Hotel Max

11/28/2008 Posted by Jsslvr

Well after reading reviews of this hotel, good and bad, I decided it sounded like it was worth a try, and it was. The beds were great, plush and comfortable. So yeah the rooms were a bit small, but unless you weigh 400 lbs I highly doubt it's true that people "could barely move" since I happen to be a bigger guy myself and was fine. Parking is expensive everywhere in Seattle and I found the valet here to be much more convenient for a slight price increase. Other than that, hotel staff was friendly and helpful, ambiance was fun, sushi was great at the restaurant, and almost everything in Seattle was in walking distance. Still can't believe how exagerated the some of these bad reviews are....

Pros: Location, staff, beds, artwork

Cons: Rooms on the smaller side

07/07/2008 Posted by jt5472

This downtown hotel definitely has an edge, especially in decor. Similar to boutique upscale modernist hotels in every major city, Hotel Max is unique in the friendly staff department. I've found from multiple stays that they seem to really care about the customer and our needs. Specifically, I've spent significant time in their sparse business center, and have never felt like I was taking advantage. Most of the staff is young, good-looking and knowledgeable about local points of interest. The rooms are nothing special, but offer great vantage points and the location offers the opportunity to walk everywhere of interest downtown.

Pros: Great Local and Artistic Touches

Cons: Nothing special in terms of amenities

03/01/2008 Posted by hotelhell

It took me two years to go back to the Hotel Max but I decided to get over my issues and try again. I spend a lot of time traveling and a lot of time in Seattle so I need to find decent hotels often. I should have stuck with my policy......Upon discovering that my car had been scratched by the valet (after I left) I called the hotel. (check out the garage they put your car in some time....). They indicated that they would check out the camera in the garage to try to figure out what happened. After four days and multiple calls on my end to check on what was happening I was informed that the tape from the garage had been "contaminated" and they couldn't check on what had happened therefore they were absolving themselves of all responsibility. In a day and age where I frequently wonder what happened to "the customer is occassionally right" as I've given up on decent customer service anymore - the Hotel Max confirms that some corporations don't care what the customer feels like after they have signed the credit card slip. Funny enough....Guess what kept me away for two years? I just sold that car and got a new one...... I certainly won't drop my Hotel Max ban this time. I'll also keep it in mind if any of their other hotels cross my path...Hotel Lucia in Portland, Hotel Deluxe in Portland. Please stand up with me and don't patronize businesses who don't care about their customers!

02/15/2008 Posted by gonzo410s

The front desk and the staff looked and acted like they were on loan from a fast food chain. The hall ways reminded me of being back in college dorms. No one bothered to inform me that I was not getting the non-smoking I had asked for. Go ahead and be edgy but don’t forget the fundamentals.

10/09/2007 Posted by snowman121065

I had been given a gift certificate for the Max, and was afraid of what I thought would be a closet with a bed (since the cirtificate was the basic class of room), but instead I had a PERFECT room for a night away! The size was larger than expected after reading previous reviews, the bed was absolutely the most cozy I have slept in, and even the bath robes were plush! I was on the 8th floor and had somewhat of a view (as much as can be expected in an older building in a modern city setting), and slept with my windows open with no interruption. I have to admit, after all the negative written by others I was afraid to stay. Now I think that just because they are used to the large lack-luster rooms of the national chains, that a room such as boutiques offer, one that is not absolutely cavernous is somehow shortchanging them. The amenities were high end, the furniture was very relaxing, the toiletries very nice quality, and the staff friendly- I honestly couldn't have asked for anything more. Even the art pieces in the room were unique, no prints. How often do you see this in a hotel? Yes, the art can be a little racey, but that is the job of art is to make you see things in a way you normally wouldn't, to appreciate that which in another context my make you less apt to ponder, or even worse to take it for granted. Initially I was caught off-guard when I first walked in, but after one or two times of passing bye the "noted" picture next to the front desk I had to stop and look- it is a painting of such fine work that it looks like a photo. I am saddened that someone wouldn't stop to actually look at the work rather than the mere subject. I may not have it in my livingroom, but I can say that the art is of superior standard. Thank you Max, you have given me hope that sometimes there is more than meets the eye!

Pros: comfort, quiet, and plush surroundings

Cons: none I noted

09/03/2007 Posted by pdx2350

OK, yes it was hip. And they did allow my dog, another plus. That's where it ended. $25/night to park..valet mind you is the ONLY option for parking. We had 2 cars since I met my girlfriend there 3 night x 2 cars x $25=a whole extra nights stay!!. Room was TINY not european, barely big enough to turn around in. Shower was almost impossible to get into, I kept hitting my elbows, and knocking the hot water on higher every time I turned. And how about a decent towel. The Motel 6 has superior towels!!!! crunchy mess. the vibrator was novel, as was the holy literature menu, but who really needs a book of book or mormon as well?? Oh, and $13 a day for internet?!?!? give me a break. The bed was pretty awful as well. The mattress pad was simply a fleece blanket under a fitted sheet, it kept bunching up under the sheets, and really made it a pain to sleep on. Oh and how about a nice view of the restaurant hood vents!?!?! All inclusive!! we had a view of nothing and smelled fried whatever from the Red Fin....PS-snotty waitress when we sat down @ midnight for a night cap. She acted extremely put out that we even sat down. How about a nice window unit air conditioner that's louder than living under the air port. I experienced no extra level of service other than a door being held for me when I arrived @ the hotel. Room service breakfast was decent, but yogurt & granola cosisted of about 6 oz of yogurt and ONE SPOONFUL of granola for $8. I travel to Seattle about 2 weeks/month and stay a more humble place, for a similar price that's 5 times as roomy, only 4 blocks away, has better bedding, free parking, internet, and breakfast. Try the King Suite @ the La Quinta on 8th. Make sure you get a room on the street side and you won't endure the construction behind.

Pros: Dog friendly, location

Cons: service, comfort, size, parking expensive, no free wi-fi

08/30/2007 Posted by soona

As a world traveler, I was surprised at the reviews for this hotel. I wouldn't stay here again even if someone else paid for the closet that they consider a room! This was the worst hotel that I have stayed in in over 25 years. Calling it European is an insult to Europe. The hotel was claustophopic, the ceilings in the hall were low, the elevators smelled of old feet and the rooms were so small that my husband had to shower with the curtain open as he didn't fit in the 3x3 space. Good thing that they do provide prophylactics and vibrators as that is usually what I want in a hotel room. Not comfort, quiet or a nice shower. I requested a tea service and was provided with Tazo tea, second only to Farmer Brothers as the worst tea ever made. With all the available choices of hotels in Seattle. Please do yourself a favor and find another one to spend your money at. They surprised me with a charge of $25 plus tax to park at their hotel. Would have been nice to know that when I booked the room. Call The Roosevelt or The Vintage Hotels. Same area, much better value for the money. This place was a joke. The system requires that you give it a minimum of "one star". Don't be fooled it wasn't worth even that.

Cons: Wish I had of heeded the negative comments. They were correct.

07/16/2007 Posted by femtravler

This was a disaster. The room was covered in a coating of smoke. The front desk said I was out of luck on a non-smoking room because I reserved through Hotels dot com - evidently they didn't really consider me a valued customer. I spend at least 150 night in hotel rooms every year and this was one of the worst. There was an airconditioning unit in my room and was constantly blowing on me while trying to sleep - I would have turned it off but it was 90 degrees out that day. The closet reeked of mens cologne and smoke - not a mixture I was looking for. There was a renegade camera crew roaming my floor and ramming into the walls the night I was there and there was no sleeping to be had.The place in general had updated design but it looks like they picked the cheap stuff because it was all very worn out and dirty for such a seemingly cute trendy botique hotel. By the way - they provide every room with a vibrator and a battery should you need it - I can't think of an item I would like less to purchase in a room that dirty. This was not what I had signed up for!!! I recomend you move to a Hotel Monaco or the Marriott!

Pros: Design element, Location

Cons: Dirty, smokey, no Air Conditioning,TV remote did not work, front desk made me feel unimportant,

05/24/2007 Posted by esquirejs

So I spent a couple of days in Seattle two weeks ago for a business trip, I've traveled frequently for work and pleasure, stayed at the best and worst places all over the world and I have to admit this is my new favorite hotel. First of all it's affordable (call me cheap, but I'd rather be able to afford a few extra days in the hotel than have a "ultra lux" room), the rooms are just as nice, if not nicer than any W hotel I've stayed at and they are less expensive! Not to mention you can't get a better location, you are in the heart of Seattle ...walking distance from Pike's Place, a million Starbucks, the legendary Pink Door and one of my all time favs...Wild Ginger. In fact I'm so impressed I think I'm going back up there this weekend to surprise my girlfriend!

11/30/2006 Posted by nol72

Yes, the rooms are small. But they are decorated with a metro cool touch and the doors on each floor are fantastic. I have stayed at the Max with friends instead of staying at my old condo, and despite the fact I have more room now, I will still book it for visitors. Bonus points for: Fast valets, great front desk folks, Red Fin bartenders make good Bloody Mary's on a blurry Sunday morning, room service is fast, the beds feel like marshmallows and they have a "Pillow Menu" so you can get one of many varieties to assure perfect rest. Very cool. Very fun.