Hampton Inn & Suites Seattle Downtown

This hotel isn't one of Seattle's destination hotels by any stretch of the imagination, but it does have a comfortable, contemporary charm. Set in a U-shaped building that resembles many of the mid-rise condos in the area, it's a reliable chain option for tourists and business travelers looking for a homey place to spend their nights after days out in the city. The contemporary lobby has a vaguely Pacific Northwest feel, with stacked stone walls and mostly dark, muted colors throughout. It's a laid-back space for guests to gather in many of the patterned arm chairs or at any of the tables arranged throughout, and there's also a large flat-screen TV -- but truthfully, there are more interesting places to spend a day in Seattle.

Situated just north of downtown, an eight-minute drive west of the I-5 freeway, the immediate Lower Queen Anne area surrounding the hotel is a mix of apartment buildings, restaurants, and shops. The Seattle Center complex -- which includes the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Experience Music Project Museum, the Space Needle, and the Seattle Children's Museum -- is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Seattle's monorail departs from the Space Needle and reaches the Westlake Center Mall in two minutes, putting guests within a five-minute walk of the famous Pike Place Market. The Number 3 and 4 buses also stop right outside the hotel for 15-minute rides to the downtown core. Pioneer Square is a 12-minute drive or 25-minute bus ride south, and CenturyLink Field (Seattle Seahawks) and Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners) are a 15-minute drive or 35-minute bus ride south of the hotel. Sea-Tac International Airport is a 25-minute drive from the hotel or 40-minute light rail ride from Westlake Center Station. 

The hotel's 198 non-smoking rooms come in several configurations, from Double Rooms to Standard King Rooms and multi-room suites. Rooms are spacious, clean, and quiet, and have pleasant (if slightly generic) decor. Neutral whites, beiges, and browns are offset by soft ochre or orange accent walls and dark, patterned carpets, and rooms feature signature Hampton beds with thick mattresses and duvets. Beds also have lap desks and rooms are outfitted with modern furniture, including desks and dressers, in dark wood. 

All rooms include ergonomic desk chairs, in-room safes, coffee/tea makers, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels and HBO. Rooms also come with hairdryers, irons, and ironing boards. Some rooms and suites also have fireplaces, balconies, sofa beds, recliners or lounge chairs, and microwaves/mini-fridges, kitchenettes, or full kitchens; rooms that do not have mini-fridges or microwaves may request them from the front desk. Bathrooms are clean, well-lit, and spacious, with dark tiled floors, granite vanities, bathtub/shower combos, and Neutrogena bath products.

This hotel offers a fairly standard set of mid-range features, though it may exceed some guests' expectations in a few ways. The hotel's signature amenity is its ample free breakfast buffet, featuring make-your-own waffles, hot eggs, bacon or sausage, hot and cold cereals, freshly baked biscuits, pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt, coffee, tea, and juice. On weekday mornings guests can also get a cold breakfast bag to go. Free coffee and tea are also available throughout the day in the lobby, as are warm afternoon cookies. There is an attractive, well-stocked fitness center on-site with a large flat-screen TV, plyometric balls, treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights, but there is no pool. The hotel has three meeting and events rooms and also offers a business center and coin-op laundry. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, gift shop, sundry shop, and secure underground and outdoor parking (for a fee). Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and front desk staff can help arrange shuttles for the many cruise ship-bound guests that stay here.