Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale: Bottom Line Review

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Recently, I decided to check out the Hyatt Centric Las Olas, a Category 4 Hyatt in Fort Lauderdale that I had never been to before. I had a Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Certificate that was expiring in a week.  Normally my go-to option to burn it would be The Confidante, a somewhat quirky beachfront Category 4 property right on Miami Beach.  This time, I had to stay in Fort Lauderdale and so tried the Hyatt Centric Las Olas. I was pleasantly suprised. It’s got a marvelous location, a good restaurant and a fun rooftop outdoor space.

Show entrance of Hyatt Centric Las Olas with a thumbs up
Hyatt Centric Entrance
a living room with a large window and a couch and a coffee table
King Deluxe Room on 15th Floor

Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale Bottom Line Review

Bottom line: Although 10 minutes from the beach, it’s in a prime location downtown, literally steps from the Fort Lauderdale’s lovely RiverWalk. It can be a very good value for category 1-4 free night certificates and overall would be my top choice if I was staying in Fort Lauderdale and/or needed to be close to the cruiseport.

  • Points Price: Category 4, 15K points per night or a Category 1-4 Certificate from the Chase Hyatt Card.
  • Cash Price: It seems to vary quite a bit.  For the night I stayed, the cash member price was $240, right at the Reasonable Redemption Value of 1.6 cents/per point without including the waived $20 destination fee or taxes.
  • Points Value: In low season, prices can go below $100-$130/nt which makes it a poor redemption.  However, it seems to top out at around $250-300 in high season, making it much more desirable, especially when redeeming Category 1-4 certificates.
  • Resort Fee: They’ve recently added a $20 “destination fee,” which seems fairly absurd in downtown Fort Lauderdale.  It includes bike rentals, two beach chairs and umbrellas, two welcome drinks and internet. Although not currently available, they normally have a Telsa in house with which they provide complimentary drop-offs within a two mile radius (but NOT pickups).  They do not drop off to Las Olas Beach.
  • Parking: $33 per night with in & out privileges. There would normally be valet service, but it isn’t being offered because of COVID.
  • Turndown service: None.
  • Housekeeping: Currently every three days or on request.
  • Internet: Excellent, able to cast and do multiple zoom meetings throughout the hotel and in my room on the 15th floor.
  • Dining
    • Breakfast: Very good.  There is no club lounge, so a very high quality breakfast is served at Harborwood Restaurant on the ground floor.  Globalists are able to order anything from the menu, including espresso drinks and sides if you’re so moved.
    • Lunch & Dinner: Harborwood Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7am-10pm.  There is an outdoor “rooftop” bar on the 8th floor by the pool that wasn’t open when I was there.  They also have a reservation only “speakeasy” called Room 901 in, you guessed it, Room 901.  This isn’t currently available.
  • Spa: None, but there is an outdoor heated pool on the 8th floor (that seemed to be in the shade most of the day).
  • Fitness Room: Reasonable amount of cardio equipment (Peloton, Treadmills, Ellipticals), yoga/stretching gear and weightlifting machines.  I could easily do a couple days of decent workouts.
  • Hyatt Globalist Elite Benefits: 
    • Suite Upgrade: I was upgraded to a 15th floor corner “King Deluxe” room before arriving.  This is the highest category of non-suite room and is about 50% bigger than the normal King/Queen rooms and features a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that had a lovely view of Downtown Fort Lauderdale.  I didn’t ask about a suite on arrival (something I almost never have to do with Hyatt as opposed to Marriott and Hilton) and wasn’t offered one, even though some were showing on the app.  The King Deluxe was quite nice, though.  It had a walk-in shower and and in-room Keurig machine.
    • Club Lounge: None, but they do provide 2 free drink tickets that can be used at the bar for cocktails, smoothies or espresso drinks.
    • Free Breakfast: High quality and served off of the menu at Harborwood Restaurant.  F&B and gratuity comped without asking.
    • 4PM Late Checkout: Requested at check-in and extended to 5:00 without me having to ask.
    • Free Parking: Didn’t have a car, but free parking was available in the attached garage.
  • Would I stay again?  Absolutely, provided that it was a good value award stay or if I was able to burn a 1-4 cert (see Greg’s list of best Category 1-4 hotels).  I loved the location right by the RiverWalk and the buzz of Las Olas Blvd. The facilities are sharp.  I found it to be a nice alternative to the craziness of the beach.
  • Hyatt Centric Las Olas Pros:
    • Great downtown location less than a block from the RiverWalk and walking distance from all of the restaurants, bars and shops on Las Olas Blvd yet still an easy 10 minute drive to the beach.
    • Facilities seem new and are in very good condition.
    • “Rooftop” pool and bar is a fun outdoor area to hang out in, especially at night.
    • Excellent free breakfast.
    • More than acceptable fitness area.
  • Hyatt Centric Las Olas Cons:
    • $20 “destination” fee feels ridiculous for a downtown hotel.
    • Globalist recognition at check-in was marginal; had to ask about benefits and where/how to use them.
    • 3 miles/10 minutes from the beach, which will be a deal-killer for some.
Shows a view down FortLauderdale RiverWalkLaur
The Fort Lauderdale RiverWalk is less than a block away
View from 15th floor King Deluxe Room
View from 15th floor King Deluxe Room
a pool with lounge chairs and umbrellas in a hotel
“Rooftop” Pool Area and Elev8 bar.
Shows work area of Hyatt Centric on first floor
First floor work area
Interior View of Harborwood Restaurant
Harborwood Restaurant at Hyatt Centric Las Olas
Shows the breakfast menu
Breakfast Menu at Harborwood Restaurant
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