Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown Lake Union

Pro's and Cons here

Points positifs : Nice modern decor in lobby area. Hallways to rooms have been updated, nice new decor, carpet. Beautiful Internet!! Close to Streetcar that drops right into downtown Seattle shopping district / Westlake Mall and Pacific Place Shopping Centers. Our room had a nice (partial) view of Lake Union which is lovely on a sunny day! More than dismal when it's rainy tho... Comfortable pillows/bed Pool and a hot tub - complete with towels! Bike rentals station near the boat area to rent bikes and go for a spin around Lake Union or through downtown. Walking / Biking / Streetcar distance to Seattle Center Friendly staff

Points négatifs : Further from Seattle Center/ downtown waterfront / Pike Street Market than I had realized. Any savings received on the room were quickly eaten up by additional hotel fees, cab fares and public transportation costs. Lots of construction / road construction in this area, difficult confusing to get to the hotel - looks like a bunch of incomplete construction / work zones around side of hotel. No shuttle options from / to airport or train to this location. Workout facility = cardio and dumbells only. no weight machines Room Keys quite inconveniently deactivated themselves for no apparent reason. Difficult getting cab from this hotel to any other locations in city - front desk called told me "several cabs already in the area and less than 10 minute wait". None stopped!!! Empty cabs drove by... still no. Waited OVER 1/2 hour, eventually one came that was dropping guests off at the hotel but I had to flag him before he drove off, he wasn't going to pick us up either! Clearly this hotel is not a priority for the cab companies & getting to my destination timely clearly not a concern for the staff. Asked specifically for another plastic liner for the ice bucket (needed to put ice in it to ice an injury) I explained this but Instead I received a plastic bag he thought was better for that purpose - one which was for the laundry service and had holes in the bottom of it! Yay a leaking ice pack and wet pajamas! Tap water tastes like chlorine pool water. $3.50 for the bottled water in the room & kids don't read the fine print! Sit down Bistro Food options or convenience store pantry options only, main restaurant advertised yet closed or unavailable. Bistro is EXPENSIVE ($4.00 for a small pastry) NO other breakfast options nearby $6.00 dry ham sandwich, no condiments avail. desk agent went to check Bistro kitchen but then refused to give me mustard or mayo - told me none avail. ?!? Overall, for $200.00+ per night, I shouldn't have to spend so much of my time communicating with the staff here - guest needs should have been anticipated (not having to ask for a cab multiple times, being able to turn the TV on and have it work properly without having to try to figure it out then making a phone call, having the room keys work when you leave and want to re-enter your room! having mustard / mayo condiments available when people buy the sandwiches from your pantry, having lids for the Starbucks cups / vending machine coffee, etc...) Not unpleasant per se - just for that price, I shouldn't be required to participate in training your hotel staff on "how to do their jobs properly" - Suggestion: a prix fixe "buffet" style breakfast / self serve waffle iron/ toaster/ in addition to for people short on time but still want to eat and no time for restaurant service. This option is a huge plus and deciding factor in determining whether a hotel receives my future loyalty... even if it's not free or include with the room!!