Hyatt Place Cincinnati/Blue Ash

We had a cold shower in the second room, and the hair dryer was missing. When I tried calling the desk, the phone had no cord attached. I went downstairs for a dryer and reported the lack of hot water. A staff member checked the water and agreed it was cold, then went back downstairs. There still wasn’t a dryer, so I had to go down again. Eventually he came back with a key card and told me to use the shower in our original room next door. We were pressed for time because of a family wedding, or we would have left altogether. That was a first for me. I booked two nights at the Hyatt Place in Blue Ash Cincinnati, checking in Friday March 13 after a seven-hour drive. The front parking lot was roped off with no signs or warning about work. I’d had double hip replacement surgery, so I had to park at the far end, walk around the front to check in, load our luggage and wedding clothes on a cart, then fight winds over forty miles an hour to get to the room. There was trash around the grounds, which I first blamed on the wind. After we unpacked and met family, we came back to find the toilet wouldn’t flush. I called downstairs and someone came up with a key card for another room, saying there was no maintenance person available. We had to move everything next door. It was aggravating, but what else could we do? The next day the lot was still closed, and the side door wasn’t locking, so anyone could walk in. I told them. On checkout day it was finally locking. Out back, a silver-looking bucket was overflowing with green water, and the pet waste bin was full of bags. There was more litter and cigarette butts around, and food on the floor by the side door. I’ll post photos. The place seemed run down and poorly maintained, and it wasn’t as clean as I’m used to at Hyatt. I saw black grime in the desk, curtains that need cleaning, and an unknown stain on the couch. We asked for a manager and called Hyatt, but couldn’t get help. We never got to use the front parking lot. Breakfast was okay, but the same food was served both mornings, so we passed. The overcooked French toast wasn’t for me, and that’s not what I usually expect at Hyatt either. I’m no prude, but walking through the smell of marijuana to get to my room wasn’t pleasant. I took photos to share, and I hope Hyatt customer service hasn’t declined as much as this hotel has.

We’ve stayed at Hyatt Places around the country and had good experiences, but never at one like this. Every morning the kitchen area was disgusting. Food was all over the counters and floor, and the supposedly clean dishes had clearly not been washed. We went through a whole stack looking for clean ones. When we brought it up, staff said, “We can’t clean while people are using the kitchen.” What hotel does that?

The staff were always friendly, and our room was spacious and clean with none of the problems mentioned by other reviewers. But the breakfast was very poor: instant oatmeal packets instead of oatmeal, processed eggs, and lukewarm coffee. The hotel’s atmosphere and service don’t meet what I expect from a Hyatt property. It’s functional, but dated and underwhelming compared with other Hyatt Places I’ve stayed at. The interiors could use an update to feel brighter and more modern. For the price, I’d choose SpringHill Suites by Marriott down the street, which is much better value, even though I usually stay with Hyatt. I hope this hotel gets the refresh it needs.

The staff were very personable, and breakfast was adequate. The area around the hotel is appealing, safe, and well kept. My room was quite large, with a sink and counter space set up like a small kitchen. It was a little dated but maintained well. The bathroom sink had its hot and cold water reversed.