5 Things You Should Know About the Hyatt Regency JFK

The Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York is Hyatt’s only airport hotel serving New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), but it comes with a few quirks. Not only is it not entirely great for using public transit, but it also does not have a free shuttle to and from the airport, which makes it unique for an airport hotel.

I stayed at this hotel in October 2024 and am glad that I did, as I had wanted to try this property out for a while. It’s a great option if you need a night’s stay after your flight, and I would return to this hotel given the chance.

1. Public Transit Only Runs One Way

The Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York is not on JFK airport property, so to get there without your own car, you need a taxi, ride-share, or public transit. Oddly enough, public transit only runs in 1 direction: to the hotel from the airport. If you’re looking to go from the hotel to the airport, there are no public transit options, making this one of the odder airport hotels out there.

To get from JFK airport to the hotel, you need to take the AirTrain JFK from your terminal to Howard Beach. Keep in mind that most people tend to take the train to Jamaica, so ensure you’re on the right train, which is going to Howard Beach, a completely different line than the Jamaica one.

Once you arrive at Howard Beach on the AirTrain, you’ll get off and transfer to the A train of the subway in the same building. It’s an effortless connection, and you wait on the platform for the next subway line, which usually runs every few minutes. The A train only runs in a single direction from Howard Beach — to Manhattan — so you can’t really mess up which train you’re getting on.

Once you get on the A train, take it 2 stops and get off at Aqueduct Racetrack. From the station platform, you can see the hotel right next door, allowing you to visualize where to go. There is a covered walkway from the station to the Resorts World New York City casino straight ahead, but the easier way to get to the hotel is to exit the walkway halfway and then walk across the parking lot to the side entrance of the hotel.

All in all, getting from the airport to the hotel is relatively painless, and if I were landing late at night and needed an airport hotel stay following my trip, I would certainly do this public transit journey again.

You cannot do this journey in reverse. There is no platform on the opposite side of the track at Aqueduct Racetrack, so it’s impossible to catch a train back toward Howard Beach from this station. If you have an early flight (or any flight, for that matter), you need to take a ride-share or taxi to the airport.

2. This Hotel Has a Regency Club

While many Hyatts in the U.S. are closing their club lounges, the Hyatt Regency JFK surprisingly still has one. It’s accessible to those who book a club-level room, are Globalists, or are eligible Platinum or Black members of the Genting Rewards program, the loyalty scheme of the casino attached to the hotel.

Breakfast is served in the morning, and the lounge is open all day for nonalcoholic drinks and seating. In the evening, light appetizers are offered.

During my recent visit, I arrived too late in the evening to have appetizers but did have breakfast the next morning. The spread was mediocre at best, with eggs that seemed mass-produced. While I had some fresh fruit and bagels, the breakfast spread seemed overrun with people, likely because the lounge is open to eligible members of the casino who are high rollers.

3. Rooms Are Modern

This is a relatively new hotel, so the rooms are super modern. During my stay, I was upgraded to a junior suite because of my Hyatt Globalist status. The room featured 2 bathrooms and a separate living room that could be closed off from the bedroom. Attached to the bedroom was an enormous bathroom, complete with vanity, soaking tub, separate toilet room, and stand-up shower room.

While I was only at this hotel for a quick overnight rest, I appreciated how modern it was. Next to the beds were wireless charging ports for phones and electronic light switches that controlled the window shades.

With many airport hotels in the JFK area having dated rooms, it was refreshing to stay in such a crisply clean hotel.

4. No Shuttle

This hotel does not have an airport shuttle in either direction. Though the hotel is positioned as an airport hotel, you must make your way to and from JFK.

While public transit can you to the hotel, you must take a ride-share or taxi from the hotel to the airport, so plan ahead. The ride will only be about 10 minutes, but you should leave plenty of time before flight departure, especially if you’re checking bags. The roadways around JFK can get backed up easily with traffic, so leave time to navigate any of these roads.

You may find it helpful to schedule your ride so you know you have a vehicle waiting for you; otherwise, the hotel can easily arrange for a taxi. During my visit to the hotel, I saw a few patrons confused that this hotel did not have a shuttle and surprised they would have to take a taxi to the airport, something they didn’t expect on top of the normal room rate.

5. There’s a Casino Attached to the Hotel

This Hyatt hotel is one of the few in the world with a casino attached. The hotel uses the World of Hyatt program, and the Resorts World casino has a seperate loyalty program.

The casino draws night owls and other patrons you might not normally see at an airport hotel like this. That said, the casino’s popularity means there are many nearby restaurants that you can visit if you’re staying at the hotel. This is a huge plus, as many airport hotels at JFK are in somewhat desolate areas.

One thing to keep in mind is that even though you can get to the casino from the hotel if you’re coming in off the subway, you have to exit the aboveground walkway, walk through the parking lot, and then enter the hotel that way since you can’t walk through the casino itself (security there will turn you away).

Final Thoughts

Even though Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York doesn’t have a shuttle, it would be one of my go-to airport hotels at JFK if I needed one. It is modern and new, offers a Regency Club lounge, and is easily accessible via public transit from the airport. The hotel is right next to a casino with lots of restaurants, making it a great spot for an airport hotel for a long layover.

Though going from the hotel to the airport can be a pain, it’s a short drive and only costs a few dollars by Uber. Plus, you can leave on your time and terms without having to wait for a shuttle, which certainly can be more convenient.