The Westin Seattle

Rooms and decor

It is a big-chain hotel with nearly 900 rooms across two towers, so the rooms are spacious by the standard of an American downtown hotel, decorated in calm, easy tones like a good business hotel. The one thing people talk about most is the Westin Heavenly Bed — a thick, soft mattress with firm pillows that has become the brand's signature, and many reviews say they sleep especially well on it. The curved walls of the round tower make the room corners look unusual and interesting, and the big glass makes the room bright and airy. For families there is room to add an extra bed or a crib, several suitcases fit without crowding, and the basics are all there — a desk, a small fridge, a coffee maker and a standard bathroom. Overall it is a large, easy-to-use hotel that suits families who want space and system over boutique character.

Food and amenities

For a family trip, the thing that gives The Westin Seattle its edge is the indoor pool, warm at around 83°F (about 28°C), roughly 42 feet long, and graduated from about 2.5 feet to 4.5 feet deep. That depth means small kids can stand and play in the shallow end while adults and older kids swim comfortably in the deep end. Because it is indoors, it works in any season no matter how cold or rainy it is outside — a real help on days you want the kids to burn off energy without going out in the wet. There is a 24-hour fitness center, and the hotel has its own restaurant and bar, while the streets around are packed with restaurants, coffee shops and shopping, so finding a meal is easy without going far.

Location and getting there

The hotel sits in central Downtown, and it is about a 6-minute walk (roughly 0.3 miles) to Pike Place Market, the legendary market with fish-throwing stalls, flower stands, fruit stands and the first Starbucks for the kids to gawk at. From there you can walk on, or take the Seattle Center Monorail — whose terminus is near the hotel — to the Space Needle and Seattle Center, where there are museums, fountains and open plazas for kids to run around. It is also close to Westlake station, where the Link Light Rail runs to and from SEA airport and the Monorail starts. The whole area lets a family find food or wander on foot with almost no need for a car.

Things to know before booking

To be straight with you, the most important thing is that the view depends on the room — the charm of this round tower is the high floors facing the city or the bay, but a low floor or a room facing into a neighboring building sees only another building's wall and misses almost all of the view that is the selling point. Most of the disappointed reviews come from exactly this, so ask clearly for a high floor with the side you want (the Puget Sound side for water and sunset, the city side for the Space Needle) when you book. Second is the size and the crowds: with nearly 900 rooms, high season or a convention fills the lobby, lifts and check-in, sometimes meaning a wait, and it feels less private than a small hotel. Third is the extra costs — both the per-night valet parking and the destination / resort fee run fairly high, as they do at big downtown hotels, so families who drive or rent should budget for it and check what is included. Finally, check the indoor pool's hours with the hotel so you can plan the kids' swim.

Our take

From reading through a lot of real reviews, The Westin Seattle nails the pitch of a landmark cylindrical tower, city and Puget Sound views from the high floors, a warm indoor pool, and a central Downtown location you can actually walk from — a solid fit for a family trip. If your picture is taking the kids into the most recognizable building in the city, opening the curtains to the skyline and boats in the bay, swimming indoors even when it rains, then walking a few minutes to Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, this checks every box and is good value at this price. But if you accidentally book a low inside-facing room and miss the view, or you dislike the bustle of a big hotel, it may feel less wow than it should. Overall we give it 8.5/10, best for families who want a big, well-located hotel with great views and an indoor pool for the kids — and do not forget to ask for a high view-side room to get the best of this round tower.