Great Location, Horrible Customer Service
Pro's: Location
Con's: Horrible Front Desk staff attitude, broken and uncomfortable beds, rooms need a facelift, continental breakfast with no cereal or fruit.
The second biggest problem with the Marqueen is the incorrect information on the website. We booked a Queen Anne Suite for our family of four, which the website said comes with a pullout sofa in the living room. I thought it would be nice to have a little extra space to spread out. When I checked in I was told the Queene Anne suites do not have pullout sofas. Eventually we were placed in a much smaller studio suite, which did not have a separate bedroom with closing doors. (They have since changed the room description on the website).
Which brings me to the biggest problem with the Marqueen. I can forgive mistakes, but the attitude of certain front desk staff was horrible. The woman who was "helping" us had a foul and unprofessional attitude. Even though fault for the issue was the hotel's, she was not remotely interested in helping us solve the problem. With all the customer service training of a first-day cashier at Taco Bell, she begrudgingly reduced the rate for the smaller room. Then another female front desk staff member (They don't wear name tags - or even shoes half the time) started acting extremely, aggressively rude to my kids and my wife throughout our stay. Clearly there is an insular culture among certain staff which prides petty gossip over welcoming customer service.
We saw at least two other parties having difficulty checking in due to incorrect information and lost reservations.
Other issues with the hotel: The rooms need a facelift. I have stayed in boutique hotels before. If you are looking for a vintage room updated for the 21st century, look somewhere else. Someone pulled carpet up from the hardwood floors, and all the holes from carpet tacks are still there. The creaky floors are uneven, and need to be refinished. The pullout sofa had enough broken springs to let you fall to the floor on one end. The hotel has no elevator, so if you don't mind getting your steps in, no problem. The breakfast is meager, with coffee, granola bars, yogurt and toast.
Positives: Bell staff and breakfast room attendant were very nice and helpful. The lobby is nicely appointed and a pleasant welcome, coming in from the street. The alarm clock had an ipod/iphone dock. Our room had a full kitchen which was very helpful. The best part of staying here is the neighborhood! There are Indian, Cajun fondue (Melting Pot), and pizza restaurants, and an Irish pub, all steps from the hotel. Seattle Center is only a short walk away. Easy Street Records is the next building over, and we loved the Metropolitan Market (great selection of beer, wine, soups and freshly made toasted sandwiches) one short block away.
I would love to stay in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood on my next visit to Seattle. But, after the shockingly horrible customer service and shoddy rooms, I cannot recommend the Marqueen. We had a great visit to Seattle, but the Marqueen was without a doubt the worst part of the trip.