Back in July my son and I enjoyed a weekend in Chicago followed by a few nights in the Detroit area hanging with Mark Ostermann of Miles to Memories and his kids. The Hyatt Place Detroit Livonia in the city’s metro area was an easy choice. As a Category 1 property, I was only out 15,000 points for three nights at 5,000 points per night. Cash rates were a ridiculous $183 after taxes, netting me over 3 cents per Hyatt point. Solid value.
Arriving at the Hyatt Place Detroit Livonia
The hotel is a very typical Hyatt Place, except that the exterior is partially brick. That’s a new look to me. I always like brick buildings. Can’t build with the stuff out west, as it’s prone to fall down when the earth shakes.
Inside, the lobby and breakfast area are very standard. The last Hyatt Place hotels I stayed at had the exact same design. If you appreciate brand consistency, Hyatt Place is one of the best in this regard.
Check-in was as quick and easy, as it always is, and we were headed up to our double-double room in no time at all.
Double Room
Hyatt Place rooms are generally just a hair larger than average, but its the layout that makes them excellent. The front area features a living room area, and the couch contains a sofa bed. That means a double-double room can fit 6 people (theoretically).
There is a half partition, and then the bedroom space.
The desk is across from the living space, in a corner.
The Hyatt Place Detroit Livonia got me all excited that there was a new offer out on the World of Hyatt Visa card. Nope. It’s just the same initial offer card that has probably been in the room since the hotel was given them last year.
The TV is along a short section of wall across from both the living room and bedroom. It’s not perfectly located for either, but you can swivel it slightly in the direction from which you are using it.
The panel of connectors and plugs for the TV are good in theory, but I found that the electrical outlets in the panel didn’t work. Fortunately, there is one more close to the desk.
Hyatt Place rooms feature a wet bar, which is nice if you are one of those who pack along cooking implements. At least you have a sink. Hyatt House hotels are obviously better in regard to the kitchen feature.
Hyatt Place hotels have the bathroom sink out in the room itself, which I generally prefer, especially traveling with multiple people.
The shower are toilet are together in the bathroom itself. This Hyatt Place has a tub/shower combo. Many just have a tiled shower.
The view is absolutely awesome as well. I’m in love with the parking lot. Ok, it’s totally not. But I haven’t been to a Hyatt Place where it is much better than this.
Overall, the room was very nice, exactly as expected. Aside from the two outlets in the TV panel, everything functioned perfectly.
Breakfast is For Members
The Hyatt Place Detroit Livonia offers your typical Hyatt Place breakfast spread. Hot options include eggs, potatoes, and bacon. Beyond that, the offerings include cereal, oatmeal with various toppings, toast, a couple juices, and fruit and yogurt. There was one addition of a breakfast hash that I hadn’t seen before. Everything was good. I’ve never had complaints about Hyatt Place breakfast.
In November of last year, Hyatt started limiting breakfast at Hyatt Place hotels to members who book direct. However, I’ve not seen this enforced well in practice. The Hyatt Place Detroit Livonia was about the same. The “enforcement”? A sign tucked into an alcove near the entrance to the breakfast area.
Other Hotel Facilities
The Hyatt Place Detroit Livonia has a decent sized pool in an enclosed area connected to the hotel. I tried to work while my son swam. In the Michigan summer, the place got outrageously hot. I gave up after about 45 minutes as I was sweating profusely.
There are some outside tables near the pool area as well if you want to enjoy the summer evening when it actually cools down a bit.
Conclusion
The Hyatt Place Detroit Livonia is not unlike the other Hyatt Place hotels at which I’ve stayed. The hotel lived up to all expectations. Hyatt Place remains my favorite limited-service brand, and it is an excellent choice for families. Given that the Hyatt Place Detroit Livonia is only a Category 1 property, the biggest win here is the value you get for your points. With rates often above $100 after taxes, it’s easy to get over 2 cents per point. We got over 3 cents per point, making it one of my best redemptions to date.
If Mark can coax me back to Michigan, I’m sure we’ll stay again.
