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A new boutique Hyatt with a rooftop pool just opened near the Santa Monica Airport

Oct. 07, 2021
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3 min read
The Shay Hotel
A new boutique Hyatt with a rooftop pool just opened near the Santa Monica Airport
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Culver City, California, has a sleek new hotel where locals are invited to chill and travelers can rest their heads near the Santa Monica Airport.

The Shay, a 148-room Destination by Hyatt hotel, opened this week and is the portfolio’s first urban hotel in Southern California and the only new hotel on the books in the Culver City area of Los Angeles.

More importantly for travelers, it could be a fun option for those times when you can't venture too far from the airport. While Culver City might not be the first place you think of to make your home base on a trip to sunny Los Angeles, The Shay is located right near the Metro E Line and is about a 12-minute drive to the Santa Monica Airport and roughly 20-minutes (depending on, sigh, LA traffic) to LAX.

Drawing inspiration from the neighborhood’s industrial past and emerging creative community, the hotel has large, open spaces that allow for a sense of camaraderie between people just passing through and those hunkered down to work.

There are also intimate nooks tucked away throughout the lobby, courtyard and roof deck for folks taking Zoom calls, having intimate conversations or simply looking to relax.

exterior of The Shay Hotel
(Image courtesy of Hyatt)

In the rooms, guests should expect that same creative energy to spill over with oversized windows, curated artwork and a modern, gray-and-yellow color palette that reflects the neighborhood. A handful of suites have large living rooms, a separate work area, soaking tubs, wet bars and even patios.

large king-sized bed in grey hotel room
(Image courtesy of Hyatt)

As a Category 5 hotel with World of Hyatt, standard rooms will set you back 20,000 points per night, while at the time of publication standard cash rates start around $359 per night — not including about $82 in taxes and fees, including a $30 per night "destination fee" (read: resort fee).

TPG currently values World of Hyatt points at 1.7 cents a piece, so using points could be a reasonable way to pay for a room here if you don't want to use cash (20,000 Hyatt points is valued at roughly $340), even though you won't earn points on an award night.

Plus, one of the perks of using World of Hyatt points is that you don't have to pay the resort or destination fee, regardless of status. And Globalist members never have to pay that fee, even when booking with cash.

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large suite with dining table, living room and views of the LA mountains
(Image courtesy of Hyatt.)

Outside of the room, guests will have plenty of food and drink options to choose from, including a “Mexican-inspired restaurant,” Celestina, on the rooftop and the wood-fired eatery Etta, which has indoor and outdoor seating on the ground level. Both restaurants were created by chef Danny Grant’s What If Syndicate group. And if that’s not enough, the LA outpost of Roberta’s, the beloved Brooklyn pizza spot, is around the corner.

The hotel also offers the area’s first rooftop pool, with plans to have live music and comedy shows for visitors.

“The Shay is the first hotel in Culver City to celebrate the area’s growing creative community while fully embracing its rich history,” the hotel’s general manager, Ryan Parker, said in a statement.

Featured image courtesy of Hyatt

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.