Alderbrook Resort & Spa

We are frequent guests at Alderbrook Resort and we always have the most wonderful time! It is our happy place, from the beautiful views to the excellent food and service. We usually stay in the guest cottages which have stunning water views and the kitchens are well stocked with everything we need. The hotel rooms are also very nicely decorated and the main lobby is charming and peaceful, from the seating areas around the large stone fireplace to the tables for games, coffee bar and gift shop stocked with lovely trinkets. Our grandkids love looking for the sweet kitties, Alder and Brook that curl up in the lobby, and swimming in the pool is their favorite past time. Even in winter we enjoy the beautiful scenery, hiking trails and the peace and serenity of this beautiful place. We can’t wait to go again soon.

This is a nice place with great views. We stayed ONE night, and it cost over $300 (including a $40 "resort" fee) and we didn't feel we got our money's worth. The room was cold (big room teeny/tiny heater), and getting a streaming service to work on the TV was way too complicated. Had two meals here and the quality was spotty, over cooked chicken and good mushroom ravioli (no parmesan was offered which would have been nice), but the drinks were good, and the lobby has a nice atmosphere with lots of comfy couches and game tables.

Nice but it costs too much for what it is. This place has a long history of being a resort but it felt more like a wedding venue with resort-like features. Someone else compares it to Holiday Inn and I think that's a fair assessment; you are paying for location, and location only. My observations: - WiFi is open & not secure for guests. That’s concerning given cyber attacks took out both Seattle Public Library and SeaTac this year alone. For $300+ a night, guests expect some bare minimum data security. I didn’t feel safe using their WiFi, and nor should you. - They need more parking for guests since the weddings eat up all the spots. Luckily valet is complementary. - Guest services and reservations are OK. Austin was great but the others were not as good. - If you booked a massage during your stay, follow up with the spa to make sure they have the accurate info. I asked for a Couples Massage and somehow they put my significant other and I in different rooms. I booked by email, might be more effective to use the website. It’s worth calling them. - The food at the restaurant is quite delicious but I wouldn’t recommend it. You’ll see in other reviews there’s an automatic 20% surcharge. It’s pretty noisy, even without kids. They can use better sound treatment. - Coffee and food is good. Croissant was well made. - The bathroom in the swimming pool area are very slippery. They don’t have any mats or anything with grip. - I don't have kids but the kids' play area is in a really weird isolated spot in the parking lot. It's a very small play area, its location threw me off. - Zero diversity in their employees (and guests)! You might not mind that though.

Overall, while Alderbrook offers stunning views and great amenities, some service-related issues and extra fees detract from the experience. Not a great value considering the prices/fees. Pros: - Beautiful, peaceful views from the waterfront rooms. - Spacious in-room soaking tubs. - Spa services are exceptional (they don't charge a 20% service fee). - Delicious meals that were both well-prepared and flavorful. - High-quality in-room toiletry products. Cons: - Check-in process at the front desk was extremely slow. - An automatic 20% service charge was applied to all food and drink orders. Service fees and gratuities should be at the discretion of the patron, not automatically imposed by the establishment. - The resort also charged an additional $27 per day resort fee for who knows what. - Noticeable mold on the shower grout and shower curtain. - Beds are on the softer side and bedding was very light for fall/winter with no extra blankets offered. - Room service had issues—lost our ticket, got the order wrong, and it took nearly 2hrs to arrive. Still had to pay the 20% service charge on top of that. - Pool is very noisy until 9pm. The adult-only policy for the pool and hot tub doesn’t begin until 9pm, which may not be ideal for those seeking a more tranquil experience earlier in the day.

My wife summed this place up well- a middle class trap. Our second time at Alderbrook sealed the deal for us. We will not be frequenting this establishment again. The quality of food is poor. The service is mediocre. The accommodations are Holiday Inn caliber at best. Our recent trip, we ordered dinner to go and drinks. We ordered a couple beers whilst waiting for food, which equaled $20 with the instant gratuity. Apart from that, we order the “wagyu” burger, Caesar salad, clam chowder, and pesto pasta. It was all of such poor quality that we went to bed hungry. It’s very unfortunate that this establishment is representative of fine dining and high end accommodation. This resort is at best three stars.