Courtyard Seattle Bellevue/Downtown

With five floors and 241 rooms, the Marriott Courtyard Bellevue -- which caters primarily to business travelers whose work takes them to this eastside Seattle suburb -- is standard hotel fare: clean, nice, comfortable, convenient…nothing to knock your socks off, but nothing to offend. What will knock your socks off is the local shopping, which includes the elegant Bravern complex directly across the street from the hotel -- a destination even for Seattleites living in an entirely different part of town.The Courtyard’s perfectly pleasant theme begins with a spacious lobby, which includes plenty of seating, the requisite Starbucks, a mini grocery store that sells beer and wine, and a 24/7 front desk staff. You’ll also have access to Table 8, where breakfast and dinner are served, as well as classic Marriott services like a business center and fitness facility. There are certainly other hotels along the Bellevue business corridor, but if you’re looking for easy access to the Meydenbauer Center, shopping, and the freeways, this is a decent choice.

This newish hotel straddles the corner of NE 8th Street, putting it across the street from some of the best shopping in town. Fact is, even Seattleites -- who don’t live in the suburb of Bellevue -- frequently drive across the 520 bridge to visit The Bravern, a thoroughly posh shopping complex that houses the only Neiman Marcus, Hermes, and Jimmy Choo stores in the Seattle area; Bellevue Square, an even bigger mall, is just a few blocks farther. If business is the matter at hand, The Courtyard makes commuting easy, as it sits only two blocks away from the Meydenbauer Convention Center, which is known as much for its grand conference facilities as it is for its 410-seat theater that showcases performances throughout the year.Important to note: Though Seattle is merely a bridge away from Bellevue, that bridge is commuter central, since there are Bellevue-ites who work in Seattle, and Seattleites who head over the bridge to Microsoft. Rush hour can be brutal, so keep peak hours in mind when you’re planning travel time into the city or to the airport.- 2-minute walk to The Stores at Bravern

• Half a block to the Bellevue Transit Center, with bus transportation to downtown Seattle
• 5-minute walk to Bellevue Square
• Many mid-range and high-end restaurants within 5-minute walking distance
• 5-minute walk to Meydenbauer Convention Center
• 15-minute drive to downtown Seattle (without traffic)
• 30-minute drive (about $45 taxi fare) to Sea-Tac Airport

In addition to spacious digs (the smallest guest room at the hotel is 310 square feet), the Courtyard offers a decent menu of room choices, which include 12 suites that offer significant living and dining space. Decor is fairly standard for a chain hotel, but the bedding is plush and comfortable. For those wishing to luxuriate in a whirlpool tub while communicating with family members who are watching TV, a convenient (?) accordion shutter-ledge separates bathrooms and living rooms in the larger suites. It’s an interesting feature, but one that you might want to keep, well, shuttered.All Rooms Include:- Pillow-top mattress and duvet

• Foam and down/feather pillows
• Coffee/tea maker
• Mini-fridge
• Free Wi-Fi
• Air conditioning
• Alarm clock, radio, CD, stereo
• 27-inch flat-screen TV with pay-per-view and premium cable channels
• Desk and two phones
• Iron/ironing board and hairdryerRoom Types:- Standard King Room: 310 square feet; king bed; sofa bed
• Standard Two Queens Room: 353 square feet; two queen beds
• Executive King Room: 310 square feet; king bed; sofa bed
• Executive Queen Room: 353 square feet; two queen beds
• One-Bedroom Suite: 430 square feet; king bed; sofa bed; balcony
• King Room with Whirlpool: 660 square feet; king bed; sofa bed; whirlpool tub with peek-a-boo window (a shutter can provide privacy)

• Free Wi-Fi
• Five meeting rooms (3,888 square feet total)
• On-site parking ($10/day); off-site parking ($30/day)
• Fitness center with cardio machines, exercise balls, yoga mats, and free weights
• Indoor pool and Jacuzzi
• Free coffee in lobby
• Safe deposit boxes at front desk
• 24-hour front desk staff
• 24-hour business center

• Table 8 serves breakfast and dinner
• Room service available during breakfast and dinner hours only
• Starbucks