Hyatt Vacation Club at The Welk, San Diego Area

We exchanged in to two two-bedroom units. These units are spacious, lots of room in each room. Double sinks in each bathroom. Nice TV's. Biggest downsize was the kitchen was very poorly equipped if you wished to cook in the room

Service is absolutely terrible! I asked to switch rooms because I didn't want to be 2 flights of stairs down below and they wanted to charge me $100 dollars! I said okay, can you show me the room real quick because this room that I received is exactly what I asked the girl at the counter not to give me.
The gave me a dirty look and said" no we can't do that ,you can pay the $100 and switch, you can see it then"
Omg! These girls are lazy! Rude! And could care less about their guest being happy.
Unbelievable!

Let's just say "customer service" is not there forte. Seriously lacking a professional manner in which to correct certain issues. We never even received a call from anyone in management. I would not recommend this resort/time share or any company affiliated.

I had a beautiful, relaxing time here for an entire week at the Welk. My room was exactly as I requested. My home away from home. The gym was very nice and clean with plenty of equipment for a great workout. There were daily activities of things to do. Canyon grill restaurant on site offered a decent selection for dinner. I didn't attend any shows at the theater because none of the shows interested me. There is a gift shop on site but unfortunately, it's going out of business at the end of January. The biggest disappointment was the so-called Shuttle that supposedly takes you around the property. It is so unreliable!! Two different days I requested the shuttle and was told it would be coming. After 30+ minutes of waiting both times, I drove my own vehicle where I wanted to go.

I stayed at this resort with my 3 kids and my father for a week in January and we were all very happy with the resort as well as the units. They were very spacious, clean, and a beautiful view. We were also very impressed with the selection of on-site activities although we barely had time to enjoy the majority of them. My only suggestions would be to plan to bring all your own food/cooking needs such as cooking oil and seasonings as they only had a tiny salt and pepper in the unit. However they were well stocked with plates, utensils, pots, paper towel, dish soap, etc....

Units were very large and comfortable. The resort is located in north central San Diego County. It is great for quiet and peaceful vacation. But is still close to wineries, casinos, and some outdoor activities. A great place to golf. Multiple pools (though one was out for repairs) and recreation facilities. Only one restaurant on site, but there are a lot of good restaurants less than 10 miles away. A car is necessary at this resort.

Juan at guest check-in was very courteous and helpful. He answered all of our questions and provided exceptional customer service to me and my grandmother. I will remember the great service and attitude that he provided. Thank you Juan.

The property was excellent; our villa was outstanding. The issue was prior statements on activities. Calendar was to be given to us upon arrival, and the Theater had performances during our stay: both were not true. Disappointing

Nice place large rooms need smart tvs ! Sould have free towel and garbage service! Nice pool and rec area! Friendly lovable rec area staff!

I never wish ill upon a business but i truly hope this place burns to the ground and no one ever goes here again. Lets start off with the fact its a timeshare, and i was an idiot who fell for it. i wont deny my stupidness. I fell for it, because they blatantly lied about every single aspect of the timeshare. They even said and i quote hey if you dont like it we will buy it back from you without worries. guess what that was a lie. and we have been trying to deal with a cancel lawyer with not the best of luck, to now we are trying to be good to ourselves and keep paying so our credit doesnt get ruined, and every year everything has been autopay including our annual fee. guess what they decided to turn that off to and we had no notice or idea that it was due, and now our credit just got drastically burned because of it. so yeah to the person who screwed us i literally wish you the worst possible life ever.

The biggest issue with Lawrence Welk Resort was the condescending and dismissive customer service from the manager and support staff. It made what should have been a relaxing trip feel frustrating and uncomfortable.

To be clear, this was not an issue with the front desk staff. The front desk employees were generally polite and professional. The problem came from management and support staff, who were consistently unhelpful and spoke in a condescending way, as if guest concerns were an inconvenience. There was also no recognition of the Hyatt partnership, and there was no willingness to accommodate basic customer service needs.

The room itself was also disappointing. The bed was incredibly hard, and the kitchen felt run down and poorly stocked, missing vital supplies that should be standard for a resort stay. The furniture looked cheap and worn, and nothing about the room felt updated or comfortable.

Even worse was the so-called “tour of the property,” which was clearly an aggressive timeshare sales pitch. The entire process showed a lack of respect for guests. I was put in the uncomfortable position of trying to get a parking permit while being pressured and redirected into sales tactics. I have stayed at many other properties and have never experienced anything like that. It felt extremely unprofessional.

The resort grounds also need major attention. The pool area was run down, the splash pad was disappointing, and the playground had broken parts that felt unsafe for children.

Overall, it is clear this property prioritizes timeshare sales over guest experience. If Hyatt is going to partner with a property, it should meet a basic standard of hospitality and professionalism. This one does not.

Grounds are beautiful and well kept, room was clean. Great place for families. The property is large so be prepared to walk to pools and the little shop and theatre. Parking by the room was a challenge. Biggest negative was the poor and intermittent Wi-fi. Cell coverage may also be limited or non-existent since it is a fairly remote location so be prepared for that.

This stay nearly ended at the front desk.

Hyatt has its name on this property, but the operation still feels like it’s running on an entirely different playbook—and after multiple years under new ownership and Hyatt branding, there really isn’t an excuse anymore. From arrival to actually getting into the room took approximately 2.5 hours, and the way that delay was handled made me seriously consider canceling and walking away.

The lobby construction moved check-in to another building (fine in theory), but the signage/parking to find it added unnecessary friction right out of the gate. I also requested early check-in in advance and never received any response—so I arrived already expecting some sort of communication, and instead I got silence.

Everyone checks in at 4:00 PM, yet the resort funnels guests into a single, massive line with no dedicated World of Hyatt or elite check-in whatsoever. Despite multiple staffed desks, the line barely moved. When I finally reached the counter, I was told my room wasn’t ready—after official check-in time—without any explanation as to why.

The associate who checked me in, Coralia, did not acknowledge my World of Hyatt membership and made it abundantly clear—through tone and dismissal—that my time did not matter. There was no apology, no context, and no attempt to manage expectations. I was simply told to step aside and wait another 30–45 minutes, as if I were one interchangeable body in line rather than a guest. The interaction made me feel unimportant, disposable, and frankly unwelcome. It was bad enough that I genuinely considered saying “forget it” and leaving.

That moment set the tone for the entire stay—and it never recovered.

What makes this especially frustrating is that the room itself was actually very nice. The bedding was excellent, and the in-room towels were surprisingly high quality—honestly, they felt brand new, like real money was spent during the rebrand to make at least the beds and bathrooms meet Hyatt expectations. The kitchen was also fully stocked with real dishes, silverware, a toaster, and a coffee maker, which was a pleasant surprise. At the same time, it made me wonder how sustainable that setup is, given that basic operations like room readiness and turnover are already struggling.

I understand some World of Hyatt benefits may be limited at a Vacation Club property (my booking even notes that). Fine. Limited benefits are one thing. Zero recognition and a complete lack of basic hospitality is another.

After check-in, guests are required to visit the concierge to obtain a parking permit—even though parking is free—which adds friction and time to an already delayed arrival. This interaction is not optional, and in my case, it immediately turned into a Vacation Club sales conversation. That is how I ended up speaking with Leo, who, to his credit, was professional and knowledgeable. However, this was not the concierge service I sought out; it was mandatory.

Operational issues continued throughout the evening. This is a very large resort, yet staff consistently could not answer basic questions: where the amenities are located, when they close, how to get anywhere efficiently, or who to contact for help. I was discouraged from walking, told to wait for a golf cart, and then waited about 45 minutes for that cart—long enough to wipe out most of the evening and kill any realistic chance of enjoying more of the resort (spa/services/activities) in the limited time available.

The branding confusion is everywhere. Maps, signage, and printed materials contradict each other—some clearly reflecting legacy timeshare practices, others attempting to align with Hyatt branding. It feels like a partial rebrand layered on top of an old operating model. If you’re going to put the Hyatt name on a property, you need to fully operate as Hyatt, not halfway rebrand and hope guests won’t notice.

The resort fee experience perfectly captures the mentality. The booking lists a $35 resort fee, then you run into penny-pinching controls like one towel per person at the pool, name tracking, and warnings about charges if towels aren’t returned. Add in the fact that the advertised “text us for help” number never responded when I used it during my stay, and guest support effectively disappears.

I also signed up for a guided tour of the property. I received a confirmation call from Lindsey, during which the tour was canceled because my spouse was not physically present—something that was not clearly disclosed when it was scheduled. That was another unnecessary waste of time and another example of how this property operates.

What makes this even harder to excuse is that this is not my first Hyatt Vacation Club stay. I’ve stayed at Hyatt Vacation Club properties in Arizona, and those resorts feel unmistakably Hyatt—professional staff, clear communication, and at least a baseline respect for World of Hyatt loyalty. This property stands out for the wrong reasons. It feels like a legacy timeshare operation wearing a Hyatt logo, not a Hyatt resort that happens to offer vacation ownership.

I can see who this resort works for: older guests or families with kids that want a condo-style setup, multiple bedrooms, and a self-contained campus. For that audience, it may be fine.

But for travelers who value Hyatt loyalty, brand consistency, or simply being treated like their time matters—and especially for anyone familiar with the many, far better hotel options across San Diego at similar price points—this is not a Hyatt experience. At this point, the question is simple: if the property isn’t willing to operate by Hyatt standards, why carry the Hyatt name at all?

We have always enjoyed Welk Village. The property itself is well maintained, the units are so roomy and the view we experience each time we go is so relaxing. The staff and front desk are very responsive and helpful. However, our recent trip included some disappointments. We stayed in Unit 226 in the Applause section.
I know that Hyatt took over from the previous owners and I'm sure this has had some kind of impact. But the stove needed to be replaced....we couldn't even read any of the displays for the burners. They had worn off. The kitchen supplies were hit and miss. Also, We are used to having some printed information in our unit to make suggestions for local places to go, closest grocery, checkout procedures, etc. There was nothing in the unit like this. We wasted some time finding the appropriate nearby grocery. Because, Google sometimes takes you out of the way.
The queen bedroom bath had a light that would sometimes work, sometimes not. An electrician came right away the first time we reported it, but of course, it was working fine at the time and he changed the bulb just to be sure that wasn't the problem. It worked off and on the whole time we were there. The grocery and pizza place were both closed and some limited food items were being moved to the gift shop. Not having to go off property, for us, has always been a bonus.
Are these "issues" things that ruined our stay? No. But take it all as a total experience, it felt like a trend moving in the wrong direction. And of course, when you see the Hyatt name, you normally have high expectations.
Will we return? Probably not.

The property is lovely with golf and many activities available. It’s a quiet area with lots of nature making for great views. The pool areas are very clean and enjoyable. We enjoyed the local farmers market, which is on the property, which includes food trucks. The units are well kept, and if there is an issue, they are very prompt at fixing. Overall, this property enables you to be close to the San Diego area and have a peaceful vacation.

went with family for vacation great location but bad room it was 1st floor basement very closed and dark, had a bad experience room was 7711 boulder creek dont book that room weird feelings you will see shadows on kitchen and bathroom, my 9months old keep crying all night and me and my wife see a shadow very bad experience at all.

This company is a complete waste of time and money. They mislead customers by promising a “free vacation” but ultimately pressure you into buying an expensive, practically useless package. The vacation you receive is usually last-minute, low quality, and completely different from what was promised—often unusable.

Investing your money elsewhere is far smarter: you can travel to better destinations, enjoy greater flexibility, and even grow your capital over time. Don’t be fooled by this company’s deceptive tactics.

Major Issues:

High costs and hidden fees

Poor availability and undesirable locations

Deceptive sales practices

Financial burden

Subpar room quality

Avoid this company if you value your time, money, and sanity.

Good service, very nice bed, shower, TV's. The nearby activity center had nice pools and a very nice pool table that was free to use.

Not the best. Front desk hardly answers the phone. Areas where cleaning should happen are filthy. Light switches are gray from dirt. I wiped my self. All doors are full of gray finger prints. See picture. After I cleaned it already a bit

Asked for a robe and it came dirty. Looked like food stains or chocolate (I hope). They brought a second robe that was also wrinkled & just tossed in a bag and looked simular to the first robe. Too afraid to check if it was clean but presented like the first robe.
Shower is no longer running hot water. I have been waiting for maintenance for at least 35 minutes. Just came from gym. A hot shower would be nice.

TV works intermittently. 3 TV’s only one is working consistently. TV never gives option to chose channel. Maintenance already fixed other tv a cable issue

Ice maker wasn’t working but my fault as it was switched off. When you turn it own it is very loud.

Stains on patio furniture. Too gross to sit on

Stains on main couch

Lap pool is closed for resurfacing

Pros:
Beautiful view of mountains
Spacious
Lots of heated year around pools but only good to splash around. You cannot swim a lap. Lap pool closed
Nice gym

Would not return. It needs to be renovated and more time spent cleaning rooms. I am used to Marriott properties which are always very clean and very customer service forward.
Still nobody to fix shower it’s been almost an hour. Other shower has no pressure. We see men working outside but have not received communication saying ETA for hot water. May have to drive to gym to shower?

This resort is easy to access from I-15 freeway and is just far enouch away so you do not have traffic noise. All of their facilites are well kept.