Stay Away From Seattle Day 2024 is on Monday, September 16, 2024: What is the best city to stay in while we are vacationing in Seattle.?

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What is the best city to stay in while we are vacationing in Seattle.?

The central business district of Seattle is actually fairly compact, but the city is long and narrow with the city limits to the north and south each about 7-10 miles away from the city center, On the west the city is bordered for its entire length by Puget Sound and on the east it is bordered for its entire length by Lake Washington, so you have to go quite a distance to stay in another city and will spend about an hour traveling each way to get into Seattle to see the things that most people want to see. Probably your best bet to have a wide selection of hotel options is the city of SeaTac which is the area surrounding the airport: Unfortunately it is not a very scenic or interesting area - just the typical stuff you find around airports in most major cities - strip malls, hotels, fast food restaurants and airport related businesses with the added bonus of jets zooming overhead every few minutes. Personally, if it were me, I would rather stay at a hotel in the city within walking distance of most attractions and numerous parks and fun places to go. Also makes it much easier if you want to go back to your room because you forgot something, want to rest, take a nap, freshen up, shower or change clothes or shoes before going to dinner.

Added: If you stay at a hotel right in the downtown area you really won't need (or want) a rental car to see most of the major attractions. Most things visitors want to see are within a one mile radius of Westlake Center. In fact, I think you will find that having a car will be more of a hassle than it is worth because traffic in Seattle is so congested and the parking is expensive. Many people visiting Seattle who rent a car and stay at a hotel in the downtown area end up leaving the car parked at the hotel because it is faster, easier and cheaper to either walk or take public transportation like the bus: light rail, streetcar and monorail:

If it were me, I would take the light rail: from the airport to a hotel near either Westlake Center or the Seattle Center: go see the attractions in the downtown area for several days and then later rent a car for a few days near the end of your visit to see some places that are further away from the downtown area like the Woodland Park zoo, Ballard Locks: , Boeing Museum of Flight or adventures further away from the city like Mt Rainier, Snoqualmie Falls or Olympic National Park. The car rental rates are usually cheaper if you rent the car and return it to a rental location in the downtown area instead of the airport. Then just take the light rail from the downtown area back to the airport.

First time in Seattle?

First time in Seattle?

What you will think is a good place to stay depends on your budget and how you are getting to Seattle. If you are arriving by plane, train, bus or boat (basically any way besides driving) and if it is in your budget, I would stay somewhat close to the "downtown" area near Westlake Center. Just look at a map of where the hotel is located compared to Westlake Center and other attractions before you book.

Westlake is the end of the line for the light rail that runs from the airport and has the Seattle Center Monorail station: on the top floor that you can take to get to the Seattle Center where the Space Needle is located:

Westlake Center is an easy 4 block to the Pike Place Market: From the market you can walk down a couple of flights of stairs (or take elevators) to get to the waterfront which is also a fun place to wander around. The waterfront has the Seattle Aquarium, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop and at the south end is Colman Dock where you can board a ferry to Bainbridge Island:

There is a free Metro bus - Route #99 Waterfront: that you can use to get from the waterfront to Pioneer Square. In Pioneer Square you might want to take the Seattle Underground Tour or visit the Klondike Gold Rush Museum. As part of the annual Seafair festival, there is the Pioneer Square Fire Festival on July 7th:

If you will be driving your car to Seattle and are on a tight budget, be aware that most "downtown" hotels charge $25 daily or more for guest parking so another area you might want to look at is near the Seattle Center about a mile away from Westlake, but with easy transportation wiithin 5 minutes via the monorail or South Lake Union Streetcar. Here is a short list of some hotels near the Seattle Center (about a mile from Westlake Center) that may be a little more affordable than the "downtown" hotels and also have free guest parking:

The Maxwell Hotel:

Silver Cloud Inn:

LaQuinta Inn:

Quality Inn and Suites:

If you are on a really tight budget, you may want to stay further away near SeaTac airport where the rates are lower and most hotels offer free guest parking. It takes about an hour each way to use the light rail to get back and forth from the airport to the city and costs $2.75 each way.

What is the best area to stay in Seattle when booking my hotel?

What is the best area to stay in Seattle when booking my hotel?

Without knowing your budget it is difficult to recommend a specific hotel, but I would recommed staying in the "downtown" area at a hotel within a few blocks of Westlake Center Most of the main attractions that people enjoy seeing are within walking distance (or have easy transportation options) so look at a map before you book. Here are some in that area that you might want to consider:

The Mayflower Park:

The Westin:

The Seattle Sheraton:

There are lots of other hotels and there are some a few blocks further away that are very nice, but may not be quite as convenient.

If you are flying in to SeaTac, the light rail runs from the airport to the end of the line directly under Westlake Mall: If you get a hotel within 2 or 3 blocks of Westlake it makes it pretty easy to use the light rail and get to most things. From the top floor of Westlake Center you can board the Seattle Monorail: to take the 2 minute trip to the Seattle Center where the Space Needle is located:

Westlake Center is about 4 blocks from the Pike Place Market: The waterfront area is just a couple of blocks right below the Pike Place Market.

If you are reasonably able-bodied you probably won't need to have a car unless you venture further away from the city - like driving to the Olympic Peninsula and Pacific ocean (a half-day drive away) Most hotels charge $25+ for guest parking and you won't need to drive more than 6 blocks to get to most things you'll probably want to see or do. Another adventure you might want to consider that doesn't require a car is to take the clipper from pier 69 on the waterfront to San Juan Island: You can always reserve a rental car, moped or bike on the island to get around.

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