Hyatt House Denver Aurora

The room we booked was supposed to have a “den,” but there wasn’t any separate space that could be called that. The neighborhood also felt unsafe, and the elevator claim about needing a room key didn’t match what I saw: it worked without one. Inside, you could hear everything, and footsteps upstairs or a nearby door closing actually made the room shake. They charge $5 for bottled water while calling this an extended-stay hotel. That felt like nickel-and-diming guests instead of encouraging them to stay longer. It came across as an attempt to squeeze as much as possible out of us before checkout. One of the worst hotel stays I’ve had. There are better choices a short walk away, and I’d take any of them.

We picked this hotel to be near the UC hospital and clinic, and you really can’t get closer than right across the street. That also meant constant noise outside our window: ambulances with sirens, the loud “bronk bronk” at the intersection, and, apparently, no noise law in CO for those very loud mufflers. Bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper. Room 629 was on the top-floor corner, with two queen beds. It was clean and nicely laid out as a large two-room setup, with a living and kitchen area plus a separate bedroom with a door. The kitchen supplies were basic: one sauce pan, one frying pan, no toaster, and just a big serrated knife where a small cutting knife would’ve been handy. The desk person went out of their way to find me a toaster, though, which was amazing. The living area felt sparse and sterile, and could use better pillows and a comfortable chair. There’s room for one, since the couch isn’t very comfortable. One bed’s top sheet had holes and tears, and a couch pillow was coming apart at the seams. Still, if being close to the hospital is your priority, this hotel is right there.

The one thing that takes away from an otherwise wonderful hotel is the noise on Colfax at night. People revving engines to 7,000 RPM, sirens, helicopters, the whole lot. The hotel itself has been great on all four of my stays over the past year. I’ve booked a suite each time, and I think the price is quite cheap for what you get. The rooms are elegant, and when I’ve needed help, the desk staff have responded quickly and taken care of it. I’m heading back to Denver this weekend and already have a room booked.

The only real headache has been parking. Around 7 pm the lot is full, so it seems the answer is to use the unpaved lot. Other than that, I’ve stayed here with my mom a few times because it’s so close to Anschutz, and I’ve always felt safe. The lot is well lit, and I can see our car from the room window. Breakfast has always been tasty, with scrambled eggs that aren’t watery, sausage, potatoes, bread, juice, cereal, and oatmeal. There’s plenty of seating in the lobby and bar area if you want to hang out. I’d also recommend Carbon Coffee and Modern Market in the same building.