I spend way too many nights per year overnighting at JFK (or at least did before the pandemic). In October 2020 I wrote about an interesting Hyatt Regency opening near JFK, though I can’t decide whether it sounds awesome or awful. Anyway, I wanted to provide an update, as the hotel is now open.
In this post:
Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World New York
The Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World Casino New York had its ribbon cutting ceremony on August 6, 2021, and is accepting reservations for stays as of August 11, 2021:
- The four star hotel will be eight stories and feature 400 rooms
- The hotel will be New York City’s only casino hotel, and it will feature all kinds of amenities, including restaurants, conference and meeting spaces, and of course gaming areas
- The casino will offer over 6,000 slots and electronic table games, and will feature three levels of gaming — Times Square Casino, Fifth Avenue Casino, and Central Park Casino — along with high-limit rooms
- The hotel is owned by Genting Americas, which has invested roughly $400 million in the development of the property
Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World
Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World
Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World
Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World
It seems like this is more of a casino hotel than an airport hotel, though it will still be convenient(ish) for those flying into or out of JFK Airport. The hotel can be accessed by the A Train, Q37 bus, or LIRR to Jamaica Station (with a free shuttle between the hotel and station). It sounds like there won’t be a shuttle directly between the hotel and airport, which is a bummer.
The Hyatt Regency rates (in points & cash)
The Hyatt Regency JFK is accepting reservations for stays as of August 11, 2021. The Hyatt Regency JFK will be a Category 3 World of Hyatt property, meaning that a free night in a standard room will cost 12,000 World of Hyatt points, while a free night in a suite will cost 20,000 World of Hyatt points.
Paid rates at the hotel seem to start at $200+ per night.
One interesting thing is that one of the standard suites at this hotel (for the purposes of redeeming points or upgrades for Globalist members) is an executive suite, which retails for over $1,100 per night.
JFK’s airport hotel problem
JFK has the TWA Hotel, which is incredible, but also pricey. Not only is it avgeek heaven, but it’s extremely convenient, as it’s connected directly to Terminal 5. So the reality is that most of my airport hotel problems at JFK have been solved with that.
Pool at the TWA Hotel JFK
Aside from that, though, JFK has to be one of the worst major airports in the world when it comes to its selection of hotels. Before the TWA Hotel opened I typically stayed at the Sheraton, though it has since been converted into a homeless shelter, as many hotels in the area have.
That brings us to the Hyatt Regency JFK:
- Yay, I can earn and redeem World of Hyatt points near JFK
- Yay, the hotel will probably have several decent(ish) restaurants, 24/7 coffee, etc., which is more than can be said about other hotels near JFK
- Casinos kind of depress me, especially when I don’t actually intend to be at one
- There won’t be a direct shuttle service between the airport and hotel
Bottom line
The Hyatt Regency JFK had its ribbon cutting ceremony, and will be opening as of August 11, 2021. I’m excited to have a points property alternative to the TWA Hotel, and particularly one that will likely have decent dining options.
At the same time, I can’t say that I’m too excited about the prospect of going to a casino, let alone one without a direct shuttle service to JFK.
What do you make of the new Hyatt Regency JFK?
Well if you don't have a shuttle between JFK and the hotel, it is not a real "airport" hotel. They need to remove the JFK from the hotel's name. It will confuse guests. I agree with you. Casino is the last kind of sound I want to hear after stepping off a long flight. I also wonder what the "resort" or "Destination" fee situations are!
Howard Beach station is way closer than Jamaica.
If this property offered a direct shuttle service to JFK, that would make all the difference in the world to many one night guests.
$1,100 for a suite at an airport in the bowels of Queens, NY? The world has truly gone mad.
The world has truly gone mad, but this is just the beginning.
Cleary you haven't heard of "Among Us chicken nugget".
If the hotel has access to the A train nearby, then you should be able to take that to JFK. Otherwise, there may be a city bus service that could take you from the bus stop nearby
Take the hint. This hotel is not for travelers. It’s for knuckleheads and ladies (and men) of the night. And NYC really is not safe. Sure, you will probably be fine but quality of life is not a priority. And quality of life was never that great in the area. Hard pass for families. Couples and single male travelers, may be given how poor alternatives. Or just skip JFK and NYC entirely.
these days I'd rather skip Florida. Shall we compare death rates lately?
Like that you can redeem a small number of Hyatt points top stay here. But gosh does NYC have to make everything so difficult? I used to frequent this casino. It's very close to the airport, why not offer a shuttle directly to the airport? Bone head move if you ask me, but classic NYC move.
How much longer to get to decent, cheaper hotels near good food (Think Queens)?
Insane that there will not be a dedicated shuttle to the airport. Uber will be pricey and we don't need tons more one-passenger cab rides on the highways. The website says there will be a shuttle to Jamaica Station, where people can get the AirTrain. But that's out of the way, will be a two-seat ride, and will cost people money.
Should clarify my above comment - bulletproof with respect to the traffic to the airport, traffic inside the airport between terminals is a risk.
It is incredibly convenient to JFK with Uber and Lyft and is in a bulletproof location re: airport traffic.
Howard Beach has it's own highway to JFK, called the Nassau Expressway that only runs from Cross Bay Blvd. to JFK. No lights, no traffic, ever. 5pm on a Friday, it's about 8 minutes or so to the entrance to JFK. The hotel is a mile to the entrance on Cross Bay, through Ozone Park. Maybe...
It is incredibly convenient to JFK with Uber and Lyft and is in a bulletproof location re: airport traffic.
Howard Beach has it's own highway to JFK, called the Nassau Expressway that only runs from Cross Bay Blvd. to JFK. No lights, no traffic, ever. 5pm on a Friday, it's about 8 minutes or so to the entrance to JFK. The hotel is a mile to the entrance on Cross Bay, through Ozone Park. Maybe 5 minutes.
But it seems via google maps that you don't have to backtrack to Cross Bay, but Acqueduct Rd will take you to Lefferts Blvd. which then will give you a choice of the Nassau Expressway (for a tiny way) or the Pan Am Rd. which is the service road into JFK from the west.
This is an incredibly conventient location assuming you are not keen on a shuttle. Given shuttle frequency, I almost always prefer Uber/Lyft but sometimes those aren't quick either.
This might be a great option for the times I go to NYC, arrive very late, and don't want to spend the $/points on a really nice place for a 1am arrival.
But you can take side streets (check Google maps) and avoids the short backtrack to cross bay blvd to either the Pan Am
Disappointed to read @Jeffrey Erlbaum's update on the TWA hotel.
I stayed during the initial opening week and was underwhelmed, but put it down to teething problems.
The staff were woefully undertrained, knew next to nothing, but were very pleased with themselves nonetheless.
The headline room rate was reasonable, sort of, but the hidden add-ons blew it out of the water.
Sad that things have not substantially improved, but with zero...
Disappointed to read @Jeffrey Erlbaum's update on the TWA hotel.
I stayed during the initial opening week and was underwhelmed, but put it down to teething problems.
The staff were woefully undertrained, knew next to nothing, but were very pleased with themselves nonetheless.
The headline room rate was reasonable, sort of, but the hidden add-ons blew it out of the water.
Sad that things have not substantially improved, but with zero competition will they, or do they not need to bother?
Worth a try, I've stayed at the TWA hotel twice, both times were underwhelming. Terrible service, poor dining options for an airport hotel and quirky rooms.
It's wonderful for an avgeek but unfortunately doesn't quite make it as a functioning hotel.
Without such a great location, it would have closed quickly.
The lack of an airport shuttle is disappointing, but being a new semi-upscale-ish Category 3 Hyatt near JFK make it sound like a reasonable/potential use of a free night certificate (depending on the cash rate, of course).
This casino is aiming to grab the senior Atlantic City greyhound crowd. So the people that take a subsidized bus to Atlantic City, play all day at slot machines and then take the bus back to New York. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but half the time resorts world nyc looks like a nursing home or assisted living facility.
Then the other 50% of people are poor and lower-middle-class Asians gambling away their hard...
This casino is aiming to grab the senior Atlantic City greyhound crowd. So the people that take a subsidized bus to Atlantic City, play all day at slot machines and then take the bus back to New York. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but half the time resorts world nyc looks like a nursing home or assisted living facility.
Then the other 50% of people are poor and lower-middle-class Asians gambling away their hard earned money on baccarat and some other electronic Asian games.
This is truly a sad place to be.
This hotel MUST be reviewed! Globalist benefits and all. I fear TPG will dispatch one of his minions and beat you to the punch. Extra points if you can convince Tiffany to do the review.
This is not an airport hotel.
It's so not close to being an airport hotel you should change the headline of the article.
It's a 20-minute Uber or a 40-minute train/walk combo. It's possible Uber service will be good because some drivers may realize there's good back and forth traffic... but it's possible it will be terrible because they won't earn much on this ride and then will need to queue at JFK.
I...
This is not an airport hotel.
It's so not close to being an airport hotel you should change the headline of the article.
It's a 20-minute Uber or a 40-minute train/walk combo. It's possible Uber service will be good because some drivers may realize there's good back and forth traffic... but it's possible it will be terrible because they won't earn much on this ride and then will need to queue at JFK.
I cannot imagine a reason to stay here and "being able to use Hyatt points" isn't one.
@GuruJanitor. In Miami we shot at neighbors. Dysfunctional but local. Stay out of other people's business and you are fine. NYC is at best random. Typically some dude off his meds. No thanks. Keep believing NYC is not a dump and waiting for everyone to return. Lol. Avoid NYC.
Strange that Resorts World LV is all Hilton, and this one is Hyatt.
I am sure this will be a real pretty crowd.
You have to take TWO trains, followed by a 10 minute walk in what is undoubtedly a dodgy area? No freakin way would I ever consider this for an airport stay (or any other, really). Based on what I've seen in the area of JFK and what you're telling me in this article (that the situation is worse than before), I'd recommend not putting yourself in a situation where you have to spend a night...
You have to take TWO trains, followed by a 10 minute walk in what is undoubtedly a dodgy area? No freakin way would I ever consider this for an airport stay (or any other, really). Based on what I've seen in the area of JFK and what you're telling me in this article (that the situation is worse than before), I'd recommend not putting yourself in a situation where you have to spend a night near JFK in the first place.
There are quite a few acceptable hotels serving EWR, perhaps this would be more worthy of consideration if you find yourself needing to depart the NY area on a brutal early morning flight that requires an airport hotel.
@Miamiorbust, I don't know how you go outside then when you live in a city with a murder rate 4x higher than NYC last year.
I been there, everything at the resorts world casino NYC is extremely overpriced. Bagel with cream cheese? That’s gonna be $10 - seriously. The entire casino is a dump, not worth going there at all. 90% of people there are slot machines, it’s the opposite of glamour. Truly depressing place, never going back there again. Plus, no free drinks. Want a bud light? That’s gonna be 8 bucks plus tip.
Weird. You'd think the hotel would want as many airport travelers to visit as possible and make it as easy as possible with a shuttle.
Calling this place a "JFK airport hotel" is a bit of a stretch. They're simply capitalizing on the moniker "JFK". It really should be named the Hyatt Regency Jamaica, which by itself is another reason not to stay there.
There's only one true JFK airport hotel, and that is the TWA. Pricey, yes, but very comfortable, very quiet, and you can't beat the convenience of its location.
Layover gamble? Great! So you can come back to the airport drunk and angry...just in time for your 6 hour transcon....just be glad Spirit doesn't serve JFK.
Specific to this hotel it actually might be faster to air train to Jamaica station then take a shuttle.
Going on the van wyck expwy to jamaica in rush hour is just stand still traffic so it’s always faster then to take air train first.
NYC is currently a dump and gun violence is real. Take what you thought you knew about the city and throw it out the door. Just stay away. simply not worth the very real risk of injury/ death at the moment.
Agree. Despite the name doesn't seem like an airport hotel.
I like it. First gamble stop on my way to VEGAS.
Like many have said, this is NOT an airport hotel. Taking a train then a shuttle in order to reach those so-called airport hotels near JFK is ridiculous enough, now a casino complex with some guest rooms that takes even more time to get to? Give me a break...
This Hotel is planned with two disparate guest night streams. I assume there is a substantial cost to running a proper shuttle and they are either;
1, Waiting out the pandemic.
2, Waiting to ascertain whether travel nights will be substantial and will justify a full time shuttle.
@ Adam
I might not be up to date but my understanding is that a short trip, anyplace in Brooklyn or Queens gets a yellow cab driver a "short ticket". This is basically a get back to the front of the line pass.
Yea this article is off. There is already a casino with all that stuff there. None of those gambling casinos described are new. They are just adding a hyatt. Hardly an airport hotel. At best its in airport vicinity. Its not uncommon to see stories about armed robberies and brawls occurring at that casino. Not somewhere I would go for a restful night.
This likely isn't a full *casino* with live table games and such that people would associate w/Vegas, AC, etc. The Resorts in Queens now IIRC is all "digital" so to speak. Assuming this is the same.
"The casino will offer..."
Resorts World casino has been open at Aqueduct Racetrack since 2011. The hotel is an addition to the existing complex.
The Hyatt Regency in Manila is also a casino hotel. Also close to the airport, also lacking a shuttle service (traffic in Manila is hell, it's not even worth trying). When I stayed there, it was surprisingly easy to avoid the casino, as I had no interest in it.
Call it what you like, but it's just a casino hotel near(ish), but not convenient to, JFK. TWA hotel certainly has nothing to be concerned about in terms of competition.
For an o/n transit it does not offer any advantage over any number of hotels convenient to a subway stop on any route to Skytrain terminal.
Why does it seem impossible to have a similar to TWA hotel attached to a terminal? Or is JFK happy being a second-rate airport?
If you can't offer a shuttle to the airport, then don't put the airport name in hotel branding
Another possibly relevant point for Hyatt elite members: the late check-out benefit is not guaranteed at resorts *and casino hotels* but, rather, "subject to availability." So they might use that to get around providing one of (to me) the most valuable benefits of Hyatt Globalist status, the (usually-)guaranteed 4 pm checkout (and 2 pm for Discoverist and Explorist members).
Then again, Hyatts tend to go above and beyond the minimum required of them. When I...
Another possibly relevant point for Hyatt elite members: the late check-out benefit is not guaranteed at resorts *and casino hotels* but, rather, "subject to availability." So they might use that to get around providing one of (to me) the most valuable benefits of Hyatt Globalist status, the (usually-)guaranteed 4 pm checkout (and 2 pm for Discoverist and Explorist members).
Then again, Hyatts tend to go above and beyond the minimum required of them. When I was just an Explorist, at least one Hyatt resort proactively offered me my 2 pm checkout benefit even though they weren't required to. So, who knows?
The Sheraton was well known within Marriott as one of their worst properties in the world, of any brand
For people not used to big cities in the U.S., they would think turning hotels into homeless shelters is a joke.
@Ben This is NOT an airport hotel. Wait 'til you see the walking dead exiting the train for this hotel / casino. I can only hope that the floorplan keeps the casino well-separated from the hotel side, with separate entrances.
@Ben - what's the TWA hotel costing per night now? Shortly after opening, we stayed for $250/night during an overnight connection. For the convenience of being at the B6 terminal, and for being in New York, I thought that was quite reasonable.
Meh, getting to this hotel you first need to take the Air Train (which costs $7.75) and then the A train ($2.75) so a total of $10.50 (per person). Upon getting off the A train, it's at least a 10 minute walk to the hotel... If you attempt to take a taxi or an uber for this route, the driver might kill you... the yellow taxis wait for hours these days for a fare, and...
Meh, getting to this hotel you first need to take the Air Train (which costs $7.75) and then the A train ($2.75) so a total of $10.50 (per person). Upon getting off the A train, it's at least a 10 minute walk to the hotel... If you attempt to take a taxi or an uber for this route, the driver might kill you... the yellow taxis wait for hours these days for a fare, and hope for at least a manhattan fare. Similar case for Ubers...
And like said before, going from the hotel to JFK would be a nightmare as the A train station positioning has a weird setup.
Sheraton JFK is now the "Gate Hotel" though it may be working as a homeless shelter, I really don't know.
And Resorts World NYC is non-smoking on the casino floor
@ Ben -- Casino? Great, let's hope you don't have to walk past hundreds of chain smokers to reach your room.
Why wouldn't they have a shuttle? Would the drive be that bad? It seems like an easy way to drum up business, they are literally named after the airport.
Getting to this hotel would be easy, Airtrain to Howard Beach, and transfer to the A train one stop to Aqueduct. The problem will be getting back, as the A only stops at Aqueduct inbound to the city. You’d have to backtrack and switch back to a Rockaway bound A at Rockaway Blvd. Then one stop back to the Howard Beach Airtrain stop.
Easy for a New Yorker or anyone who is used to the subway, but for someone with no experience I’d imagine it would get confusing.
You make me laugh some times "awesome or awful "
Perhaps a bit of both.The JFK hotel scene is so bad all these decades that
I stay in NYC or Long Island to avoid JFK hotels or avoid JFK completely if I can.
Having a full service Hyatt is a dream even if I have to take an Uber
Well needed in Jamaica where everything in hospitality is grim.Just avoid the casino as I do
This reminds me of the Manila Marriott hotel by the airport there which is part of a larger Resorts World casino concept. We had to layover there twice due to missed connections and it actually wasn't that bad as 4-star hotels go. Definitely had some more interesting restaurant options than your usual airport business hotel. Too bad about there lacking a shuttle but I suppose you could always just use a cheap uber.
I'm rather surprised about the lack of airport shuttle, especially considering that it's a casino. You'd think they'd want to encourage layover gamblers. I personally enjoy a quick casino trip and if I had 4 hours to kill in the Admirals Club or a casino, I'd hop on a shuttle to the casino. But if they make me work to get there, forget it.