Personally, I LOVE this Hyatt Centric. I bounce btwn the Hyatt Regency LB, which is just about .25…read moremiles away and adjacent to the LB Convention Center, but if I'm doing a walkable staycation and don't plan on driving during my stay, I choose Hyatt Centric at The Pike. The Pike refers to a shopping and entertainment area within this city block. So it's real convenient to restaurants, outlets, a movie theatre, and ALLLL the Long Beach Harbor and Shoreline Village offer: shopping, a arcade with carousel, Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Aquatic Park, Long Beach Pier, LB Boat Rentals and Wheel Fun Rentals. Not to mention a really nice, easy walkway along the shoreline with postcard views of the Queen Mary.
Hyatt Regency is great of you're attending a conference at the convention center and can write off biz expenses. Otherwise, I find the parking fees, even with in/out privileges for guest, to be steep($44/nt self; $49/nt valet), I addition to the "Destination Fee" ($30) charged at Hyatt Regency. NOW, that being said, sometimes they have package deals, so these fees can be absorbed. Compare it to Hyatt Centric The Pike, where you will be parking at a Long Beach City Public Parking structure next-door to the Hyatt Centric(separate review), NOT having in/out privileges, unless you pay each time you leave, but paying $24/day and no "Destination Fee", and I think Hyatt Centric makes more sense for pedestrian explorers. Since both hotels are within the same walking areas, choose what works best for you, but those are my strongest considerations for choosing at which Hyatt in downtown LB I'll be staying. Hubs doesn't give a rip. LOL
Anywho, here is ALSO why Hyatt Centric feels "homier" to me. First and foremost - THE STAFF!!!! Jorge, Dir. of Operations, reached out ahead of my arrival(standard), but continued to be of assistance when I engaged with him about my stay and what our celebrations for the New Year would be. Very thoughtful. Emma was friendly and very helpful in checking us in and making sure I received all my Hyatt Member amenities and perks. David, Front Office Manager, followed up to see that our stay was a successful and happy one and to further offer any assistance for future stays. Throughout our stay, we were greeted by staff cheerfully, but they never imposed. Honestly, remember when Hyatt use to boast about "the Hyatt Touch"? THIS is what they meant. They may not refer to that in marketing, but Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach seems to be one property that is still very committed to this idea.
I have been staying at this property since it was an Avia. Hyatt purchased the property in 2011 and began renovations in 2012, which I believe finished in 2020, just in time for a pandemic to hit. We came back in 2021 to beautiful new decor that really features the sights synonymous to Long Beach, but especially the harbor and nautical history. Cute details like hallway lights resembling portholes, or some Queen Mary history lessons in the elevator halls, highlighting her use during WWII. The wallpaper in the rooms, has a focus wall of an aerial shot of the shipping containers at the Port of LB, and the carpet coordinates a flow of that same idea. Yeeesssss..., in some areas the decor is already looking a bit worn, but I believe its a pretty popular property so I don't mind because it's all familiar, comfortable and there are no problems with anything broken.
Amenities! I ADORE the roof poolside patio for city scapes and views of the Queen Mary during any season. I'm not typically a pool user, but have dipped during especially hot weather when staycationing here.
Plenty of room to spread out! I find the rooms really comfy, and plenty big, the shower and bathroom fabulous! A cozy robe, efficiency fridge, Keurig with pods, extra blankets and pillows and motion sensor lights on the bed frame, assisting your way to a middle of the night bathroom sesh.
Also available: gym, water stations, poolside cabanas(for a fee), poolside lounge chairs and seasonal rooftop bar, a business center, free wi-fi throughout and meeting/banquet rooms. They also have a really cute outside patio on the ground floor, adjacent to the lobby, that the banquet rooms can open onto featuring a HUGE chess board!
Each of our stays at Hyatt Centric The Pike LB has had a special memory. I'm already planning my next stay. HC@TPLB makes a PERFECT location for a long Catalina Island Day trip! Catalina Express is a short, easy, maybe 5min, walk and then coming back to a cozy room after a Catalina excursion is the icing on the cake. I plan on booking for the night before, to catch the earliest(calmest seas are early morning) boat the next AM, then returning to our room after we return on the last boat back, around 8pm.
Whatever your plans are for seeing Long Beach, check into Hyatt Centric at The Pike Long Beach for an easy, comfortable stay. Cheers! "CC"