This last weekend I checked into the very busy Sheraton Seattle hotel. I waited ten minutes in the Gold/Platinum line while people from the main
line were helped first and wondered what was going on at the front desk, for such a busy hotel more then two desk agents are definitely needed. One of the guests in the other line was nice enough to point out
to the front desk manager that I had been waiting longer (the other
line was now 15 or so guests deep) but the manager said someone else could
help me. When an attendant finally called me over I was given a standard
room.
I was using this visit as a little test on Starwood Hotels since it happened to be my 75th and 76th nights at Starwood for the year at 225
days in, so a third of my year spent at Starwood hotels. Even though I
was told by the spg phone line, their website, and the hotel directly when I had just called that suites were
available, no upgrade was given at check in. Gold memebers are to be given an upgrade at check in, Platinum an upgrade up to a suite if available excluding Presidential/Honeymoon etc...I have found these upgrade happens with ease in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia, but not within the US itself where the company is of course based.
The room itself was
in the old tower, updated nicely with a good city view. The hotel's
location is right in the heart of town and close to Pike Place Market.
The gym and pool on the roof are quite nice, parking in the driveway is a
bit of a nightmare and valet it very expensive at $50.00 per night.
The
Club Lounge is large but always overflowing. Right at 10:00 am the
limited staff begins ripping food away from guests on weekdays, it is later at 11:00 am
on weekends but the removal of food is the same. The Club Lounge staff complained in front of guests that
they had no manager up there and another guest who asked for a
vegetarian option was told they were out and that she would have to go
to the restaurant. When I get Club access for being platinum I typically
do not complain about it since it is a free perk, but if I was one of
the guests who had paid for a Club Room and Lounge access I would have been
quite upset. On two occasions I was working in the Club Lounge, as is
common for many people, and they began vacuuming around my feet.
Unbelievably unprofessional and far from a relaxing experience.
I
have attended a few charity events at this hotel over the years and at
the nearby Westin. If the prices are comparable pick the Westin, it has
better service and even when it is busy it is a much more relaxing
experience. There is also the W and a Four Points in Seattle as well, with the W near to the library and a few blocks away in the business area which can be quiet at night and on weekends, the Four Points is close to the Space Needle and Seattle Center but basically in lower Queen Anne, not right downtown.
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| Lobby Bar |
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| Rooftop Gym |
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| View from Room |
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| Rooftop Indoor Pool |
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| Lobby |
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| Busy Entrance |
