And the bad? The hallway air-conditioning was freezing. What's in the neighbourhood? Just metres across the car park is the Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas, where German beer and music take visitors to Munich on any given afternoon. Across a busy road is a bunch of random food and beverage outlets, and MedMen, a dispensary for recreational marijuana. Cannabis use over age 21 is legal in Las Vegas but there are limit restrictions and users must imbibe at a private residence with permission from the owner. Of course the famous Las Vegas Strip is just a five minute drive up the road. In Sin City, you'll see anything from a chapel wedding to adventure rides, fountain shows, live music and comedy by some of America's biggest A-list celebrities.
Food and drink: A small breakfast buffet keeps guests satisfied from 7am but in-room dining is pared back. There's a small menu at the front counter where food is ordered and paid for. A room call alerts the guest to pick up the food in reception. It's not ideal for busy corporates, however the food is fresh and delicious and includes gluten-free and vegetarian options.
The bed: Comfortable and warm, the king-size bed is set out so that the studio is more of a mini suite, with an open bathroom vanity and separate toilet and shower, a wardrobe, desk, kitchenette complete with mini fridge — which many American hotels don't supply as standard — and a sofa bed and ottoman for guests.
A room with a view? Room 645 had a view over a sports field and road, capturing rush hour traffic, and sun streamed in the large window in the mornings, filling the room with natural light. Also had a view of incoming flights from Las Vegas airport.
Bathroom: A large shower with sliding glass door allowed the compact room to include a toilet. I found out the hard way not to shut the toilet door too hard after I woke up the next morning locked out at a rather inconvenient time. It meant calling for a maintenance man asap! And one night I awoke to a bedside lamp having turned itself back on.
Free Wi-Fi? Apparently there is free Wi-Fi, but almost none of the foreign journalists could access it.
Exercise facilities: A fitness centre was available as well as a pool.
Noise: The room itself had a very noisy fan in the shower and toilet, but the greatest noise was from planes flying overhead as they came into land at the nearby airport. Not ideal for sleeping.
Value for money: Excellent value for money because of its location, free parking and 3-star rating.
Perfect for: Corporates, couples and families who need to do business in or want to explore Las Vegas.
It's also a pet-friendly hotel.
The bottom line: The Hyatt Place offers a superior room with some very minor compromises at a good price, in a great location and with excellent, friendly service.
