What to know about the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile

Paris has no shortage of hotels, but not all of them are made equal. The Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile may not be a charming French boutique property or a white-glove luxury hotel, but it is a fantastic way to see the City of Light — and even save a few bucks. The location is imperfect, and the building itself is a bit unseemly, but the incredible views from its rooms more than make up for its "jolie laide" appearance.

If you're considering visiting Paris, here's everything you need to know about staying at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile.

Located in the third-tallest building in the city of Paris (not to be confused with La Defense, the skyscraper-packed business district outside of Paris proper), the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile is huge. And with 995 rooms, it is one of the largest hotels in Paris. It was fully renovated around 2017, and the rooms are modern and cool thanks to New York architect George Wong, who worked on the renovation.

Guests can easily get a sense of how massive the hotel is by looking at the enormous lobby, where you are likely to see one of the many flight crews that use the hotel for layovers in Paris.

Despite the scale of the hotel, the service is friendly and warm. In fact, both times I was there, I was greeted by the on-duty manager, who came out from the back office to say hello. Many World of Hyatt elite members report the same treatment. You get the sense it is a well-run hotel despite what must be a constant stream of guest turnover.

The most important thing to emphasize is the million-dollar views you get of Paris. Because the hotel is not in the center of the historic city, the views from the rooms, Regency Club and Windo Skybar on the 34th floor are like something from a movie.

TPG booked the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile directly with World of Hyatt to take advantage of a "Members Save More" rate being offered during our visit at the height of the summer season. We paid $322.56 per night for two nights in the middle of July.

That's a major bargain, considering rates can be as high as $598 a night in September. Here's a similar two-night stay in September that comes in at $417 a night.

As a World of Hyatt Category 4 property, standard award rates range from 12,000 to 18,000 points per night. But finding award availability can be tricky. For example, on those same two September nights mentioned before, the only award availability was for a suite costing 36,000 points per night.

I have successfully redeemed points at this hotel in the past, though. Last year, I was able to book a two-night stay for 42,000 World of Hyatt points, though I had to book a suite for those two nights, too. I've found that standard award availability at this hotel is hard to come by.

Club-level rooms are available, offering access to the Regency Club with various dining and drinking perks, along with some of the best views of Paris you'll find in town, but more on that later.

Related: What is World of Hyatt elite status worth?

I earned a total of 4,468 World of Hyatt points for my two-night stay, including a 30% bonus for booking as a World of Hyatt Globalist. TPG values those points at about $76. That doesn't include the points I got for using my World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Some folks complain about the location of the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile since it's not right in the heart of Paris, but I didn't find the location that much of a drawback. The hotel is in the 17th Arrondissement, about a 15-minute walk to the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees. You could also walk to the Fondation Louis Vuitton from the hotel. The LVMH-sponsored space is a Frank Gehry-designed museum and cultural venue that hosts rotating exhibits in the massive Bois de Boulogne Park.

While it's not in central Paris, it is close to major subway stops like the Reseau Express Regional's Neuilly-Porte Maillot and Metro's Line 1 Porte Maillot stations. Right now, the hotel is in the middle of a giant construction project, so the attached mall subway station is currently inaccessible, but It's just a 10-minute walk around the construction to the Porte Maillot entrance. From there, you be at the Eiffel Tower with a 20-minute Metro ride.

I also found that taxis were often available in front of the hotel, and Ubers were quick to arrive.

There are a variety of room types at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile. The first time I stayed, I had a suite, but it was really just a connected room with a Murphy bed the hotel calls a Family Room.

For this stay, I had a Deluxe Room with a king bed and a view of the Eiffel Tower on the 32nd floor. No upgrade to a suite this time, but the room was great. It was a pretty standard Hyatt Regency-style room. The rooms are fairly compact, but not nearly as small as some rooms in Paris I've stayed in.

The rooms come with tea kettles and tea and instant coffee packets. My room also had an Illy coffee maker, which I appreciated. Replacement pods were delivered promptly when requested by housekeeping.

There was a small fridge, but it was not super practical for storing more than a few small items. A safe was built into the cabinet on the side of the bed, along with a standard hotel telephone.

There were plenty of outlets in the room, and you'll only need an adaptor if you run out of USB ports. There are also large flat-screen televisions in all the rooms.

Bathrooms are tiny but high-end, with rainfall showerheads and even a basic hand-held bidet-style nozzle by the toilet.

I loved the bathroom amenities from designer and perfume maker Pascal Morabito. Unlike most hotels these days, the bathroom shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are yours to take home, and I highly recommend taking a few with you. The lovely citrusy smell reminds me of my visits every time I use the bathroom products at home.

Food and beverage at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile

There are a few on-property restaurants if you want something to eat without venturing out, though we should note there are dozens of great restaurants within a 15-minute walk of the hotel, including Le Hameau, Le Relais de Venise and a French bistro called Sebillon that's been open since 1914.

The Mayo Restaurant is in the lobby and the Windo Skybar is on the 34th floor. You'll also find the Regency Club upstairs (open to guests in club-level rooms), where I ate several times. There is also 24/7 room service available.

You'll find a grab-and-go outlet called Mayo Market in the lobby immediately off the entrance to the hotel. The market is open 24/7 and it sells everything from snacks to coffee to wine, though it's pricey.

The enormous Mayo Restaurant and the Mayo Cafe, just off the lobby, serve a mix of American and French classics with views of the bustling street outside or into the hotel lobby, if you prefer.

Breakfast at the Mayo Restaurant is offered from 6:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. during the week and until 11 a.m. on weekends. World of Hyatt Globalists can take breakfast here, but you'll likely prefer the views at the Regency Club on the top floor.

There's also a lunch buffet from 12 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. during the week for $42. Dinner is available until 10 p.m.

Among the offerings are a fruit bar, salad bar, pastry bar and much more. There are also gluten-free items. I tried the croque-monsieur, which was rich and delicious (and a whopping $28).

The Mayo Cafe overlooks the lobby with a bar and more casual bites. It's open every day from 12 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. and serves tapas-style food, including a selection of cheeses for $15 or slices of aged ham for $24.

The Windo Skybar is billed as the highest bar in Paris. It's next door to the Regency Club on the 34th floor. The space actually gets turned over to the Regency Club for breakfast in the mornings. There is a full bar, and it also serves a variety of tapas. You won't find better views in Paris, in my humble opinion. It's got a panoramic view, which includes the Eiffel Tower all the way to the skyscrapers of La Defense.

A cocktail will cost you $26, and a mocktail around $21. Chef Christophe Scheller created an interesting little-bites menu, including things like chicken finger croque-monsieur sandwiches with truffle and Parmesan for $20 or mini beef burgers with foie gras for $28.

Not a cheap stop, but absolutely worth it for the views.

While there are not a ton of amenities at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile, the Regency Club is a huge feather in the hotel's cap. On the top floor of the hotel, the club is open to World of Hyatt Globalists, but you can also buy a room that includes club access. I think this is a great investment, considering the views alone. How does breakfast with a view of the Eiffel Tower sound?

If you are a World of Hyatt member sitting on some Club Access awards, this is the hotel to use them.

The club is open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day. For breakfast, the club expands into the space that houses the Windo Skybar in the evenings.

In the evening, there are small bites, serve-yourself wine machines and Champagne on ice. There probably isn't enough here to make a major dinner, but if you are just a bit peckish, the modest layout in the evening will hit the spot.

There's also a fitness club that stretches over three rooms. It's open 24/7 and is reserved exclusively for hotel guests. It has Technogym equipment, weight machines and plenty of cardio equipment. The gym was never crowded the few times I poked my head in.

One of the most glaring omissions at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile is the lack of a spa or sauna on the property. The hotel says hairdressing, beauty treatments and massages are available on request (at an additional charge).

The Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile has 21 rooms that are considered accessible accommodations with specially designed features, including accessible showers and low desks and beds. The elevators are large enough to accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility assistance devices. There is also a separate entrance for accessible rooms, and all the areas in the hotel are accessible with a wheelchair, including the lobby, the restaurants, the bar and all meeting rooms and toilets.

The only real stairs are between the lobby and the mezzanine, and you can use an elevator to reach the conference rooms or the gym on that level.

I've now enjoyed staying at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile a few times, but there are a few reasons why it may not be the hotel for you:

If you want to stay in the Hyatt family, I personally love the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome. I can't say enough good things. There's also the Hotel du Louvre, Hyatt Paris Madeleine and both a Hyatt House and a Hyatt Place near Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).

If IHG One Rewards is more your speed, the InterContinental Paris Le Grand is a more classic Parisian grand hotel. I've stayed there, and the lovely rooms have recently been refreshed. I actually prefer the Kimpton St Honore Paris, which I recently reviewed. I've already recommended that property to several people. There's also the Hotel Indigo Paris Opera close by. The new Voco Paris Montparnasse has rooms starting at $150 a night.

Related: 10 of the best points hotels in France

For Marriott Bonvoy loyalists, Paris has several options. The Westin Paris — Vendome is in a central spot near the Tuileries Garden. Le Roch Hotel & Spa, part of Design Hotels, is another property near the Tuileries Garden that constantly gets high marks.

Hilton fans have a bunch of options, too, including the Maison Astor Paris, a Curio Collection hotel; Hilton Paris Opera; Canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadero; Hilton Paris La Defense; Le Belgrand Hotel Paris Champs Elysees, Tapestry Collection by Hilton; and many more.

Related: Book this, not that in Paris

I've enjoyed several visits to the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile now, and I've always had great service at the hotel and continue to recommend it to others, especially World of Hyatt fans.

The location isn't exactly in the center of Paris, but that means you'll likely get more hotel for the money (or points). You'll have clean, modern rooms, and the Regency Club on the top floor is a major selling point.

I'll book it again, especially if I can find a decent World of Hyatt redemption. Even if I have to pay cash, I'll be back for the views of Paris alone.