I don’t have anything against airport hotels. They serve an important purpose, and many of them have important features like workout rooms or well-stocked bars that help to fend off the foils of the airport experience. But just a few blocks from Seattle’s SeaTac airport is perhaps the best airport hotel you’ll ever stumble upon: Cedarbrook Lodge. I say stumble and mean it – the lodge is no more than 5 minutes from the airport and yet it’s located down an unassuming road that looks more like a housing addition than the entrance to a 18-acre lodge. If there were a value luxury airport hotel, this would be it.

The Cedarbrook Experience

cedarbrook lodge

When arriving at Cedarbrook, I definitely got the sensation of arriving at a ski lodge with a bit of Pacific Northwest flair. The parking area sits slightly above the lodge, partially submerging it. The grounds, with walking paths and gardens and lovely little sitting areas, are even lower, hiding them away from the hustle of the outside world. Honestly, I can’t explain how serene and quiet it is here – you’ll have to experience to believe it – only occasionally does a faint roar of a jet fill the air.
The front desk overlooks a gorgeous fireplace and sitting lounge, which are part of the restaurant (more on that in a second). You’ll then be directed to one of the adjacent buildings where rooms are located. In each of these buildings is a common kitchen where you can help yourself to potato chips, chocolate treats, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, water, and soft drinks. (Yes, you read that right – free ice cream. Small single-serve Haagen-Daz in plenty of flavors; I went for the coffee one. And then the strawberry. And possibly a vanilla bean on the way to check-out.)

These buildings are very spacious, with wide open hallways – and dead quiet, even if someone was in a common room lounging and snacking. Again, I’m reminded of a ski lodge, without the snow-covered mountain of course.

cedarbrook lodge

During my stay I enjoyed one of the most recently refurbished rooms – these upgrades are ongoing and will be completed soon. The bathrooms have marble countertops and a large shower/tub, complete with amenities that include soap with a hole in the middle (less waste if you don’t end up using all of it, but it does make for a fun souvenir.)
My room ran a smidge on the small side, but high on comfort, with a soft bed, a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the gardens (and a floor-to-ceiling shade for privacy, thankfully), free Wifi, flat screen television, coffee maker, and ample closet space.

With all the relaxing pleasantries, it was difficult to leave my room (or stop grazing in the common area for that matter) to explore the outside grounds. You don’t need to explore all 18 acres of the property to get a feeling of serenity, nor can you – it’s a wetlands, so much of it is just as nature intended.

Wining and Dining

cedarbrook lodge

I’ve had a number of Seattleites mention to me the Copperleaf Restaurant, Cedarbrook’s onsite restaurant, is their family favorite. Judging by the happy faces of the diners and the full house the night of my stay, I think it’s safe to say this is a winner. I didn’t have time to dine, but what I can tell you is that the menu is all farm-to-table, including an onsite garden – it couldn’t be more fresh.
There’s also a small bar area that has a full stock of Washington wines, Pacific Northwest craft beers, and you can take whatever you like back up to your room, though on a chilly Seattle night I can imagine a cocktail next to the grand fireplace to be a impressive experience.

Breakfast is also included with your stay and the accoutrements include everything from oatmeal to cheese to fresh fish, complete with Starbucks coffee.

Other Practical Features

cedarbrook lodge
The lodge offers a regular, complimentary shuttle service to both the airport as well as the light rail station, which takes about 50 minutes to take you into downtown Seattle. There is also a less regular complimentary shuttle to drop you off at the Amtrak station in Tukwila, which runs between Vancouver, B.C. and Portland on the Amtrak Cascades service.

Unless you are renting a car, I wouldn’t recommend staying at Cedarbrook Lodge if you are wanting to spend lots of time exploring downtown. However, if you can at least spend one night here, do it – it is totally worth it.

The lodge is popular and only has around 100 rooms, so it sells out regularly. Be sure to book ahead to ensure availability.