Hyatt Place Sarasota / Lakewood Ranch — Hotel in Sarasota

I just stayed at the Hyatt Place Lakewood Ranch for 3 days. It seems to be reasonably new, very clean and in a wonderful location. It is in between two other hotels but I felt this one was the nicest. The street is quiet and beautiful.

THE GOOD:

Very clean hotel, lovely lobby, big rooms, fantastic location on a quiet street just blocks from I 75 which makes it so easy to get there.

It is walking distance from Chili’s and Another Broken Egg (fantastic breakfast!), not to mention a whole strip mall with Publix and other stores.

The staff could not do enough for you and were always smiling. Maggie at the front desk was amazing. I thought I had booked the deluxe room with the view and even though I didn’t, she kindly upgraded me. She also went out of her way to help me change my room at the end of her shift at 11 PM!

Although I didn’t need it I loved the fact that there were was a washing machine and dryer on each floor. They had a small pool and a small gym.

I asked for two foam pillows and they were delivered immediately.

THE NOT SO GOOD:

The first room I was assigned, room 510, was absolutely beautiful but had a very strange smell. I tried to deal with it but just couldn’t. (On a wonderful note, I went down at almost 11 PM to ask if I can change rooms and Maggie, who was literally on her way out, put everything down and helped me change rooms! She was amazing!)

The next room I was assigned, 308, was just as lovely as the first room but luckily there was no smell. However it looked like there was a little bit of black mold in the shower. I could be wrong because I didn’t want to get too close.

I also found it very strange that there were no plastic cups in the bathroom to rinse your mouth out after brushing your teeth. In fact the only cup they had was a ceramic mug with the coffee machine. What hotel doesn’t have plastic cups in the bathroom? When I went down to ask I was told they don’t do that but the lady at the desk kindly went to the bar and got me some plastic cups. It’s just odd. I am constantly traveling and I have never stayed at a hotel that does not have some sort of cup or glass in the bathroom.

I was not a fan of the breakfast. The eggs were cold, I didn’t see any tomatoes or bacon although there were some potatoes. They did have some cereal but it was so crowded I couldn’t even see what else they had. Everybody was walking around with their breakfast plates throughout the lobby trying to find a place to sit and eat. I would’ve loved it if they served the breakfast later than 9:30 and maybe it wouldn’t have been so crowded.

The only other thing I can say was odd was that there were no mirrors in the hallways by the elevators. Most hotels have mirrors there so you can give yourself a last check before you leave, but that’s just nitpicking.

All in all it is a very good hotel and one that I would definitely...

Great service! Love the location! Walking distance to coffee shops, excellent restaurants, local and chain, sidewalks for walking, close to the interstate. Publix within walking distance. Great amenities! I did not make it to the fitness room nor did I get to swim, but I did enjoy sitting by the pool, and the water was heated. The free breakfast bar was one of the best I've ever had at a hotel! I am vegan, so they were many options for me, including oatmeal with lots of toppings, fresh berries, fruit, and melons! Definitely a lot more options for non-vegans , then your typical waffles and frozen biscuits and sausage. We did partake in the bar, which was a great way to chill by the pool in the evening. I felt extremely safe my entire time there. Great walk-in shower! Comfortable rooms. Comfortable mattress. Refrigerator in the room but no microwave. No big deal, because I did not need it. Cable, not smart tv, so couldn't watch Netflix or Amazon prime, but that was okay. Great free coffee at the breakfast bar in the morning, and I loved having actual real ceramic coffee cups with my coffee machine in the room. Nice comfy couch in the room to lounge on and relax at night. Great desk area. Plenty of parking without having to walk. Just a few tiny things that would have been nice to have: more USB Outlets, and because I'm vegan I would have liked to have had foam pillows, and I know it's asking a lot, but a non-down comforter. I asked for foam pillows, and there were none available. Not a great view, because it's right beside the interstate, but the convenience to everything was worth it. I will stay here next time I am in Sarasota...

When we arrived on 5/15/23 ther was one guest ahead of us to sign in. There was some kind of issue with the computer and we stood there for 20 minutes before someone came to clear up the problem. We went out to dinner that night and I stopped at the bar to get a couple glasses of wine to take up to our room. The, bartender was surly, unhelpful and ruder than any I've run across in my travels to Hyatt hotels. Based on the beard, tattoos and attitude, he'd be moire suited to a biker bar. I sat down and there was only one other customer. When he got around to coming over to me his first words were "You need something?" this was not a friedndly tone. I asked him what he had in red wines? Without a word he turned and pointed at several bottles on a shelf about 10 feet away. I said, I can't read them from here. He then, obviously annoyed said Cabernet, Merlow and Pino Noir. I asked for two glasses of Pinot and a glass of ice. He poured the glasses slapped them down in front of me and said $16.49. I said put it on my room. He asked for the number and I asked if he could look it up? He said "Can't help you." I went over to the woman at the front desk (five feet away) and got my room number and gave it to the bartender and told him not to put a tip on it. He printed out my receipt, slapped it on the bar and walked away without another word. That's not the friendly service I'm used to from Hyatt. I would recommend to others that there are plenty of hotels in town that welcome guests. The Sarasota Lakewood Ranch Hyatt Place just isn't one of them...at least not if you...