We've just returned from a whirlwind
3-day trip to Seattle! We had a great time despite a crazy one-off rainstorm and lack of time to see and do everything we wanted. We walked all day, so by the time our trip ended, we were exhausted! Thankfully, our home away from home was the
Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown Seattle, so we were able to recharge our batteries each night and wake up with a spring in our step.
Although this was my first trip as a Resident Blogger Ambassador for Marriott, I've stayed at the
Residence Inn multiple times in the past, and I've loved each and every night. The Residence Inn is known for extended stays, but all the amenities they offer makes them great for short stays as well! It's also great for families, especially larger families with 3 or more kids.
The Residence Inn in downtown Seattle is located on the shores of Lake Union. The location is almost perfect! It's just steps away from
the Seattle Streetcar, a trolley that gets you to downtown Seattle and Pike Place Market in just a few stops. From there, you can take the
Seattle Monorail to get to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden, EMP museum, or science museum. You can also catch the
Link Light Rail to Century Link Field, Safeco Field, Chinatown, and more. You could even rent bikes on the shores of Lake Union and bike around the lake! Like I said, a practically perfect location (the only reason I can't say it's perfect is because there are no cafes or restaurants nearby).
The interior is gorgeous. Rooms and suites are arranged around a central atrium under a glass roof, so the area is drenched in natural light. There's a soothing waterfall and an amazing sculpture about 6 floors high. After a whole day out and about, entering the lobby is like entering a soothing, relaxing oasis.
We booked a 2-room suite, so getting to our room felt even more like home. Our suite had a kitchenette with stove, refrigerator, microwave, and sink. The living room had a sofa, armchair, and tv for relaxing, as well as sliding doors that opened up to an outdoor patio. Many of the suites face Lake Union, so those lucky suites are treated to views of the lake and the Space Needle in the distance.
One bedroom had a king bed, and the other bedroom had 2 queen beds, so there was plenty of room for all of us. The living room also had a sofa bed, so the entire suite sleeps up to 8! It was so nice to be able to spread out and not have to fight for space in the closet, or fight for charging outlets, or time in the bathroom (each bedroom had a bathroom so we could shower in tandem and get everyone to bed as quickly as possible).
Each bath had Paul Mitchell toiletries, fluffy towels, and a hair dryer -- which really came in handy when we stumbled in one night, drenched from head to foot from a Seattle downpour.
Having free hot breakfast every morning also made things so much more convenient -- not having to look for somewhere to eat, not having to spend time ordering food and waiting for it. It made getting up and out for a day of walking and sightseeing so much quicker and easier! There were so many choices, from fresh waffles to fruit and cereal and yogurt, to pastries and bagels, to hot dishes like eggs florentine, biscuits and sausage gravy, and scrambled eggs.
Other amenities that my family and I loved:
- Soft, delicious cookies in the afternoon!
- Tea and coffee all day!
- Salt scrub in the lobby restrooms so you can give yourself a quick hand massage!
- Free boarding pass printing station!
- Free WiFi!
- Helpful staff who were always ready to give advice and directions on where to go and what to do!
Even more amenities that we didn't get a chance to enjoy, but would have appreciated, had we stayed longer:
- Washers and dryers
- Indoor pool
- Fitness Center
- Business Center with workstations and printers
Staying at the Residence Inn made our trip to Seattle so much more relaxing and fun. We felt so comfy and pampered during our stay! I highly recommend it to anyone.
Disclosure: I am a Resident Blogger Ambassador for Residence Inn by Marriott, and I was given a gift card to experience the Residence Inn while traveling with my family. No other travel expenses were provided. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
