Seattle's BEST Downtown Hotel? SpringHill Suites Secret Revealed!
Seattle's BEST Downtown Hotel? SpringHill Suites Secret Revealed! (Spoiler: It's Pretty Darn Good)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to give you the REAL scoop on the SpringHill Suites in downtown Seattle. Forget those polished, picture-perfect hotel reviews – this is the gritty, honest, and beautifully messy truth, straight from someone who spent way too much time dissecting every nook and cranny of this place. Let's get down to it!
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- Meta Description: Honest review of SpringHill Suites in downtown Seattle. Accessibility, amenities, cleanliness, food, and everything in between. Is it really the best? Find out with this raw, unfiltered take!
First Impressions (and a Quick Rant About the Rain)
So, you land in Seattle. The misty air hits you like a wet, salty hug (or slap, depending on your mood). You're tired, a little disoriented, and dreaming of a hot shower. The SpringHill Suites is calling. The location? Killer. Seriously, smack-dab in the middle of downtown, close to everything. Getting there from the airport? Easy peasy with the airport transfer service. (Though, honestly, I’d probably just grab an Uber next time – might be cheaper).
My first thought? The lobby was sparkling. Seriously, blindingly clean. And the staff? Friendly enough, although not exactly overflowing with Seattle-style "effortless cool." It's functional, efficient, and welcomes us with a smile.
Accessibility: A Shout-Out to Inclusion!
Okay, huge props to SpringHill Suites for making accessibility a priority. This is important. The hotel is wheelchair accessible, with ramps, elevators (thank god!), and adapted rooms. I didn't personally need these things, but just knowing it was there, that they cared…well, it just feels good to know a place caters to everyone. The facilities for disabled guests are definitely a plus.
The Room: Cozy, but Not Cutting-Edge (and the Wi-Fi, Though!)
My room? Ah, the room. Available in all rooms included:
- Air conditioning (essential! But the Seattle air can be quite lovely).
- Alarm clock (never used it, obviously, because I'm not a morning person).
- Bathrobes (yes, yes, YES!).
- Blackout curtains (bliss for sleeping).
- Coffee/tea maker (vital).
- Desk (for pretending to work).
- Hair dryer (thank you, modern world).
- In-room safe box (always a good idea).
- Internet access – wireless (and thankfully, Wi-Fi [free] in all rooms!). I'm talking serious speed here. Streaming movies, video calls, the works. Kudos.
- Ironing facilities; a must-have for that one important meeting.
- Private bathroom with the standard bath and separate shower.
- Refrigerator.
- Satellite/cable channels (if you have the energy for TV after exploring Seattle).
- Seating area.
- Smoke detector (safety first!).
- Telephone (for, you know, emergency calls).
- Towels.
- Wake-up service (don't need it, but good to know it exists).
- Window that opens (YES! Fresh air is a gift).
The carpet wasn't the freshest, but it was clean enough, which is all that matters. Everything was clean and safe!
The Food: Breakfast Bonanza! (and the Occasional Snacking
Alright, breakfast. The Buffet in restaurant was the star of the show. Eggs, waffles, fruit, yogurt… the usual suspects, but good. The Western breakfast will keep you going all morning. They also offer Breakfast takeaway service if you’re in a rush.
There was also Breakfast in room for me on two occasions!
And the Coffee/tea in restaurant was way better than I expected.
I confess, I hit up the Snack bar a few times. Okay, more than a few. Those little bags of chips kept me going during my adventures! The poolside bar looked tempting when the weather was warmer.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (The Rambling Begins…):
I'm a sucker for a good hotel restaurant. This one had decent food. Nothing mind-blowing, but perfectly serviceable. The Asian cuisine in restaurant did catch my eye. The soup was particularly comforting after a day of walking around in the drizzle.
A small rant, I wasn't expecting the Breakfast [buffet] to be so amazing, but it was!
Amenities and Services (A Mixed Bag)
- Fitness Center: Ah, the gym. I meant to go. The gym/fitness center looked well-equipped.
- Pool with a view: Speaking of the view, the Swimming pool [outdoor] beckoned from the top floor. It was a gorgeous cityscape, offering a nice respite from the day's activities.
- Spa/sauna: Didn't partake, but hey, it was there!
- Laundry service (a lifesaver!).
- Concierge: Friendly and helpful.
The concierge was super helpful!
Cleanliness and Safety: COVID-19 Considerations
This is a big one, and SpringHill Suites aces it. I felt safe. They are taking it seriously.
- Daily disinfection in common areas.
- Hand sanitizer everywhere.
- Room sanitization opt-out available.
- Rooms sanitized between stays.
- Staff trained in safety protocol.
They also have cashless payment service, a very welcome thing.
For the Kids:
- Family/child friendly (big plus!).
The Quirks (Because No Place is Perfect!)
- Parking: They have Car park [on-site], but it's not free. Valet parking is an option. Be prepared to pay.
- Pets allowed unavailable. I'm a dog person, so this was a tiny bummer.
- My original plan was to request a Couple's room but there are only single bed rooms, so that didn't happen.
The Verdict: Worth It? Absolutely.
Would I stay at the SpringHill Suites in downtown Seattle again? Yes. Absolutely. It's a solid choice. It's clean, comfortable, conveniently located, and offers a good value. Could it be perfect? Maybe not. But for a perfectly good Seattle experience? This one delivered. Just remember to pack your umbrella!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your sanitized, Pinterest-perfect itinerary. This is my attempt at a real-world, messy, and hopefully hilarious trip to Seattle, complete with the obligatory hotel stay at SpringHill Suites Seattle Downtown/South Lake Union. Prepare for whiplash.
Seattle Spring Fling: A Semi-Coherent Adventure (Probably Full of Coffee)
Day 1: Arrival & Existential Dread (aka, the Airport)
- 8:00 AM: Land in Seattle. Ugh. Airports. They promise adventure, but mostly deliver stale air and the soul-crushing sound of luggage wheels. Currently, I'm praying my checked bag made it. (Spoiler alert: it almost certainly didn’t).
- 9:00 AM: Find the mythical baggage carousel. Success! (For now). Grab an (overpriced) espresso because, Seattle.
- 9:45 AM: Hail a rideshare. Hopefully, the driver isn't one of those guys who talks incessantly about cryptocurrency. (Fingers crossed).
- 10:30 AM: Check into SpringHill Suites. Okay, not bad. The lobby is surprisingly cheery, even though my flight was a three-ring circus of spilled juice boxes and crying babies. First impressions: clean-ish, modern-ish, and blessedly free of screaming children.
- 11:00 AM: Room Reconnaissance. The inevitable: a quick once-over of the room to make sure there are none of the usual suspects (bed bugs, creepy crawlies, vengeful ghosts). Pro tip: always check behind the headboard. You never know. Everything seems okay!
- 11:30 AM: The Coffee Quest Begins. Need to find a proper Seattle coffee shop. This is essential. Google Maps is my guide. Pray for a caffeine fix.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch & City Exploration. Found a charming little cafe near the hotel. Okay, okay, it smells amazing. I'm craving a sandwich and also a walk. The Seattle air already has me intrigued. This will be a walking exploration to see the areas.
- 2:00 PM: Rant Time. I'm so mad at how expensive things are. Like, a coffee, a sandwich? Nearly $40! How do people live here?
- 3:00 PM: Visit the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP). They're having a sci-fi exhibition, and I'm a sucker for that. Maybe I'll see it, maybe I won't. It depends on how much caffeine I have.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Exploring and choosing a restaurant. The seafood here is fantastic. Hopefully I got to try it!
- 7:30 PM: Bedtime. The day's adventures are over.
Day 2: Pike Place Market and the Pursuit of Happiness (or at Least, Good Fish)
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Free breakfast is, well, free. Let's not get our hopes up. The waffles are probably the same consistency as cardboard. They're probably great!
- 9:00 AM: Pike Place Market Pilgrimage. This is a must. The fish throwing! The flower stalls! The sheer chaos! Oh, and the original Starbucks. Prepare for a line so long it'll curve around the block. I'll brave it. (Maybe. Depends on my caffeine level).
- 10:30 AM: Face it, you're in a line. You may want to get coffee.
- 12:00 PM: Market lunch! I'm thinking fresh oysters. Or maybe a giant pretzel. Or both. My stomach is already rumbling.
- 1:30 PM: The Fish Throwing Experience: So, after Pike Place, I witnessed the fish throwing. It's as chaotic and exuberant as you'd imagine. The fishmongers are basically professional acrobats with salmon. I took a video, but the memory card of my camera ran out of room when I tried taking a shot.
- 2:30 PM: Gum Wall (Ew.). I might actually go see this. It's just so disgusting.
- 3:00 PM: Stroll around the surrounding streets and maybe enjoy a beautiful day.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Try to find a restaurant with the view.
- 7:00 PM: Bedtime. Time to recharge.
Day 3: Space Needle & Seattle's Soul (Maybe?)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Free breakfast.
- 10:00 AM: The Space Needle. Iconic. Touristy. Probably worth it, even if I have to stand in line with a bunch of screaming kids. I hope the view is as amazing as everyone says it is.
- 11:30 AM: The Space Needle Viewing Experience: Okay, the view from the top of the Space Needle. It's truly breathtaking. I'm talking: "Makes you forget you're standing next to a gaggle of giggling teenagers holding selfie sticks" breathtaking. Seriously, the city sprawls out before you - the water, the mountains, the tiny little buildings that look like Monopoly pieces. Honestly, it got me all choked up. (Don't tell anyone).
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. I'm thinking somewhere casual.
- 2:00 PM: Head back to the hotel to chill and relax.
- 4:00 PM: Last-Minute Souvenir Shopping. Panic mode. Need to find gifts.
- 6:00 PM: Farewell Dinner. A fancy meal to celebrate the trip.
- 7:30 PM: Pack. Pack. Pack.
Day 4: Departure and the Aftermath
- 8:00 AM: Last breakfast! The waffles probably still have the consistency of cardboard, but I'll give them a try anyway.
- 9:00 AM: Checkout. Say a fond farewell to SpringHill Suites (hopefully, it's been good to me).
- 9:30 AM: Rideshare to the airport. Here we go again…
- 10:00 AM: Airport Chaos. Pray my flight's on time. Pray my luggage makes it. Pray I don't have to sit next to a crying baby.
- 12:00 PM: Fly home. Reflect on the experience.
Post-Trip Ramblings:
Seattle? It was… something. The coffee lives up to the hype. The people are nice-ish (mostly). The food is delicious, even if my budget is now weeping in a corner. The city has a vibe, a certain chillness that's captivating. Is it perfect? Heck no. But it's real. It's messy. And it's definitely worth the trip. (Even if my bag did end up in… well, let's just say it's still "on its way").
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Seattle's BEST Downtown Hotel? SpringHill Suites Secret Revealed! ...Maybe? (Let's be real, I'm still processing)
Okay, spill the beans. Is SpringHill Suites Seattle Downtown, *actually* the best? I've read the hype.
Alright, alright, hold your horses! Best? That's a loaded word, isn't it? Like, "best" for what? For a budget-friendly, clean, and surprisingly spacious room in the heart of the chaos? Then YES. Probably. Look, I've stayed in some dives, and I've stayed in places where the concierge held a tiny, judgmental chihuahua. SpringHill Suites Downtown Seattle, let's call it "SHS Downtown" for brevity, is a solid contender. It's not the Four Seasons, people. Don't go expecting gold-plated faucets. But the rooms? Surprisingly roomy. And that's worth *something* in Seattle where space comes at a premium, and where I was anticipating a shoebox for my hard-earned dollars.
What about the location? Is it truly *downtown* downtown?
YES. Painfully so. You are *IN* it. Like, you could practically roll out of bed and into a Pike Place Chowder line (though I wouldn't advise that, personally. Get dressed, people!). It's fantastic for exploring. Short walk to the market, the waterfront, the Space Needle (if you’re into that, which I'm... indifferent towards), and all the downtown shops. But... and it's a big but... it's also downtown. Meaning, you’re hearing sirens at 3 AM. And, depending on your room, the constant hum of city life can be a bit much. Bring earplugs. Seriously. I forgot mine, and I spent one night plotting revenge against a particularly loud garbage truck. You've been warned.
The free breakfast... is it worth it? Or is it that sad continental breakfast cliché?
Okay, the free breakfast. Let's talk breakfast. I am a breakfast person. I *love* breakfast. And, on a scale of "prison gruel" to "Sunday brunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant," the SHS Downtown breakfast is... well, it's somewhere in the middle. The eggs? Questionable sometimes. The sausage? Let’s just say it has a texture I've come to associate with over-processed airplane food. BUT! They *do* have waffles. And, when properly adorned with syrup and a generous amount of butter, those waffles are glorious. They also had a decent selection of fruit (the blueberries saved me more than once). And coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. So, yeah, it's worth it. Especially when you're broke and trying to save money for all the expensive Seattle experiences. You know... the overpriced coffee shops!
Okay, what about the *vibe*? Is it a stuffy business hotel or a relaxed, chill place?
Honestly? It's a bit of both. The lobby feels a little corporate. Think clean lines, a lot of gray, and the faint scent of cleaning solution. But the staff is genuinely friendly. And, I kid you not, they always, *always,* asked if I needed more coffee. Which, let's be honest, is the only thing that matters. The clientele varies. I saw families, business travelers, and a couple of tourists who looked thoroughly overwhelmed by the city (I get it, Seattle can be like that). It's not exactly a party hotel, but it's not stuffy either. It’s… comfortable. Which, sometimes, is exactly what you need.
Let's dig into potential downsides. What should I watch out for?
Okay, here's where I get real. The biggest downside, besides the previously mentioned sirens (did I mention the sirens?), is the... well, the *atmosphere* in some of the rooms. My first room, I swear, felt like it had absorbed the collective existential dread of the entire city. It was a bit depressing. The lighting was harsh. The view... well, I saw a brick wall. Honestly, I considered staging a dramatic escape (because, hey, I'm good at that). But, I complained, and they were super accommodating. They moved me to a much nicer room. Higher floor! Bigger windows! A *better* view! So, don't be afraid to speak up. Also, parking is *expensive*. Like, eye-watering expensive. Prepare to shell out some serious cash or find a cheaper lot nearby. Finally, try requesting a room NOT facing the street. Trust me on this one. Even with earplugs, the city noise can be relentless.
Okay, let's talk *specific* experience. Did anything *really* stand out, good or bad?
Let me tell you about the waffles. Because, honestly, the waffles transcended the hotel experience. I'm not exaggerating. One morning, I was feeling particularly… blah. Seattle weather, you know? The gray just seeps into your soul. I stumbled down to breakfast, fully expecting the usual disappointment. But then... the waffle machine. And, by some miracle, the batter was perfect. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. I slathered it with butter, poured on the syrup… and, suddenly, the world felt a little brighter. I ate *three* waffles. No regrets. In fact, I'm now considering starting a petition to have the SHS Downtown waffle recipe declared a national treasure. Seriously. They're THAT good. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy in the belly of a decidedly average hotel. A waffle revelation, if you will. And, looking back? That waffle... that glorious waffle… it *almost* makes up for the sirens. Almost.
Are there any hidden gems or tips you learned while staying there, like, a pro-tip for the average traveler?
Okay, pro-tip time. First, ask for a room on a higher floor, facing away from the street. Second, the gym is surprisingly well-equipped (if you can handle the mirrored walls and the inevitable awkward eye contact with other sweaty people). Third, USE THE WATER REFILL STATION in the lobby! Don't pay for bottled water. Fourth, (and this is important) befriend the breakfast staff. A little kindness goes a long way, and sometimes, they'll give you an extra waffle. Fifth, be nice to the cleaning crew. They work hard. And lastly, embrace the imperfections. It's not a perfect hotel. But its a good hotel.
So, would you recommend SpringHill Suites Downtown Seattle? Be honest!
Look, is it the *best* hotel in Seattle? Probably not. But is it a solid, reliable, conveniently located option that won't completely break the bank? Absolutely. Especially when considering its location relative to other downtown hotels. And, hey, those waffles. Those glorious, life-affirming waffles. That alone might beSave On Hotels Now
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