Hotel Carmichael
"The first thing you'll notice when you enter Hotel Carmichael is the wonderful ambient scent that pervades throughout the property. It's called patchouli blanc, and it's heavenly. According to one of my Yelp friends, who is also in love with the scent at Hotel Carmichael, they sell this fragrance at the gift shop in the hotel. Good to know! The second thing you'll notice at Hotel Carmichael is the attention to detail. Everything is spotless, everything is in its right place. They are supremely invested in customer comfort here: from the little touches, like a complimentary 4 p.m. champagne toast at the bar in the lobby, to the 12 p.m. checkout (which allows you to rest just a bit more), to the immaculate workout center that is open 24/7. I love that they have a gym in the hotel that's open all day, every day. Sometimes, a lady needs to work out at 4 a.m. or 3 p.m., you know? The workout center at Hotel Carmichael has two elliptical machines on either side of three treadmills. There is also a set of free weights, a stationary bicycle, a machine that you push with your feet that works your thighs, medicine balls, and some other workout equipment that I didn't know much about. There are fresh towels and complimentary bottled water for your enjoyment.My room was a double queen room. It felt very spacious, and the beds were very comfy -- I slept well. The rooms at Hotel Carmichael have a Nespresso machine. I loved making a vanilla cappuccino in the little machine and enjoying it on the chair in my room, looking out the window onto downtown Carmel. My children really enjoyed that our TV had games on it. I can't even tell you what kind of games, but one of them looked like a worm? The remote control was also a video game controller, apparently, which was cool. This is what I mean about attention to detail. Even though Hotel Carmichael isn't what I would think of as the most family-friendly hotel, they sneak the family friendliness in by adding little touches like games on the TV. Our hotel room also had a big chandelier in it. I love Carmel.The shower situation is lovely. The shower is huge and can fit a family of four, or one indulgent woman who just wants to take a hot shower by herself and get some peace and quiet, dammit. There are multiple shower heads, and nice smelling shampoo/conditioner/body wash available in the shower. One thing to keep in mind: My hotel room had a mini fridge, but there were White Claws and other such adult beverages in it. I didn't touch them because a) White Claw, and b) I didn't want to get charged for White Claw. So if you have dinner leftovers that you wanted to save, or Lunchables and Gogurts that you brought for your kids, this mini fridge might be off limits. You might want to ask the front desk about your mini fridge use. On the same vein, my hotel room had a little nook with liquor and snacks tucked into the corner, right by the beds, all inviting-like. As soon as I saw it, I yelled to my children, "Don't touch that! Leave it alone!" It all looked delicious and tasty. It was presented very well. But if you have young children who think that everything in the hotel belongs to them, and you don't want to pay however-much for a tin of Pringles, then please keep this in mind. These are the only two non-young-kid-friendly things about the hotel, but I imagine that you could get these items cleared from your room before your stay, if you ask."
Hyatt Place Indianapolis / Downtown
"I'm generally loyal to Hyatt and I picked this particular Hyatt because of the convenient downtown location near the Amtrak station. I arrived earlier than the normal check-in time but was still able to check-in. It's a large modern hotel and I was very happy with my room. My phone worked as a key, the TV had Chromecast, which allows me to watch all of my streaming services, and the bed was comfy. The free breakfast spread was as good as it gets at a Hyatt. Eggs perfectly scrambled (cheese and bacon bits optional), fluffy waffles, tasty home fries, along with various breads, bagels and danishes. There are also fruits and plenty of water and juices. It was such a large spread that I know I'm forgetting something. Staff was very friendly, always ready to help with any issue and you can even text any question right from your room and get a quick response. I only stayed one night, but this 5 star Hyatt had me wishing I was staying longer."
