Seattle Marriott waterfront
Aug 11th, 2003, 07:39 AM
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Seattle Marriott waterfront
We just got back from our trip to Seattle. What a great city! We loved the atmosphere, friendly people, and natural beauty.
We stayed at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront and i want to warn those of you planning to stay there to be sure not to stay on the north or south end of the hotel by the train tracks. We were staying on the north side, and the tracks curve there. All night long the trains screeched as they made the turn. These are long freight trains (BNSF) and they run continuously. After two nights with no sleep, we switched rooms. We were able to stay on the same floor as our three teenaged children, but down at the other end of the floor. Not as convenient as I had hoped, but once we were in the quiet room and could sleep, it was fine. Our kids faced the waterfront, so they had no noise. There is a trolley that runs in front of the hotel, but that stops at 11 pm. and it was not nearly as noisy as the freights. Our new room was on a wing basically looking into other rooms across a courtyard, although we could see a sliver of the waterfront. We liked everything else about the hotel and the location was excellent. We could easily walk to Pike Place, Seattle Center, etc. We liked staying on the water for the great views and although it is a very busy waterfront, it felt less crowded than the city.
When we arrived at the hotel and the doormen had earplugs in, we should have known! They told me they will be building a sound barrier this fall, but unless it has a roof, I don't see how it will help much.
We stayed at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront and i want to warn those of you planning to stay there to be sure not to stay on the north or south end of the hotel by the train tracks. We were staying on the north side, and the tracks curve there. All night long the trains screeched as they made the turn. These are long freight trains (BNSF) and they run continuously. After two nights with no sleep, we switched rooms. We were able to stay on the same floor as our three teenaged children, but down at the other end of the floor. Not as convenient as I had hoped, but once we were in the quiet room and could sleep, it was fine. Our kids faced the waterfront, so they had no noise. There is a trolley that runs in front of the hotel, but that stops at 11 pm. and it was not nearly as noisy as the freights. Our new room was on a wing basically looking into other rooms across a courtyard, although we could see a sliver of the waterfront. We liked everything else about the hotel and the location was excellent. We could easily walk to Pike Place, Seattle Center, etc. We liked staying on the water for the great views and although it is a very busy waterfront, it felt less crowded than the city.
When we arrived at the hotel and the doormen had earplugs in, we should have known! They told me they will be building a sound barrier this fall, but unless it has a roof, I don't see how it will help much.
Aug 11th, 2003, 11:42 AM
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me again. while in seattle we drove over to hurricane ridge in the olympic peninsula. it was worth the trip, although it took us over 3 hours each way (you have to take a ferry). we also toured whidbey island, which was very pretty and reminded us a little of door county, wisc. next time, i will definitely change hotels after a few nights in seattle and stay closer to olympic national park so we can see more of it. it is gorgeous, but seattle was really too far away for day trips. you would have to go back and forth to see much of it. my teens also liked the experience music project.
one thing we noticed about seattle was the lack of public bathrooms. it was a real problem when traveling with 5 people, someone always has to go. it's surprising, since everyone you see is walking around with starbucks cups. i'm guessing it has to do with the homeless problem, and there were alot of homeless people about, but in chicago, where we also have homeless, there are still public bathrooms. maybe seattle has more, since the climate is milder. when we were in the fremont area, my daughter really had to go so we ducked into a thai restuarant and had to practically run to the bathrooms with the hostess chasing after us. she gave up once we were locked in the stall!
one thing we noticed about seattle was the lack of public bathrooms. it was a real problem when traveling with 5 people, someone always has to go. it's surprising, since everyone you see is walking around with starbucks cups. i'm guessing it has to do with the homeless problem, and there were alot of homeless people about, but in chicago, where we also have homeless, there are still public bathrooms. maybe seattle has more, since the climate is milder. when we were in the fremont area, my daughter really had to go so we ducked into a thai restuarant and had to practically run to the bathrooms with the hostess chasing after us. she gave up once we were locked in the stall!
Aug 11th, 2003, 01:40 PM
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bucky,
So glad you loved Seattle and had a great trip (except for the restrooms). FYI for your next trip--there are actually many easy daytrips from downtown Seattle--mostly to places off of I90 such as Twin Falls as well as places such as Index by Stevens Pass to keep in mind for next time.
So glad you loved Seattle and had a great trip (except for the restrooms). FYI for your next trip--there are actually many easy daytrips from downtown Seattle--mostly to places off of I90 such as Twin Falls as well as places such as Index by Stevens Pass to keep in mind for next time.
Aug 13th, 2003, 09:00 AM
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Dear Bucky:
wanted to ask you a question. We will be going next week to stay at the Marriott. From your new room, could you hear the freight trains at all? We are real lite sleepers and if you could hear slight rumblings or screeching please let me know. Also how was the hotel in general? Size of rooms, nice? How about the surrounding area? We have upper floor water view rooms. Thanks!!
Helen
wanted to ask you a question. We will be going next week to stay at the Marriott. From your new room, could you hear the freight trains at all? We are real lite sleepers and if you could hear slight rumblings or screeching please let me know. Also how was the hotel in general? Size of rooms, nice? How about the surrounding area? We have upper floor water view rooms. Thanks!!
Helen
Aug 13th, 2003, 10:46 AM
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I am also a light sleeper and always travel with one of those sound conditioning machines, which I also use at home (due to three teens and a snoring husband). With the door shut we could not hear the freight trains at all even during the day when sound machine was turned off. We were on the 7th floor. We were moved to a room facing a courtyard, not facing the water. I think you will be okay. The hotel was beautiful, and we really liked the location. Facing the water, you might hear the horns of ships occasionally (the cruise ships dock right across the street), and you might hear the trolley that runs in front of the hotel, but that doesn't run all night and it was really only the freight trains that were loud and incessant. The suites are huge (and pricey), the double room my husband and I shared had two double beds; although I think there are some with one king, we couldn't get one. There was also a desk with a chair, as well as another upholstered chair. The surrounding area is nice, and it was easy to walk to Pike Place, restaurants, Seattle Center. Have a great trip--we had great weather, 70s in daytime with sunshine every day. It is very dry there, all the grass was brown, which surprised us. I'm not used to returning to Chicago and having it look greener than where I've been. Of course, all the lovely pine trees were green!
Aug 15th, 2003, 06:15 AM
#7
There's a blah review of the in-house restaurant, Todd English's Fish House, in todays Seattle P-I. Here's the url: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/135052_rest15.html
