Salt Lake Plaza Hotel

The Salt Lake Plaza Hotel at Temple Square is a mid-range property that offers affordable rooms and modest interiors that are clean, but lack character. This 13-floor hotel is standard in appearance with a boxy concrete exterior, stamped with a large red “Plaza” logo at the top. A driveway at the hotel’s entrance allows guests to pull up directly to the straightforward lobby, where guests check in at a small white front desk. Comfy sofas and homey furniture are in the lounge, and photos of Mormon dignitaries hang on the lobby walls. The light rail stops across the street from the hotel but the atmosphere is nonetheless quiet, and has an especially family-friendly vibe. Guests here are a mixture of tourists visiting for genealogical research at the Family History Library, travelers passing through town, or business guests working in the area.

The hotel is in the center of Temple Square, a convenient location for travelers in town to do genealogical research at the Family History Library, which is next door. Deals are provided through the hotel for family history consultations. Beautiful gardens, fountains, the North Visitors Center, and the spectacular Mormon Tabernacle all line the square as well. The light rail throughout the city stops right outside, making trips to the airport in 25 minutes (otherwise a 15-minute drive). This location is five minutes on foot from the Salt Palace Convention Center, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, and City Creek Center. The Utah Jazz play at EnergySolutions Arena, a seven-minute walk from the hotel, and The Gateway shopping mall is a 10-minute walk. The Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, near the University of Utah, is a 15-minute drive away.

The gold patterned carpeting, neutral striped curtains, and taupe wallpaper give rooms here a homey quality. Everything is clean and well kept, but the overall ambience is a bit bland, and the wavy gray accent wall doesn't match the otherwise standard patterns and mid-tone wood furniture. Rooms include several nice extras, like coffeemakers with free coffee, mini-fridges, and microwaves plus flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and laptop-size safes. King Rooms have sitting areas -- with love seats and coffee tables -- by beds. Full-length mirrors are on bathroom doors, and bathrooms with patterned wallpapering feature shower/tub combos and mostly spacious granite vanities. All rooms have small balconies some of which offer mountain or city views, but expect parking lots in the foreground in some rooms.

For a mid-range downtown hotel, there is a nice range of features here for leisure and business travelers. An outdoor pool, open seasonally, offers lounge chairs and access from the deck to an indoor hot tub. To keep active, a small gym features cardio machines and mounted flat-screen TVs. Four coin-operated washers and dryers are in the laundry room. There’s also an ATM in the lobby by a business corner with two PCs and a printer, and souvenirs and snacks are for sale in the gift shop.Hearty American-style meals -- breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- are served in a casual family-friendly restaurant with high chairs for kids and booth seating. Breakfast is not included in most room rates. Owing its proximity to the Family History Library, the hotel provides discounts on genealogy services and consultations. A library lounge is casually furnished and can be rented for 35-person gatherings. Five other meeting rooms -- fitting a total of 265 people -- and catering menus are also available. Secured paid parking is accessible from the driveway. Wi-Fi is free throughout.