I arrived in Seattle on a cloudy Sunday morning in January. The rain was holding up, and I made it from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to the Grand Hyatt Seattle in my rental car from Sixt Rent a Car in record time, and luckily they upgraded me to a Mercedes CLA.

The Grand Hyatt is located across the street from the Washington State Convention Center, and I must say it doesn’t feel like a convention center hotel. The hotel design features rich wood and a marble lobby with fun sculptures, creating a friendly and lighthearted atmosphere.

My room was located on an upper floor and offered an amazing view of the bay and downtown area. I enjoyed the view so much I ended up doing a majority of my work from the chaise lounge next to the floor-to-ceiling windows. I was able to see and hear bits of a protest and march making its way through the city.

As always, when it comes to comfort, the Grand Hyatt delivers. The king-size bed was comfortable, and the large marble bathroom featured a stand-alone shower. I was also provided with free WiFi and several bottles of water.

The hotel doesn’t offer its own restaurants on site but does offer excellent options for guests, including  Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, a sushi spot and a well-loved Starbucks. Its sister property, Olive 8, just a half-block away, offers a variety of choices. I stopped into Urbane for dinner and enjoyed a locally sourced roast chicken with a glass of Washington state Airfield, Sauvignon Blanc.

Olive 8 and Grand Hyatt guests can enjoy the Olive 8 spa, Elaia. I took full advantage of this and had a 90-minute sports and foot massage by a friendly masseuse. The spa is on the second level of the hotel with a large relaxation room and floor-to-ceiling windows offering natural light.

Overall, I had a great experience utilizing both properties, although the freezing walk between them can be a bit harrowing.

I’m looking forward to returning to one of my favorite cities in the United States.

— Carly Allen, associate publisher, executive vice president