Hyatt House vs. Hyatt Regency: Which Is Right for You?

When Hyatt loyalists travel, they may compare Hyatt House to Hyatt Regency to decide where to stay. Each brand within the World of Hyatt family caters to a different audience. Here's how to tell which of these Hyatt brands is right for your next trip.

Although both Hyatt brands offer similar amenities, there are major differences between Hyatt House and Hyatt Regency that you should understand. Consider these differences before booking a stay:

• Hyatt House rooms have full kitchens. These properties offer apartment-style spaces with full kitchens so you can prepare meals as if you were at home. Kitchens include refrigerators, microwaves, stovetops and islands, as well as dedicated workspaces.

• Complimentary breakfast options. There is a big difference between the Hyatt House and Hyatt Regency breakfast. Hyatt House guests enjoy an omelet bar and hot breakfast buffet, while Hyatt Regency hotels don't include complimentary breakfast. Instead, guests of the Hyatt Regency can grab an early morning meal at the on-site restaurant and pay out-of-pocket.

• Extended stay discount and benefits. Travelers on an extended trip receive a discount at Hyatt House when staying at least 21 nights. They also get a welcome amenity, credits for dining and laundry, and other perks.

• Ideal customer. Hyatt Regency is particularly attractive to business travelers, and is often designed to be convenient for conventions and large group travel. Hyatt House, on the other hand, has fewer meeting room options with less space to accommodate large conferences. That said, Hyatt House locations do tend to have free shared computers and remote printing for the business traveler.

• Locations. Hyatt Regency properties are usually located in cities and popular resort locations, whereas Hyatt House hotels can be in communities of all sizes (as they are usually smaller).

» Learn more: World of Hyatt: The complete guide

You are much more likely to find a Hyatt Regency than a Hyatt House property. With nearly double the number of properties, Hyatt Regency is the clear winner for this category. It has 236 locations in 208 cities, compared to 133 Hyatt House properties.

While both brands are available for travel within the U.S. and internationally, Hyatt Regency is also located in more countries than Hyatt House. This means that you're more likely to find a Hyatt Regency hotel at your destination than a Hyatt House.

» Learn more: The complete guide to earning Hyatt points

When choosing Hyatt Regency or Hyatt House for your family vacation, both offer attractive amenities. Their properties are located in convenient urban, airport and suburban destinations, and often have extra space for families to stretch out and relax. Both brands can also be pet-friendly, so it's ok to bring Fido with you on the trip. Note that not all properties in either brand allow pets and that there may be a pet fee.

Hyatt House is the winner here, though, because its apartment-style suites include full kitchens, comfortable living rooms and spacious bedrooms. They also offer an outdoor common area with fire pits and grills to create memories as a family. The complimentary hot breakfast buffet and omelet bar are also a nice benefit for mornings when you don't feel like cooking in your private kitchen.

» Learn more: Amazing suites you can book at Hyatt hotels with points

If you hold the highest tier of World of Hyatt elite status, Globalist, then there's no better way to flex your status than Hyatt Regency. Those not available in every Hyatt Regency, most offer Regency Club lounges, which are free to access with Globalist status.

Many such lounges, like the Regency Club at the San Francisco Hyatt Regency, can make for one of the most memorable parts of a trip, anyway. That particular club sits on the top floor of the building, which actually rotates. That offers travelers 360-degree panoramic views of the city skyline and the San Francisco Bay.

Benefits of staying as a World of Hyatt member

Even without boffo Globalist status, there are still other benefits at both hotels for all World of Hyatt members.

Of course, benefits increase as you achieve higher levels of elite status, but many benefits are available starting at Discoverist status. They include:

• Resort fees are waived on award nights (also waived for Globalists on eligible paid rates).

• Complimentary bottled water (Discoverist and above).

• Premium Wi-Fi internet (Discoverist and above).

• Free room upgrades at check-in (Discoverist and above).

• Late checkout (Discoverist and above).

• Free parking on award nights (Globalists only).

» Learn more: Complete guide to Hyatt elite status

Business travelers have pretty basic needs, but many hotels still fail to satisfy them. Business travelers want to be near their meetings, have a separate work area inside their room, and have free Wi-Fi to stay in contact with their home and office. Hyatt House and Hyatt Regency both excel at meeting these requirements, plus adding more value.

The difference between the two lies in how long you’ll be staying.

Hyatt House can be attractive to longer-term business travelers due to its basic design and Very Important Resident program for extended stays of 3 weeks or longer. Its rooms range from studios to two-bedroom units with distinct areas to work and relax. Plus, they have fully equipped kitchens to make a meal or store last night's leftovers for when you need a snack. The lobby H Bar features craft cocktails and freshly prepared meals to enjoy in between meetings or after a long day.

Meanwhile, the Hyatt Regency might be a better option for the business traveler who will only be on the road for a few days at a time. Hyatt Regency rooms also have dedicated spaces to work, sleep and play, but they don't come with any built-in benefits like free breakfast and laundry credits. That said, business travelers can expect a more upscale atmosphere at these higher-end properties.

It is possible to maximize your World of Hyatt points by using the right credit cards to pay for your stay. Travelers have several choices, depending on whether they want specific hotel benefits or flexibility of rewards. Hyatt has both personal and business credit cards, and it is also a 1:1 transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

For Hyatt loyalists, getting the World of Hyatt Credit Card is an easy choice. It comes with automatic Discoverist elite status and five qualifying night credits toward higher levels. You'll also earn two additional qualifying nights for every $5,000 you spend on your card each year. New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus: Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

The card also comes with one annual free night at a Category 1-4 property, and the ability to earn a second free night when you spend $15,000 each calendar year. You'll earn up to 9x points on Hyatt purchases (including the 5x for being a member) and 2x on dining, airline tickets, local transit and commuting. Plus 2x points on fitness club and gym memberships.

Other worthwhile cards to consider:

• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

• Chase Freedom Flex®.

• Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

Hyatt House and Hyatt Regency are both solid choices for travelers, whether you're with family and friends or on a business trip. Combined, there are over 350 locations in urban, airport and suburban areas for these two brands.

When choosing, you're more likely to find a Hyatt Regency because it has double the number of locations. However, Hyatt House properties have more amenities that are similar to home, including a full kitchen in your room and a complimentary hot breakfast and omelet bar to start your day off right.

Photo courtesy of Hyatt.