Hotel Max - Seattle, WA

While in Seattle, we also spent one night at the Hotel Max. It's located in Seattle's downtown area, in the midst of lots of great shopping and dining. It's also within walking distance of Pike Place Market.

The Hotel Max is a great modern hotel with hip decor, boasting modern art from artists and photographers from Seattle. If I didn't have a baby and were a lot cooler, this would have been a great place to stay (attached to the hotel was the Red Fin Restaurant, which looked like it had an interesting menu and boasted an intriguing happy hour which I never got to try).

One of the first things I noticed was that the elevator and the hallways leading to the hotel rooms were very small and narrow. If you have lots of baby gear, you might have to take a few trips up and down the elevator. And my memory is a bit fuzzy, but I'm not sure that a double stroller could fit down one of those hallways.

The hotel room wasn't particularly baby-friendly either. The rooms were a little cramped, so if you have lots of baby gear, you might struggle for space. Also, the bathroom sink had one of those modern flat bowls (...so would it be called a plate?) on which it would be utterly impossible to bathe a baby. The "refrigerator" was a beverage cooler that was filled with mini-bar goodies. We had to take a few mini bar items out of the cooler in order to make room for bottles of milk. Also, the beverage cooler didn't seem to be that cool, which is another negative.

Like I said, if I didn't have a baby and were a lot cooler, the Hotel Max would be the place for me. But I do have a baby and am decidedly uncool, so I wouldn't recommend the Hotel Max for families with babies or small children. So why did we stay there? They had a great package deal for my stay date - $99 for one night, including valet parking. And if you've looked at prices for downtown Seattle hotels, you'll find that parking is outrageously expensive.

Hotel Max

620 Stewart Street

Seattle, WA 98101

Reservations 866-986-8087

www.hotelmaxseattle.com

Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel - Seattle, WA

In May, we took a family vacation to Seattle, and stayed in the Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel. The hotel is in the perfect location if you're in Seattle to catch a cruise, since it's located right across from the cruise terminal.

Our room had two double beds, and even with the double beds, there was plenty of room for Baby's Pack n Play. There was also a refrigerator for baby food/breastmilk storage.

We didn't give Baby a bath in the sink, so I can't comment on how (in)convenient that is.

The lobby of the hotel has plenty of comfortable seats in case you need to nurse while waiting for somebody. They also have a huge pitcher of ice water to keep you hydrated!

Within walking distance of the hotel, there are plenty of family-friendly restaurants. Sure, you're not going to find any 3 Michelin star restaurants, but those places probably wouldn't welcome your baby anyway. So loosen up a bit and be resigned to the fact that you'll eat at chain restaurants more often than you'd really like. Also, there are wide sidewalks up and down the waterfront, so strollers of all shapes and sizes can be accommodated. The hotel is located within walking distance of several famous sites, such as Olympic Park and the Space Needle, so you can take a leisurely walk with Baby if he gets fussy. Also, there's a free shuttle (with a stop right in front of the hotel) that will take you to surrounding areas such as Seattle's Chinatown.

Seattle Marriott Waterfront

2100 Alaskan Way

Seattle, WA 98121

(206)443-5000

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/seawf-seattle-marriott-waterfront/