Hyatt Place Scottsdale/Old Town

The Hyatt Place is a mid-range chain property best suited for business travelers looking for something functional. The lobby broadens into numerous sitting areas with a warm Southwestern palette of sandy browns and subdued blues. The informal front desk's granite top curves around one side and becomes the 24-hour cafe's bar. 

The Hyatt Place Scottsdale sits in the middle of a busy entertainment hub in the heart of Scottsdale's Old Town, an arts, dining, and shopping district that draws a trendy crowd to its happening nightclubs. The area is well-lit and welcoming at night, though it can get loud on the weekends. It's easy walking distance from the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art (about 11 minutes) while Scottsdale Stadium is under a 20-minute walk away. The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a 20-minute drive away.

The hotel has 126 rooms with living and sleeping areas separated by partition walls. Despite the thoughtful privacy walls, the living areas don't have separate TVs, but the big 42-inch flat-screens are on a swivel wall mount for viewing from any angle. Plain gray carpets and neutral colors are given a slight style boost by chrome light fixtures and restrained, but colorful artwork. The large sitting areas have corner couches that double as sofa beds. Work desks with roller chairs sit opposite wet bars, which have mini-fridges and coffeemakers. Safes and iPod docks also come standard. The bathrooms have large separate vanities, and either glass walk-in showers or shower/tub combos.  Old Town Scottsdale is known for its lively nightclubs, some of which may cause the occasional weekend disturbance, especially for rooms that face west toward the closest clubs.

The hotel's lobby opens right into a multi-tasking 24/7 Gallery Market, which has a small coffee and cocktail bar and serves food 24 hours a day, including appetizers and standards such as flatbread pizza and burgers. There's also a to-go cooler with drinks, baked goods, and prepared food such as salads and sandwiches. Free breakfast is included in rates, with hot options including breakfast sandwiches, waffles, French toast, and pancakes available each morning in a continental buffet. The business center is open 24 hours and has a pair of workstations and a printer, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. There's also a small 24-hour fitness room with a few cardio machines. More serious fitness buffs can make use of free access to a local LA Fitness (about a five-minute drive away). There's also a small outdoor courtyard pool with lounge chairs and a few umbrella tables.