We did this for my 50th birthday, and it was the perfect way to mark the occasion…read more It felt like a meaningful threshold-crossing experience--celebratory and memorable without feeling over-the-top. As more of my friends have crossed this age milestone, I've seen the full spectrum of responses: people who downplay it and later wish they'd done something special, people who throw huge parties and regret the stress and effort, and people who choose extreme adventures only to find the adrenaline crash leaves them feeling depleted afterward, bringing '50' home in a hard way. This struck exactly the right balance. It was special enough to feel like a true celebration, offered a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and created memories (and amazing photos) I'll carry with me for years. While it's certainly not inexpensive, once you see the amount of equipment, preparation, effort, infrastructure, expertise, and care that goes into each flight, the pricing feels more than reasonable. It's a significant experience without being financially out of reach. If you're looking for a memorable way to celebrate a milestone event--or simply want an extraordinary experience--I highly recommend it.

Be prepared to be cancelled on…read more.. We really wanted to do a sunset flight with Seattle Ballooning last year (Aug. 2025) for our 10 year anniversary, but our flight got cancelled on our way there due to high winds, which was quite the disappointment since it was on our anniversary but understandable for safety. We rescheduled for a few days later, made it out to the launching point for the rescheduled flight only to have it also cancelled... again due to wind. We were told we could reschedule again, but we decided to let Seattle Ballooning hold our tickets until the following summer (2026) so we could do a surprise sunrise flight (since we were told sunrise flights are much less likely to get cancelled) for our son's 10th birthday, which is also in August. And even though there wasn't a cloud in the sky and was a perfectly sunny day on Aug. 20th, we got cancelled on again for the 3rd time... due to fog (even though there was no fog and fog doesn't usually start in western WA until the fall). Needless to say, it's been a very disappointing experience all 3 times, especially since we keep seeing posts about all the flights happening and how now is the perfect time to schedule. While it has been a disappointing experience 2 summers in a row and was also quite the long process to get our money refunded, I can say that the balloon pilots we got to meet last year prior to our 2nd flight getting cancelled were very nice, and the office staff have been friendly. I just wish we could have actually gotten to fly since all the posts I've seen have looked so nice. So if you do book with this company, please be prepared to be cancelled on and maybe have a back-up plan if you're trying to celebrate a special occasion.

ALL AREAS ARE REVIEWED 1-5, 1 being the worst and 5 being the best…read more Reservations-5-Always easy with Concur Parking-4-plenty of parking available and easy access. Marked down to 4 because ai do t think you should have to pay extra ($20/night) to park at a hotel you are already paying to stay at. Just my opinion. Room-5- Would be a 6 if I gave a 6. I can't say enough about this room (rooms). It was a two room suite with a separate bedroom and living room. The living room had a comfortable sofa and table, a round dinner table and bar, and a great, large, functional desk. Having a separate workspace made life easier and I didn't need to shut my laptop and/or remote screen due to light. Mattress/pillows-5-Maybe the most comfortable hotel bed I have ever slept in, not sure what made it that way but it was. Elevator speed/availability-4-Elevators were pretty quick, lost a point because one of the three elevators was down the entire time I was there. It's a big hotel and two elevators can slow down guest. Gym/pool-5-Again I would give the gym a 6 if I gave 6's. A great selection of dumbbells, cardio equipment, kettlebells and a smith rack with a straight bar and handles. (It would be nice to have more handles for the smith machine but that's not a deal breaker) Restaurant-3- I ordered from the bar not the restaurant so I can only speak to the bar. I am not a fan of being asked to tip before I receive my food but most places seem to be heading this way. My food order was messed up pretty badly and I was in a hurry so I was stuck with it. The person behind the bar didn't write down my order so I'm sure that's why it was messed up, the other person behind the bar that I paid was a little rude. Needless to say I won't eat at the bar for the remainder or in the future. Staff-5-Even with the bar staff the admissions folks at the front desk and other employees (maintenance and at the in-house Starbucks) were fantastic and very helpful. Price-5-Seemed appropriate and fair. Overall-5-My new favorite Hilton, I will definitely stay here again and I recommend you check it out if you are in/around Seattle. Shout out- Renee at the front desk was fantastic. Bonus- There is an Outback in the front parking lot, and a giant mall (Southcenter Westfield Mall) right across the street with tons of food options and a theatre).

This hotel was very convenient, because it was close to the airport. But the service wasn't to…read moregood. The front desk weren't very informative I had to stand in line many times just to get the correct information. The hotel is old. The front desk doesn't answer their phone, so I had to go downstairs and stand in line again. So upsetting. They are very understaffed.. because they are busy, I mean very busy. The line to check in never went down. All day all night even till 11:00pm at night . Crazy. The laundry is confusing. You have to use an app. What happened to using coins. And they only had 2 washers and 2 dryers. That property is huge. They need more. I don't know, if I would stay there again.

A MUST when visiting Mt. Rainier / Crystal Mountain resort - it was the perfect way to admire what…read morethe wifey had just accomplished, running down the gigantic mountain, the ride up is about 10 - 15mins, all worth it!!! breath taking views of Mt. Rainier, do dress accordingly, it was pretty windy and about 10 degrees colder up on the mountain. there is a restaurant/restrooms observation chairs and a beer garden at the top! but the view!!! stunning, the greens/whites/ snow peak colors with the sky blue in the background. as usual parking could be hit or miss, they do have several parking lots but the closest one to the gandola ( the paved one ) is on the smaller side, they have other lots designated by letters ( which also unpaved ) Info on Gondola here: https://www.crystalmountainresort.com/things-to-do/activities/mt-rainier-gondola

We were recently traveling with our dog in the area so we had to take her on the pet friendly Mt…read more Rainier Gondola. Even though the weather didn't agree with us, we still had an enjoyable time. We purchased our tickets online a few days ahead because you get a better price that way. Each ticket is good for two separate rides. We arrived just after 10 in the morning and it was grey and overcast. The sky was very cloudy and there was a foggy mist over the mountains. It was lovely but not the best weather for sight seeing. We went ahead and rode up the mountain and back and it was fun but as you can guess the views weren't great from the gondola. About half the ride it was just like being inside frosted glass and all we could see was grey. We stayed at the top for a while but the winds were to fierce for our pup so we headed back down and spent some time eating, shopping and enjoying the area. We were hoping the weather would clear up later in the afternoon. Unfortunately for us, Mother Nature had other plans and it was cool, foggy and totally overcast all day. I wasn't even really that disappointed though because it was just so beautiful being there. It was honestly my favorite kind of weather. On our second ride, we did try riding the famous "Green Gondola". We had seen other people waiting for it on our earlier ride and asked a staff member what it was all about. They said it was just a replacement gondola so it didn't match the others exactly and we kind of laughed at how silly it is but people love things that are unique. There was no line, so we gave it a go and I'm here to tell you that it didn't part the clouds and I haven't won the lottery since riding it :) Sorry to say it is just like the red ones. Even with the weather, we made a really nice day of it and if you haven't seen this area, I would definitely recommend giving the gondola a try. I think next time we will probably risk the higher prices at the gate to make sure the weather is cooperating for the ride.

Too expensive on most things. But very accommodating in others…read more In Rome "Barbara's House" was an excellent experience booked through Table Less Traveled. It's a must do, Dinner and drinks included.

Much as I'd like to post a positive review, my experience with the Gyoza class was disappointing…read more Although I've been cooking for decades and have attended many cooking schools, the time spent on this class was not worthwhile. I had considerable difficulty understanding the teacher. More surprising, however, was my discovery of a YouTube video that clearly explained all the elements that apparently were covered in the class. That video took only 15 minutes. I will try another and have my fingers crossed.

I have used Mary Valle twice for our travel advisor and I will, indeed, reach out to her again for…read moreour next trip. Most recently Mary helped us plan and execute our trip to Italy. Our trip to discover my family in a small hamlet in Italy was magical. Mary was sensitive to our needs and chose an excellent driver who was prompt and courteous. We were not sure what to expect and when we got into this vintage 1600 town with just one commercial building; overwhelmed with the friendliness, and we ended up being there for almost 5 hours! When planning the trip, Mary listened to our needs and suggested 3-4 hotels at each place we stayed. She suggests hotels that cover a wide price range, so we are free to make the decision that suits our lifestyle and budget. Mary organized various transportation methods, including a train transport to Naples. Mary is someone I trust for suggestions to make our trips meaningful and stress free.

We have used Mary Valle to plan out and book several trips for ud, including a few weeks in…read moreIreland, and a couple of trips to New Zealand. On one trip she spent considerable time in arranging and then booking a number of B&Bs and Farmstays that we had already selected on our own, as well as interesting hotels. She is always available while we are traveling to make itinerary changes, or book additional accommodations, events, or specially accommodations, as well as airline changes, train tickets, ferry reservations, and such. After using Mary for a few trips she became rather intuitive about what we like or don't like. We wouldn't consider traveling without Mary's assistance. She is always just a text away. Dick and Paula Chase

I received a call tonight around 7:30 but a women with very broken english. After a few moments on…read morethe call, I was immediately given to a supervisor. She also had a very heavy accent and the only reason I continued to listen was because it took me a few minutes to figure out what they were talking about and what they were selling. I asked about their company and the gal on the phone made a lot of promises. They promised me free airfare and hotel accommodations for coming down to Tukwila for a 90 minute presentation. I asked what they did and they said they were a new company that specialized in Travel. I asked what the presentation was about and she said I would find out when I come. I hung up:)

Oh my Gosh! This is such a high pressure racket to fleece you of any money you have for a…read moreabsolutely worthless product. I'm called at 5:00 on Sunday by a woman who barely speaks or understands english and is trying to get me to come to Tukwila and sit for 2 hours listening to a resort sharing presentation with a group of other suckers. I'm promised the moon, stars, and lots of airline tickets until I (and my wife) decline. Then everything disappears. No travel voucher, no airline ticket, no restaurant gift certificate. Do yourself a favor and hang up before your out of your paycheck.

We took the Harbor Cruise as part of our City Pass package, thinking it would be a good use of time…read moreand a fun way to see Seattle from a different perspective. We ended up really enjoying the tour and would highly recommend to visitors. This would especially be a great thing to add to your itinerary if you're only in the city for a short time, as you get to see a lot of landmarks in a short time. You also get to hear about the city's history and key industries. The ride overall is pretty smooth, and my husband, who gets motion sickness, was totally fine. The boat when docked can experience a little more motion, however, so your mileage may vary. We also found it easy to get seats with good views, and the guides were easy to hear anywhere on the boat. The crew were friendly and engaging, and Angelo and the other staff were very kind to us when my husband and I mentioned we were celebrating our anniversary.

We reserved our spots for 4pm via CityPass tickets. People started lining up 20-25 minutes prior to…read moregrab the seats at the top of the deck. The check-in and onboarding process was super easy. The ship promptly left dock at designated time. The top deck had open view. The second level had enclosed area with glass window views. Also both ends were open to guests as well. From start to end, the staff member did an amazing job of narrating many aspects of the views from the deck. A lot of it was about the downtown Seattle buildings, Space Needle, buildings and parks by the shore, the sea ports and many other cool facts along the way. I throughly enjoyed the hour long tour. The weather was also fantastic to take stunning pictures of the downtown, the mountains and the port. They also had a bar in second level where they served alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, pop corn and some small snacks. Prices were decent for it being a tourist activity. We liked both popcorn and the strawberry lemonade.

This is NOT a self park. Junky lot, they want your keys and then the park the cars less than a foot…read moreapart, with cars in front of other cars. We got there, the attendant was sleeping on someone's car IN the driveway. I refused to let them keep my keys (had a bad experience with that another time), but they did park the car. It took them 10 minutes to park it a 30 second walk away ??. I kept the key during my trip. It took them more than 30 minutes to pick us up, while other parking services' vans passed by 2 or 3 times. They wanted to get the car for me, I refused and got the car out myself, though it was an extremely tight space - I'm a small woman and almost had to climb in through the window. Their spot on Global Airport Parking says 5 stars. Absolute lie. It's the cheapest one for a reason. Not worth the savings. We won't use them again.

NEVER AGAIN!!!! Arrived at prepaid time, attendant says find somewhere else to park, your truck is…read moretoo big. Mind you, I've parked here 3 previous times with zero problems, other than a moderate language barrier. Also, I drove 2 hours to get to the lot & my flight was taking off in 2.5 hours at 6am. Where the hell am i going to find parking at that time in the morning and still have ample time to get through TSA, etc. Dude was a TOTAL D!€{!!!! Finally says OK, but only one time. Proceeds to pull the Casks attitude on me, knowing I'm in a rock and hard place. "Gimme your keys, hurry up, write this down, faster" just a straight up prick! Booking website says nothing about large vehicles (2500 Chevy Silverado) but he swears it does, even though I see at least 10 trucks/SUV's parked in the lot. Seriously, this is straight up sketch place to park, super rude & will never see my business again. I will continue to tell this story whenever I can.

I went on the "Mt Rainier Highlights Tour" with a group of around 20 people. Our tour guide was…read morethis guy with a cool beard named "Lucas". He was a little late, but he made up for it with how much of an interesting character he was. Throughout the journey, all the way up to stopping at Elbe on our way out, he talked our ears off, but I could listen to that guy talk all day. He told us historical info about Rainier, stories about his personal life as well as previous experiences doing the same tour I went on. Very open to questions too! Took us to Fred Meyers (Kroger) on the way to the park so we could buy some lunch. Showed us all the cool spots to take photos, was very clear on times to meet back, where to go, and even gave us his phone number in case we needed it for something. Since I went during early april, there was still a lot of snow on the ground. Lucas provided all 20(or so) of us with these shoe attachments called "microspikes", which allowed us to walk on the snow/ice covered ground with relative ease. He even made it work for someone with small feet (a kid). Told us over and over to drink water & be safe and whatever else. So uh, great guy, great amenities, great info, great experience. Overall 10/10.

Great experience... Tour guide Cory was really nice and funny. Everything was on time.. A perfect…read moreday!!!