Green Tortoise Seattle Guest House Reviews

Beautiful little hostel right in the center of the city. Super accommodating staff and a great atmosphere all around

Fantastic place with helpful and pleasant staff. 10/10 would recommend!

Me and my mom went for a gurls trip and selected this spot. PROS: Amazing location, super inexpensive, meeting people from around the world, and complimentary breakfast. CONS: Bed bugs, I ended up getting 8 bites all together. Bad customer service, unfortunately wasn't the friendliest. The guy looked liked he just smoked a bowl. Couldn't take him seriously when he said "no smoking/drinking" when it smelled like pot right when I stepped in.

Ideal location. Comfortable mattresses. Curtains, a fan and a light for each bed. Breakfast is plentiful- all you can cook/eat eggs and pancakes! Helpful staff. Clean.

Easily accessible and centrally located. Very glad that I stayed there.

This place was well worth it. I'd stay here again and recommend to my friends. The staff is friendly and helpful. There's a common area smoking area kitchen laundry and private bathrooms. Bring a deodorizer may smell like a gym.

I stayed at this place for a week with five friends and it was definitely one of the best experiences I have had with traveling. The people working there were very nice and helpful. The room was just what you would expect at a hostel with three bunk beds and room for storage under the beds. When we were at the hostel, we didn't really stay in our room very much but instead we hung out in the main sitting area and got to meet some awesome people from all around the country. There was also the lounge where people would smoke and hang out. One of the best parts about the green tortoise was the kitchen, where everyone was allowed to store their own food and have free access to the refrigerator, oven, and stove. My experience at the hostel was better than any hotel I have ever stayed at and I will definitely stay there again if I return to Seattle.

Cheap rates, plenty of events, awesome place to stay if you're a new timer to seattle.

Best place to stay if you're travelling alone. Other than its location being next to the awesome Pike Place Market at right in the middle of town, it has much more to offer. They have pub crawl nights, and free dinner nights, both awesome. Reason being it has only a common area which everyone hangs out at and you get to meet people from all over the world. I would definitely recommend a stay here. Make sure to book in advance cause they do very well during summer time!

Between the bed bugs that run rampantly and rude staff who seemed to be high 24/7, my experience was very disappointing. I know weed is legal in Washington but as place of business, one would hope staff members and managers would be in a sober and clear mindset in order to properly do their job. It's typically frowned upon at hospitality businesses to let staff work while they are intoxicated. Staff members barge into rooms without knocking and generally do not care about you or your safety. Great location but unfortunately the management has gone downhill.

Great location, staff is super nice and helpful, super chill and clean and SO worth it

Clean. Friendly. All you need.
Just wish their bikes were cheaper for day use!

You really can't beat the location if you're doing touristy Seattle stuff. Prime location, great staff, clean, private bathrooms, bunk privacy curtains AND the best part...sturdy bunks. No worries of shaking or squeaking your bunkmate awake or vice versa. I hate that. Worth the fifth star and the few extra bucks you pay.

Really awesome staff, fun guests to talk to from around the world. wishing i could stay longer.

Only 'meh' based on the mixed dormitory. Upside: nice staff

Clean and cheap and very friendly atmosphere. Right across from the main market.

My first time at a hostel -- certainly an interesting experience, and Green Tortoise didn't disappoint. I roomed here instead of a normal hotel because of its great location and price.

First things first, it is a hostel so YMMV depending on your roommates. Some of the cons:
- Expect to be sharing a room with up to 8 people.
-The rooms can be pretty smelly, and the beds are pretty uncomfortable depending on what you're used to. But then again, you're not paying for a hotel experience.

But this is a 4/5 review since these cons were outweighed:
- The location is superb. Right in the middle of the city, nearby stores, restaurants, the convention center, etc.
- The price is incredible, especially considering the location.
- Very friendly atmosphere and staff. They offer a range of outings (e.g., city tours, guides, bar crawls, etc.) that would be good for an outsider.
- Free DIY breakfast, with free kitchen access. They stock some foods as well, so I ended up not needing to shop like I suspected I would during my stay.

This made for a positive visit, even though I was new to hostels. Definitely not like a hotel, but you get a lot for the price. Would room there again for the convenience and experience.

Amazing and lovely place to stay in economic way. good for students and travellers

Great Hostel! Right in downtown, friendly staff, nice layout, private shower/bath rooms, every bed has its own curtain, light, plug and fan. Free foosball table soccer in common area, and sometimes free beer on weekends! :)

This place is a haven for criminals who wish to violate the AMERICANS with Disabilities Act. My friend has a guide dog. When We tried to book 2 beds in their dorm room, we were refused upon the employee learning that my friend has a service dog. The hostel requires that service animals only be allowed in private rooms, but none were available. This is direct discrimination, and will not be tolerated. Legal action will be taken unless it is resolved. We have already lost precious memories of a vacation in Washington, and that damage is irreparable. By the way, they have no elevator, so they discriminate against wheelchair users and people with walking difficulties who can't manage stairs.

Super friendly staff, good rooms, clean, free beer on some nights and food!

For location alone you couldn't find a better hostel.. stepping out every morning to the very heart of the market was like magic. Then factor that in with the astounding price and friendly staff and you've got yourself a hell of a deal. It's not five star living, but I can't imagine you'd be looking at a hostel if comfort is your priority. If ever I return to Seattle, I'll be booking myself here again.

A chill and simple environment, you will find everything you need, great location

I won't be returning to this hostel -and I'm not sure if I would recommend it.

The hostel itself is fine. Bathrooms are great. The common areas are nice. The beds have an ample framing, but having a good bed seems to depend on how lucky you are with the mattress. I wasn't.

In the social aspect, they have a lot of activities. And a lot of freebies: beer nights, ice creams, et cetera. It could be -theoretically- a great hostel.

A lot of people present in the hostel are staff, working for accommodation. While this creates weird underlying vibes of tribalism, most of them are extraordinarily nice. I met the exception: someone who had an intermittently arrogant, ununderstanding, unwelcoming and ultimately insulting demeanor. He reacted with unexpected, open (and I would like to think undeserved) verbal hostility at one point. Without wanting to make a big deal about it, I reckon that that whole interaction somewhat spoiled my stay there, and bittered my memories of this place.

Nonetheless, I can't justify giving the hostel less than 3 stars.

Great hostel, nice staff. Was quite peaceful, eggs included for breakfast (cook yourself). But no tea / coffee available at other times

Mixed up room reservations. Unhelpful rude front desk. Dirty sheets unwashed with crumbs in them. Didnt really seem to care about mix ups,inconvenience, dirty bedding etc. Take it or leave it attitude...paid for 3 nights but left anyways after one...didnt consider it a loss to get out of there.

This place is wonderful. The beds are cozy, the showers are better than my shower at home. Also fun events every night.

This was my third time staying at the Green Tortoise. It's always great! This is a very well run hostel and very consistent with it's service. I knew what to expect and they didn't disappoint. I took my mom along this trip and she was a little worried as she had never stayed in a hostel before. I assured her she would be fine, so she agreed and when we left she said she loved it and would be happy to return. We arrived in Seattle very early, so we went to the hostel and they took our bags (they get put in a locked room with other bags) until we could check in. Check in was easy and no fuss. The rooms and bathrooms are the best part of this hostel. The shared dorms aren't big, but the bunk beds are sturdy, they each have their own privacy curtain, lamp and fan. What other hostel offers that!? They also have a compartment under each bed that you can store and LOCK your large luggage (that's also original to this hostel, in my experience). The access cards for the room are just a touch card that unlocks the door - very handy as you don't have to fiddle with keys or swipe cards. There are numerous bathrooms on each floor and it was rare I was waiting (it happened from time to time, but no big deal). Bathrooms and bedrooms were always clean. A lot of the staff is people that are travelling, which I think is cool. It's nice that they employ people who are backpacking around, etc. Every morning they serve free breakfast (basic with toast, pancakes, fruit and coffee..but it's free!) They also have free dinner every few nights, plus excursions/events daily. We didn't partake in any of that because we had our own plans and things we wanted to do, so I can't comment on the quality, etc. There are computers that you can use for free, and you can print a bit for free as well. Wi Fi is readily available and it works decently in the rooms (slow at busy times, but what can you expect?). Lastly, the location of this hostel is just impeccable and even if it wasn't run as well as it is, I'd stay for the area. You are literally kiddie corner from Pike Place Market. It's a little loud at night/in the morning, but you are downtown and right in the hubbub, so it's to be expected. It's very easy to walk around downtown and easy enough to catch a bus if you need to go somewhere a little further away. For the location and quality of this hostel, the $35 or so a night is a fantastic deal. I'll be back again soon!

Ok, now is 5:46 am , and I came here and asked if I book right now, could I check in or stay there."No." "You can't" Even their website said"check in after 2PM,utill ?? Used to have a good experience here.But that "friendly" black guy broken all,congratulation,welcome to Asian Exceptional Hostel

Its the best hostel i Seattle, the beds are amazing, zink in the rooms, free coffee and breakfast, fresh bathrooms with nice showers. Overall a super nice place. Good staff too!

Great staff, great hostel. Right in the heart of Seattle. Tons of great things to do, all within walking distance.

My friends and I love staying at the green tortoise!! The staff is friendly and it's location is perfect for anyone visiting seattle

Another thing, when I stayed at the hostel while being a Washington state resident I was living in Everett, which is a completely different city from Seattle, about a 30 minute drive. I was moving out of an apartment I had to be out of by midnight and needed a bed to sleep on in Seattle, I had a flight to catch back to Florida the next evening. It's ridiculous that someone visiting Seattle from another city in Washington couldn't stay at the hostel for a flight or for going to an event or something.

I liked this place for a cheap place to sleep. Great location. We slept in the female dorm. Big bunk beds with plenty of head room and storage underneath. Separate bathrooms were nice and clean.

Why does this Green Tortoise in Seattle and the other location in San Francisco not have any elevators? I saw a girl in crutches coming down the long staircase at the entrance. (You have to go up a whole flight of steps just to get anywhere while lugging around a heavy suitcase.) And if you're in a shared dorm room facing the street, it can get very noisy late at night with people yelling and screaming things. The bunk beds are like sleeping on a gym mat. You have been warned.

Great hostel. Lots of services and discounts on Seattle attractions

Clean restrooms, comfortable beds, and friendly staff. What's more to ask for? Oops, I forgot to mention breakfast is included, as well as the occasional dinner. You can rent bikes too!

Best possible location in Seattle. You are in the middle of everything. They offer activities and excursions you can participate in too. The beds are nice - I really like the under-the-bed storage locker and the privacy curtain.

I will be staying in Seattle for a week and this is the second say at the hostel, so my perspective might change. So far, I have come up with these pros and

Pros
1. Pretty clean
2. Daily events to help socialize, especially when soloing a trip
3. Designated smoking area
4. Private bathrooms
5. Cheap

Cons:

Amazing hostel - free breakfast everyday and we even got a free evening meal on one of our days! The staff are really friendly and helpful, and the whole hostel is a really cosy and friendly place. The beds are average size and the room was small but with a locker under the bed big enough to fit a large suitcase. The beds also have individual curtains, fans and lights so you don't disturb/get disturbed by roommates. Very clean, private bathrooms which is great. Laundry was less than $5 for wash, dry and detergent. Also in an amazing location as it is right next to Pike Place Market and in walking distance (less than 30 minutes) of most attractions. 100% would stay again.

This place was an amazing value and lots of fun. Facilities were great (for a hostel) kitchen was equipped well enough for me to cook a nice meal, location was out of sight, and the staff was exceptionally helpful.

Love staying at the Green Tortoise whenever I am in Seattle! This place is the place to be! It's location is so convenient as far as transportation in and around Seattle is concerned. Right across the way from Pikes Market and a Starbucks too. The rooms are clean and the beds and privacy curtains make for a very comfortable stay. I love the fact of sharing the room because I get to meet very interesting people from singles to couples.
Free breakfast is served every morning and the dining/public area is the perfect place to meet other travelers! Great and interesting conversations have evolved within this common area and there is the availability of computers to use if you need one.
Every time I have be at the GT the staff has been very accommodating and helpful in many ways. They are attentive to your needs and has made me feel welcome whenever I go there. I am looking forward to my next trip to Seattle and the Green Tortoise.

Great hostel in the middle of Seattle. I loved being so close to the Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Space Needle. They also serve breakfast.

Affordable, conveniently placed, and the staff organize a wide variety of events. This is the perfect place to stay if you're travelling in Seattle alone.

Inexpensive, fun people, great breakfast. And close to everything I love

Never stayed at one, bedore... bit different, van hear people in the next room and outside. Could have a little more heat
They have activities for all....all in all, pretty cool.

Expensive for a hostel a an eye opener to say the least. They have a "smoking room" inside and you can smoke just about everything in there.

Nice area, awesome location and wonderful staff. Super chill atmosphere.

The premises is clean and well kept, the staff is friendly and helpful, a few feet from Pike Place Market, public transport, shops and stores within a few feet.

They also had organized activities and tours.

There were some homeless people close to the building entrance, but they weren't a bother.

Friendly staff, nice hot showers right in the middle of town fun place to stay got invited to a to a pub crawl within 3 minutes

The best place to stay in Seattle for budget adult travelers. Hostel type accommodation with mixed bunked bed and shared public facilities like shower, kitchen, laundry, dinning room. The staffs are super friendly and very helpful. Located on 2 - 3 floor of the building with stairs only. There is souvenir shop right below, supermarket next door and many cafe's around. The famous Pike Place Market is just right across the street.

Stayed early April 2019. First hostel experience ever and I loved it. Wasn't sure what I was getting myself into but after my first day I knew it was the right decision to stay there if visiting Seattle. The staff was friendly and helpful. The place was clean. Got to meet some cool people from around the world. If you like to drink and get to know people make sure to go on one of their bar crawls.

I stayed with a friend good people and would like a room myself but having a rough time with no work or money

Great location . staff wasn't all friendly hit and miss. Vibe o.k. . I won't go again

It is located right next to the Pike Place market, which is awesome. It is very utilitarian and cheap and the people there were nice. It's a great place to stay for a night while you explore the area

Excellent location. The rooms are stuffy but you get what you pay for. Staff is very nice. Free breakfast.

I'd stay here forever but it has a one week limit. Always gets full fast so reserve in advance. Lots of homeless outside but thats how american cities are. Target is less than a 30second walk from your bed. And each guest gets an assigned storage area. One of the best hostels ive been to.

Seems like a good place to stay. I stayed in a room with 6 or 8 beds, I can't remember. Instead of one main light in the room, each bed has a curtain and a reading light. The curtain gives pretty decent privacy and doesn't let out enough light to bother other people. There is also a small fan and an outlet to plugin a laptop, etc.

The hostel has free wifi internet as well as computer terminals if you don't have a laptop. A big TV and couch in the common area, with a a free breakfast every morning and dinner on Sundays. I didn't stay long enough to try the dinner though. There's also an over-21 lounge where I guess you can drink and meet people. There's tours and group outings to attend as well. I was always too exhausted to try this stuff, but it sounds like you can travel alone and have a lot of opportunities to socialize and make friends.

The only thing was the bathrooms -- They were not quite as clean as the rest of the building, and one did have a bit of mold in the shower.

I'm at the Green Tortoise only a half an hour and already I'm happy to give them 5 stars for cleanliness, friendliness, good manners, pretty decent WiFi and for providing a smoking lounge for tobacco--and legal ganja as well.

Each bunk is equipped with a locker, lighting, electrical outlets and privacy curtains. The common areas seem to be sufficiently large, at least at 3.00 pm when I like to use them

Very nice but pretty noisy at some point. Staff very friendly.

Thank you so much. We loved our stay in Seattle! Seriously a dream come true!

Great experience. Clean and comfy. Location is perfect, right in the heart of Seattle.

I came here on my own from Vancouver, Canada. When I checked in there had been some odd mix up and the room I booked was no longer available. They were very accommodating and upgraded me to a bigger bed for free. The staff were all very friendly, kind, and supportive. I also lost my phone and the staff were so understanding and supportive. I told them that night I lost my phone and they said that they would have someone wake me up and not have to pay the late checkout fee. They even helped me try to call and find my phone. It was great meeting people here and I will definitely be back! A great stay with great, fun staff. Thank you!

We called ahead and they stored our luggage before our late flight so we could go to the Mariners game!

The location cannot be beat if you want to explore the market. Loved the fact they have privacy curtains in the bunks, and the bathrooms are all private 1 person stalls. The daily breakfast is basic but good to not walk out on an empty stomach. Also did the pub crawl and would highly recommend it.

Very cozy rooms, curtains give extra privacy and you have your own box under the beds where you can lock in your belongings. My big backpacker fit in there and much more, so it's really good! The rooms are very clean and the washrooms and toilets are really good! Free breakfast which is more than enough.

Love it. I forgot to take a photo of a gogh-like picture on a wall. If you are reading this inside the hostel, take it for me.

I needed a place to stay on semi-short notice and found Green Tortoise Hostel online. I showed up early and they let me store my bag without a problem. The rooms are clean and nice, the kitchen and breakfast in the morning are awesome, and the other travelers are always interesting. The bathrooms are shared but are individual so you have it to yourself while you use it. The lockers are spacious and if you don't have a lock you can rent one for $2 or keep it for $5 and it's cute and Green Tortoise branded so I kept mine as a souvenir. This place is literally right on Pike Place Market in the middle of everything downtown and you can see the neon signs from the living room. It's also one block from the train station. If I had any advice I'd say bring ear plugs if you're a light sleeper because the street/market noise is a bit loud at night but not awful. All in all, I don't know why you'd stay anywhere else. This place is awesome.

Not only did I leave with bed bugs, I left with a new understanding of how incompetent and unhelpful a staff can be. When confronting a manager with all of this, I was told that that is just how hostel living is (to make things clear, I've stayed in many hostels and know for a fact that this statement is inaccurate). So if waking up to bites all along your legs and dealing with an immature staff is what you want in a stay, then The Green Tortoise in Seattle is the place for you!

Best hostel in town, good breakfast, activities and friendly staff.

I went in late June with my friend, and we had a pretty good experience. The staff were nice, the rooms and bathrooms were clean. The rooms and bunks are kinda small but very cozy; it was nice that each bunk had its own curtain and tiny lamp, and I liked the luggage storage under the bunks. The DIY breakfast was great, and the location is right across from Pike Place Market, which was very convenient. I'll definitely stay here again the next time I come to Seattle.

I didn't know about some people being affected by bed bugs until long after my stay, (I checked the Google reviews recently) but those reviews were from a couple years ago, and it hasn't affected my choice whether to stay again or not, and it shouldn't scare others too much because that kind of thing can happen almost anywhere!

Great hostel, very centrally located, has a big kitchen many bathrooms and a big area to hang out through the day or eat. They also offer a variety of tours and event-like things that you can easily join everyday. They have a lot very detailed info about the area and the city in general what is awesome.
Downside: Everything is kinda old and not very recently renewed and the water pressure is literally a joke, I've been around a lot and there are many place that don't have luxurious showers or anything, I'm not expecting that, but I literally had to move my head in circles to get all my hair wet and even the taps where sometimes just dripping, that should definitely be improved.

Helpful staff. Lots of GOOD free food at certain times

Right next to pike place market, clean rooms, and free breakfast