I'll start with a wager. Anyone who believes that all Hyatt Places are the same, bet me one dollar more than the combined price of an air ticket and taxi to this hotel and you're on! ...or I could e-mail you pictures of my room.

Stay dates: 11-16 May, 2014

Background: Still new and shiny at date of stay.

Location: Three blocks from what seems to be the heart of the business district, with more than enough shopping and restaurants for anyone but my wife. Light rail reachable by a thrown stone. Far enough from the EpiCenter (mall, nightlife spot) to be quiet (unlike the aLoft). $25 fixed rate cab ride from the airport.

Arrival: As called for under the 14th Commandment, when staying at a hotel downtown in a mid-sized to large city, thou shalt pay for parking. $20/day, valet only. There are lots around, but I didn't explore them. My skateboard came up to my room with me. Depending on your approach, your might miss the place. Signage is mainly atop the building, 14 floors up. Ground floor is a small business-building-like lobby. Hotel lobby is on the 10th floor. Second and third floors are parking. The hotel is floors 7 through 13. The fourth, fifth and sixth floors were apparently abducted. The ground floor is filled with perplexed travelers. ("Lobby is where?!), but there is a host to direct, seemingly 24 hours a day. The hotel lobby/breakfast area is not terribly unlike a Hyatt Place, though the furnishing are different...but it's three-times normal size. I think it occupies about 80% of the whole floor; I didn't see any rooms on that floor, though there is a little carve-out with a conference room, separate fitness center and ???. A huge expanse of windows. (Remember, we're ten floors up.) There's the usual food counter, bar area. (The host mentioned a full-service restaurant associated with the hotel, on the top floor, near pool, but I didn't catch the details.) Check in was fast and easy. No problems. And I was dispatched to my room...

Room: I'm not sure I've ever typed this sequence of lettesr before but...OMG. Again, I've got photos. I entered a hallway (?) leading to a little kitchen-looking thing (wet bar, counter, refrigerator). To the left of the kitchen, a large table, could seat five. Convenient power jack. Beyond that, the TV room with facing couch and screen. Open cabinets below. Behind the TV wall, the bedroom, attached to the TV room by a door. The bedroom was dominated by the bed, but there was a lot of space between the king bed and the window. Great view from window (which spanned both bedroom and TV room). Large closet with a door and a room safe.
Circling around, the bathroom. Not a sink in the room (typical Hyatt Place), but a bathROOM. Large walk-in shower. No tub. Big sink. Lots of space in the room, though usual-sized counter around sink. Full circle, you're back to the dining room. Note: this was obviously an upgraded room. I didn't see any standard rooms. But I've never seen a room like this in 100 or so Hyatt Places I've visited. (Reno, NV comes closest.)

Facilities: I really only care about the StayFit. It's big and has a grand view. Current version Life Fitness equipment. 1 recumbent bike, 2 ellipticals, 3 treadmills and the usual rack of weights. Lots of space. Clean and everything works - typical new hotel. Otherwise, three computers on a long desk in the lobby.

Breakfast: All I care about is the fruit bowl. It was fine. I know others care about the other stuff, so I paid a little attention. Three hot items: one heavy carb (pancakes, french toast, waffles), two egg+muffin hot things. Oatmeal. (Strict vegetarians beware: appears to be made with milk or cream.) All in all, this was the part that most resembled the usual Hyatt Place..

Departure: Mainly sad. Seriously, it was a great stay. My bill was correct. They emailed me a soft copy.

They talk about Southern hospitality. It's happening here. I don't think I saw anyone not seemingly happy, glad to see me, interested in my stay, wanting to do...whatever.

I just booked my next two stays, even knowing my room upgrade miracle probably won't happen again. Not much lingering appeal in the Westin, Hilton, aLoft or the world's worst Sheraton (under renovations).

Footnote: There's a Hyatt House a couple of blocks away. I didn't check that out.