Inn at Virginia Mason — Hotel in Seattle

Although the location is ideal for out-of-state patients needing the Virginia Mason facilities, the cost of the room was way over-priced for this low quality establishment.

Sadly, there is no airport shuttle and the $3 one-way Light Rail is about 8 blocks away…. Too far to walk lugging a suitcase if one has any kind of mobility-health issues. Taxi cost me $55-$60 one way.

There are a variety of small food establishments within walking a block or two, but one needs to be aware of their limited hours of operation. (Plan to walk up and down hills, if you are able to walk.)

The hotel is in serious need of remodeling and maintenance. One cannot obviously see this from the pleasant lobby, but you start to get the hint once you enter the small elevator to the rooms above. Although they provided two clean portable, plug-in fans, be aware there is NO air conditioning. The maintenance man kindly checked the zone valve to make sure it was indeed working correctly. I was very grateful the small, newer vinyl windows worked well, but screens were missing on one and torn on another. The heat made sleeping very difficult. Outside temp was in the upper 80’s while I was there. I was not able to get the room temp down below 88 degrees the first night. Managed 78 the next night. (I usually sleep at 68.) I had to tie the curtains back with a plastic grocery bag to safely put the fan on the ledge directly in front of the window.

The room furnishings were old and scuffed, showing signs of many years of use. (Style was reminiscent of the mid 1970’s.) There was a scant 12” between the foot of the bed and the dresser on the opposite wall, but otherwise the space was adequate. I have to mention the very thin walls, as the adjacent room’s conversations were very clearly heard. (Caution: Don’t say confidential things in your room.) Bring your own ear plugs as the ambulance sirens are very audible (unfortunately throughout the night). Sink drain was missing/broken so I had to be careful not to lose anything if it were dropped in the sink. Duck tape and ? (maybe painted cardboard) covered a hole in the bathtub wall. Maintenance man was very courteous and helpful, although probably way overworked, as my two separate requests to replace the burnt-out light bulb in the lamp did not get resolved.

I was pleased to see the carpet looked fairly clean. Ceiling pipe cover between bed and windows had severe peeling paint. I sure hope there is not asbestos in that old flaking-off paint! I’m happy to say the bed was clean and comfortable. No obvious signs of bedbugs that I could see.

They have a small rooftop patio on the 9th floor, which was nice. Not much of a view, but a decent outdoor place to sit and read a book. I think more comfortable chairs and a few taller plants up there would enhance the space.

The young front desk employees were a mixed bag: one had a less than professional attitude - begrudgingly offering the very bare minimum of assistance, while another seemed to be kind and happy to be of help.

The small bar area where one can get an evening snack/small meal from the gracious RHO staff was greatly appreciated. I would not call it a restaurant. It was a place to relax after a day full of busy medical appointments. The narrow patio outside the back of the pleasant lobby was charming, although the loud buzz and humming noise from adjacent mechanical and electrical things, hemmed in by all the connected tall buildings, somewhat overwhelmed the lovely bistro tables and beautiful hydrangeas.

Once they get some of these things addressed I think it will be a nice place to stay for those needing close proximity to the Virginia Mason hospital. You can even get to the main hospital lobby through a short, somewhat winding hallway and a small elevator. If you have a car, however, I’d seriously consider choosing...

I was a guest at this hotel during late May, 2025 for 10 nights.

I arrived early for check-in, at 2:30pm instead of 4:00pm. Thankfully, room 705 was ready so the front of staff were able to kindly provide me with a key for access.

There were lifts available in the building so getting to the room was easy and straightforward.

The room was relatively clean, comfortable, and there were windows that could be opened for fresh air.

The first 4 nights were great and comfortable. Had they continued, I would have offered a much higher rating. However, on the 5th night I discovered a small insect crawling on my pillow when getting ready for bed. I did not think much of it, so collected it inside a tissue and threw it in the bin.

The next morning when leaving my room to go out, I discovered 6 more of those insects. At which point after consulting with Grok and ChatGPT, came to the realisation that these insects were bed bugs. I collected them in a plastic deposable cup and left them on the bedside table for later query with hotel staff.

On return to the hotel, I raised the issue with front of staff, who immediately, and commendably, started raising the necessary flags for the issue to be resolved. A person accompanied me to my room, collected my plastic cup of bugs, and then went away to report. Shortly afterwards a lady accompanied by a gentleman identifying themselves as management, offered to compensate and do whatever to make things right. I rejected the compensation as the stay was going so well, this was my first experience with bed bugs in my life, and from what I had read, bed bugs do not transmit diseases to humans. Instead I just asked for the room to be deep cleaned and for my clothes to be laundered, as per precautionary instructions from Grok/ChatGPT. I then left the hotel and made my way to Target to get some further precautionary supplies like zip lock bags and 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes.

On return to my room, everything had been cleaned, checking the bed showed no signs of any bugs, and shortly after, my laundry arrived cleaned as well. Later that evening I also received an apology letter and the offer of a complementary meal in the hotel restaurant. An absolutely perfect response.

I then cleaned all my bags with the wipes, raised them off the floor, and on to the high round table in the room, away from any fabrics. Then ziplocked all of my laundered clothing.

However, the next morning, 4 more bugs were found on the bed. I reported it again to the front desk and also requested for my bathroom amenities to be topped up. This time however, the response was lacking. I heard back from no one. After leaving the hotel for a couple of hours to give the cleaning team to do their thing and arriving back to my room. Noticed all the bedsheets had been stripped away with just a mattress protector and the bathroom amenities had not been topped. Feeling dejected, I made no further requests, did not go the hotel restaurant for a meal, and spent my remaining nights sleeping on top of the mattress protector. However, thankfully, no more bed bugs.

On return back home, I noticed my upper arms and areas around my ankles were covered in several red bites. About a week later these have now subsided and darkened. Furthermore, thanks to the use of the zip lock bags and wipes, no bugs came back home... as far as I can tell.

Note: this was both a business/holiday trip - google map reviews, at the time of writing, do not allow for the selecting of...

I was so in my feelings about this hotel that I had to call in a favor from my dear companion, the great Lady Whistledown to write this review so my nerves could get the rest that would escape me this weekend. The review below:

Dearest Avid Reader,

It is with a heavy heart and an even heavier quill that I must report the most shocking experience at The Inn at Virginia Mason in Seattle, Washington. The whispers in the drawing rooms and the gossip in the ballrooms are but faint echoes of the displeasure I encountered.

Upon arrival, one would expect a warm welcome and a refreshing reprieve from the stifling heat of the summer. Alas, this was not to be. The extreme heat was only exacerbated by the complete lack of air conditioning, leaving guests to languish in discomfort. The situation was further compounded by windows that resolutely refused to open, denying any possibility of natural ventilation.

One might hope that the guest service relationship would offer some solace. Unfortunately, the staff at the front desk displayed an astonishing lack of courtesy and assistance. Their behavior was intentionally unhelpful and, at times, downright rude. Requests for amenities were met with indifference, and even the simple desire for a plate was left unfulfilled. Additionally, the refusal to hold luggage until the evening added to the overall disappointment, and any attempt to speak with a manager was met with outright refusal.

The rooms, already dark and drury, were burdened with an unpleasant odor, casting a pall over what was meant to be a restful retreat. Even a person of logic and scientific mind would find it hard not to be convinced that the place wasn’t indeed haunted. The decor and lighting were woefully inadequate, contributing to an overall sense of gloom.

However, in this sea of disappointments, there was one beacon of hope: the cleaning staff. Their excellent manners and professionalism were a stark contrast to the shortcomings of their colleagues at the front desk. It is upon their diligent shoulders that the reputation of this establishment precariously rests.

Let this be a lesson to all that even the grandest of facades can conceal the most glaring of deficiencies. One can only hope that the management takes heed of these observations and endeavors to elevate their standards.

Yours in scandal and...