Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown/Lake Union

Pro's and Cons here

Nice modern decor in lobby area. Hallways to rooms have been updated, nice new decor, carpet. Beautiful Internet!! Close to Streetcar that drops right into downtown Seattle shopping district / Westlake Mall and Pacific Place Shopping Centers. Our room had a nice (partial) view of Lake Union which is lovely on a sunny day! More than dismal when it's rainy tho... Comfortable pillows/bed Pool and a hot tub - complete with towels! Bike rentals station near the boat area to rent bikes and go for a spin around Lake Union or through downtown. Walking / Biking / Streetcar distance to Seattle Center Friendly staff

Further from Seattle Center/ downtown waterfront / Pike Street Market than I had realized. Any savings received on the room were quickly eaten up by additional hotel fees, cab fares and public transportation costs. Lots of construction / road construction in this area, difficult confusing to get to the hotel - looks like a bunch of incomplete construction / work zones around side of hotel. No shuttle options from / to airport or train to this location. Workout facility = cardio and dumbells only. no weight machines Room Keys quite inconveniently deactivated themselves for no apparent reason. Difficult getting cab from this hotel to any other locations in city - front desk called told me "several cabs already in the area and less than 10 minute wait". None stopped!!! Empty cabs drove by... still no. Waited OVER 1/2 hour, eventually one came that was dropping guests off at the hotel but I had to flag him before he drove off, he wasn't going to pick us up either! Clearly this hotel is not a priority for the cab companies & getting to my destination timely clearly not a concern for the staff. Asked specifically for another plastic liner for the ice bucket (needed to put ice in it to ice an injury) I explained this but Instead I received a plastic bag he thought was better for that purpose - one which was for the laundry service and had holes in the bottom of it! Yay a leaking ice pack and wet pajamas! Tap water tastes like chlorine pool water. $3.50 for the bottled water in the room & kids don't read the fine print! Sit down Bistro Food options or convenience store pantry options only, main restaurant advertised yet closed or unavailable. Bistro is EXPENSIVE ($4.00 for a small pastry) NO other breakfast options nearby $6.00 dry ham sandwich, no condiments avail. desk agent went to check Bistro kitchen but then refused to give me mustard or mayo - told me none avail. ?!? Overall, for $200.00+ per night, I shouldn't have to spend so much of my time communicating with the staff here - guest needs should have been anticipated (not having to ask for a cab multiple times, being able to turn the TV on and have it work properly without having to try to figure it out then making a phone call, having the room keys work when you leave and want to re-enter your room! having mustard / mayo condiments available when people buy the sandwiches from your pantry, having lids for the Starbucks cups / vending machine coffee, etc...) Not unpleasant per se - just for that price, I shouldn't be required to participate in training your hotel staff on "how to do their jobs properly" - Suggestion: a prix fixe "buffet" style breakfast / self serve waffle iron/ toaster/ in addition to for people short on time but still want to eat and no time for restaurant service. This option is a huge plus and deciding factor in determining whether a hotel receives my future loyalty... even if it's not free or include with the room!!