Hotel opened January 2007.

179 guestrooms with, I’m told, 6 suites (none of which I’ve seen). 100% non-smoking. Full-service restaurant that’s busy in the morning and actually has quite a few guests most evenings I’ve been on-premises.

Fitness center is 2 t-mills, an elliptical, some free weights, and a recumbent bike. So far, it hasn’t ever been crowded. Nice looking indoor pool and bubbly hot-water thing.

Shiny, large televisions; impressive channel list…I think. (I haven’t watched TV in 30 years.) The one in the next room makes an impressive amount of sound.

Apparently free HSIA and free parking. Effective HVAC in rooms and elsewhere, including fitness center (yay!). Automated wake-up calls (another yay!).

One large and two small conference facilities. Two-computer business center with printer and copier. Everything seems to work.

Hotel is right off I-90, about five miles west of I-405 and seven from Bellevue (which I fled like my trail feathers were ablaze.) Seattle is 15 miles. Sea-Tac is about 23. Traffic s*cks once you get to 405, all darned day it seems, so don’t figure on “65 all the way”.

The whole place is still shiny-new. It’s a four-story layout, but the layout feels like it’s built on inexpensive land – not crowded. The lobby is attractive and has ample seating.

Rooms are spotless and bedding is as good as any HGI I’ve visited. Rooms are comfortable for loafing or working. Neutrogena. Refrigerator, coffee-maker and microwave. Coffee also 24 hours in the lobby. Some (nasty) popcorn appears from time-to-time. Breakfast is, again, as good as any I’ve had at an HGI. Hot food for non-vegetarians. Bonus: Waffles!, emblazoned with the HGI logo. Fruit, yogurt, nicer-than-average breads. Decent restaurant service and the blonde lady is very helpful to visiting guests.

Lots of kids and spouses accompanying working white-collar types (not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

Front desk staff seemed to be still working out some bugs. The printer was down yesterday, so they scribbled my credit card info on a scrap of paper and asked me to sign. They never seem to recognize/reward status (e.g., with breakfast coupons or that suite upgrade I mentioned above.) But they’re generally nice-enough.

Issaquah is apparently Costco HQ, and all the bills I’ve erroneously gotten under my door have been for Costco folks. The hotel is in the new part of town, about two miles from what appears to be the old downtown. Restaurant scene is dominated by chains, and there are many outdoor and strip malls. But the verdant setting is wonderful and decent food can be found – WITHOUT driving to Bellevue – at some locally-owned spots.

And so, I’ll be back again next week.