Review: Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center
Hotels around the Seattle airport are not what they used to be. While the big brands take up the majority of the prime real estate around the airport, most have outdated interiors that are much in need of a renovation. This time we're taking a look at the Hilton by the Seattle airport, and while it does have the best location of all three of the major brands, I still think it has a long way to go to make a good impression.
Booking
My booking was made a number of months before the actual stay, and I managed to lock in a decent cash rate. However, the hotel seems to regularly go for $200 or more before taxes and fees, which makes the hotel normally over $250 a night.
Location
The location of the Seattle airport Hilton is probably one of the best around. While you can take their free shuttle to and from the airport, it's right next to the light rail transit station, which is connected to the airport.
When traveling to and from the airport, I ended up walking through the light rail station instead, as it was a bit faster than waiting for the shuttle to run back and forth to the airport.
Check-In
Check-in was rough. I arrived around 12PM to inquire if a room might be available. The person behind the desk told me that it would be $50 to check in early for "non-status" members. However, I am Gold member and when I brought this up to the person behind the desk they told me that it's their standard to charge early check-in fees to anyone no matter the status. When I pressed about charging for early check-in even for status members, the person told me that they would waive the check-in fee for "non-status" members this one time.
I found this shocking and wonder if this was inexperience of policy of this hotel?
The Room
The room was very dated, it looks like it hasn't had refurbishment in about 10 years, if not more. The wood around the dressers was nicked up, the lamps had very yellowed shades from years of oxidation. And everything around the room seemed like it was in a huge need of being replaced or fixed up.
Even the bathrooms seemed dated with not many amenities, discolored lamp lights, and an old style toilet that took forever to flush and refill.
It extended to the shower, where the wallpaper around the shower was starting to discolor from the water damage, and the old style shower heads that provided too little water pressure.
The bed felt old and well-used, it was lumpy in places. While soft and the sheets were okay, you could tell the bed was needed to be replaced long ago.
I will give them credit where it's due. The TV was new-ish, and large enough to fit the room that it's in. Likewise, the chair and desk were perfectly useable and acceptable for the time that I was there. I just couldn't get over how yellowed all the lamps were around the room.
Food
The lobby restaurant, bar, coffee shop was actually pretty decent. The coffee area is open in the morning to early afternoon, while the bar and restaurant were open in the evening. Both served some good-looking food, the coffee shop serving pre-made items while the restaurant had some acceptable food.
I ended up getting a coffee in the morning and having dinner there that same night. The coffee was freshly made rather than sitting around in a big jug and the restaurant had some great specials and food options including some local seafood and a decent bowl of clam chowder.
Service
While the check-in experience was not the best. The other staff I interacted with, including the restaurant workers, was just pleasant. They gave some great dinner suggestions while we were there, and nobody was overly helpful or under serving in the busy restaurant bar area. While the check-in experience was not the best. The other staff I interacted with, including the restaurant workers, was just pleasant. They gave some great dinner suggestions while we were there, and nobody was overly helpful or under serving in the busy restaurant bar area.
Again, for an overnight stay it's probably fine. But more long term, I would see out other places. The hotel features a large convention area, so I suspect their normal clientele is coming in for a conference and leaving straight afterward, and the rooms probably paid on corporate contract.
Final Thoughts
I was mostly underwhelmed by the Hilton Seattle Airport, their rooms are outdated and in a major need of an update. The front desk staff was questionable about their check-in policies, especially for those that have status. And while the food options are nice in the lobby, they were still priced as if they came from a hotel. Their strongest point is location, being an easy safe walk to the airport instead of taking a shuttle, that is also available, is great.
In the future, would I choose to stay here again? Quite possibly, but only if the price is right.
