AC Hotel by Marriott Seattle Bellevue/Downtown

After a great five days here, I’d come back and stay at the same hotel. The rooms were kept neat, and the place was quiet and convenient. Having a microwave in the hydration room was a nice bonus. The front desk staff were always smiling and helpful, and both check-in and check-out were easy. I’d had a bad experience before this stay, but this turned out to be one of the best spots I’ve stayed in the Seattle area. Thanks.

I was here overnight for the Fly Fishing trade show, and the location worked well. I’ll be back next year. Just be aware that parking is tough if you have a pickup or SUV, and the on-site option is valet only at $55 a night. There’s free surface parking nearby, though you might need to search for a spot. Five minutes of looking saved me $165 plus tips. Call me cheap, but that’s steep even for a city.

Parking alone would have kept us from booking if we’d known about it. The AC Hotel fell well short of what we expected from the photos, reviews, and price. The main entrance, unlike what the pictures suggest, is down a side alley full of dumpsters and construction gear. The temporary check-in parking gets jammed up by valets directing cars into their queue, then telling you the service costs $50 before mandatory gratuity. If you decline, the alternatives are a $30 garage across the street or street parking after 6pm. The rooms were underwhelming in both cleanliness and quality, and sound barely seemed to be blocked between rooms. A north-facing window may look straight at a wall with scaffolding just five feet away. Add $30-$50 per vehicle for parking and the price puts this hotel alongside much higher-end places within walking distance. I’d choose one of those instead.

The front desk team seemed proud of the hotel and the part they play in it. They were ready to help, friendly, and well prepared. We enjoyed our stay, found the hotel spotless, and the food came out quickly, hot, and very tasty.