I would appreciate input about this hotel

ttt

I live in Seattle. It's not a place we hear much about. Sorry.

A visiting friend stayed there and raved about it.

In May, we stayed at the Hotel Andra, a recently renovated hotel, and loved our room and the hotel's location, near downtown shopping and the market.

At the time, the room rates at the Andra were significantly lower than at the Inn at Harbor Steps, which I considered.

You can probably find reviews of this and just about any hotel at other websites.

It must be very new because I know the area and it wouldn't have any older hotels at all.

I know the Harbor Steps, and they are a fairly new collection of actual steps, condos/apartments, and little shops, about two blocks south of the famous Pike Place Market. You'd be right in the heart of downtown activities with most every form of day life and night life easily accessible.

I would suggest going for this place if you haven't already.

a) it must be new-ish

b) great location for many things

After much study, we finally settled on the Inn at Harbor Steps for three a night stay at the end of July this summer. So tonight I called to book, just over 6 months ahead. They only have rooms for our first night, the other two are completely sold out.
Guess it looks like we'll be at the Andra after all, our second choice.

We stayed at the Inn on Harbor STeps about two years ago. We enjoyed it very much. We had a non-smoking room-as all are- I believe. As we were settling into our room we smelled smoke and discovered a butt near the balcony. The staff was very accomodating and changed our room. They were very apologetic. It seems to me that I have read on this site that there is lots of constuction nearb this hotle now.

It seems to me that I have read on this site that there is lots of constuction nearb this hotle now

True.

Not to mention Lusty Lady et al. along 1st avenue. Although central this location would not be my pick for staying downtown.

I am local and have only heard about Inn at Harbor Steps because it keeps coming up on Fodors. Doesn't anyone like The Mayflower, The Sorrento, Hotel Monacco, Inn at the Market, etc.? I'm not recommending, seriously curious.

I think it's mainly budget-driven, Suze... the Andra has had some (dare I say) teaser rates, much like the Hyatt had a couple of years ago. Generates buzz for a time, like the goldfish at the Monaco. The Inn at Harbor steps originally, I think, wanted to position itself as a higher-end "extended stay" property, not an overnighter. Business plan conked, so now they're competing for a piece of the transient pie. The test will be off-season occupancy rates; it's not the best located property for business travelers.

The downtown hotel market is getting very segmented and possibly overbuilt? Shades of Vancouver in the late 90s?

thanks gardyloo, for your thoughtful explanation.

as an aside, i was invited by the marketing person at Hotel Andra to come take a tour (my office is nearby and i sometimes book travel arrangements), think i'll take her up on it and see for myself what's up with this new hotel. will report back!

Suze, to answer your question above, I loved our stay at Inn at the Market, but for this summer they're quoting me almost double the price of either the Andra or Inn at Harbor Steps, and of course, more if we want a view room. I guess they are well established and can get it, but not from me this time round.

By the way, I did end up booking two rooms at the Andra for three July nights at $159, did it direct, and a AAA rate.