Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa

An enormous resort with over 500 rooms, this Hyatt caters primarily to vacationing families. The grounds are spacious and luxurious, with cream-colored buildings surrounded by imposing fountains and towering palm trees creating a Mediterranean atmosphere. Interiors, however, cross the line from elegant to stuffy (and slightly dated). Marble floors with mosaic-tile details, patterned rugs, clashing patterned armchairs, and dull yellow lighting don't make the space terribly inviting, but a few beachy details on the walls, such as wooden surfboards, add an element of play.

Located on Huntington Beach in Orange County, the Hyatt Regency is right in the middle of surf central. The beach is a short walk across a bridge over a highway. Guests can also rent bikes on the hotel's grounds and peddle to nearby nature trails or bike to the busy Huntington Beach Pier, which is 16 minutes away on foot. Local attractions such as the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Queen Mary are both around 45-minutes away by car. Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm are a half-hour drive away, and Newport Beach is about a 10-minute drive; from here you can catch an hour-long ferry to Catalina Island. The hotel is a convenient drive along Pacific Coast Highway to three airports: LAX (55 minutes via the I-405 N), Orange County's John Wayne Airport (18 minutes via Victoria Street), and Long Beach Airport (half an hour via the 1-405 N). 

Rooms have thick carpets, beige-and-white walls, bright-orange bedspreads, and dark-wood furniture, and all have balconies, flat-screen TVs, bathrobes, marble bathtubs, and work areas. Rooms range from Standard Rooms up to Suites, some of which have separate bedrooms and living areas. Huntington Suites have large living room areas and jetted tubs and separate walk-in showers in the bathrooms, along with double sinks. Despite nightly bands and entertainment on the grounds, double-paned windows keep the rooms quiet. Cribs are available on request (for a fee).

There are six on-site restaurants, with excellent food that attracts a steady stream of local guests. The rustic Watertable serves fresh coastal cuisine including scallops and roasted salmon alongside artisan cocktails, vintage wines, local brews, and a wide range of spice-infused waters. They also offer a communal dining experience on Sunday evenings. Mankota's Grill has poolside dining and is more kid-friendly -- there's even an option of roasting marshmallows for s’mores around a fire pit. For a nightcap, guests can try the Red Chair Lounge, a comfy watering hole with deep-red decor, a roaring fireplace, and live weekend entertainment. The hotel offers multiple pools, including a large freeform pool, a whirlpool, and waterslides with kids' pools. There's also an elegant spa, Pacific Waters, with a variety of treatments. Numerous ballrooms and meeting rooms can hold conferences and events. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but parking costs extra and can be expensive.