Hyatt Regency Bellevue

As a city, Seattle manages to balance perfectly between cutting edge and perfectly grounded. Home to some of the world’s most successful tech companies and a thriving organic food industry, the seaside metropolis pulls off both style and substance beneath a seemingly constant drizzle of rain.

While not technically in Seattle proper, the Hyatt Regency Bellevue is a perfect reflection of the city’s functional sleekness. The front lobby features floor to ceiling glass as well as babbling water features and greenery. The Twisted Cork, one of the hotel’s restaurants on the main floor, easily flips from hip nightclub in the evening to spacious dining room for breakfast in the morning. The staff is friendly, accommodating, and just as quick and efficient as you’d expect from a property that likely sees a lot of business travelers.

The Hyatt Regency Bellevue is a short drive from the Nintendo Americas Headquarters (where I was visiting), as well as Microsoft offices and other East Seattle corporations. It’s also within walking distance from restaurants, shopping and relaxed nightlife, a convenience often missing from airport hotels and other locations catering to conference crowds.

I stayed in a king room during my visit and found the bed comfortable, the bathroom plenty large enough, and the room itself spacious enough to accommodate working, relaxing, and unpacking. I would request a better view since I’ve learned that some of my fellow travelers were able to see the mountains from their rooms, whereas I was greeted each morning by office buildings.

If you’re visiting Seattle, the Hyatt Regency Bellevue’s out-of-the-way location wouldn’t be convenient. However, if you’re in town doing business in Bellevue, you can book a stay at the Hyatt with confidence.

Photo courtesy of Hyatt Hotels

Bellevue Seattle Bridge

Seattle, Washington is a great city, with lots to see and do. On my recent trip there, I was initially staying in the middle of downtown at the Executive Hotel Pacific, but that didn’t pan out so well. The location was great – I could walk to Pike’s Market, restaurants and shops – but the hotel was not that great. Luckily, my boyfriend was in town for a video game convention and he was staying at the Hilton. At first, we were excited because the hotel was supposed to have been booked in the downtown area – but upon checking in we realized that nope, he was booked at the Hilton in Bellevue, a good 15 minute drive away. Oh well!

The drive was definitely worth it though. To get to Bellevue, you have to cross the world’s longest floating bridge. This was a lot of fun, and it was a beautiful drive. The weird thing was that, on the drive from Seattle to Bellevue, the water to the right of the bridge was extremely choppy, but the water to the left was as smooth and calm as a pond.

This Hilton was exceptionally nice. The rooms were huge (as were the bathrooms!) and the beds were super comfy. I made use of the workout room which had every machine you could possibly need, and there was an outdoor pool that we didn’t get a chance to try. There was apparently a beauty pageant happening at the hotel when we arrived, so there were lots of six-year-olds running around with poofy hair and more makeup than I wear on Friday nights, but that’s another story.

Seattle Bay

Thank you to Ramanathan.Kathire san for the photo of the Bellevue Bridge.