Element by Marriott Seattle Downtown

The free breakfast was good, and there are plenty of things to like here. The location is close to the city center, the property and rooms were clean, and staff were about an 8/10 for me. The rooftop terrace is a nice place to relax, and the 5 p.m. cheese and beer is a great touch. Still, I probably wouldn't choose this Marriott again, with eight other Marriott properties within 12 blocks and several issues here. There was no message or push notification when my room was ready, which is something I usually get at the many Bonvoy properties I've stayed at. Room service was every other day, and that wasn't disclosed when booking. I can't tell whether that's for environmental reasons or because they don't have enough staff. The low-flow shower head barely puts out enough water to wash properly. There seems to be too much eco-friendly stuff going on. Also, check at arrival that you have enough towels if more than two people are staying. Our room only had two. After my wife and 8-year-old showered, I had none. It took over an hour after I called the front desk, so I went down and got towels myself. I understand trying to be eco-friendly, but the reservation already says how many guests are in the room. The level 8 ice machine was broken, so we had to go to other floors for ice. Those floors had no water fountain, which meant going back to level 8 for water.

The location is great, and the bartenders and Rise Breakfast staff are friendly and accommodating. I do wish Rise had more fruit. On both of my stays at this Element, there was no real welcome, just a quick “are you checking in?” They don't acknowledge elite membership either. This time, I found hairs on the towels, hardwood floor, and carpet. There were crumbs around the bed, so I asked housekeeping to vacuum there. The Relax Reception is rarely restocked, and if you don't get there right at 5 p.m., you may miss out on bread and cheese. The photo shows the dirt and hairs I picked up with a lint roller.

The views, service, friendly staff, and easy access to attractions were things we liked. The building itself is huge, elegant, and beautiful, as you'd expect from an Element. The location is in a cramped downtown area, parking costs $25 a night, but it felt safe and there wasn't any riff raff around. The room was about 90% clean, with some small but unpleasant details. There was hair and lots of little marks in the shower that looked like blood at first, though they may have been rust, so I decided not to use it. The glass bottle still had water, streaks, and spots inside, and hadn't been cleaned. There was a little poo on the toilet connectors, and the tissues were damp and smelled like they'd been that way for a while. Breakfast was pretty average and bland. There was no complimentary cheese, wine, and crackers like at other Elements I've stayed in, and the gym had fewer machines than other locations. I like consistency across a brand, so it was disappointing not to get the same benefits for the price. There also wasn't a pool or hot tub.

The staff were nice, though they seemed very short staffed, and it took a long time to get our room. We checked in at 9 a.m. and didn't get it until 6 p.m., nearly nine hours later. The room itself was nice and could comfortably fit four, but they charge extra for each additional person even if you don't request a rollaway bed. Breakfast was alright, though their oven was broken. The location was okay and had a convenient Uber drop-off.