Rm 1016 Grand Hyatt Denver

My second visit to Denver was for a conference held at the Grand Hyatt Denver, not to be confused with the Hyatt Regency Denver – which my SuperShuttle driver did. Not to worry though if this detour happens to you, the hotels are only two blocks from each other. And to make things even more interesting, the Grand Hyatt Denver is formerly the Hyatt Regency Denver.

Within about a three to four block radius, you will find every major hotel represented. Why? You are that close to the Colorado State Capitol building, the Colorado Convention Center and the University of Colorado at Denver.

The Grand Hyatt is two blocks from the Denver Pavilions entertainment complex and 16th Street Mall.  These both have lots of shops, restaurants and movie theaters.  Since I was in town strictly for the conference, I got to know the insides of the Grand Hyatt quite well. Here are my highlights:

• Two Double Beds were nice. I used one as a workstation and the room still felt large. They were Grand Beds™ featuring ultra-plush pillows.
• Wi-Fi access for my Mac didn’t work. I had to use their wired dataport at my desk.
• Walk-in closest fit my clothes & suitcase easily. I loved the full length mirrors on both the inside of the door and outside on the wall.
• Room service offers a decadent molten chocolate cake with strawberries.
• My room had a decent city view and the church bells on Sunday were a nice touch for my departure.

I didn’t make it to their gym but I heard good things about it from other conference goers. The hotel’s elevators operate using your room key.  The staff was nice especially the maid service. Next to the concierge desk is a kiosk for airline check-in and printing your boarding pass.  SuperShuttle stops by the hotel every 15 minutes for Denver International Airport.

Pet friendly Grand Hyatt Denver - cute!

Grand Hyatt Denver
1750 Welton Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 295-1234

Photos by Sharon Castellanos

The Colombi Hotel is family owned and quite elegant

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Having to fly unexpectedly to Scottsdale, Arizona recently for a family emergency, I found myself scrambling to locate a hotel with enough amenities to satisfy my parents and my wildly diverse siblings with their extended families.  Not being familiar with the area, but wanting to get a hotel with the basics to satisfy me, I can report that the Wingate by Windham in Scottsdale is where I plan to return to whenever I am back in town.

Plush Beds @ Wingate Scottsdale AZ

The Wingate by Wyndham is part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of hotel brands that includes Ramada, Days Inn, Travelodge, Howard Johnson and more.

This Wingate is targeted to the business traveler, with a 24 hour fitness room that I used daily, and a well stocked breakfast set up every morning from 6:00 until 9:00. I stuck to the cereal and eggs, but my sister raved about the “make your own waffles”. With the heat, my brother skipped the gym and used the pool. He swam every morning, reporting to me how nice and clean the water was.

Great Equipment & Television in the 24 Hour Fitness Room

They offer great deals for seniors and AAA members.  We had nicely appointed queen rooms for $89 a night.  My room had two queen beds and huge flat screen LG television.  With my sister in a room on one side of me and my mother on the other side, how quiet my room was at night was perfect.

Neutrogena Products & Fluffy Towels

We all agreed that the Moen Revolution showerhead was a nice perk and my father loved how new the ironing board and iron were. He likes a a very sharp crease in his pants. Each room has a single-cup coffeemaker with Wolfgang Puck coffee that comes in handy if you stay up late like my niece or get up at the crack of dawn, like my mom.

With members of my family unable to drive but needing to get to the mall and other destinations, we were pleasantly surprised by their free shuttle service. They have a few vans available from 7:00 to 7:00 everyday, that will take you anywhere you want to go within a 5 mile radius of the hotel. Amanda, one of the front desk agents drove us a couple of times and expertly got us to our destination. Given my parents back seat driving and the hundred temperatures, I couldn’t tip her enough.

Make Your Own Waffles!

The Phoenix Airport is too far but the Scottsdale Airport is close enough use their free shuttle.  If you need to print your boarding pass, they have a 24 hour Business Center too with free internet access and printer.  The Wingate by Wyndham in Scottsdale has an amazing staff who offered our family so much warmth. If you travel to Scottsdale for business, a round of golf or maybe a girls spa weekend, this hotel is in a great location off the 101 Loop.

All photos taken by my iPhone.

This is the first part of a series showcasing the best gyms in hotels across the United States.  We’ll start with the most populated city: New York, and work our way through popular U.S. destinations.  Travelers venturing to New York know they are in for some walking but what if your trip is all stuffy business meetings and thinking outside the box?  (Raise your hand if you’re in corporate America and hate that phrase.)

To keep your fitness routine going while you’re away, consider one of these hotels that really put some thought into their gyms.

The New York Palace:

The New York Palace offers top of the line equipment and 7000 sq.ft. of spacious fitness center and spa.

If you find yourself without running shoes and workout clothes, (because you’re like me and forgot to pack that sort of thing) don’t sweat it (heh).  The New York Palace offers complimentary sneakers and workout clothes!  Each of the many cardio machines has it’s own personal screen.  Also free?  Bottled water and fruit.

Trump International Hotel and Tower:

Personal trainers at your service at the Trump International Hotel and Tower, NYC.

If you are a Plus One Active user, you will certainly find access to that as well as the internet in this hotel’s fitness center.  On top of having free personal trainers at your service, the center also can provide, upon request, a comprehensive fitness evaluation and nutritional counseling beyond ‘stay out of the carb-filled mini bar in your room, Missy/Mister.”

The Affinia Dumont:

The Affinia Dumont in New York City has a Fitness Concierge!

Complimentary Experience Kits come in yoga, running, and strength-training flavors and they are yours if you stay at this fabulous hotel.  In addition to the Experience Kits, the Affinia Dumont boasts a beautiful fitness center that is sure to get your mojo moving.  The Fitness Concierge (swanky!) “can offer fitness-related information about the neighborhood. And he can act as your personal trainer in our fitness center, or provide a complimentary fitness evaluation by request. (Yours, not his.)”

The Hyatt and the Grand Hyatt:

The Hyatt can deliver workout clothes to you room within an hour. (Charges apply.)

Trusted source TODAY loved this chain of hotels for their 24 hour fitness centers, as well as the service (gym clothes delivered to your room within an hour.)  “Some locations even offer customers a Garmin Forunner, a wrist-top GPS monitor, which you can borrow from the concierge and use during your run.“   TODAY went on to rate the fitness facilities a 5 out of 5.  {source}

The W:

The W

With three locations in New York City, The W covers a lot of ground both in geography and with their stunning “Sweat” centers.  Like the New York Palace, each cardio machine is outfitted with it’s very own screen.  No peeking!
While there are many more hotels in New York that boast beautiful workout centers, you and I both know the trick is motivating yourself to get into one.  With so much to do in New York City, you’d be hard-pressed to find me on a treadmill when I could be taking pictures of the sights of The Big Apple.  Still, these hotels seem to get it right.

Photo credits: The New York Palace, Trump International Hotel and Tower, The Affinia Dumont, The Hyatt and the Grand Hyatt, and The W.