Hyatt Place San Diego/Vista-Carlsbad

I picked Hyatt Place San Diego/Vista-Carlsbad for its location near Carlsbad Airport, laundry, 24-hour gym, pool and hot tub, and because it's part of World of Hyatt. It turned out to be the sort of hotel where everything just works, which is what I want when traveling. The rooms are spacious and well arranged, with plenty of outlets. The wet bar and fridge-microwave setup make longer stays easier. Service was great, and I especially liked the gym and hot tub. Free parking and breakfast are good perks, and the fast, free WiFi made Zoom calls easy. It quietly supports your day without getting in the way. I loved staying here and would come back when I'm in San Diego or North County.

I love the Hyatt Place brand for easy business travel, and this location is in a business park. Still, as a Hyatt globalist and loyalist, I found it one of the worst Hyatt Place hotels I've seen. It's rundown and outdated, with tired furnishings throughout. I had to switch rooms several times because the shades wouldn't close or there were other room problems. The old-fashioned air conditioners are extremely noisy. They couldn't even offer me a free reason to stay here again.

The one thing that didn't work for us was the tiny, oddly shaped closet. It was awkward enough that we barely used it. Everything else was great, from the huge room and comfortable beds to the clean pool and hot tub. Breakfast was delicious and served at useful hours, and the lobby snack shop was convenient. The layout was simple to navigate and remember. We don't stay in hotels often, but after a long road trip and several recent motel and hotel stays to compare, this one came out ahead in just about every category. We may not be back this way soon, but if we are, we're staying here again.

For my family of five, this is a convenient hotel when we're in the Oceanside and Carlsbad area. I'm a Hyatt member and usually stay here on those visits. This time, my kids had a soccer game in Escondido, about a 30-minute drive away. The staff were friendly, and breakfast was included, though the selection was limited. The elevator moves a bit slowly, but that wasn't a big deal. It was a good stay.