Guest Reviews

Read what our guests have to say about our New Grand King Rooms and Suites and the Governor Hotel

Reviewed April 11th, 2013

My fiance and i visited Olympia overnight and stayed at The Governor Hotel. It was a quick trip but one of the best stays we have ever had at ANY hotel! We upgraded to the Grand King Room (which i highly recommend doing; for a few extra bucks you get a beautifully updated room!) Kris at the Front Desk allowed us to check in VERY early! Such a plus! Kris was so kind and accommodating our entire stay! Amy, the other front desk agent was also very kind. She was nice enough to tell us about the Olympia Restaurant Week, and was legitimately interested in what we had to say, All in all I think we will stay again. Ten thumbs up. If customer service is key in your stay i recommend checking in at The Governor.
Room Tip: Grand King Suite.

David
Group of friends
Hinckley, United Kingdom
October 10, 2012

Everything. Every single thing. The staff were absolutely wonderful; very 'genuine', very helpful, amusing, and evidently thoroughly enjoyed what they were doing. The value for money is staggeringly good ... the extremely reasonable price included a remarkably good breakfast, with eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, fruit, cereals, juices., coffee, etcetera, etcetera ... I honestly believe that, of all of the hotels that I stayed in whilst in the USA over a three-week road trip, the Governor was, without a doubt, far and away the best value for money. It is also perfectly located for easy walks to the sea front, to the Capitol building ... For the very first time ever, I shall send a letter of thanks to the staff at this hotel. Handwritten. It really, really is THAT good.

I really did not like at all the fact that we were only staying at the hotel for one night, and then moving on; but I can hardly blame the hotel for that!

“Treated like Rockstars”
  Reviewed November 29, 2012

We came down from Bellingham for 3 days of work and showed up a bit early. The staff at the Governor were very accommodating and set us up with some temporary workspace to allow us to carry on our business. The Governor became our headquarters for the next three days. The downtown location was extremely convenient and the privat parking was the key.

The hospitality that we were given starting with the morning breakfast and throughout the day made us feel like rockstars. We stayed in the thoughtfully remodeled rooms and enjoyed the views and conveniences afforded to us as business travelers.

Room Tip: Ask for a view of the Capitol. On clear days you can also see the Olympic Mountains.

“Nice Package: Hotel and Theatre”
  Reviewed October 29, 2012

Our hotel and theatre package was just fine. The hotel arranged for our tickets at the Harlequin Theatre last week and provided us with one of the newly renovated King Rooms. The theatre was an easy walk of about 4 blocks with ample choices for eating within that same walking radius. We found the room to meet our expectations, the personnel were most accommodating and the breakfast included plenty of variety and was delicious. We will definitely do this again!

Had a great visit, will return!
September 25, 2012

I'm a little fussy when it comes to hotels, but the staff and cleanliness of the rooms were fabulous. The little breakfast buffet was a nice touch!
 

“unbelievably friendly”
  Reviewed September 18, 2012

This hotel is a real gem in Olympia. Great location, walking distance from everything, and very friendly staff.
We were lucky enough to stay on one of the renovated floors, and the room was great, clean and very comfortable at a very competitive price.
Breakfast was OK.
I forgot my coat in the room, and Lynette emailed us right away to let us know, and shipped it back to our home, amazing customer service, thank you!

“Newly renovated rooms”
 Reviewed September 4, 2012

The old-timey Governor is in the process of renovation. If you go, be sure to get one of the revamped "Grand King" rooms. Ours was on the eighth floor with panoramic view stretching from the Capitol Dome, across Capitol Lake Park, and north to the end of Puget Sound. Walking distance to the bars on 4th. Parking included in room rate, plus GREAT full breakfast (eggs, bacon, potatoes plus plus plus).
Room Tip: Go for the renovated "Grand King" on the west side of the hotel

“Brighton bed was wonderful in the deluxe king suite”
  Reviewed July 19, 2012

My husband and I had a Living Social voucher so we were not sure what to expect. We were impressed with the decor in the suite on the 8th floor. Our room was overlooking the park. Two large flat screen tvs and we thought the picture was clear unlike a review I read before we went there. Wifi was easy to access and the L shaped glass desk was very nice. My husband recently had knee surgery so we were happy the room was close to the elevator. The lounge chair was too low for him to sit on and be able to get up from - but I enjoyed reading while reclining on it,,,just used one of the many bed pillows to prop my head better. We had never heard of Brighton beds...but let me tell you, if we had not just recently spent $1500 on our latex pillow top mattress by Beauty Rest...we would be buying this mattress,,,it is more comfortable than ours and we shopped for over a year for the one we have. Where can we find one is our big question?

Our voucher included 2 dinner entrees for the price of one at Adesso Restaurant as long as you also had 2 beverages. The restaurant was just around the corner from the Governor. Unfortunately, the young lady who checked us in on Sunday at around 6:00pm told us the restaurant was not open on Sunday...but we found out on Tuesday when we checked out that it is open every evening of the week. Luckily, it was open for lunch also so the owner gave us both lunch and dinner menus to choose from and honored the voucher. We highly recommend it, everything was very good. My husband said the Chopped Salad was the best he ever had.

One more thing, the shower head was really good too - plenty of water pressure and nice, hot water. We did have to ask for a rubber bath mat because we did not want to risk husband slipping after knee surgery.
 

“Great spot right downtown”
 Reviewed July 18, 2012

The location of the Governor is perfect, easy walking distance to everything downtown - including parks & walking trails along the water. They are currently going through a renovation and the new suites are beautiful (I was able to see one) - they're really on their way to being a boutique hotel. I stayed in one of the standard rooms which was just fine and served the purpose since I was hardly at the hotel at all. The highlight was really the staff. We arrived early and since they were full we couldn't get into our rooms. We had work to do and they let us set-up in the breakfast room which was a perfect office with lots of room to spread out. The staff in general were very friendly and helpful and seemed like friends by the end of the weekend.
 

“A pleasant place”
Reviewed July 15, 2012

We enjoyed the Governor, particularly its funky downtown Olympia location and consistently cheerful and helpful staff (Kris is great!). The room was clean and nice with an appealing retro vibe, the view good, but the summer sun in the west nearly defeated the experience. Would stay again but avoid the west facing floor. Perhaps an east-facing view of the park?

“LOVED it”
Reviewed July 12, 2012

I stayed here for a night in late June and LOVED it. It is an older hotel currently under rennovation, but the view was spectacular - overlooking the capital and water. Yes, the pool was covered, still, but if people want a pool experience I suggest they travel to California or call to make sure the pool is open. The bed was VERY comfortable and the L'Occitane toiletries great. The old photos are great. There are several very good restaurants in the area. This is a great alternative to staying in Tacoma.

“Excellent Stay”
Reviewed July 11, 2012

This place is an excellent place to stay. The views are amazing, staff is some of the most helpful around and talk about friendly!! We were able to stay in the suite and was it sweet!! Very clean comfortable and an all around great experience. We will be staying here on our next trip up. Thank You for a great place!!! Plus there are NOparking Fees!!!!

“weekend at the governor hotel”
 Reviewed July 9, 2012

My husband and i stayed at the GOVERNOR HOTEL for two nights this past weekend. We were on the 7th floor in a newly remodeled Grand King Suite. The room was wonderful, just as the pictures show on their website, loved the keurig coffee maker! we had two large flatscreens in the room, fridge, microwave, bed was very very comfy! The chaise lounge was a trendy little touch, i told my hubby i would like to replace my recliner with one! Yes the building is very old! which made it a neat place to stay! Lois at the front desk who is the sweetest person told me a little history on the hotel as well, she also told me they had a customer who recently stayed there that just turned 101! she lived in the hotel many years ago and was a schoolteacher, her husband proposed to her in the dining room! they also showed her the safe from many years ago that her wedding ring was kept in! How neat is that! Kris at the front desk was also very nice and helpful! We loved that we could park the car and walk to the capital! the theatre, restaurants, and the many pubs and bars! we walked to the lake, down the pier, and to the farmers market, and the many shops and galleries! The Red Winds Casino will also pick you up from the hotel free of charge! The breakfast in the hotel was just perfect enough to get the day started! Would have liked to have used the pool but it was not opened yet for the season, but there is always next time! Olympia is a very old city the buildings reflect the history and are really neat to see! Thank you Governor Hotel! My husband and i had a great weekend and can't wait to return! Cc
 

“Downtown Olympia Hotel for business travel”
 Reviewed June 25, 2012

I stayed here for a full week for a week-long training course. Initially, because I was using a government discount, the hotel booked me in an "old" king suite. When I got to my room, I could see indentations in the bed from all the people who had slept there before me. I considered changing hotels because the room was VERY dated and dirty. I called the front desk to see what the govt rate was for the deluxe king suites, but they did not offer the govt rate on the deluxe rooms. However, she could offer this to me as a one time free upgrade b/c they wanted to show people how nice the rooms are. I was SOOOOOO thankful because it was like walking into a different hotel! The room was beautiful and clean. The bed was super comfortable. I would not have stayed if they didn't upgrade me. The breakfast was hot and nice. The staff was attentive and friendly. Thank you for upgrading me so I didn't have to switch hotels. The gym, however is inconveniently located in the basement and awful! If you need a gym this is not the place for you. Otherwise, the new rooms and location are worth it. 

**The Gym has since been remodeled and updated as of July 10th, 2012
 

“Love the changes!”
 Reviewed May 29, 2012

We have stayed here several times in the past because of its proximity to family and friends and its easy access to downtown shopping and restaurants. We have always enjoyed the view of the marina and harbor from the west side rooms. This visit was even more pleasant as we stayed in one of the newly remodeled rooms. WOW! Very nicely done with a touch of first class elegance. Bed was comfortable, big flat screen television was exceptional, bathroom with soft towels and robes was a nice touch and everything was clean and fresh. The fridge and microwave were great for the leftovers we brought back to the room. We appreciated the friendly staff. They smiled and were pleasant each time we left and returned to the room. They provided common sense customer service. The complimentary hot breakfast was simple and filling. We will be back!
 

“Very Friendly”
  Reviewed May 24, 2012

The staff at this hotel were wonderful. I was in town with my family to run the Capital City Marathon. Not only was the hotel right next to the start/finish (which was wonderful), but the checkout was not until 12:00. This gave me lots of time to run and get that very much needed shower! I have run several out of town marathons. Some hotels do not like when you ask for a later check-out (even though they are the "guest hotel" for the marathon). I overheard a runner, who had come in a little late, worried about getting up to his room to get a shower before 12:00, and a staff member of the hotel heard him and said "don't worry, you can have until 1:30". The free breakfast in the morning was very much enjoyed by my little boy and husband. The rate could not be beat ($89 for a clean king room!). We had a hide-away bed with blankets already there when we got up to the room, but received a phone call just to make sure we had all the blankets that we needed. Every single person we passed in the hall smiled and said "hi". We had no trouble finding parking in the covered garage. The hotel is older, but I would rather pay $89 for a little older king sized room with a very helpful and friendly staff, than $200 for a new room. I would stay there again anytime I plan to be in Olympia.
 

“Remodeled rooms are GREAT!”
 Reviewed May 14, 2012

I always stay at the Governor Hotel when I'm on business in Olympia. The staff and the location have always served me well. You can't beat the access to downtown OLY right out the door. The rooms were getting dated but the hotel has begun remodelling floor by floor. The changes are great. I really enjoyed my recent stay and slept great in the new bed. Make sure to ask for one of the remodeled rooms. They have everything you need.

   

“Really love the upgraded rooms!”
 Reviewed May 7, 2012

We always stay at the Governor Hotel when we visit Olympia because of it's great location, reasonable prices & wonderful staff. We recently stayed for Artswalk and booked one the upgraded rooms. The new rooms are beautiful with comfortable beds, nice bedding & soft plush towels. The Kuerig coffee maker was an added bonus and I really enjoyed the new bath products. What a great improvement!

    Stayed April 2012, traveled with friends
 

“A New Standard for Olympia”
 Reviewed May 7, 2012

Last weekend, my wife and I stayed at "The Gov" for the weekend - Gotta say: Their new rooms are AWESOME! Generally, a good bed and a good shower = a good hotel stay (in my book). Olympia's Governor Hotel Suites offered a GREAT shower and a GREAT bed (and my home bed is a TempurPedic...). In addition to this, the staff were knowledgable, engaging, and friendly (and they were quite busy when we were checking in).

We were able to easily walk to fine dining (Waterstreet Cafe was EXCELLENT), followed by visits to local art galleries and live music venues (one of which offered music by a great local blues band). I would not only stay at "The Gov" again, I would certainly recommend this location to others. Definitely the best hotel offering in the Olympia/Thurston County area.

Room Tip: Book a western-facing room for views of Capitol Lake and good sunsets.
See more room tips

    Stayed April 2012, traveled as a couple

 

“Very accommodating, nice stay!”
  Reviewed May 7, 2012

I found this hotel extremely accommodating and the staff were always helpful. I stayed in one of the renovated rooms which are lovely and extremely clean. I slept with my window cracked to enjoy the fresh air and views of the lake. There is a nice writing desk and comfortable leather chair in the room and I found the pillow top bed very relaxing. You cannot beat be the location, complimentary parking and a breakfast buffet included with the stay that is tasty and fresh, with both hot and cold selections.

Room Tip: I have no experience with other rooms at the hotel and I was on the west side which faces the lake...

    Stayed May 2012, traveled on business

 

“Updated rooms are great!”
  Reviewed April 29, 2012

I travel several times a year to Olympia and always stay at the Governor Hotel. The updated rooms are great! The bed is comfortable and the management thought of all the amenitiies. Loved the Krueg coffee maker and the new bath products. The hotel staff is always friendly and willing to advise me on local eateries and events. I definitely will continue staying at the Governor. Lynnette Ondeck.

    Stayed April 2012, traveled on business

 

“Recent Room Upgrades Excellent”
  Reviewed April 25, 2012

I always stay at the Governor when in town for business...have been for years. The location is phenomenal...near to restaurants, coffee shops and pubs with microbrews you can walk to. Only a 3 min. drive to our agency's headquarters. The desk staff (Lynette and Chris) are very helpful and accommodating when I call to make a reservation and when I check-in. Nice view of Capitol Lake, the Capitol Building, Budd Inlet and the Olympic Mtns. from the upper floors on the west side overlooking the lake. The recent room upgrades are great! New beds (super comfortable with upscale linens and pillows), carpet, paint, furniture, big HD tv, bathroom/shower upgrades, soft bathrobes, etc. Nice glass top desk to work on with my laptop. My only complaint is that my room (Rm 808, top floor) temperature control has not been upgraded. Room was warm with thermostat turned off, but I could open the sliding door and get cool fresh air. I'll be here the next time I'm in town.

Room Tip: Rooms on the west side over looking Capitol Lake are quieter and the view is better.

    Stayed April 2012, traveled on busines