Hyatt Regency Orlando

This upscale business hotel is spread across two sections: the original 28-story International Tower, dating back to the 1980s, and a second 31-floor Regency Tower that was constructed in 2008. The lobby here is elegant and grand, with polished marble floors, high ceilings, and lots of tall potted plants. Clusters of seating are dotted about the space, but most visitors can be found congregating by the huge outdoor lagoon pool, or in the hotel's long conference area. Due to its location by the convention center, about 80 percent of the guests here are business travelers, with the rest being leisure tourists. While the vibe at this Hyatt is largely corporate, there are a few nice touches that make it feel more homey. The most notable is the presence of art: the hotel has ties with the Orlando Museum of Art, with a changing selection of local artists' work showcased on the lower floor and art parties held monthly. 

The Hyatt is located just off International Drive, northeast of where the I-4 and the Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway intersect. The hotel is right by the Orange County Convention Center (accessible via a direct skywalk), but there's not much else in the immediate vicinity save for a few other hotels and a small strip mall with a McDonald's, a Denny's, and a Walgreens. The closest theme park is SeaWorld, an eight-minute drive south of the Hyatt, as is Universal Orlando, while Disney World is 15 minutes away. For guests without their own cars, the hotel is right by stop number 21 of the I-Ride Trolley, which goes up and down International Drive, while shuttles to nearby theme parks and to the airport are available for a fee. Factor in about an hour to get to Cape Canaveral or the Kennedy Space Center. Downtown Orlando is around 20 minutes away by road, traffic permitting, and Orlando International Airport is about a 15- to 20-minute drive away.

This gargantuan hotel offers a wide range of rooms and suites, with ADA units available. Decor is sleek and business-like, with wood dressers and desks with ergonomic chairs, blue-and-gray carpeting, and soft furnishings in unobtrusive hues of gray and tan. They're spacious, with entry-level rooms starting at 415 square feet (38.6 square meters), while suites range in size from 650-square-foot (60.4-square-meter) Studios to giant Penthouse Suites that are between 1,864 and 2,068 square feet (173.2 and 192.1 square meters).All rooms have seating, but larger rooms add sleeper sofas, plus some have balconies. Regency Club rooms have access to the Regency Club Lounge, where a free breakfast and snack service is provided. Suites have separate living areas and walk-in closets. All rooms have a standard range of amenities, including the hotel chain's signature Hyatt Grand Beds with down comforters, iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, huge flat-screen TVs with cable, coffeemakers with Starbucks coffee, and mini-fridges. Bathrooms feature TVs built into the mirrors, large counters, hairdryers, and magnifying mirrors. Most have shower/tub combos, although suites have walk-in showers and separate soaking tubs.

Facilities at this hotel are extensive, with a primary focus on convention travelers. There are 105 breakout rooms and five ballrooms, plus four outdoor venues, and while the hotel primarily attracts big meeting groups, they also have everything in place to host weddings. The business center costs extra to use and is not open 24/7, but Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Valet and self-parking is available in a huge on-site garage, but it's expensive.The Hyatt also offers plenty for tourists and those who want to relax, the highlight being the two outdoor pools. The enormous lagoon-style Grotto Pool is a family favorite with its waterslide, splash area, and small kids' pool. There's also a lap pool for those who want to get some swimming in. There's a small outdoor "serenity pool" at the spa as well, which also has steam rooms and whirlpool hot tubs. It's free to use for guests who book treatments. Fitness facilities are large, modern, and open 24/7. The gym includes separate cardio, core, and spinning rooms, plus all sorts of fitness classes are available and there's an outdoor tennis court. Note that there are obligatory daily resort fees tacked onto rates that cover things like gym use.  There are six bars and restaurants here, along with 24-hour room service and a 24-hour minimart with grab-and-go items. The B-Line Diner is open 24/7 and offers typical American-style diner food along with cooked-to-order breakfasts (think waffles and omelets). There's also a seafood restaurant, Urban Tide, open for all three meals and an Italian steakhouse, Fiorenzo, that serves grilled meats, pasta, and pizza at dinnertime. Coconuts Poolside Bar & Grill offers salads, sandwiches, and cocktails by the pool, while the Lobby Bar sells drinks and pub fare from late morning until late evening. A second bar, Rocks, opens in the late afternoon and stays open late, serving cocktails, beer, and wine in an elegant space with views out over the Grotto Pool.