If you read my previous post on How I Booked 7 Nights in Seattle Using Points & Credit Card Perks, you know I’ve been piecing together this holiday trip step-by-step!
Travel planning rarely goes 100% according to plan. No matter how carefully you map out your itinerary, unexpected curveballs are always lurking around the corner!
While planning my family trip to Seattle, I originally intended to stack back-to-back nights using my Hilton credit card perks (specifically, the quarterly $50 statement credits). Back in September, I successfully booked my first night at The Sound Hotel Seattle Belltown for around $98 net.
However, when I logged back in during early October to book the second night using my Q4 credit, the room price had jumped by over $60! Who ever said Seattle is in off-season during winter? So much for that theory.
The Challenge: Tight Location & Budget Limits
Since we had already booked nearby hotels for the surrounding dates, our itinerary wasn’t flexible. Plus, we were planning to walk between properties, making location a huge factor.
My main goal: Find a family-friendly hotel in the exact same walkable area for under $100 net per night.
Here’s how my options broke down:
Hilton Credits: I searched the Hilton app, but the remaining sub-$100 options after the credit were way too far away. Staying at The Sound Hotel was still an option, but I’d have to use the $50 credit on food and beverages during the stay instead.
Other Points Programs: Marriott, IHG, and Hyatt points were off the table—either already redeemed or saved for upcoming trips next year.
Citi ThankYou Points: My last remaining option was my Citi ThankYou Points stash (7,494 points).
Comparing the Final Two Options
Using the Citi Travel portal, I narrowed my search down to two central hotels within walking distance: Executive Hotel Pacific and Mayflower Park Hotel.
While Executive Hotel Pacific offered a budget-friendly rate, reading through recent guest reviews revealed a few major deal-breakers:
HVAC & Air Conditioning Issues: Guests frequently complained about non-functional AC during warmer months, leaving rooms hot and stuffy with only a small desk fan provided as a solution.
Cramped Bathroom Layouts: Many reviewers mentioned extremely tight bathroom layouts, with some stating adults had to twist sideways just to sit down on the toilet.
Frustrating Check-In System: The self-service kiosks frequently glitched, causing long waits even with staff standing right nearby. Other guests mentioned room keycards deactivating well before check-out time.
Cleanliness Concerns: Multiple reviews noted musty odors, dust, and visible mold issues in the rooms and bathrooms.
Why We Chose Mayflower Park Hotel
On the flip side, Mayflower Park Hotel stood out for all the right reasons:
Outstanding Hospitality: Guest reviews consistently praise the staff for delivering warm, classic, and high-end hotel service.
Well-Maintained & Spotless: Despite being an older historic property, proper upkeep and renovations keep the rooms clean, comfortable, and beautifully accented with classic antique furnishings.
We’ve had bad experiences with poorly maintained historic hotels in Chicago before, so we’re usually cautious about older buildings. But given the glowing reviews for its upkeep and classic charm, we decided to give it a shot.
Final Booking Breakdown
By redeeming my remaining Citi ThankYou Points, I brought the final out-of-pocket price for Mayflower Park Hotel down to just $83.10!
By the way, I also noticed that the Executive Hotel Pacific actually had decent pricing on Airbnb if you’re looking for alternative booking platforms!
The map below shows our hotel hopping route in downtown Seattle. We’re talking less than 1 mile of total movement over 6 days—we can totally do this!
Now that the hotel puzzle is finally solved, all that’s left is deciding which hotels will serve as our base for the Boeing Factory Tour and the Orca Whale Watching Tour. Stay tuned!
