The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle

The location is great. Good for walking distance from Capitol Hill. Very Christmasy. The teddy bear suite is adorable.

We came for a drink and the teddy bear suite! Loved it! The kids were having such a great time (everyone was dolled up in their holiday best.) Afterwards we went down for a drink at their beautiful bar (we love the centerpiece above the bar — it’s this metal steampunkish bicycle instillation.) Very fun!

Lieu at the front desk was a superstar to us during our stay! Additionally, he remained calm, upbeat, and unfazed by chaos all around him during the peak hours of check-in time. His positive attitude was infectious! I wish there were more like him in the hospitality industry!!

Our team rented out the library for our annual holiday party. It was a wonderful space because there was a casual lounge area and also a large table for us all to gather around and eat. The space was ready when we arrived, the organization up to the event was seamless and the service was top notch. Especially appreciated the extra help of Sunny and our waiter Erin. They were constantly checking in and making sure we were all doing well.

This is a beautiful old building, in a convenient part of town. When it was built, it must have had glorious views of the water, etc- but now, it’s overshadowed by sky scrapers all around. The lobby areas are gorgeous- plentiful seating, a friendly bar that serves food (though they took the Lobster roll off the bar menu, but left it on the online menu), a restaurant at the back, and a cozy, little bar in the corner, you enter through a mysterious book case- fun. At 5 PM a lady demonstrates how to remove a champagne cork with a saber- more fun! The rooms are a bit worn- I understand the hotel will soon undergo a complete renovation, though. Comfortable and clean though, but I do wonder- with all the people and cultures who never wear shoes inside, if hotels will start offering floors of rooms to accommodate lhese travelers? Clean carpets- with vacuumed that are only used in those rooms. I tell you, once you don’t wear shoes inside, you’ll never go back- having a really clean floor under you is the best feeling. Pet peeve- one water bottle per person? I go through 3. Taking vitamins, dehydrated after traveling, making coffee… The water coming out of the faucet smelled too awful to try drinking it. The food was good all ‘round. There are pretty shops in the lower lobby, plus a beauty salon, a coffee shop and a Seafood restaurant. The coffee shop gives you a $5.00 for every stay, but heads up- they close at 12. They have breakfast pastries too- I tried the Turkey cheese croissant- which would have been great, but there was barely any Turkey or cheese in it. The beauty salon is lovely, but I did pay about $100 more than originally quoted, for trimming a half inch off the bottom of my hair, along with some very minor highlighting that I originally booked. The hotel has a pool (another reason I booked), which was warm, though not huge or deep, and a hot tub, which was hot, but the jets were very weak. The pool was open til 10 PM I believe, which was greatly appreciated. There was also a gym. I had a problem on my pre cruise stay, as I’d asked in advance for a room with lots of light, but I was placed in a dark room facing North, on a low floor, in a corner, so other rooms could see into mine and I had to keep the blinds closed. I was very surprised and disappointed about my request- made in advance, was completely ignored. My return stay, after the cruise, a wonderful man named Spencer, helped me get into a well lit room- which was also ready at 9:00 AM when I arrived from the ship. He was wonderful! They had blocked off a nice room for me, but I would have had to wait for the occupants to leave at 11, then for it to be cleaned etc, and I was exhausted. I would have had to just pass out in a lobby chair, like a homeless person. Thank you Spencer! Also a shout out to the lovely hostess in Shuckers, the Seafood place, and my wonderful waiter- I don’t remember his name, but I sat by the window, and he has a son who he took on a trip to Canada. Wonderful waiter! One thing I must warn people about- Seattle Airport! Just be prepared! Ugh! Also, they had 100,000 guests in Seattle both weekends, so the hotels were packed- sporting events etc. I was unaware- so I suggest booking early, and make dining reservations early as well.