Thinking of staying at Hyatt Place, any tips?

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Hi everyone!
Well, I have a reservation at RPH but I'm seriously thinking of switching to the Hyatt Place to save some money. I'm not concerned about the early entry and even if I buy express pass for a couple of days, it saves me quite a bit.
Anyway, it's just me and my DD, 11. I will have a car. What would be the best way to the Universal parks? Is it easy and hassle free enough to get a cab? Where would I find them at the parks? I thought we might be able to take the Hyatt's shuttle over and a cab back.
About the Hyatt Place - is it in a safe enough location for two gals alone? We usually stay onsite so this will be new to me.
Thanks so much!

 

[Planogirl]

We stayed at the Hyatt Place last year and it's a perfectly good place. I had no uneasy feelings about safety and the staff is fine. The breakfast is good if a bit limited but of course you can order extras for an extra fee. The place was still being remodeled a bit at a time but the rooms and lobby appear to be done. The pool is tiny so don't expect much there at least for now.

We never tried the shuttle but just drove each time. The parking fee is expensive but we were in and out a lot and it worked best for us.

 

[DOOM1001]

Which Hyatt Place are you staying at?There's one just across from Universal on the other side of Kirkman rd on Caravan ct. and there's one on Universal Blvd. a bit south and closer to the Convention center.I've stayed several times at the one by Universal on the other side of Kirkman and think it's a very good hotel,it even has free breakfast even though the breakfast area is a bit small.This location has several other hotels like a Holiday Inn express nearby as well as a TGI Fridays and a Cracker Barrel next door.The only thing that's a bit weird about the location is that in the middle of Caravan Ct. is a closed attraction that was called Mystery Fun House which closed like 10 years ago and still just looks like an old closed building.From this location you can even walk over to Universal if you had to,but since you have a car I would avoid it as Kirkman rd has a lot of traffic.I've never stayed at the other location but assume it's still a very good hotel,it's on Universal blvd close to Pointe Orlando and the Convention center next to other hotels like a Hampton Inn and a Homewood Suites both of which I did stay at and you can also walk to restaurants like Bahama Breeze and another Fridays which face International Drive but are literally behind the parking lots for the hotels.Obviously if you want to be close to Universal the Caravan ct location is better and it's not unsafe,but if I had a car I prefer the Universal blvd location as it's calmer and has less traffic,and also that empty building in the middle of Caravan ct just looks like an eyesore.Again I've enjoyed all of my stays so I wouldn't have a problem staying there again.I agree that the Universal hotels are not cheap as the express pass access just raises the price even more than the Disney hotels.If you plan to take a cab Universal has a bus and taxi area where they pick up and drop off,once you get there you take an escalator up and you're just outside Citywalk and less than a 5 minute walk to either theme park.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Hi everyone!
Well, I have a reservation at RPH but I'm seriously thinking of switching to the Hyatt Place to save some money. I'm not concerned about the early entry and even if I buy express pass for a couple of days, it saves me quite a bit.
Anyway, it's just me and my DD, 11. I will have a car. What would be the best way to the Universal parks? Is it easy and hassle free enough to get a cab? Where would I find them at the parks? I thought we might be able to take the Hyatt's shuttle over and a cab back.
About the Hyatt Place - is it in a safe enough location for two gals alone? We usually stay onsite so this will be new to me.
Thanks so much!

You can walk, or drive. The hotel on Caravan Court is less than a mile from the parking lot. I forget the exact directions, but it's very, very easy to drive.

Getting a cab is very easy. They pick up at Universal in the same spot as the hotel shuttles drop off -- there are signs in the exit area of Citiwalk, so you can't miss it. At the hotel, they'll call you a cab if you need. They once actually had a cab driver sitting in their lobby, so I didn't even have a wait.

Their shuttle picks up twice in the morning, and twice at night.

Safety is fine -- it's so close to the parks, so it's well-lit at night, and there are tons of people walking back and forth between the hotels in the area and the park. So, you're never alone (unless you're coming back at 1am, but i can't speak to that).

I've stayed at this hotel twice, it's a very nice hotel. Rooms are very spacious and clean. And it's definitely not terribly priced ($100/night, even in July).

 

[Metro West]

I'm going to move this to the Universal Resorts board.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks for the replies everyone - and getting this post to the right place Metro West

Sorry, I should have mentioned I'm thinking about the one on Caravan Court. We are going to be there 3 nights in a couple of weeks and the onsite hotels didn't seem to have any deep discount except the AP rate - but then I've got to spend extra $ on an AP I don't really need. So, trying to decide. Mostly worried about coming back in the evening after dark but we won't walk back and it would be after the park closes. Maybe we'll drive and park in the garage, probably take an afternoon break. Also, I was worried about car break in's - that kind of thing (has happened to us closer to home so guess I'm a little paranoid!).

If there was some kind of onsite hotel discount that would work for me without an AP, I'd probably go onsite but you know, that could be a few hundred $ of souvenirs, dining etc!

Thanks again!

 

[ZYanksRule]

Thanks for the replies everyone - and getting this post to the right place Metro West

Sorry, I should have mentioned I'm thinking about the one on Caravan Court. We are going to be there 3 nights in a couple of weeks and the onsite hotels didn't seem to have any deep discount except the AP rate - but then I've got to spend extra $ on an AP I don't really need. So, trying to decide. Mostly worried about coming back in the evening after dark but we won't walk back and it would be after the park closes. Maybe we'll drive and park in the garage, probably take an afternoon break. Also, I was worried about car break in's - that kind of thing (has happened to us closer to home so guess I'm a little paranoid!).

If there was some kind of onsite hotel discount that would work for me without an AP, I'd probably go onsite but you know, that could be a few hundred $ of souvenirs, dining etc!

Thanks again!

There should be plenty of cabs even late at night. Citiwalk is open very late, so I'm sure there will be plenty of cabs even well into the night.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

There should be plenty of cabs even late at night. Citiwalk is open very late, so I'm sure there will be plenty of cabs even well into the night.

Thank you!

 

[ifyourhappy]

This location has several other hotels like a Holiday Inn express nearby as well as a TGI Fridays and a Cracker Barrel next door.

Just an FYI, the cracker barrel hasn't been open for awhile there, just a TGI Fridays now.


Hyatt Place is our favorite offsite hotel, we love being able to walk over and save the parking $$ for souvenirs or whatever. The pool is definitely on the small side, but we don't use it. It's usually just me, my 16 yr old sister and 18 yr old brother, we've always felt very safe.