Graduate by Hilton Seattle

Charming Stay with a Pricey Parking Catch A cozy and charming hotel that recently joined the Hilton family. The rooms were comfortable and well-kept, with a nostalgic old-style charm. We stayed as a family of four and found the location convenient — close to the train station and Pike Place Market, yet tucked in a calm, peaceful area. The only downside is that parking is valet-only and quite expensive. Luckily, there’s affordable public parking just across the street, so plan. Overall, a great stay with warm vibes — worth considering!

This is not a four-star hotel. Stayed here again (because apparently I like to ignore my own advice) exactly one year after my first stay, and let me just say: same issues, new ownership, even worse. Before Hilton took over, it was at least trying to be a quirky boutique hotel. Now? It’s like someone slapped a Hilton sticker on a dusty thrift store and called it a day. Lipstick on a pig, but this pig hasn’t bathed in a while. Let’s start with the basics: The floorboards? Dirty. The baseboards? Caked in dust like they’ve been auditioning for a haunted house. My pillow? Had a mysterious smudge. And the bathroom? Dusty, tired, and the pièce de résistance — a shower curtain that once again smelled like someone tried to wash gym socks with dorty water and left them to mildew in a closed tent. And yes, this exact scenario played out last year. But I figured, hey, it’s close to the studio I’m working at. I’ll give it another shot. Spoiler alert: never again. Now, to be fair, the staff are truly great and front desk folks are super nice, check-in was easy, and the valet service is on point. If only the rooms were as clean as the employees are friendly. Bottom line: If you’re into budget hotels that dress up like boutique ones for Halloween and kind of smell like an old basement with hipster wallpaper this is your spot. Otherwise, save your money and your sinuses, and go elsewhere. Edit: I appreciate the form letter response—I’m sure it’s standard protocol for Hilton when responding to poor reviews but the fact remains: the rooms are disgusting. I’ve attached photos so you can see for yourself just how dirty my room was. And if I could somehow capture the stench of the shower curtain, you’d understand how awful it was to shower in that room every single day. I’m not alone in this experience. Two other colleagues from my company stayed at the same hotel, and we all agreed the rooms are poorly maintained. This doesn’t seem like a simple housekeeping issue; it feels like a failure in management. So while I appreciate the response, I don’t believe anything will change. And that’s the real disappointment.

First - this is so far from a 4 star hotel. VERY old building, musty smelling hallways and rooms, tiny bathrooms. Thinnest toilet paper I’ve ever seen (think port-a-potty quality paper). If I wasn’t told it was a 4 star hotel, I would guess it’s a 2 star max based on the room. Sheets and bathroom were clean, but lots of dust under the furniture. There is no refrigerator in the room and the only full length mirror is on the back of the bathroom door. The people who work here are very pleasant. Poindexter cafe was pretty good. Second - the valet, which costs $55 a night (LAZ Parking) damaged our rental car and lied about it. Investigation found “no negligence” (and gave us no info on what the investigation entailed) so we are on the hook. No cameras in the parking area, no accountability or honesty. Also 55 for parking in the U District is laughable to begin with. You can probably park at Trader Joe’s a couple min away for free. Overall I expect WAY more from a 4 star Hilton than this experience, especially due to the abhorrent valet experience.