The Paramount Hotel

My room seemed to have the new makeover, and everything smelled fresh. It was spacious, quiet, and I didn’t hear construction at all during my stay the week after Valentines day. I even got extra sleep thanks to the time change. There was an event they were helping host when I left, and that didn’t disturb me either. Only one elevator was working, but it was quick enough that it didn’t bother me. I appreciated the free waters, too. I’d read all the mixed reviews and was reluctant to book, but this turned out to be an AMAZING hotel. The location was right where I needed to be, central to everything. Thanks to the kind staff. I hope to visit again soon. Once the work is completely done, I think this could be one of the best hotels around. I’d give it 10 stars if I could.

The early morning construction was incredibly loud. We weren’t told about the work between booking and check-in, and only understood how extensive it was after spending the night. On our anniversary, hammering and drilling woke us very early and went on for hours. We hoped it was a one-off, but the same noise continued the following morning. It was hard to relax in the room, even though the room itself was nice. Our trip was fully booked, and we had to keep a tight schedule to get home, so we didn’t have time to raise it with the front desk. We contacted Expedia afterward and were told, in effect, that the hotel didn’t care and wouldn’t do anything. I want potential guests to know that, at least for now, mornings can be extremely loud. The hotel is in a decent spot near Westlake and Pike Place. One of the two elevators is being worked on; it looks creepy but works fine. There aren’t maps around, and we couldn’t find the gym at first. Once we did, it was decent for a hotel gym, though it looked like someone had taken a set of dumbbells. The snack bar selection isn’t great. I overheard front desk staff complaining about its options, quality, and prices. I agree, though employees probably shouldn’t discuss that publicly.

Great location, courteous and helpful staff, and a wonderful hotel otherwise. The construction wasn’t too bad unless you’re hoping to sleep in like a log. My main gripe is the in-room coffee maker. The website still says rooms have one, but that amenity has been removed. Now you have to go to the lobby for an eight-ounce cup from a Keurig. For the price, I’d rather have a coffee maker in the room, like in most hotels I stay at. Bring it back!

The rooms are clean, but that doesn’t help when nonstop construction inside the hotel leaves you with no rest. We also had to change rooms because the heater didn’t work. It wasn’t worth the hassle, so we left for The State Hotel, which cost only a little more and was a four-star hotel in an incredible location. Don’t waste your money here.