haha yeah seems to be flip-flopping all over the place. I'll be there in 2 weeks and let you know

I was here late June 2025

Globalist Breakfast
As noted above, the Grand Club is closed in the mornings. Breakfast was in Mesa Centrale. The location of this restaurant is the same as the previous southwest style dining place.
Perhaps the morning closure is just for the slow/low revenue summer season.
A limited menu but what was available was good. No problem with having the charge & tip removed before checkout.

Self Parking
Currently, this NOT available. The parking lot is completely torn up for 'renovations'. I assume it's temporary and they're just rebuilding the lot.
Since valet is forced, they're only charging $20/night for all parking. I think the normal rate is $38 for valet & $30 for self park.
I was worried that the attendants would be swamped, so stayed at the resort my whole 2 night stay. The one time I had my car retrieved was no problem.
Note that the website does not make any mention of this situation.

Grand Club
There is zero signage to the club until you're there.
Yes, you do have to enter via the Tiki Taka restaurant, the Club being just ahead as you enter That restaurant is entered from the main courtyard beyond the large lobby bar.
Tiki Taka is closed 2 nights per week (Sunday & Monday ??) during summer. I was there one of those nights, the restaurant entry was kept unlocked for club access.
Small but nice area plus an outdoor sitting area. Typical offerings that didn't rotate much between my 2 nights. Small selection of complimentary beer & wine available from the attendant.
Was very slow both of my visits. I talked to the attendant and she said it was due to a (that) large event at the hotel, so many guests have other things to attend.
No complaints, but the old (closed long before the Grand Hyatt conversions) Regency Club was nicer.

Hotel Grounds
If you've never been here, you will be impressed. If (like me) you're a past visitor, you will be disappointed.
The main courtyard off the lobby bar used to have walkways with small cascading waterfalls and southwest statutes, desert plants, etc. The center of the courtyard is now solid astro turf that can be used for event space. There was actually an evening event the 1st evening of my stay (who does outdoor events in Arizona in June !!). So what used to be a large nice garden was now set up with food buffet stations along the edge and the fake grass center with portable dining tables. Again, this is not a side area, it is the main/central courtyard. Very classy (not).

For the large pool complex, they have basically removed all structures that separated the various pools. The family pools are now just one big open area. I liked the structures for several reasons:
- provided some shade, particularly around the hot tub.
- segregated to a degree each individual pool. Encouraged you to 'go exploring'
- water spouts falling from the structures into the pools below were great to use as a 'poor man's massage' when in a pool underneath one. Plus the sound of the 'waterfalls' all over.

Renovations
Everything was nice and I was impressed.
I used an SUA so was assigned a Fountain Court Suite. A very comfortable room and of course the decor was new and pleasing. A second adjoining room could be booked to make it a 2 bedroom suite.
I do think the name should be changed from "Fountain Court". The balconies open up to that main court I've already mentioned, so I think "Astro Turf Suite" would be a better name.
I had to listen to the event's announcer blab his mouth well into the evening. Afterwards, event attendees kept partying until almost midnight.

It took almost the whole stay before I realized that the beautiful natural stone lobby/bar area might actually be a serious noise issue. It's all hard surface. I don't recall the surface types pre-renovation.
Even after the event in the Astro Turf Courtyard, I kept hearing people talking/laughing 'right outside my door'. Yet there was never anyone outside my door.
Usually, my room here is at the end of one of the wings ... overlooking the pool complex, casitas or one of the smaller courtyards in between wings. The Fountain Court Suite had me where a wing joins the main corridor, next to an open "mini atrium" where stairs & elevators go up to other floors. The noise I was hearing was when the lobby/bar area was full (the event attendees had a 2nd night at the hotel) and with the hard surfaces not absorbing any noise, it traveled up the mini atrium to sound as if it were right outside my room.

Resort Fees
These were not automatically for me (Globalist). So instead of app check-out, I had to go to the desk. No big deal.
The Agent 1st said "let me check" so I thought the oversite would be quickly corrected. He banged on his keyboard a little then asked "what fees ?"
- me : the resort fee and related tax for both nights, because of my Globalist status
- him : No, the waived resort fees only apply when the room is an award
- me : yes, that is the standard rule. But for Globalist, resort/destination fees are always waived and parking charges are waived on award stays.
We went thru another round of "no, award nights only" and my trying to explain (teach) the difference to him. He finally asked the agent right next to him (who did not have a guest, so heard our whole conversation), "have you ever heard of this ?". That Agent pointed to my agent's screen, showed where it noted that I was Globalist so click here, do this then do that. And thenI was on my way with an apology.

TL;DR
Despite some grumblings, I enjoyed my stay. However, I might start considering the Scottsdale Andaz a bit more.
My thoughts might be biased .... I felt that going from a "Hyatt Regency Resort" to a "Grand Hyatt" would be an upgrade, so what I feel is a downgrade might be more "missed expectations".

based on the pictures I have seen, I may be one of those disappointed guests. Long time visitor from Switzerland, since 1989. loved the courtyard with the Saguaro Cactus, that will definitely be missed. And probably the former RC as well, compared to the new one.
will be back myself late Sept/early October 2025. so am curious what my final take will be….

Unfortunately, this is what happens when properties renovate with the primary goal of drawing more, larger events. It's what happened to the Camelback Inn, which basically lost its soul when they did a similar renovation (which also added a large events center).

The focus shifts from guest experience to drawing and serving large crowds, and the guest experience invariably is substantially diminished.

Hi there, I'm a globalist with 3 kids (11/12/13). I see plusses and minus' for both the Grand Hyatt and the Andaz and looking to stay over Christmas time for just a quick stay on the way to the Pacific North West.

Both have suites open. What would be the better two-night stay? I see good recommendations on both sides.

Gh - andaz is not really for family stays.. Given that xmas time is not particularly warm the gap is less but still there are multiple hot tubs in gh and lounge is easier with kids

Have stayed at both with kids (and without kids). It�s really not a debate: GH wins.
- More activities onsite, kids will have some freedom to roam and explore (eg rock climbing wall, outdoor putting green, tennis)
- Lounge gives a place to hang as a family, which I could see as a good change of scenery from your room, especially if it�s raining
- Speaking of poor weather, GH is all connected indoors. If the weather sucks, you�ll have to walk outside at Andaz to get to the restaurant, etc.
- Not as much a factor over Xmas, but pool situation is much more kid friendly (eg slide, volleyball, etc.) at GH. Pool at Andaz is basically just for lounging.

Not getting the comments about poor weather in December.

Average daily high is in the high 60s. Average rainfall for the entire month is less than an inch. Last year, the average daily high was 75 degrees and there was no measurable precipitation all month.

Long time stayer at the HR Gainey Ranch, first time in 1989! Based on the recent reviews I was a bit skeptical of my stay at the GH. Overall resum�…I‘d still return again and was in general positively surprised.

Positive (++)
- bar area is wonderful
- good live music
- great quality of drinks
- great food quality (breakfast, pool area) as well as adequate pricing. Globalist breakfast in restaurant, not Club Lounge (that is a double negative)
- we thoroughly enjoyed the adult pool, nice warm water
- Globalist check-in, VIP Agent quickly came from back office to welcome
- self parking removed from folio for all nights, (3 nights on points, 1 night paid room rate)
- breakfast charges removed without having to ask. Unofficially a 30$ limit (as per email), no limit mentioned at checkin. We had buffet on weekend, at 32$. Otherwise we were always within limit.
- staff
- room maid service always before 10am
- and YES, daily evening turndown service. Haven‘t had this service in the past 10 years I‘d say.

Good (+)
- rooms are obviously the same, just renovated. Same room doors with massive gaps up to an inch! (Hence only a ‚+‘. Used TSU for Fountain Suite. Nespresso machine.
- comfortable beds


Not so good (-)
- most was double negative
- I would have expected a ‚random‘ survey after so many stays and the renovation


negativ (- -)
- drink PRICES are insane
- cabana and daybed PRICES are insane. Up to 700$ on weekends, 350$ for daybeds on weekends. My personal threshold is $50 for daybed, max 150$ for Cabana. I am fortunate to be in the upper 10% in Switzerland on income, could afford the cabanas, but this is insane and not willing to pay.
- Grand Club is worthless. Small spread. No free alcohol, no honor bar, but served by host. 10$ for Canvas, no hard liquor. My Grand Club comparison or reference for US Clubs is Nashville. This is nothing to write home about.
- room rates: max I ever paid at the HR was 283$, now it is 600$+ under GH flag.

Posting links to the pool drink and food menu, as well as Cabana/daybed pricing

https://linktr.ee/hyattscottsdalepool


https://linktr.ee/GrandHyattScottsdale

That is frustrating to hear about no club breakfast. We stayed last year in Dec and Ty e club had not yet finished construction. In my comment card review I mentioned that it was a negative to not have the ability to get a quick breakfast in the coffee shop or lounge (yet) as not everyone has time to sit and eat everyday.
we were there for a hockey tournament and had early games.
I got a response from management letting me know that quick breakfast in the club would be offered when it reopened. Sad to hear they didn�t follow through. I don�t know why we can�t then use up to $30 in the quick serve coffee shop on our way out the door. Seems like an obvious compromise.

Tbh, I do not know if the 30$ could have been used there. We were on vacation so were more than happy to have breakfast in the restaurant.

It could not last December but it is possible they have changed that since they didn't follow through with a lounge breakfast.

let's not go crazy here restaurant breakfast is an order of magnitude better than what club would offer.. i am fairly certain that if you need smth fast to go as a glob you can get it from the restaurant of cafe and have charges removed at checkout

100% agree restaurant breakfast will be much better. If you are leaving early, ask front desk if the restaurant can put together a to-go bag for you to grab on your way out the door since you will not be able to avail of the Glob breakfast. Almost always, they will either arrange it or else suggest you grab something from the cafe/market for free