Staying at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Downtown Denver, Colorado USA.

Stephanie Holmes checks into the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center.

Location: As the name suggests, just across the road from the Colorado Convention Center and its famous 12m tall big blue bear, in Downtown Denver. It's also walking distance to great shopping at 16th St mall and the Denver Pavilions, as well as close to public transport options, including the trams and the free shuttle bus service that runs up and down 16th St Mall to Union Station.

Getting there: I arrived at Denver International Airport and outside walked about 100m, where I hopped on an awaiting train. The train line runs direct into LoDo, or Denver's Lower Downtown district, and takes just 35 minutes, costing just US$9. If only all airport transport was as easy, right Auckland?

Check in experience: Fast and friendly, in the hotel's huge airy lobby space.

Room: Spacious and comfortable, on the 20th of 35 floors. Features included desk area, stylish comfortable armchair with leather foot stool, massive flat screen smart TV and double wardrobe. It was a great space to spend five days and I felt right at home. I even fully unpacked my suitcase, which is a small luxury for a frequent traveller.

Bed: The signature Hyatt Grand Bed felt like a cocoon, with high-quality linen and perfectly squishy pillows.

View: A great view of the rooftop bar at Le Meridien hotel opposite; across to the convention centre and, far in the distance on a clear day, the snow-capped rocky mountains.

Bathroom: Functional and clean, with a good pressure shower head in the shower-over-bath set up.

Facilities: Pool, fitness centre and spa on the fifth floor, meeting rooms, and conference spaces.

Food and drink: Altitude, the ground-floor restaurant; Strata, the lobby bar; Peaks, the 27th floor lounge, bar and restaurant; and Perks Coffee & More, a mini-Starbucks and snack bar on the ground floor. The usual awful American coffee offering in the room but there is a decent-sized fridge if you want to stock up on a few things to keep you going during your stay. In-room dining was available 24/7.

Wi-Fi: Free, fast and unlimited, although I did have to reconnect several times each day.

Entertainment: The smart TV was equipped with Chromecast, so guests can connect and stream entertainment from their smartphones. I made use of Netflix, which has a far better selection of content in the US.

Noise: The in-room fridge was really noisy, making all kinds of rumbles and whirrs day and night. The interconnecting doors weren't at all soundproofed so I could hear my neighbour's 6.30am screaming phone arguments with her boyfriend in great detail.

Perfect for: A business stay in the great city of Denver, without having to sacrifice many of your home comforts. Just BYO coffee maker.