Hampton Inn & Suites Seattle-North/Lynnwood

The breakfast was decent and the pool was okay, though its water felt a bit cold. We probably won't return. The bathroom floor didn't seem clean, with crumbs left behind. One tile between the toilet and vanity stuck up about a quarter inch. My wife tripped on it, and later I scraped my bare foot on it on the way to the bathroom. Our room looked mostly renovated, but the work didn't seem especially high quality. The pullout couch mattress was thin and creaky, as you'd expect, but the king bed was creaky and uncomfortable too, with springs you could hear like in an old motel. After all the noise from upstairs, we were very aware that sound might carry down to the people below us. The showers looked like they were skipped in the renovation or done cheaply, though they worked fine. We could hear what sounded like occasional jumping overhead from the moment we got in. By 10:30 it had turned into frequent stomping, running, and jumping. There was a short quiet stretch between 11 and midnight, then the noise stopped for about 20 minutes before going on until around 1 a.m., when I finally fell asleep. Our room was in a hotel corner, so it had to be the room above us, not people in the hall. My wife called the desk. The person there called upstairs and was told the guests were only walking to the bathroom now and then. We were offered earplugs or possibly a room change if it continued. Since our kids were asleep, moving them didn't make sense. The desk worker said something like, “Well, I can't tell them not to walk around.” It felt as if she thought we were lying or overreacting, though she did offer some way to fix the problem. A hotel should have ample sound insulation between floors, and this one doesn't seem to. There was no reason for parking in Lynnwood to cost $11 a night. The Holiday Inn down the street has free parking, and this isn't downtown Seattle. The vending machine signs were still all over the hotel, but the machines seemed to have been replaced by a snack corner at the desk, charging $8 for Albanese peach rings and $2.50 for a regular candy bar. I drove to a nearby gas station instead.

There's not much to see around the hotel, but the room was clean, the pool worked fine, and breakfast tasted good. My issue is with the political newscast playing in the breakfast area. It was hard to avoid, and while I don't mind news, this didn't seem centrist or factual. That's probably a corporate issue, but it means I won't stay with this chain again. Otherwise, it's basically a bed and a pool.

The hotel was in a perfect spot, within walking distance of shops and Whole Foods, and there was plenty of parking for $10 a night. The rooms were clean, breakfast was free, and the staff were friendly. I took off a point because our unit had neither a knife nor a cutting board, and there weren't any pool towels during our stay. I'd happily stay again.

We arrived late at night without a booking, and the staff were friendly and quick to help us settle in. Raul De La Torre, the Front Office Manager, was especially hospitable and got us a room in good time. The location worked well for nearby food, malls, restaurants, and shops. Great staff and service, a five-out-of-five stay.