We stayed for three nights while attending a wedding on Vashon Island. Skip and Jane are delightful hosts and we enjoyed our morning chats over coffee. The bed was comfortable and breakfast was fantastic each day (eggs one day, french toast another, then crepes). Jane double-checked with us (and others) on any dietary restrictions and set up breakfast accordingly for each individual. It is as Victorian a house as one can find, full of period furniture and trinkets galore to keep you busy just checking out each room. Jane went above and beyond for us as our flight was delayed so we could not make our first night. I called and let her know that we wouldn't arrive until the next morning. Since it was after the official time to cancel the room, I was already planning to pay for the night since they did not have time to re-book, but she wouldn't charge me for it. Then, after we decided to stay an extra night, she re-arranged rooms so that we could stay in our same room even though it had already been booked by someone else. Just little things that made the trip great. I have traveled to Seattle a number of times but never had spent any real time in Tacoma. The town has really blossomed over the past decade, losing a lot of the industrial nature. The streets around the inn are very walkable and we enjoyed getting up early and perusing the neighborhood and then heading up to Point Defiance Park and over to Vashon. The ferry is only 10 minutes away. An enjoyable stay and definitely would stay again if we are back that way.
We have stayed here a few times over the last year. The rooms have always been clean and comfortable. It is a good mid-range quality hotel. Where it shines is in the amenities provided for travelers. The front desk is fully capable of your business travel requests. Grace handled our requests with dignity and humor when appropriate. She made our visit special. They have a shuttle that runs back and forth to local places including SeaTac airport. It’s best to reserve a shuttle the day before in case they are busy on your stay. The dining area and deli style counter service food and Starbucks coffee was a good addition. There is more seating outside in the courtyard. Adjacent to this area is the business center including SeaTac flight information on a screen there. One of the other nice things about this hotel is its proximity to many options for dining and night time entertainment. If you travel through, this is a great spot. If you are traveling through the SeaTac airport this is even better. If you’re lucky enough to have Grace check you in, you have hit the jackpot.
We spent the night because we were visiting the University of Puget Sound, and it was a convenient location. The room fit our needs, but I don’t think I could stay for more than one night. It’s really basic here - including their restaurant. Dinner menu was the typical pizza and stuff, and breakfast was stuff that they thawed out and heated. One easy thing they could do is require a dress code at their restaurant, because frankly restaurant employees wearing T-shirts just doesn’t seem professional. The room itself was ok - bed, basic flat screen TV, small but functioning bathroom with a shower curtain. The shower water seeped to the bathroom floor with water, but easy enough to wipe up… Just not excited about this place.
The hotel is undergoing quite a bit of construction/renovation, but that was not an issue for me as I was only there for 1 night as I was attending P!nk's concert at the Tacoma Dome. The hotel was an easy walk from the Amtrak station. Check-in was very smooth. Jose, the person who checked me in, was super warm and friendly. He was efficient and communicated clearly everything I needed to know for my stay. The hotel is very clean. My room was very spacious and modern. This was such a nice change from another hotel I stayed in about a month earlier in Richmond, VA. I did take advantage of the free hotel breakfast the next morning, and I was impressed by the offerings. It was much more than just cereal, bagels, and juice. There was all of that and then some (e,g, hot bar, assorted pastries, selections of juices and types of milk). Checkout was also a breeze, and the young lady (I didn't get her name) assisting me was lovely. The room rate was elevated because of the demand from out of towners coming to Tacoma for P!nk's 2 night stand at the Dome. I met quite a few other hotel guests that were there for the concert. However, the ”regular” room rates seem to be an excellent value for what the hotel offers. Once the renovations are complete and things such as the fitness center are back in operation, it'll be an even more excellent value for the dollar. I look forward to coming back soon for a weekend getaway to explore Tacoma.
Definitely a sketchy part of town. Make sure you lock your vehicles just in case. Homeless have surrounded the area and the doors are locked at all times to avoid squatters. Staff were somewhat friendly. Breakfast was the same meal every deal; scrambled eggs and sausage or egg white frittatas and bacon. No difference in a week there. The danishes were expired and the one I grabbed was moldy. I've stayed at busier Hamptons and they still offered better pairings for breakfast. The gym was just ok. It had the basic stuff, but nothing newer. For instance, the elliptical was older and didn't move as easily and the treadmill slipped often. The pool was okay, but the hot tub was lukewarm and the jets didn't work. People also often walked from the pool to the elevators wet, so it was frequently full of large puddles. I would not stay here again due to the area.