One of the first full-service hotels in Sarasota, the Hyatt opened in 1975 and remains the city’s largest hotel. You’ll likely be greeted with a glass of pink lemonade; pink being the anchor color in the interior design, which is inspired by Lilly Pulitzer’s upscale tropical aesthetic.

With a lagoon-style pool complete with a waterfall, this hotel is well suited for families visiting this popular west coast stretch of Florida. The Hyatt sits on its own marina, a small inlet that leads to Sarasota Bay. It is not on the beach, but the public beaches of Lido Key are less than 3 miles away, and a complimentary shuttle service is provided throughout the day.

There are water views from every room in this 10-story property, whether you overlook the marina or the bay. With its downtown location, the Hyatt is a short drive from the Ringling museum, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

A four-diamond property, this Hyatt became part of the brand’s “Regency” collection several years ago, when it received extensive cosmetic upgrades to modernize the furniture, carpet and other fixtures in the rooms and public spaces.

There are 294 guestrooms on 10 floors, including four bi-level suites, eight executive suites with parlors and accessible rooms. The Lilly Pulitzer-inspired décor follows through in all the rooms. More than half of the rooms have balconies, too. Accessible rooms are available with two double beds or one king. Pet-friendly rooms are available, as are PURE Hypo-Allergenic rooms. We appreciated the full-sized bathtubs to make kids' bath time routines easier.

Standard amenities in all rooms include a hairdryer, iron and ironing board, coffeemaker, safe, iHome alarm clock radio with iPod docking station, satellite radio, complimentary high-speed Internet access and data port, and flat-screen TVs with cable and satellite channels, including Disney and PBS.

Rollaway beds are available upon request for a fee of $25 per night. Cribs are available at no charge.

Standard Rooms
Offering marina or bay views, these 390-square-foot rooms include one king or two double beds, a work desk, and redesigned bathrooms with new tile and deluxe Portico bath products.

Deluxe Balcony View Rooms
These rooms are similar to standard rooms, but have an outdoor balcony with seating. Two double beds or one king bed are available.

Suites
These 1,090-square-foot suites have tall glass walls, offering expansive marina or bay views. There is a spacious parlor with a couch and 40-inch, flat-screen TV. A spiral stairway leads up to a loft bedroom with one king bed.

PURE Hypo-Allergenic Rooms
PURE Hypo-Allergenic Rooms are designed for allergy sufferers. They undergo a six-step process to reduce airborne particles and potential irritants. This process includes installation of a state-of-the-art air purification system and treatment of all fabrics and surfaces.

Pool
On property, the family fun scene takes place in and around the pool -- a 130-foot, free-form pool with zero-depth entry. The tropical lagoon atmosphere is enhanced by the 10-foot waterfall at one end and the colorful landscaping around the entire area.

There are no lifeguards on duty, and the deepest part of the pool is about 4 feet, 3 inches. Children of any age must be accompanied by an adult. Towels are provided. You can also borrow masks, snorkels and foam noodles. At the far end of the pool deck, there's a whirlpool spa for the grown-ups.

There are covered cabanas with overhead fans available for rent at $75 per day. The pool hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Property-wide quiet hours are in effect beginning at 11 p.m. daily.

Poolside Activities
The recreation staff runs poolside family activities, such as scavenger hunts and cannonball contests, every Saturday, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. They may also organize crafts and cookie decorating activities. Dive-in movies, featuring popular family favorites, are shown on the pool deck on Saturday evenings during the summer months, too. The Hurricane Hut stays open on these nights to serve popcorn, candy, snacks and drinks.

Lawn and Board Games
There is a small green space adjacent to the pool deck, where games of Corn Hole are often set up for guests to play. There is no game room, but the front desk has board games you can borrow.

Marina
A lot of activity also happens on the hotel's private 32-slip marina. If you have a boat, you can arrive via water and dock it here during your stay. The floating dock system has power, water and a pump-out station.

In the marina area, you'll find an outfitter desk where you can rent bicycles, tandem kayaks, paddleboards and pedal boats. Your resort fee includes the use of fishing poles with bait. You can easily catch snook, red drum, and sometimes catfish right in the marina. To fish in deeper water, you can rent or charter a boat from CB's Saltwater Outfitters, located within the marina as well.

Beaches
You have a choice of public beaches nearby, the closest being Lido Key and Anna Maria Island. A more lively and popular beach is on Siesta Key, 20 minutes south. Along this coast, expect calm, clear water on the Gulf of Mexico, and soft white sand with just the right amount of shells to keep kids busy amassing a collection to bring home.

The Hyatt beach shuttle runs three times a day Monday through Thursday, and five times a day on weekends. It makes two stops at St. Armands Circle, a shopping and dining district, and Lido Beach. The schedule is printed and available in the lobby.

Currents Restaurant
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at Currents, a recently redesigned space with a contemporary look. Finishes include teak flooring, granite, mosaic tiles, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the marina. There are tables for two and four, as well as a community table if you feel like mingling with other guests.

The menu focuses on locally sourced food, with produce from regional farms and seafood fresh from the Gulf of Mexico. With its own in-house bakery, the restaurant produces gluten-free baked goods. The breakfasts really shine here, with unique buffet items in the eggs and griddle categories that change daily, like mozzarella and prosciutto frittata, and banana bread pudding.

You'll find the Hyatt brand's For Kids By Kids menu here, which is developed with input from children. The menus offer nutritious and intriguing items including a strawberry banana smoothie, a top-your-own breakfast taco, and gluten-free chicken tenders. Highchairs are available.

Breakfast is served daily from 6:30 to 11 a.m. Lunch is served daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dinner is served daily from 5 to10 p.m.

Currents Bar
The Currents Bar in the lobby serves different functions depending on the time of day. In the morning from 6:30 to 11 a.m., this space is a coffee bar serving Starbucks products and baked goods. Happy Hour runs daily from 4 to 6 p.m., and guests can order appetizers and cocktails until midnight. You can also purchase a S'Mores Kit at Currents, and bring it outside to the fire pit near the pool, which is lit every night.

Hurricane Hut Pool Bar & Cafe
The Hurricane Hut Pool Bar & Cafe on the pool deck is open daily from 11 a.m. to sunset, and offers light fare and cocktails. At 2 p.m. every day, the staff brings out icy cold popsicles for guests to enjoy, on the house.

Room Service
In-room dining is also available, from 6 a.m. to midnight. The menu includes Healthy Balance options, such as smoothies and salads.

All About the Extras
Resort Fee
The resort fee is $15 per stay, and covers kayaking, paddle boarding and paddle boating; shuttle service; bicycles and helmets; fishing poles and bait; cold towels and poolside popsicles; the use of pool toys including water floats, snorkels, fins and masks; two bottles of water daily in guestrooms; Wi-Fi access; and complimentary calls.

Pet Policy
Some rooms are pet-friendly at the Hyatt. One dog can't weigh more than 50 pounds, and two dogs cannot weigh more than 75 pounds combined. There is a maximum of two dogs per room per stay. Rates start from $100 per stay.

Laundry Facilities
There are onsite coin-operated laundry facilities for guests.

Fitness Center
The Stay Fit gym is open 24 hours a day, and features Lifecycles, Stairmasters, treadmills, Life Fitness weight systems, free weights, jump ropes, medicine balls and exercise balls.

If you want to go for a run, ask the Bellman for a route card with a suggested local route. In the early morning hours, there is a table set up in the lobby with towels, water, and apples for guests coming in from a run.

Gift Shop
The poolside gift shop provides nearly everything you need for a day at the beach or pool, such as sunscreen, toys, and sunglasses. You can also purchase snacks and over-the-counter medications.

Business Center
In the lobby, you'll find an ATM, three iMacs and computer terminals to use for printing boarding passes or tickets. Brochure racks include information and coupons from local attractions and restaurants. Additionally, off the main lobby you'll find a small reading lounge with a library of books, and work tables with charging stations.

Parking
Valet parking is $18 per night. Free self-parking is available, and ample.

Express Check-In/Out
To save time, there is a check-in kiosk and video check-out. Check-in is at 4 p.m. and check-out is at 11 a.m.

The Art of Smart Timing
This is a year-round resort property in a popular vacation destination, but you can enjoy value rates in August, September and October. This coincides with hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. Demand for rooms is high in July, when a local powerboat event takes place; the hotel is an event sponsor.

This hotel offers value-added packages that include extras with the overnight rate. This property participates in the Hyatt Gold Passport global loyalty program, so your stay accumulates credits.

Getting There
This property is a 10-minute drive to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, and 55 miles south of Tampa International Airport, which is a larger airport served by more airlines to more destinations. The Sarasota-Tampa Express offers transportation to and from the Tampa airport.

There is taxi service available at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. An airport shuttle is offered, based on availability, and rides cost $8 per person. There is also a public bus system, SCAT (Sarasota County Area Transit) with multiple downtown stops.

Both airports are served by major rental car companies.

Getting Around
The Hyatt offers its own shuttle service to the closest public beach on Lido Key, but the shuttle also stops en route at St. Armands Circle, a shopping and dining district.

For Mom and Dad
The hotel does not offer its own babysitting services, but can provide a list of preferred local sitters. For an evening out, you could stay on property at the Currents Bar, or catch a performance at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall or the Florida Studio Theatre, both of which are within walking distance.
For a relaxing afternoon, take the hotels' shuttle to St. Armands Circle for a massage or facial at The Met Spa, which is partners with the Hyatt.

Golfers are in luck, too. There are 65 golf courses nearby. The University Park Country Club partners with the hotel -- it's a 27-hole course 5 miles away.