So here's what we thought of Hotel Max...
We did book very last minute, after finishing at the Seattle Outlets, and managed to get a room for the sale price of $119. The Reservations Agent who took our call was polite and pleasant and did offer us this sale, price after the initial offer of $159. For a downtown, boutique hotel it seemed good value. We asked if was difficult to find the hotel, coming from the North, on I-5, and after some hesitation the young lady told us she wasn't sure, but to look for Virginia Street, from which we could turn onto Stewart Street...
Of course it wasn't quite that simple...
HEAD'S UP: If you're coming into Seattle for the first time, or don't have much experience with the American freeway systems in large cities MAKE SURE IN ADVANCE that you know exactly where you need to exit, and be ready... if you don't know, or are unsure, you will find yourself on the other end of town, needing to exit the freeway, and then somehow get back on...like us.
We did manage to get turned around, and make it into the city center, and called the hotel. We gave the Guest Agent our approximate location and he rattled off some street names for us to look for...and 15 minutes later we were outside the city again. A second call to the hotel and we were told "I really have no idea where you are at this point."
Okay, fair enough. By now we'd been driving around for nearly an hour, and the hotel couldn't help us at all. Thank god for Google Maps. While I'm not really looking forward to the $50+ from Bell in data roaming charges, the Navigator did finally get us to the hotel. Total time lost in city: 70 minutes.
So... the hotel. Pulling up, the Valet offered to park us for $40, but advised the lot directly across the street was about $10, cheaper. On weekends, it is actually $10 for 10 hours, so if you're looking to save a little, it's a good option BUT you'll need to pay every 10 hours or risk getting towed. Street parking, if you can find it, is also free on Sundays.
I believe a previous reviewer described the hotel as modern and kitschy, and you get your first taste of that walking into the lobby, with it's funky artwork and bright red front desk. We thought "very cool." The Guest Agent who I had spoken with over the phone, was efficient, if not overly friendly. I was a little taken aback when he indirectly suggested that perhaps it was our fault we got lost, but I let the comment slide as I was pretty sure he had not intended to come across how he sounded,
The elevator floors were quite dirty--or at least needed a good vacuum--but the lobby, guestroom floors, and most importantly our room, were very clean. As noted elsewhere, the room is very small, and we were somewhat amused that the toilet and sink were separate from the shower/tub. Being the two of us, we didn't mind at all. Paintings from local Seattle artists decorated the walls, and the bedding package was very modern, again with the red accents. Again, think boutique. Think older renovated property. Think cool hotel close to Pike Place Market, and Belltown.
The bed was VERY COMFORTABLE and we both slept well. The wake up call I had asked for never came, but my cell alarm thankfully worked fine. The Front Desk was a little crowded as we were near checkout time, but the Guest Agent on duty was efficient (and this time very friendly) and we were on our way in no time. (Tip: you might want to bring your own bottled water if you don't want to pay $4/bottle for water in your room.)
Overall we quite liked the hotel and if you get your room for $120 you're getting a good deal on a boutique hotel in the heart of everything. We didn't feel the the evening service was that great--but perhaps we were just tired after driving around "lost" for some time--but a.m. service and efficiency more than made up for this.
As a former hotelier myself, the only recommendation I would have for Hotel Max is to ensure that the front desk and reservation team have some sort of written directions to the hotel--from the North and South, from the airport, ferries, etc--handy because not everyone has GPS or Google Maps.
Would we return? If we were looking to be close to PIke Place, the waterfront, Space Needle etc... probably yes. We would have given "four circles" overall, but my feeling is that service slipped, if only slightly, in the evening. It really isn't the guests fault if they get lost, in a new city.
- Also Known As:
- Max Hotel Seattle
- Hotel Max Seattle
Phone Number:
Region:
United States >
Washington >
Seattle
> Belltown
Amenities:
Bar/Lounge
Business Center
Fitness Center
Pets Allowed
Restaurant
Room Service
Wheelchair access
#17 Romantic Hotels in Seattle
#34 Business Hotels in Seattle
#48 Family Hotels in Seattle
Price Range:
$$
Hotel Class:3.5 star (3.5*)
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
-
Located in the heart of downtown, just steps from Pike Place Market and hip Capitol Hill, Hotel Max is Seattle's home away from home for art lovers, musicians and the creatively inclined. Showcasing the work of iconic local photographers on each floor and original paintings all guest rooms, Hotel Max mixes urban adventure with art, music and style.Within easy walking distance of the city’s most iconic attractions, best restaurants and world-class shopping, the 163-room Hotel Max is the perfect place to stay while soaking up the hip Seattle scene. Located off the lobby, Red Fin Sushi serves innovative Asian fare in a stylish and inviting atmosphere. Also just off the lobby, Hotel Max offers a boardroom with seating for 14 people.
...
more
less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com, TravelClick, Orbitz, Travelocity, Regatta Hotels and Hotwire so you can book your Hotel Max reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
