Hyatt Regency Bellevue

The modern and polished, but rather corporate-looking aesthetic throughout this hotel's common areas suits its primary function as a chain conference facility. However, as part of the larger Bellevue Collection complex, sharing space several shops and restaurants, it also attracts leisure travelers. A vast domed lobby bridges the two towers which house the rooms. Sweeping staircases and several seating areas in its atrium-like setup and walkways connect to neighboring buildings. Despite frequent professional events and a steady stream of guests, crowds are rarely an issue thanks to the property's size. 

The hotel's downtown location in the Bellevue Collection complex is convenient and tourist-friendly. Via the handy skybridges, it’s four minutes on foot to the Lincoln Square IMAX movie theater, six minutes to the Bellevue Square mall (with high end shops like Nordstrom and Anthropologie), and 11 minutes to the even higher-end stores (like Louis Vuitton) at The Bravern. Using pavement, it’s a five-minute walk to the Bellevue Arts Museum, an eight-minute walk to the KidsQuest Children’s Museum, and an 11-minute walk to Bellevue Downtown Park. 

There’s a bus stop at the corner, and the Bellevue Transit Center is a nine-minute walk away. Bellevue Botanical Garden is a 30-minute bus ride or a 10-minute drive away. Public transport to downtown Seattle takes about 50 minutes (by car, it's 20 minutes). Seattle Tacoma International Airport is 22 minutes away by car and about an hour away by public transport. 

Rooms are spacious, clean, and modern. However, with neutral-toned carpets and drapes, dark desks and dressers, and generic wall prints, decor is easily forgettable. Standard and Deluxe Rooms have air-conditioning, safes, 60-inch flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi for up to five devices. Mini-fridges, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and ironing equipment are provided. Accessible Deluxe rooms are available. Suite-level rooms can come with separate living and dining areas and sofa beds. Rooms in the original Cascade Tower can show minor signs of wear and tear, but many provide beautiful Lake Washington or Mount Rainier views that rooms in the newer Olympic Tower don’t have. 

Straightforward bathrooms include granite sink tops with vanity mirrors, but lack adequate vents and lighting. All bathrooms have shower/tub combos with fixed showerheads, plus toiletries and hairdryers. Restaurant music and chatter of neighboring guests can seep in through thin walls.

Features mostly cater to business travelers. The large breakfast restaurant, Eques, offers a massive and tasty array of food that varies daily, but neither the a la carte nor the buffet options are included with standard room rates. The lobby's Fonte Coffee Roaster serves casual drinks and snacks. Seven other on-site dining options range from a 24-hour bistro to a dumpling restaurant and a steakhouse, but most are independently owned. Regency Club members get access to free breakfast and all-day snacks in the lounge. Room service is available.

The indoor heated pool is well-maintained, but set up for lap swimming rather than recreation, so it's not the most kid-friendly. The large fitness center has an impressive range of modern LifeFitness cardio and weight-training equipment, plus locker rooms and free chilled towels, but no spa or sauna. 

In addition to eight meeting rooms, seven conference suites, and a colossal ballroom, a 24-hour business center provides two work stations. Wi-Fi is free throughout public areas.  

Self-parking and valet parking are available (self-parking is free on weekends). The hotel is also dog-friendly, though weight limitations and fees apply.