Silver Cloud Inn Tacoma

Water in All Directions

Most of the prices average in the $260 per room range, though there are some hotel discounting web sites that I have found room prices in the $104 range for double queen rooms, their web site features occasional specials as well offering prices down into the $150 per night range for a single king bed room. I went to several web special sites, but was unable to find a price less than the $169 price listed on their web site for the night I needed, so I just booked directly.

If you have some flexibility, be sure to check their web site for the entire week, as the internet specials could result in quite a discount for you.

The hotel does offer a complimentary shuttle service to locations in downtown Tacoma, but I came and departed by bus. The complimentary shuttle operates on demand, so you have to make arrangements beforehand. Also, the shuttle is only available from 8 am to 8 pm.

There are no bad rooms in the hotel, but the closer you are to Ruston Way the more noise you get from both the railroad and the road. However, I found the sound proofing to be good enough that noise from neither was a problem. In fact, I actually slept with my window open. There is a railroad crossing nearby, but the crossing has been improved to the point where the trains are not required to sound their horns. One train did blow the horn, but it was during the day and it was because there was some guy wandering around on the tracks.

Parking at the hotel is free of charge, and there does seem to be some problems sometimes because some of the parking places are located under the hotel, and are not accessible by larger vehicles, and there seems to be an overabundance of larger vehicles at times.

The hotel has accesss to a dock, though it is quite small, and the walkway there has a picnic table and a few benches that overlook the water. You will find that from time to time there are people that throw crab traps and otherwise fish off the dock here, but keep in mind that the water is dangerous enough that certain fish should not be eaten that come out of this water.

The hotel has wireless internet available free of charge, and each room also comes with a wired network receptacle. I was able to get reception in my room (318), but only briefly and slowly. The reception and speed in the main lobby is much better. I really should have brought a network cable, as it would have worked out quite a bit better.

There are views of the Olympic mountains from the rooms on the northwest side of the hotel, and that included room 318 as well. There was also a light on the walkway down below that reflected off the water and made a relaxing pattern on the ceiling of the room.

The breakfast is in the main lobby, which is nicely furnished. However, the breakfast is a bit limited in the scope of what is available due to the size of the counter tops for putting food out. There was a waffle maker, apple and orange juice, eggs, sausage, and several different types of bread, and a toaster to put them in. Bananas and apples were also available. So, it wasn't a huge selection, but it was a decent start to the day.

I'm not fond of the artwork in the hotel, though. It is fairly common standard fare hotel mass produced art prints. As many galleries and artists as there are in Tacoma, it seems like something more local could have been found.

About my only two complaints with the hotel:

+ There is no walkway connecting the hotel with the really nice Ruston Way Walkway, which connects the hotel with restaurants and parks on either side. This means walking through the narrow auto traffic lanes if you are going to or from the walkway and the hotel. While the driveway isn't hugely busy, it is a bit of a hazard, especially after dark.

+ The wireless network strength in the room wasn't very strong, though that would have easily been overcome had I thought to bring a network cable. I'm still new at this whole traveling with a computer thing.

Unique Quality: Located on the waterfront directly above commencement bay, the hotel offers views in just about every direction. It is located near "Old Town", which is one of the better parts of Tacoma, and is a rather odd little neighborhood that used to be Tacoma's main downtown commercial center, and has a number of small shops in it. The hotel is also located right on the Ruston Way Walkway, which is a linear park walkway along the waterfront beside Ruston Way.

While Ruston Way is a busy street, it isn't as busy as many of the streets elsewhere in or near Tacoma, and there is considerable opportunity to escape traffic due to most (maybe all?) the hotel rooms facing either the side or directly out to the water.

While not within most people's walking distance, the hotel is reasonably close to both Point Defiance Park and the Museum of Glass, which are Tacoma's two biggest tourist draws.

Rooms come in the following types:

+ Single King Bed
+ Single King Bed with Electric Fireplace and a number of luxury features
+ King Bed with Jacuzzi and even more luxury features
+ Double Queen Bed
+ Suite
+ Deluxe Suite

Among the many features, there is internet service, breakfast, a pier should you arrive by boat, and various other services that are fairly standard practice in hotels in this price range.

The hotel is 100% non-smoking and no pets are allowed.

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Related to: Luxury Travel

Silver Cloud Inn Tacoma Photo: Silver Cloud Hotel and its Walkway View of Sound

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