Hilton Garden Inn Seattle Downtown — Hotel in Seattle

Six days before my arrival, I received an email from the hotel asking if I wanted to upgrade my room. I accepted the offer, but the response I got was that I would be informed at check-in whether the upgrade was granted. However, upon check-in, the receptionist didn’t mention anything about the upgrade, and I never received a follow-up email.

The check-in process itself was quite impersonal—she simply asked for my name, verified my ID, and handed me the room key. I had to ask where the elevator was. There was no information shared about breakfast or dining hours, hotel amenities, or even complimentary water. Once in the room, I found there was no hotel guide or booklet explaining available services or dining options.

Adventure – Day 1 (April 30, 2025): My reservation included breakfast, but when I asked the front desk for the breakfast vouchers in the morning, I was told they were out and advised to speak with the staff at the on-site restaurant. After finishing breakfast, I was presented with a bill. I showed the restaurant staff my reservation confirmation, which stated that breakfast was included, and only then was I given a voucher.

It seems like you really have to fight for a decent experience at this hotel—nothing is offered proactively, and basic expectations are missed.

Adventure – Day 3 (May 2, 2025): The same waiter (let’s call him A), who took my orders on April 30 and May 1, completely ignored me when I sat down for breakfast. He walked past me multiple times and even approached and served someone who arrived after I did. I waited about 10–15 minutes before a different waiter (B) finally came over and took my order.

It made me wonder—was this because I used breakfast vouchers and hadn’t tipped him yet? My plan had been to give a lump sum tip on my last day, but apparently he decided to stop providing service before then. I also noticed that he chatted with other guests while they ate, asking them questions and making conversation, but never once acknowledged me beyond taking my order. I can’t help but question—was this personal? Or discriminatory?

Adventure – Day 5 (May 4, 2025): Departure day. I originally just wanted the three-egg omelette, but waiter B asked if I wanted the buffet. I said no. He then told me the buffet came with the omelette, so I agreed. After helping myself to the buffet, I returned to my seat, only for him to approach me with a confused tone, asking, “So you do want the buffet?”

I reminded him that he said it was included with the omelette. Instead of acknowledging the miscommunication, he doubled down and tried to justify himself. I ended up leaving the buffet plate untouched and only ate the omelette. B gave me a condescending tone that he wouldn’t charge me. Ok, if you were not going to charge me, why did you single me out ??

I deeply regret staying at this hotel. The service was inconsistent, communication was poor, and overall, it felt like I had to advocate for even the most basic experiences. I do not recommend this place to others—it was genuinely a frustrating and...

I traveled here solo from October 27 to October 30th (around 3AM), meaning I stayed for 3 nights total. Arrived at around 8:45PM on Friday, 10/27 night and was greeted by John, who promptly checked me in. Got room 304, which had a RFID locks (like almost all 4-star hotels I've stayed at). Room was large enough and had plenty of ample space & a large King size bed and TV. ||Bed was very comfortable for those 3 nights I slept in. The only negative was that at some points, it was either too hot (from the heater) or too cold (from the outside), which meant adjusting the thermostat to the right temperature. ||I loved that they have walk-in showers, something in particular I prefer rather than a bathtub. The walk-in shower had great water pressure overall. ||Compared to other Hilton Garden Inns I've stayed at in the suburbs, the lobby ambiance was very nice, like what it's like for a 4-star version of the hotel. The last HGI I stayed at was in Trivandrum, India, which had a very nice lobby and breakfast area. ||Breakfast is not free, but the prices are very reasonable as expected and what's more - I expected them to charge me for eggs and coffee, and told them it was missing from the tab. They mentioned 2 things - Coffee is free (well you can get it even if you don't have it with breakfast) and eggs do come along with the meal. When I likewise ordered waffles & French toast, I was expecting them both to come to $40, but surprisingly it was half and I questioned where the other half is, and they said they could only use 1 code despite that, so paid close to $20 both those days (Gave them a tip to make it even). The breakfast staff was prompt and efficient and friendly with taking orders and delivering them in a reasonable timeframe. ||Quality of the breakfast is excellent overall.||Coming to the last main reason I picked this location. It was a reasonable walk to both the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, meaning Saturday around 10AM, went for a nice 20-minute walk in the sunshine to Pike Place Market to enjoy the market & explore downtown before I spent the rest of the day with friends after 12:30PM. On Sunday, I was able to nicely cover Space Needle (good 20 minute walk in the sunshine). Hence, I'm glad the weather worked out in my favor of walking to these places. ||The price was also the factor when determining my choice, and it did not disappoint, so price, location, and expectations for this hotel were far exceeded. ||Next Summer, most likely July, I'll plan to make a return to Seattle for both visiting my friends, take my mom (and hopefully my dad) sightseeing before going on an Alaskan cruise. I would recommend this place for every possible reason...

Ultimately I'm giving this four stars as I did have a good experience with the hotel, better experiences can be had. With that said, in the cases where I have had a better experience, it has typically been in a pricier establishment so it isn't necessarily a fair comparison. Anyway, to break it down...

Room: Room is pretty standard hotel fare. Not overly modern nor dated. Room was clean and actually quite well maintained with very little noticeable wear and tear. Bathroom in particular was spotless, which I think is key. Typical room amenities, though the addition of a microwave was nice for the couple of time I needed to reheat leftovers. My only real concern with the room is in terms of insulation from external noise. I was on a lower floor overlooking the road, however at times the noise from outside sounded almost as if the window were open. Noise also seemed to carry quite readily through the walls and vents (my neighbours seemed to be really enjoying their time together). I am used to noise as I live in a condo in a large city and it wasn't so loud that it was disruptive, but just seemed a lot more susceptible to excess noise that what I'm used to in a hotel room.

Amenities: Didn't really use them to be honest so can't say much

Area: It's a little bit more off the beaten path than some of the other hotels in the area, but as a result it's also a bit cheaper. For the extra 5 minutes of walking (or 1 minute of driving for those less inclined to walk), I'll take the reduced room rate any day. Even though it's a little further out, it's still a safe area, you're just traveling those few extra minutes to get to most points of interest. You are closer to Capitol Hill than most of the hotels, so it does set you up quite nicely for proximity to some really good food and drink.

Staff: Staff always greeted me with a smile and perfectly answered any questions that I had. Housekeeping did an excellent job cleaning the room.

Overall, is this a luxury hotel experience? No. But if you are looking for a solid hotel that will give you a place to wind down and sleep without worries and without breaking the bank, this is a...