A friend is having a West Coast post-wedding party and we're going. The even is in Tustin ( I thought that was in the central valley?), so I booked on FFN at the Huntington Beach Property and the next night in beautiful Irvine. Should I be looking somewhere else? I think we'll be flying into SNA or Ontario, which ever is cheaper...

Thankfully, the festivities are before Sept 30, gaining another FFN.

lala

Hyatt Irvine is pretty close to Tustin (10-15 min depending on location) and right next to SNA. That's a place to earn ffn not to spend (weekend rates often $80). Hyatt Huntington beach on the other hand is quite far from Tustin (at least 30 min) but well worth the drive and it is certainly worth ffn.
Hyatt orange county (near disneyland) is probably within 15-20 min as well. Another ffn earning kind of hyatt Also check for GP bonuses there.

As azepine00 pointed out you can normally get very good rate from Disneyland Hyatt and OK from Irvine. You can try booking through their website or if you feel more adventorous through Priceline.

You could also try the Hyatt Newporter. It is closer to both Tustin and 405 than Newport Beach one. I spent there quite a few nights in June when doing my Hyatt run.

Unless you have FNN's to burn, I wouldn't waste them at Irvine or Anaheim. I've stayed at Huntington Beach at least six times in the last year and it gets better each time. Last month, I received a "Director's Suite" which had two separate balconies with a gorgeous view of the ocean across the street. Definitely a place to use your FNNs. It is far from Tustin, but if your event is on a weekend, it would be worth the travel time.

I remember you helping when I was in Wash DC staying at the PH there.
So I must return the favor since this is my homecourt.

Can you tell me/us approximately where in Tustin the event is? What do you want to see/do other than attend your friend's event? Send me a PM with details and I'll assist as much as I can

Regardless, if you end up flying in to SNA, the Hyatt Irvine is quite convenient to SNA. However, as some of the folks here have said, it is more in line for earning FFNs rather than burning them I wouldn't bother with the disney one.

I haven't stayed at Huntington Beach but it right across the beach but as stated here it is a ways to go to Tustin.

Hyatt Newporter is an old property, however it is somewhat convenient to SNA and more convenient to Tustin than HB. The drive along PCH from this property to Laguna Beach is quite nice. It is situated right by 'Back Bay', a nature preserve/marsh area. Great for bird watching, and also plane spotting as the planes that take off from SNA go over it.

There's also some really cute dolphins frolicking in the Back Bay right now... If you want more of a vacation, definitely the Newporter or the Hyatt Reg Huntington Beach. Traffic on weekends to Tustin won't be bad & it's really not that far at all.

I liked my one night at the Irvine property enough to spend 80 bucks there on a hyatt.com rate. The RC was really nice.

The Huntington Beach property I have driven by, I think Taller half would appreciate the beach, even if you have to walk over a bridge to get there...

That I am using a FFN for as its about 225/night.

She's not too crazy about hotel hopping, but she knows we need the FFN later. Smart girl.

lala

It is an old property but to my understanding they have spent considerable amount of money to restore it. I would say that it has more character than the Huntington Beach Hyatt.

the RC at the Irvine is open from Monday afternoon till Friday morning.

Thanks again!

Flying into LGB, driving directly to reception in Tustin, driving back to Huntington and spending a leisurely morning walking the beach.

I looked at the long beach as an option and its sold out. I'm glad as I'm not sure I want to hang at a fully booked hotel.

I think the only things we'll do in Huntington Beach are hang, are their other things worth doing for a few hours? I have a software developer I could visit and talk about 3D kriging, but it seems sort of waste of a Sunday.

lala

If you don't mind driving down to Laguna beach, the Festival of Arts is going on right now as well as the Pageant of the Masters. In the Pageant of the Masters, they have real people posing to recreate artistic works of art.