Hyatt Regency Merida in Yucatán, Mexico [In-Depth Hotel Review]

Hyatt ranks its hotels from Category 1 to Category 8, getting more expensive (and usually fancier) as you go up in category. I visit Category 1 properties like the Hyatt Regency Merida with measured expectations.

Sometimes a Hyatt Category 1 property can provide a great stay with solid amenities, but the hotel is just rough around the edges. That was our experience at this property in Mexico’s Yucatán state during a 3-night stay with my wife in late October 2024.

The breakfast was out of this world, and we loved our upgraded suite. If the hotel made a few small touch-ups in the maintenance department, it could be an incredible property. Luckily, all of the negatives were merely cosmetic, and we thoroughly enjoyed the Hyatt Regency Merida.

Here’s a look at the good and bad from our stay.

Booking the Hyatt Regency Merida

During our late-October stay, the Hyatt Regency Merida charged $116 per night for a standard room before tax. The total after taxes would have been $419.01 for our 3-night stay.

As it was a World of Hyatt Category 1 property, however, we booked the Hyatt Regency Merida for 5,000 points per night. If you visit on off-peak dates, you can find award nights at this hotel for just 3,500 points. Alternatively, rooms with access to the Regency Club were available for 7,000 points per night.

Suites were available for $370 per night after taxes or 8,000 points per night.

After booking the hotel, I called My Hyatt Concierge — a perk of Hyatt’s top-tier Globalist status — and applied a suite upgrade award to our stay. This put us into a Regency Suite King, confirmed without waiting for a space-available upgrade at check-in.

Hot Tip:

When paying for a Hyatt hotel with cash, consider using The World of Hyatt Credit Card or World of Hyatt Business Credit Card to earn up to 9 points per $1 spent on your stay, thanks to the points from paying with the card and the points from being a World of Hyatt member. If you have elite status with Hyatt, you can earn even more.

Location of the Hyatt Regency Merida

The Hyatt Regency Merida was near the Centro Internacional de Congresos de Yucatán (Merida convention center) and surrounded by numerous other hotels, pedestrian-friendly streets, and even a Walmart. However, it wasn’t near the main tourist spots around Plaza Principal.

Those sites were roughly 10 minutes away by car or 30 minutes walking. The hotel was 6.2 miles, or 10 kilometers, from Mérida International Airport (MID).

Checking In

We were surprised when the taxi driver told us, “We’re here.” We hadn’t noticed any sign on the street and only later noticed a Hyatt Regency logo at the top of the hotel’s tower.

The sign near the hotel’s front door had clearly been missing for a while, which is why we were surprised by the announcement of our arrival.

Despite the ominous appearance, 2 bellhops rushed to the trunk of the car to help with our luggage and give a smile-filled welcome to the hotel. After asking for the name on our reservation, they promised to deliver our belongings to our room after we checked in.

After mounting a few steps and passing through a revolving door, we entered a massive lobby that felt like a different planet from the signless front entrance.

At the reception desk, we were greeted by a friendly employee who welcomed us to the hotel and found our reservation quickly. She was patient while not 1 but 3 separate credit cards were rejected by our banks for suspected fraud as she tried to take a deposit for our room.

While trying to clear things up, we poked around the lobby. It had ample seating around a central tree.

There also were several chairs in the rear, near the Papillon Bakery & Market.

Signage around the lobby was nice for finding the hotel’s main facilities, as well.

And we liked the suitcase art on the wall near the entrance. It felt like something out of a movie.

After finally resolving the credit card issue, the front desk agent gave us our room key cards and wished us a pleasant stay.

Not so fast. Aren’t you supposed to tell us about the hotel?

I asked questions. What about breakfast? Was there a pool? How do we find our room? Where was the elevator?

She answered each question with a smile, but she didn’t provide any information proactively. For example, when I asked about the location and hours for breakfast and the gym, she didn’t take the initiative to provide further information about the location and hours for the pool and additional restaurants. We only got the information that I specifically asked for. That was a surprising letdown.

Elite Benefits

As mentioned, we had a confirmed upgrade to a Regency Suite King, which I used a suite upgrade award for prior to arrival. However, we also enjoyed other benefits from my Globalist status. These included complimentary breakfast at the buffet each morning, given that the Regency Club lounge was closed during our visit (though we only found out that existed at all the following day).

We also received an offer of late checkout, which we declined because we’d be leaving early on the final morning. We didn’t need the free parking benefit because we didn’t have a rental car.

Regency Suite King

Our suite was at the end of the hallway on the 15th floor.

Stepping out of the elevators, we noticed how plain the hallways were, with white walls and a tweed carpet that also had a few tears.

Our room, 1517, had a plain, brown door with a small sign indicating the room number. These heavy doors were prone to slamming, and being at the end of the hall put us far from the noise of slamming doors we heard when passing through the hallway.

Immediately inside our suite’s door, there was a small foyer with a mirror and shelf on the wall. The shelf was for holding items like keys and hats. Beyond this, the living room unfolded in front of us. However, the item closest to the door was a half bathroom.

Half Bathroom

After entering the door, there was a rather plain half bathroom to the right. It had a sink with a surprising amount of counter space. The soap was from a local brand, Yucatán Herbal, and had a subtle oat smell.

Underneath, we had spare towels and extra toilet paper.

There also was a toilet in a small cutout space at the other end of the bathroom.

Living Room

The long, narrow living room had a mix of colors and designs that didn’t seem to go together. There was a sitting area with a couch and coffee table.

A green — very green — chair was nearby and stuck out like a sore thumb.

The artwork had slate gray colors, while other grays in the living room were much lighter.

On the coffee table, there was a small brass armillary.

On the opposite wall, there was a TV in a recessed space above wooden cabinets.

The cabinets were empty save for a small minifridge — which was also empty.

At the far end of the living room, there was a round table with 4 chairs. In contrast to the black top on the cabinets and coffee table, the table had a marble pattern. There was a floor lamp in the corner and thick curtains covering the windows that ran the width of the living room.

On the table, we had a welcome gift of chocolates.

Bedroom

A door from the living room led into a very spacious bedroom with a palette of gray, beige, and white. There was a rug under the bed, but exposed hardwood floors covered most of the room.

A comfortable king bed was the room’s main feature. The 4 pillows provided a soft and superfirm option for each side of the bed. The headboard had a light fixture controlled by a small switch that proved to be a great reading light in the evenings.

Each side of the bed had a marble nightstand with 2 drawers, and the wall behind had multiple outlets. There was also a light on a bendable arm on each side of the bed. One nightstand had a wireless charging pad and a clock radio, while the other had a phone.

At the far end of the room, floor-to-ceiling windows had both daylight and blackout curtains. In front of these, there was a small, circular table near a sofa.

Opposite the bed, there was a TV on the wall above a desk and chair.

On the desk, we had a coffee machine that used pods.

At the other end of the long desk, we found an ice bucket, glasses, mugs, and coffee and tea supplies.

The desk also held notes about the hotel’s housekeeping conservation efforts.

On the wall near the door to the living room, there was a simple digital thermostat.

View

Our windows looked out toward the convention center and its surrounding greenery.

Closet

In the hallway to the bathroom, there was a closet with sliding doors next to a full-length mirror.

Inside, there was an ironing board, a folding luggage rack, and a safe bolted to the floor.

On the shelf, there was a flashlight plus both a steamer and an iron.

Bathroom

The suite’s main bathroom had a sink with a marble counter and lots of counter space. There was a large mirror beyond the sink, along with a makeup mirror, bottled water and glasses, washcloths, and a can with toiletries like cotton swabs and makeup pads. There also was a box of tissues in the corner.

Under the sink, we had spare towels, toilet paper, and a hair dryer on a shelf.

Near the door, there was a toilet that nearly touched the glass wall of the shower.

The spacious glass box for the shower offered handheld and rainfall showerheads. A cutout space held pump bottles of Yucatán Herbal products.

Amenities

Pool

The hotel’s pool was on a rooftop, but it wasn’t on the top of the hotel’s main tower. This third-floor location meant it was visible from the windows above.

Entering the pool deck, guests encountered a list of rules and policies.

The pool water was incredibly cold. Lounge chairs flanked the pool on 2 sides, and there was a pair of showers nearby.

The pool deck was spacious, and there was a small covered space at the far end.

A small box on the deck that held a potted plant needed a good scrub and a fresh coat of paint.

Fitness Center

The hotel had a small fitness center on the top of the parking structure, accessible through a hallway within the hotel.

Several multifunctional weight machines, handheld weights, and cardio machines were available. There was also space for additional exercises and equipment for various activities, such as mats and exercise balls.

There was an outdoor space that could be used for various games like basketball. The door to this area was locked throughout our stay, and we couldn’t get a clear answer on the reason.

Event Spaces

The hotel had 5 event and meeting spaces, the largest of which was the Regency Ballroom at 6,415 square feet.

Depending on its use and layout, the pool terrace could hold up to 120 guests, while 2 separate meeting rooms, each 1,007 square feet, were available.

The Regency Ballroom’s foyer also could be used for event registration, vendor booths, or even a cocktail hour.

Elevators

The hotel had 3 elevators, though one of them wasn’t working during our stay. Choosing a floor with guest rooms required tapping our key card. Waiting areas on the guest floors were spacious and had seating.

While the elevators were on the small side, they arrived quickly when called.

Doors inside the elevators advertised the hotel’s restaurants.

Le Petit Chef Experience

This culinary experience was available in a room inside the Peregrina Bistro, offering family-friendly immersive dining with multiple courses. The maximum group size was 4, and it cost MX$1690 ($85) per person.

Parking

The Hyatt Regency Merida offered complimentary valet parking for overnight guests, while self-parking cost MX$25 ($1.25) for those not staying at the hotel. A pay machine was available near the rear of the lobby.

Internet

Wi-Fi was included for free during our stay, and the connection was reliable. We were surprised to learn that we could connect up to 99 devices at no charge.

Pets

All guest rooms on the third floor and certain parts of the hotel were off-limits to animals (this was discussed at check-in). Guests receive bedding and towels for pets at check-in, subject to availability.

Housekeeping wouldn’t clean rooms if animals were in guest rooms without their owners present (unless the animals were in crates) The hotel charged a $60 pet fee for the first night and $30 for additional nights,

You were permitted a maximum of 2 pets per room, each with a maximum weight of 50 pounds (22.7 kilograms) or 75 pounds (34 kilograms) combined.

Food and Beverages

Peregrina Bistro

This restaurant was down a hallway and several steps past the rear of the lobby.

Its regal-looking entrance belied the rather modest design inside.

Peregrina Bistro was open from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the breakfast buffet each day. On weekdays, there was an à la carte lunch or themed buffet from 1:30 to 5 p.m. On the weekend, there was a brunch buffet operating from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Peregrina Bistro didn’t serve dinner.

Its lunch and dinner menus offered soups, tacos, sandwiches, wings, grilled meats, and a few desserts.
We had breakfast here each morning, and we found the buffet extremely impressive. Multiple fruits, fresh honey, cereals, and granola were available.

Pastries were plentiful.

There were numerous cold cuts on the buffet, along with a salad bar.

The selection of desserts on the breakfast buffet wasn’t something we’d seen in many of our travels.

Numerous Mexican dishes were available, such as taquitos and enfrijoladas (corn tortillas covered in a bean sauce).

And there was both a mountain of tortilla chips and multiple salsas to choose from nearby.

Hot dishes rotated daily, though they always included some type of eggs and some type of potato.

Nearby, chefs at an omelet station took orders, and there were typically a handful of people in line. In the center of the restaurant, a stand held several types of juices and hot water for tea.

Each morning, a server came to our table as soon as we were seated, asking if we wanted coffee or an espresso-based drink. Plant-based milks were available.

Despite the buffet being busy each morning, the staff did a good job of keeping coffee cups full and clearing away dishes.

Spasso Cucina Italiana

This Italian restaurant, located at the rear of the lobby, served appetizers, salads, soups, pastas, pizza, steak, ribs, and multiple desserts.

It was open from 5 p.m. to midnight daily and had an additional entrance directly from the street, making it more welcoming to patrons who weren’t staying at the hotel.

Papillon Bakery & Market

This space behind the lobby felt like a coffee shop on steroids. In addition to coffee and tea, it sold snacks, bottled drinks, gifts, shirts, and souvenirs.

While there was no seating inside the market itself, there were a handful of tables and chairs immediately outside.

Lobby Bar

This bar was open from noon to 11 p.m. daily. It offered wines, cocktails, mocktails, soups, salads, burgers, and even main courses like fajitas or steak.

Pool Bar

The pool bar was open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Its lunch-focused menu had appetizers, snacks, light bites, wine, beer, mixed drinks, and frozen daiquiris.

Room Service

Room service was available from 6 to 11 a.m. for breakfast and 12:30 to 11 p.m. for lunch and dinner. The menu had a range of items from traditional Mexican fare to Italian and American dishes. There were indicators for traditional, gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan dishes.

Regency Club

The hotel had a club lounge on the 17th floor, typically offering complimentary drinks throughout the day, but it was closed for renovations during our visit.

Service

The best description of service during our 3 nights at the Hyatt Regency Merida is that it was friendly yet inconsistent.

Staff members at breakfast each morning were full of smiles while checking us in and attending to our table. Reception staff were always smiling when we passed or stopped to ask a question. And the employee who checked us in was very friendly.

But she also failed to provide some of the most basic information a hotel guest should receive, such as breakfast benefits and the path to the room. And she didn’t pick up on the fact I was asking about my benefits or the hotel’s amenities and start offering this information. Instead, I had to extract from her anything I wanted to know. But she answered each question with a smile. Providing this information without my continued prodding would have provided a much better experience.

Then there were the maintenance issues. While none of them actually affected our stay, they were conspicuous. Why was the sign outside missing? Why was the outdoor space at the gym locked, and why couldn’t any employee explain the reason?

Moreover, attention to detail was a recurring issue with maintenance. Clearly, no one had put tape around the switch panels in our room when painting, so all of the light switches and outlets had paint on them.

The entry to the housekeeping area on every floor we visited also looked like this — clearly an issue of people running into the corner repeatedly with laundry carts.

And then there were the windows near the elevators. I couldn’t guess the last time they were cleaned. And these were near the carpet tears, making for an unsightly combination.

How much effort and cost would be involved in fixing these things, such as using tape before painting and not banging into the wall with a laundry cart? The hotel could easily elevate its guest experience with a few small touches.

Checkout

On our final day, we needed to leave roughly 15 minutes after breakfast opened to catch a flight. Thus, we were at reception to check out rather early.

The friendly staff at the desk understood the situation and offered to hold our luggage while we had breakfast. And when the driver arrived at the hotel, they came to the restaurant to tell us he was ready outside as we quickly ate.

Checkout was simple, as we had no problems with our bill, and there were no other guests at the desk at this time. Once we returned to the lobby from breakfast, the bellhop helped us put our luggage in the trunk — once again providing a big smile while helping us.

Final Thoughts

Smiles were consistently present during our stay at Hyatt Regency Merida. And we had an overall positive experience. With a few small touches, this hotel could move from good to great. But none of the negatives were enough to turn us off from another stay should we return to Merida in the future.