Before going, we read some negative reviews here and were a little worried. We own at Hyatt (Lake Tahoe, 2 weeks, and Hyatt Naples, 1 week) so this was an exchange. We found the property and the staff terrific. The beach is beautiful and the pools great. Good restaurants within 15 minute drive (and the resort will shuttle you if you have no car). The adjacent hotel IS closed (supposed to re-open in 2010) but we did not find this to be a problem. In fact, it did make beach chairs and tables more available. We will return.

Be aware that if you are visiting the hotel, it is not what it used to be. There are no restaurants on site, only one pool remains. The kids pool with the water slide and the river pool are closed! I did not know this when I booked through Travelocity. However, the existing pool and grounds were still nice and the beach is beautiful. A bit rough for small children but fun for the older kids. All the staff were accommodating. So much is changing with the hotel and the attached property that it is tough to know what will happen with it in the near future.
I highly recommend that if you do go, take a catamaran cruise out of Fajardo - it was awesome for adults and kids of all ages!

our 5th visit to the Hyatt. We got there just before the river pool closed at the end of January. the barricades were being erected as the Cerromar was just sold. Nobody is sure who wiil operate the new hotel. There is only one pool now. the gift shop/store is closed as well. The property to the left of the Hyatt has also been sold. Not much property left. No more bicycles as they don't own the property adjacent any longer and insurance is an issue. The casino and shuttle are also gone. Only the small outdoor grill is left. The rooms are not kept up very well. mold in the bathrooms and around sliding doors. We thought of purchasing a timeshare but now it is out of the question. Hyatt staff don't know the future of the resort. It was beautiful when it was whole. Major construction will begin soon through 2011 per the staff. we will miss it.

My wife and I got married and the previous Hyatt sister property Dorado Beach and stayed for our honeymoon at the Hacienda del Mar. My mom owns a timeshare at the Hacienda and since it was being renovated they upgraded us to the corner unit with the larger balcony and it was unbelievable. I work for Marriott in room operations so I am very picky when it comes to hotel rooms and the Hacienda del Mar is great. The unit that we stayed in had not been renovated yet but it was still in excellent shape. I agree with the other traveler that they are in need up an update. The views were breath taking and the beach was beautiful. The only thing that we can complian about is that we have been coming here for about twenty years since I was a kid and having the empty hotel next door is very sad. If you have stayed here when the hotel was in complete operation you would understand what I mean. It was great for a honeymoon becuase we wanted the peacefulness, however you could see that the grounds of the old hotel were in need of some help. I still cannot understand how they can operate such a large resort without any hotel guests in the main hotel but the staff says that it will be reopened in a year or so. We will be the first ones to book our trip as soon as that happens! Great stay. Beautiful beaches!