If I'm lucky enough to celebrate 80 years on this planet I hope somebody throws me a party - hint, hint. Over the weekend, David and I drove down to Austin to celebrate his mother's 80th birthday with friends and family. I booked us into the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa for one night using 20,000 Hyatt points. My Globalist status meant we were entitled to some nice perks - waived resort fees, free breakfast, free parking (on award stays only) and an upgrade to a standard suite if available at check-in. Hyatt is also running a promo until May 15 which means we'll get back 1,000 points on this stay - score!
I checked suite availability on the Hyatt website right before we arrived to confirm that a standard suite was available.
Sadly, some hotels play games with Globalist benefits...but not Lost Pines. Hurray! I was greeted with a smile, thanked for my loyalty, and confirmed into a Junior Suite without asking. The Front Desk Representative, Renee, also presented the hotel activity sheet and pointed out which activities were free, including Sunset S'Mores. During a previous visit to have dinner at this property David and I had been amused to observe a horde of Dads frantically attempting to roast marshmallows over an open fire in 100+ degree heat. Based on that experience we decided to skip Sunset S'Mores this time. Renee also acknowledged the note I had left in our reservation regarding the purpose of our visit - wow! I was convinced no one every read those things! Props to Renee for outstanding customer service.
Be warned - activities at this resort are plentiful but expensive. The Crooked River Water Park includes a water slide, lazy river, hot tubs, adult pool, beach area, and more, but all-day chaise lounge rental is $100 - yikes! The resort also offers trail rides, kayaking on the nearby Colorado River, shotgun trap-shoot, a tomahawk and archery "adventure", a family fishing excursion, a GPS treasure trek, Colorado river rafting, zip lining, and guided nature walks. Prices range from $20 - $115 per person and all require reservations.
We were assigned room 3204, and given a Globalist wristband which I thought was really nifty. I HATE digging through my purse looking for a hotel room keycard. Our room was quite a trek from the elevator, which was ok with us since the hotel tended to be noisy and we appreciated the quiet of our hallway. In fact, there were large banners on every floor urging "Tranquility" after 9:00 pm. Hmm...the resort attracts a large number of families with small children, so keep that in mind if you are planning a visit. Small pets are also welcome in exchange for a $150 fee per stay, and indeed when we were checking out the woman standing next to me was quite oblivious as her Yorkies were jumping all over me in excitement.
Our suite was truly not "junior" at all, coming in at 770 square feet. It consisted of an entry, separate living/dining room, balcony, spacious bathroom, and king bedroom. There were two large closets and a small safe, refrigerator, coffeemaker, ironing board, and luggage racks as well as comfy robes. The hotel is due for an update; however I ADORED the Texas Rock Legends artwork. It felt like the room was personalized just for me. The layout was thoughtful, and Dave and I enjoyed the extra space to stretch out. One minor quibble: only one sink in the bathroom, and the tile floors are REALLY slick when wet.
Our overall impression of the resort and this suite was favorable. I'd like to go back and hang out by the pool for a day or two...but only in shoulder season and not on a weekend. As always, feel free to reach out on Facebook: Travel Talk by Two Travelin' Teachers.
Happy Travelin'!