Okay, the good stuff first. The Pan Pacific we stayed at over the 4th of July weekend is a sparkling high-rise that sits atop a Whole Foods in Seattle's South Lake Union District. To aid Shrek's addiction, there is a Starbucks directly next door. A 24-hour gym (not the chain but their own fitness center that is open 24-hours a day) is located above their spa with some of the newest equipment I've used. The hotel itself is walking distance to downtown shopping. (Hellooo flagship Nordstrom with a Chanel and Gucci inside!) Actually, the hotel is within walking distance of many of Seattle's landmarks - the Space Needle and EMP, Pike Place, waterfront and the like. That is, if you don't have a boyfriend with you who melts in 80+ degrees. (We cabbed to dinner at the Wild Ginger.)
Finally, if you stay during the 4th of July weekend and are willing to shell out $350+ a night, you have got one of the best seats in the house for viewing fireworks from your bed or the large soaking tub. (Sliding screens can open the bathroom right into the bedroom.) Plus, you don't have to fight traffic or lay claim to seating 12 hours a head of time, as we spotted some doing along Alki Beach.
After the finale, Shrek simply closed the curtains and jumped back into bed. Me? While it was a lovely hotel with a great location, I will most likely look for a different hotel at which to stay, and here's why based on the following criteria:
1. Comfort. I'd have to bring my own pillow. Theirs are down-filled and it was like sleeping on mush. I experienced a restless sleep trying to adjust the darn thing to a somewhat decent level of comfort throughout the night. I awoke exhausted with a sore neck and back. Maybe that's how they get you into their spa for a massage, because I was sooo tempted but didn't have time.
2. Cleanliness. We stayed in an Executive King Suite which was lovely, but the floor was sticky. I put my socks on for most of the time I was padding around the room.
3. Acoustics. The walls are annoyingly thin. I could hear the party's conversations in the room next to us. Granted, they were drunk for most of the night and, therefore, speaking at unnecessary decibel levels. (Maybe to be heard over the girls who were shrieking with each firework's ka-boom!). But, the next morning, too, I could hear them talking about what they wanted to do that day and then run the shower and flush the toilet. In a $350 per night suite, really?!
4. Service. When we made our reservations, Shrek selected their more pricey Preferences Package in order to guarantee us a suite overlooking South Lake Union for the fireworks show. This was opposed to the $225 Advance Purchase reservation which initially drew us to the hotel. (Plus, the glowing reviews onYelp.com.) The Preferences Package was $349. In addition to guaranteeing us a room with a view, it allowed us late check-out (2 p.m. instead of noon) plus any 2 of the following:
-breakfast for 2 in their restaurant
-automatic upgrade to next room category upon check-in
-a $25 Starbucks gift card
-complimentary valet parking for 1 car
Only, upon check-in it slipped our minds that we had preferences to select (we'd actually tried to select them at the time of booking but were informed that we would select them upon check-in) and the front desk didn't bother to ask us which we'd like during our stay. It wasn't a huge deal since we didn't have a car that would be charged an overnight parking fee and we'd read online reviews that the food wasn't great and many guests actually took advantage of Whole Foods for breakfast. It was only the next morning when hunger pangs struck that I realized we didn't have breakfast vouchers or the gift card to Starbucks. In our rush to fuel up, we ended up just getting the Starbucks card and absentmindedly forfeited a good portion of our upgraded reservation.
5. Service, again. Upon check-in we also noted that they were offering a special 4th of July Package for $299/night for a room with a view. ($249 for one without.) This package included champagne, cupcakes, and breakfast for two, among other perks. Why were we not offered this when we called to book and mentioned that we were specifically coming to catch the fireworks on the Fourth of July?!
This stay just makes me realize what a great find the Intercontinental Hotel SF is (especially with their CA Staycation package). I hope they build one I can stay at in Seattle!
No comments:
Post a Comment