Tommie Austin, part of Jdv by Hyatt

I liked the gym and pool, and the hotel is attractive, with good amenities in a central spot. The rooms are small but clean and comfortable. There's no refrigerator in the room, though they can bring one, which takes up extra space. Staff were all kind and helpful. The main problem was noise from nearby bars at night. It gets loud, so keep that in mind if you're working or have an early flight. Earplugs and white noise didn't help much.

Everyone I spoke with was so kind: the person who checked me in, the front desk man who printed a parking pass for my conference, and the barista who brought me water when she saw me choking on pills. I travel a lot for work, usually alone, and these were the nicest accommodations I've had. I loved the petite rooms because I didn't lose anything. The fourth-floor restaurant and the coffee shop were great too. Traveling alone can be the worst, but I can't wait to come back!

I stayed on the Tommie side. It's a nice hotel with several restaurants and bars, and the amenities are great. Room service was excellent, and the room was well kept. The layout felt a little strange, almost like an efficiency apartment: the sink is in the middle of the room and there's barely anywhere for your suitcase stuff except the bed. Fine if you just need to sleep, not so good if you need to work. The pillows were pretty bad. With one, your head sinks right through; stack two and you're sitting upright. The smoke alarm also flashed an insanely bright green light now and then. A few annoying things, but overall it's a nice hotel.

Parking costs a staggering $69 plus tax, though Spot Hero has a garage one block away for $14 overnight. The service was great, and they offered us a margarita at check-in. I knew the tommie rooms were small, and they really are Japan small, if you've been there. There is some noise, but they provide a sound machine with an actual fan and earplugs. I ended up pleasantly surprised by the hotel.