I spent one night in a new luxury hotel in Seattle for $450. My room had 4 surprising amenities I'd never seen before.
The Seattle location started taking reservations in May, and I stayed there during opening weekend.
My $450-a-night room surprised me with unique amenities and creative sustainability practices.
I was among the first to sleep in one particular room at 1 Hotel Seattle. As someone who has stayed in many upscale hotels around the world, I wasn't expecting to be blown away.
I'm glad I was mistaken.
The luxury hotel chain, which offers a starting rate of $400 a night, opened its Pacific Northwest location on May 6 — just four days before my one-night stay.
My $450-a-night room blended nature and modern luxury in a way that calmed me after a day of exploring Seattle.
But what really struck me were the details.
From the outside, 1 Hotel Seattle looked like a typical hotel.
According to the company's website, 1 Hotels is a decade-old luxury hotel brand centered on sustainability.
"This isn't just another hotel — it's a place for travelers who care about where they stay, how they stay, and the impact they leave behind," the general manager, Rob Brandenberg, told Business Insider.
As I approached the hotel, I thought the exterior was unassuming. It was in a shopping center next to a Whole Foods. Save for the entrance, the building looked plain to me.
But once I stepped into the lobby, it was clear I'd booked a unique stay.
Tree trunk tables, monsteras, and ferns decorated the lobby, which was complete with a soothing, nature-inspired soundtrack. Macramé chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and timber coated the walls.
"The hotel draws from the raw beauty of the Pacific Northwest, with reclaimed wood, natural stone, moss-inspired art, and live-edge furnishings woven throughout the design," Brandenberg said.
In addition to 153 rooms, the hotel had an on-site restaurant named La Loba, a lobby bar called Drift, a gift shop, a gym, an outdoor terrace, and meeting spaces.
My 327-square-foot City King room felt like a peaceful sanctuary.
My room looked modern and natural with a light, warm, and muted color palette. I noticed a headboard made of reclaimed wood, a tree-trunk nightstand, and a coat rack resembling a bare tree.
The king-sized bed across from a 55-inch TV had organic linen sheets. The wardrobe, sitting area, and light fixtures had a midcentury modern look.
The bathroom was just as calming.
I watched TV through the window to the bedroom while soaking in the wood-based bathtub. I felt the stone pebble flooring beneath my feet in the rainfall shower. And I did my skincare routine on quartzite counters in front of a large blob mirror.
I found amenities I'd never seen in a hotel room, like a robe that felt like a sweatshirt.
I'm used to wrapping myself in the terry cloth robes provided at luxury hotels, so I was surprised to find a jersey knit robe with a hood hanging in my bathroom at 1 Hotel Seattle.
While it didn't soak up moisture like a typical hotel robe, I found it far more comfortable. The jersey robe was as soft as a sweatshirt. The lining felt smooth against my skin.
The room surprised me with a filtered tap.
In my experience, most hotel rooms are stocked with plastic water bottles, but 1 Hotel Seattle had a more sustainable approach to hydration.
On the bedside table, I found a carafe and two cups made of recycled wine bottles. The cups rested on a coaster with a message informing guests of the filtered tap in the bathroom.
It felt luxurious to sip as much water as I needed from a thick, smooth glass instead of rationing a limited supply of complimentary water bottles. I also felt good about avoiding single-use plastics that are bad for the environment.
I'd never seen bathroom amenities with alternative suggestions for use.
In the bathroom, I found standard hotel amenities like cotton swabs and shower caps, but I was surprised by their packaging. Beneath each label was a list of other ways to use the item — ways I'd never thought about.
Shower caps can be camera covers, shoe bags, or snack bowls. Cotton rounds can be coasters, and swabs can be keyboard cleaners. I was impressed by this clever touch, and I took note for future stays.
On my way out, I realized the hotel had a unique and sustainable solution for overpackers.
I almost missed the "1 Less Thing" plaque. On my way out, I noticed it on a shelf by the front door. The plaque said guests can leave unwanted clothing beneath it, and the hotel will donate the pile to a local shelter.
Although I packed light and didn't use the plaque, it warmed my heart to think of all the overpackers who stay at 1 Hotel Seattle and will have the opportunity to give back with this convenient program.
These surprises made me think that 1 Hotels takes sustainable travel to a new level with creative approaches. I hope other hotels are inspired to do the same.
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