Staybridge Suites Seattle - South Lake Union, an IHG Hotel

I had to stay at the Staybridge in downtown Seattle for a business trip and overall, I'd have to say it was a below average experience. Upon arriving, after a long day of travel I came in out of the rain and just wanted to be checked in so I could relax in my room. There was a gentleman in front of me in line but there was another employee standing at the other computer, seemingly not doing anything. He asked if I was coming to check in, I said yes and stepped up to his computer, then he told me that his computer wasn't working so I'd have to wait until the other guy was finished, which took an additional 15 mins or so, kind of annoying but whatever. The room I stayed in was pretty small compared to other hotels with similar price ranges, the room had everything it needed (kitchenware, plates and silverware, a small stove) so it wasn't much of an issue, everything was very compact, but my initial reaction when I first got in was, "Man, this is a small room." The thing that was especially irritating was there were three pumps in the shower, one for shampoo, conditioner and body wash, which is normal for a hotel and most of the time, these suffice, so you don't have to bring your own. Not in this case. The body wash was completely watered down. When you pumped the body wash nothing but cold water squirted out. This was especially irritating because there was a lock on these so it meant that at some point a hotel employee had to of done this, im guessing in an effort to save the hotel money. They also told me that if I wanted my room cleaned that I would have to schedule it 24 hours in advance, which I thought was odd. Most hotels I've been to I see housekeeping cleaning the rooms diligently, at Staybridge I only saw 1 housekeeping lady, 1 day out of the whole week I was there and it wasn't even on my floor. I guess the housekeeping people are scheduled for an as-needed basis and not everyday? The breakfast in the mornings had a very small selection, they had the same thing every morning, sausage links, eggs and potatoes. No variety and bland. The first day I was there, when I went to grab a plate, the cook stopped me and asked if I was staying at the Even or the Staybridge, I told her the Staybridge and after a short interrogation, she let me proceed to the very sub-par, disappointing breakfast. This hotel shares the building with another hotel, The Even, I guess if you are unlucky enough to stay on that side, you don't get access to the breakfast. Consider this a blessing. Everything about this Hotel gave me the impression that it would favor cutting costs at the expense of the patrons having a positive, comfortable experience. I would not stay here again and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. There are other better alternatives in close proximity. The location was the only redeeming factor, very close to all of the main Seattle attractions. Unfortunately, this didn't outweigh all of the other negatives.

My stay at Starbridge Hotel in South Lake Seattle was made even better by the fully-equipped kitchen in the spacious suite. Having a standard fridge, stove, microwave, and dishes provided the convenience of home away from home. This thoughtful addition allowed for flexibility in dining options and added a practical touch to the overall experience. For those who appreciate the convenience of a well-equipped kitchen during their travels, Starbridge Hotel is an excellent choice. Five stars for the thoughtful amenities!