Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Everett Downtown

I liked my stay, and the hotel is huge and in a great location. Parking is in a secure garage, which I appreciated, though it isn't free, as you'd expect downtown. The staff were very friendly. My room was clean and the bedding was really comfortable, but there was a strange smell when I first walked in, almost like cigarette smoke. It went away after a day or two. The rest of the hotel smelled fresh, so arriving to that odor in the room was off-putting.

We chose this place for two reasons: it was walking distance to the Angel of the Winds Arena for an event, and it had an indoor pool. I'm a rewards member at both chains, but a pool is a must with my swim-obsessed child. The price was a little higher than other locations, and I couldn't use the friends/family discount because of the week and a large party that had booked months ahead. We stayed anyway in a double queen standard room. The room was clean, but the fridge was tiny and had no freezer. That was a problem for us because we travel across state with ice packs, though it might not bother others. The room slept four and allowed a crib, but only had three pillows on each bed. They brought more when we asked. We also got only three towels, three washcloths, one floor mat, and one makeup towel, though we needed four of each towel and two makeup towels. The pool was freezing and unusable. They said it was heated, so we wondered if it was just because it was late, but it was still freezing when we tried again in the morning. Other guests mentioned it too, and it's smaller than at other locations. That was a big disappointment. We were told at booking and check-in that breakfast was complimentary, but later, when we checked, we were told they don't offer it. They do have a restaurant and bar. The parking garage is nice, but paying to park when you're staying at the hotel was another bummer. That's usually included for at least one car, and downtown there isn't really street parking. It was an underwhelming stay. I don't think I'll return unless they honor my friends and family discount, especially if the pool is still freezing.

There was plenty to do within walking distance, and the underground parking garage felt secure. The hotel also has a downstairs bistro for breakfast and dinner. I tried three dinner dishes, and every one was delicious and came out quickly: the bistro burger and fries, the chicken bacon quesadilla with garlic aïoli, and their “tot chos,” loaded tater tots. The rooms were clean, quiet, and very nice. The pool and hot tub were clean too, with a nice second-floor view. I also enjoyed the private gym and laundry.

After two nights at one of the worst hotels, my husband's surgery was pushed late in the day and we had to scramble for another night. We found Marriott and Marlene. I've never felt so seen, cared for, and understood. The staff immediately recognized our problem and fixed it with finesse. Their service was above and beyond, and I appreciated it more than I can say. I'm a new Marrot customer for life.