Hotel Review – The Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Sea-Tac Area, Washington

I like Seattle and have been there on several occasions, usually staying downtown, but last week I had a really fast stay at the Courtyard SeaTac- just one night. Since I travel a LOT, I have a routine I use to evaluate a property – a mental checklist, if you will, that starts the moment I engage with a property. Therefore, I feel qualified to write a fairly detailed review despite the short stay.

For my needs, the Courtyard SeaTac ticked almost all the boxes for me. It was easy to get in from the airport and easy to (check) out). This property is located close to the airport and after a quick phone call, the shuttle arrived at the bustling airport pick-up point. 13 minutes later I was checking in through a painless and fast process. The clerk helping me (I think his name was Andy) was outstanding in his attention. He got my name right on the first try (not easy to do), thanked me for being a Marriott Rewards member, and asked me where I’d like my room. My only request was “quiet” and he complied with a room on the 8th floor, which felt soundproofed. It was exceptionally quiet, which is always a plus.

The hotel looked recently renovated to me, at least the lobby, the pool/gym area, and my room looked updated. My room was as close to pristine as it could be – trust me, I checked. Clean bathroom, clean floors, clean linens, it was all up to snuff. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had a balcony, which served me nicely the next morning as I enjoyed my coffee while watching a crane move bridge parts from point A to point B over the Green River.

A note of caution, if you have children – THE BALCONY DOORS DON’T LOCK. I tried to lock them but with a light tug, was able to open the glass and screen sliders. This may be problematic if you have small children who like to get into mischief and have no concept that falls can be fatal. On the 8th floor, I wasn’t worried about someone getting into my room through this access point and loved having some fresh air, just be aware of the doors if you are traveling with kids.

The location is good, but not walkable unless you fancy a stroll down a busy road to Wendy’s, Taco Bell, or Jack-In-The-Box. I think there is a train station close by, but I am not sure it accessible on foot. Worth noting, that the shuttle will haul guest to and from SeaTac airport and from there you can grab the Link line or Sounder line via Sound Transit, to do things in an around the city (and beyond).

Would I Stay Here Again? On a similar business trip, absolutely.
High Point: Proximity to the airport via the free shuttle and outstanding guest attention.
Low Point: Not walkable to anything, except fast food joints.