Seattle Grand Hyatt Review
Dec 2nd, 2004 | 03:42 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Seattle Grand Hyatt Review
I took everyone's advice and stayed two nights at the Seattle Grand Hyatt on Fri-Sun over Thanksgiving weekend. My review:
It is a beautiful hotel, and I could not have been closer to the heart of everything--a million places to shop, two huge movie theaters across the street, and a block or two from the Seattle Christmas tree lighting, which I truly enjoyed. If you're looking to be in the heart of things, it is perfect.
The rooms are nice, but I'm picky, so here is my detailed analysis.
-- The bathrooms are the best part, by far. Large, all marble, separate bath and shower, beautiful "waterfall" spouts on the bathtubs, wonderfully appointed.
-- Some of the "extras" are really neat-- nice doorbells instead of knocking, little lights you illuminate instead of sticking out the cheesy do not disturb sign, beautiful wooden closets with automatic lights, nice marble-esque floors in the entrance.
--A couple of downsides:
-- The walls are thin and the doors are loud. I had a very LOUD family next door, and it was excruciating, because unless you make an effort to not allow the door to slam behind you, it makes a very loud noise. I could also hear their phone ringing, which was happening constantly because the rest of the family was in other rooms on the floor. (One or two rings would have not bothered me.) I complained, and complained, and eventually the manager, who was very nice, moved me to a new room.
-- Interestingly, the new room had a complete view of the harbor, the christmas lighting, etc. The odd thing is that when I checked in, I asked if their were any waterview rooms available and was told no. So, that clearly wasn't true, which annoyed me. The other thing is that they kept mentioning that I'd booked on Expedia, and when I got to my new room, I noticed a few things were better than my previous room. The previous room had cheap cotten (see through) robes as opposed to full length plush terry robes in the new room, did not have a bathtub bar (a great thing that goes across the bathtub where you can put your soap and book and such) like the new room, and so forth. It seemed clear to me that the hotel has a few "internet" rooms with not-as-nice little appointments (nothing major), but the rooms are otherwise the same. I was really annoyed by that, even though I eventually had the better room, anyway.
-- A few things need work. The relatively small TV's are placed so high on top of the dressers you can barely see them without hurting your neck, which irritated me, since I checked in for a weekend of rest and luxury, and wanted to watch TV/movies. I had to wait 20 minutes for a remote control in the first room. I requested a list of channels (isn't this usually standard) and they looked confused and brought me some out-of-date, inaccurate photocopy of something. It was odd.
--After complaining about the noise and being moved, I kept feeling like everyone in the hotel knew who I was. They should not have had every person I encountered asking if things were better now. It made me feel like a freak show.
-- My hotel room did not get cleaned the second day at all. I had to call and ask for new towels and had to clean up all the glasses and such and put outside. I mentioned it when I called and they offered to send someone up to clean, which just irritated me, since we were checking out in an hour at that point.
-- The hotel is rightfully proud of its beautiful gym, but someone needs to take a class on hotel services. How can they have a gym, without ANY water in it at all? No water fountain, no little jug with cups, no little bottles of water. There IS a water vending maching, but who brings the $2 to the gym? They need to do something. They also need a locker room, but that's getting a little more picky on my part.
-- The bar and restaurant (727 Pine) were wonderful.
-- The management gave us the second night at $39 less than the first night because of the noise, and I did not ask for a discount at all. It was very nice. The manager was incredible, I must say.
--Overall, my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it, with the exception of the little noise problem, which was eventually taken care of. It is a beautiful hotel, in the middle of everything, and I would recommend it again. They have a few things to tweak, but other than that it was great.
It is a beautiful hotel, and I could not have been closer to the heart of everything--a million places to shop, two huge movie theaters across the street, and a block or two from the Seattle Christmas tree lighting, which I truly enjoyed. If you're looking to be in the heart of things, it is perfect.
The rooms are nice, but I'm picky, so here is my detailed analysis.
-- The bathrooms are the best part, by far. Large, all marble, separate bath and shower, beautiful "waterfall" spouts on the bathtubs, wonderfully appointed.
-- Some of the "extras" are really neat-- nice doorbells instead of knocking, little lights you illuminate instead of sticking out the cheesy do not disturb sign, beautiful wooden closets with automatic lights, nice marble-esque floors in the entrance.
--A couple of downsides:
-- The walls are thin and the doors are loud. I had a very LOUD family next door, and it was excruciating, because unless you make an effort to not allow the door to slam behind you, it makes a very loud noise. I could also hear their phone ringing, which was happening constantly because the rest of the family was in other rooms on the floor. (One or two rings would have not bothered me.) I complained, and complained, and eventually the manager, who was very nice, moved me to a new room.
-- Interestingly, the new room had a complete view of the harbor, the christmas lighting, etc. The odd thing is that when I checked in, I asked if their were any waterview rooms available and was told no. So, that clearly wasn't true, which annoyed me. The other thing is that they kept mentioning that I'd booked on Expedia, and when I got to my new room, I noticed a few things were better than my previous room. The previous room had cheap cotten (see through) robes as opposed to full length plush terry robes in the new room, did not have a bathtub bar (a great thing that goes across the bathtub where you can put your soap and book and such) like the new room, and so forth. It seemed clear to me that the hotel has a few "internet" rooms with not-as-nice little appointments (nothing major), but the rooms are otherwise the same. I was really annoyed by that, even though I eventually had the better room, anyway.
-- A few things need work. The relatively small TV's are placed so high on top of the dressers you can barely see them without hurting your neck, which irritated me, since I checked in for a weekend of rest and luxury, and wanted to watch TV/movies. I had to wait 20 minutes for a remote control in the first room. I requested a list of channels (isn't this usually standard) and they looked confused and brought me some out-of-date, inaccurate photocopy of something. It was odd.
--After complaining about the noise and being moved, I kept feeling like everyone in the hotel knew who I was. They should not have had every person I encountered asking if things were better now. It made me feel like a freak show.
-- My hotel room did not get cleaned the second day at all. I had to call and ask for new towels and had to clean up all the glasses and such and put outside. I mentioned it when I called and they offered to send someone up to clean, which just irritated me, since we were checking out in an hour at that point.
-- The hotel is rightfully proud of its beautiful gym, but someone needs to take a class on hotel services. How can they have a gym, without ANY water in it at all? No water fountain, no little jug with cups, no little bottles of water. There IS a water vending maching, but who brings the $2 to the gym? They need to do something. They also need a locker room, but that's getting a little more picky on my part.
-- The bar and restaurant (727 Pine) were wonderful.
-- The management gave us the second night at $39 less than the first night because of the noise, and I did not ask for a discount at all. It was very nice. The manager was incredible, I must say.
--Overall, my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it, with the exception of the little noise problem, which was eventually taken care of. It is a beautiful hotel, in the middle of everything, and I would recommend it again. They have a few things to tweak, but other than that it was great.
Dec 2nd, 2004 | 04:14 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
This is the first long report I've read that held my interest. Thanks.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is going to take over the 727 space.
I am surprised to learn that great care must be taken to prevent room doors from closing with a slam. That is way too Hampton Inn.
The staff sounds very caring except for the desk clerk who didn't know about views. You're not a freak--you are valued.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is going to take over the 727 space.
I am surprised to learn that great care must be taken to prevent room doors from closing with a slam. That is way too Hampton Inn.
The staff sounds very caring except for the desk clerk who didn't know about views. You're not a freak--you are valued.
Dec 2nd, 2004 | 06:04 PM
#4
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 949
Likes: 0
I stayed here a few weeks ago for a weekend and I was rather disappointed. At arrival I left my luggage in the car only to have some one run after me telling me that I'd "forgotten" it (I don't think so!). The first room I was given had no bay view, although requested. It took a lot of work and visiting rooms to find a sliver of a view. Service needs a lot of work. When I left my room at 10AM Saturday morning some one cleaning rooms made the comment "got up late this morning"- WHAT!! I forgot to ask for turn down and when I asked for it I was told where the ice machine was. My car was never waiting when I called for it etc etc etc. I wouldn't stay here again!!
Dec 2nd, 2004 | 07:54 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,749
Likes: 0
I find only one error in your post. You say you are "picky". I'm not sure that I'd consider any of the problems you mention as being picky, particularly paper thin walls, lack of cleaning, and telling you they had no waterview rooms when they did.
Dec 3rd, 2004 | 04:46 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
I am dejected to learn that the "Grand" Hyatt lacks grandeur. The ineptitude of the place is on par with Holiday Inn and its ilk where employees have apparently spent a lot nights in tents and on the floors of friends homes but don't have a clue what travelers expect when the spend their hard earned dollars on a hotel room. What is the solution?
