Introduction

We begin 2024 with a hotel review at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue!

The last time I was here was back in 2016, and a lot has changed over these last few years. The city of Bellevue has become a tech hub juggernaut these last few years, and with various companies like Amazon, Meta and TikTok establishing new bases here, the Hyatt Regency Bellevue has come to benefit massively from this.

I chose the Hyatt Regency Bellevue due to its close proximity to all the things I needed to do during this travel, and it was priced reasonably in terms of points. For two nights, I utilized 30,000 Hyatt points and waited until check-in to be upgraded to a Corner Suite King Bedroom, which at the time was around $479 a night, making it a great redemption during my stay.

Location

The hotel is located in the heart of the city, and is attached to a consortium of business and shopping buildings, with various sky bridges connecting each building to another. From the airport, it takes anywhere from 23-40 minutes, depending on traffic. I’d highly advise avoiding the morning traffic rush from 7:30-9:00am, as I encountered it firsthand when I drove into Bellevue.

The hotel location is fantastic walking wise - there are so many restaurants and shopping malls within 5-10 minute walk. You can easily visit the massive Bellevue Shopping Mall or the Bravern Luxury mall, which is a 15 minute walk. There are a ton of places to eat and drink. If you don’t have a car, fear not - this is a great city to not utilize a car.

Check-In

Upon arrival, the friendly valet team greeted me and asked for my name - as a Globalist member, valet parking was free, and I took advantage of this during my stay. For reference, self parking is $32/day, valet at $42/day and free on the weekends. Check-in was a breeze and the front desk lady was super friendly and even apologetic during a tested fire alarm drill. During the process, I was upgraded to the Corner Suite King City View on the 9th floor of the Cascade towers, which had recently renovated.

With over 700+ rooms, it’s a huge property that often accompanies various airline programs and staff, along with business travelers from all the world. A quick rundown of Globalist benefits and few bottles of water later, I was on my way to Room 922.

Corner King Bedroom Suite | Room 922

I was given Room 9922, a Corner Suite King Bed with City View, which is literally the end of the hallway on the 9th floor. Upon entry, you’re greeted with the living room looking out into the city, with the bathroom to your left and the closet to your right. The bedroom is further down the living room the right, with an additional frosted door for ultimate privacy at night. The bedroom has a TV along with a sofa. There is a sofabed with an additional lounge chair, a work desk and a series of lighting fixtures. There are plenty of outlets everywhere to fulfill all your charging needs. The standard coffee and mini bar are towards the back wall of the living room.

Bathroom wise, it’s pretty standard, though I’ve noticed that the Hyatt Regency Bellevue gives out a lot more assortment of toiletries, which is a plus. The lighted mirror is also a major plus along with the waterfall shower head. Bath amenities are from Pharmacopia, which is relatively okay brand. a generous bottle of lotion is next to the toothbrush, toothpaste, sewing kit and other essentials.

Amenities | Hyatt Regency Bellevue

While there is a Regency Club at this hotel, at time of review it was closed and under renovation. A lot of business travelers really like this Regency club and has often rated as one of the best domestic clubs (though the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington has been amazing as well).

For breakfast, Globalist members can utilize the restaurant Eques on the 2nd floor, and features an amazing array of a la carte items or a bountiful buffet. You can order a series of items and it will be comped, which is a nice feature and welcome gesture for Globalist members. The green smoothie was fantastic and the egg white chicken apple sausage was so good. I must say, their tiramisu pancakes and Crab Benedict was also a delight.

On the topic of great amenities, the fitness center at this hotel is…AMAZING. Two legitimate squat racks along with bumper plates is such a blessing, especially during business travels. A series of cardio machines are there, but there are ton of other machines that workout buffs will enjoy. A selection of barbells and weighted plates up to 55 lbs is fantastic. During my stay, I maybe only encountered 4-5 people max. There is also an indoor swimming pool as well, though I didn’t see anyone partake in any pool activities. If you’re a workout enthusiast traveling to Bellevue, I’d select his hotel hands down just for the fitness center.

The Hotel Grounds | Hyatt Regency Bellevue

With renovations underway for certain aspects of the hotel, the rather-corporate design is found throughout the hotel grounds, though some parts have been renovated. A vast domed lobby houses some spectacular views of the 1st and 2nd floor atrium, along with a sweeping staircase that would make for a great photo opportunity. Various business and leisure travelers utilize this lobby for lunch during weekdays, and there are plenty of restaurants both in-house and outside that people use. Despite frequent events happening here each day, it never felt packed in this massive hotel.

The Fonte Coffee shop on the lobby front is particularly attractive and priced reasonably - I frequented there in the afternoons for a 2nd shot of caffeine, and the staff there were super friendly and attentive. The drinks are just right.

Conclusion | Hyatt Regency Bellevue

From the outside, the hotel may be a bit outdated compared to its other immediate counterparts in downtown Seattle and Lake Washington, but where it shines extremely well is its fantastic soft service, amazing breakfast and fitness center, and close proximity to almost everything one would need in Bellevue. With renovations underway and with it still being a category 4 hotel, it’s a fantastic use of the Category 1-4 certificates or 15,000 Hyatt points during busy season. It’s a fantastic recommendation from the Little Boy From Taiwan!