Really nice hotel. Large stylish bedrooms. Pool very small, kids enjoyed the gym! Friendly staff.

The staff was friendly and efficient, the hotel is clean and modern, and the rooms are spacious with all the amenities.

This is my second stay in as many years. I gave it 4 stars the first time but decided to bump it up for this review. I've been here over Thanksgiving both times and have enjoyed this hotel thoroughly. It is easily accessible to all local transportation options, which are extensive in seattle, so no car needed! It's a cool urban hotel with the new courtyard design. Surrounded by many local establishments. Easy walk down to the pier and Ferry terminals. The light rail to/from the airport is 2 blocks away. I can't think of anything they did not take care of, from early/late check in, to loaner umbrellas. I can't think of a better value in any of the major cities that I travel to.

Seattle's center may have moved but Pioneer Square is where it all started and Marriott has placed a new hotel square in the heart of the old city. This is a 15-story hotel, so it's not typical of a suburban Marriott Courtyard but it uses the urban model of a high rise, limited amenity hotel.

The location is terrific. It's a block from Pioneer Square and a block from a light-rail stop that takes you to/from Sea-Tac Airport in 37 minutes for $2.75.

The staff is terrific. I cannot recall a more engaged, friendlier staff at any Marriott property I've ever patronized.

The rooms are pretty good. This hotel has been installed in a former office building called the Alaska Building and some of the old building shows through in the lobby where you can see mid-20th century marble and the old-style, multi-story mail chute dropping into a large brass mailbox in the lobby. You'll also see some of the old buildings in the windows, which use the old casings equipped with new double glazing. Our very large room had a terrific view of Seattle's sourthern downtown. Two flys in the ointment for us:

1. The room chair (an adjustable desk chair) was uncomfortable due to its design. This is the first such chair I've encountered at a Marriott Courtyard and I hope it's not the new "official" desk chair.

2. The credit-card room keys just didn't work well and we had a second set made (done cheerfully, of course). We had to try 3, 4, or six times before the door would open. We had similar problems with using the key in the elevator to access our floor from the lobby (a good security feature in any case).

From this hotel, we walked to the ferry terminal for an inexpensive ride to Bainbridge Island (free return!), to the famous Pike Market to see fish tossed around by loud fishmongers, to the Underground Seattle tour (highly recommended), and to the light rail stop for a return to the airport. This area is well served by the Seattle mass transit system.

The hotel has a restaurant and bar called The Bistro and we ate three meals there. Frankly, the food was good twice and mediocre once but the service was always spectacular. Note that this restaurant has a somewhat limited menu (hence the name), but you should be able to find something to dull your hunger. They serve Starbuck's coffee, in case you're an addict. Otherwise, there's a Seattle's Best coffee shop across the street.

There was a ballroom located on our floor (14th) and we snuck in to take a peek. It was set up conference style and could accommodate about 50 people at tables set up in a chevron pattern. I'd certainly locate a conference there given the opportunity.