A cruise to Alaska led my husband and I to a two-night, pre-cruise stay in Seattle. We considered several options from imposing on friends, booking a room in a hotel or choosing Airbnb. As it turned out, choosing Airbnb -- specifically, Jenn and Louis's lovely apartment -- was the best decision we could have ever made!
When we arrived at 11 pm from our cross-country flight, the couple warmly greeted us and showed us around the well-appointed apartment; I make note of this because they could have easily left a key under the mat and left us to our own devices to figure things out. Their immediate hospitality coupled with a chilled bottle of champagne and glasses let us know that we were in for something special and, indeed, set the tenor for the remainder of our stay.
Jenn and Louis thought of everything -- from the beautiful matelasse comforter that draped both the sofa and bed -- which would come in handy for Seattle's chilly evenings (there is a fireplace there, too) plush towels and linens -- to morning pastries and coffee, which Jen kindly delivered to us. Having stayed in many fine hotels, the all pale in comparison to what we experienced at Jenn and Louis's. We felt both pampered and at home at the same time!
The location couldn't be beat: we were a couple blocks from beautiful Lake Washington, which offered numerous opportunities for leisurely strolls. But we didn't have to go far to enjoy beauty; the couple's garden is beautifully tended to, and we found ourselves just sitting outside enjoying coffee at the bistro table and enjoying the garden outside our door.
Our stay was better than we could have imagined. We are thrilled to have been Jen and Louis's first guests at their Airbnb. For guests who follow us, you are in for a treat!