weekend vs. weekday vs. holiday, if they offer brunch, and even what time of day you eat. At some properties, the buffet hours differ from b'fast menu hours, and I've often been offered the menu option when the buffet is closed. Hyatt Santa Clara for instance, offered menu credit over the Christmas holidays when they were really slow, RC was closed, and buffet wasn't offered. Sonoma generally offers menu credit. Hyatt SF seems to stick to no-hot-items buffet only, if RC is closed. Hyatt SFO Airport use to allow credit toward cafe deli items, inc. sandwich and salads. Once, Grand SF was "anything from the menu" when RC was closed.

Tip: I've also often used the certs as credit on something to-go, especially if after b'fast hours, or just don't have the time, or not hungry. Usually I'd ask the host/hostess to trade the cert for a mocha, soft drink, or cup of coffee and maybe a muffin to go; think I've been turned down only once in all the years. (Key seems to be to ask for something they don't need to cook.) I frequently do this at checkout with the extra AAA certs if staying on b'fast rate, and RC was open -- something to snack on the road, especially if RC food is long gone. ;)

I just stayed at the Andaz West Hollywood.

Ordered:

OJ, Coffee, Scrambled eggs with spinach, Mixed Berry Bowl, and Yogurt smoothie. (OK I was hungry!)

$53.00 USD


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Grand Hyatt DFW gives you the option of full breakfast eating in the coffee shop, restaurant or having room service.