Where to stay in Seattle

[scottmandue]

Thinking of visiting Seattle in December (yeah, I know it will be cold) for our anniversary.

Don't want to be cheap but don't want to bust the bank either. (Hotel = +/- $100ish a night)

What is public transportation like? Rental car a must? (Again, money is tight) or stay someplace close to attractions so we don't have to drive much?

Thanks in advance!

[RANDY P]

Stay in Ballard. Downtown will not buy you much.

Ballard is a straight shot to downtown, is near the artsy-fartsy neighborhods and is close enough to ferry terminals to go across the water for the day, pike place market, etc. etc.

Oh, and rent a car. Trust me on this one.

rjp

[gtc]

I would stay downtown and budget $200/night... the roads here are not very tourist-friendly. W Hotel and Alexis Hotel come to mind.

I don't know what sort of attractions you'd be interested in, but I don't think you'd need a car if you were downtown. That could offset part of the hotel cost.

(sorry to contradict everything Randy said)

[MikeSid]

What hotel will you find in Ballard?? I love Ballard, but I honestly don't know of a single hotel in the area.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by MikeSid

What hotel will you find in Ballard?? I love Ballard, but I honestly don't know of a single hotel in the area.

closer to bottom of QA (queen anne probably) now that you think about it- where the Tower records is and all that- by Roy st?

rjp

[island911]

Tower records? . . .they haven't been there in years. (~5th & Mercer/Roy) ..it's a QFC store now.

Yeah, lot's of cheap hotels along Aurora Ave (East side of Queen Anne hill) . .. quite a few further north on Aurora too. ...and by the hour.

[MikeSid]

There is a relatively new Hampton Inn on that corner and it is a monorail ride from Downtown. That's not a bad plan at all.
The rack rate downtown is around $185 for anything decent.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by island911

Tower records? . . .they haven't been there in years. (~5th & Mercer/Roy) ..it's a QFC store now.

Yeah, lot's of cheap hotels along Aurora Ave (East side of Queen Anne hill) . .. quite a few further north on Aurora too. ...and by the hour.

Tower is still there right off of Roy isn't it? Or is that a Silver Platters?

I'm 1500 miles away, I dunno maybe they leveled it and put a Mosque there. Who knows?

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by MikeSid

There is a relatively new Hampton Inn on that corner and it is a monorail ride from Downtown. That's not a bad plan at all.
The rack rate downtown is around $185 for anything decent.

BTDT not a bad choice. It's clean.

rjp

[Stuart993]

Silver Cloud Lake Union, close to downtown, free shuttle actually, won't bust the bank. we always stay there when visiting our son.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Stuart993

Silver Cloud Lake Union, close to downtown, free shuttle actually, won't bust the bank. we always stay there when visiting our son.

Oh yeah, and right across the street there you have a DANIEL'S BROILER! - Go there for your steaks, and popcorn shrimp for happy hour.

There's a Hooters too, and a Joey's (faux upscale cuisine), sushi, and even an Outback steakhouse up the block.

Be careful crossing the street there. You can get run over from anything like a car to the SLUT to an old lady in a wheelchair.

rjp

[genrex]

University Motel.... very reasonable, very clean, very friendly in the old-fashioned Mom-and-Pop sense, free parking, and all of the rooms are suites with full kitchens including pots and pans. It's like living in a large one-bedroom apartment. They don't advertise, because they don't have to. Best to reserve well in advance.

This is *not* the University Inn (which is more expensive, with less amenities).

The Silver Cloud is very nice, too.

[scottmandue]

A little research shows we could fly into SEATAC, catch light rail to Pioneer square, Best Western Pioneer square is around $150.

What is Pioneer square like?

We are not very touristy... don't need to see the sites... would like to see Pikes market.

It is our 2nd anniversary so I am hoping to spend most of our time camping out in the room

We were in Seattle for the day last December and it was cold! Another excuse to stay in the room and wrassle.

Just want something near light rail, maybe with a decent view, and close (enough that I don't get frostbite on the walk there) to some eateries.

Thanks, will check out the univerity hotel, silver cloud

[RWebb]

I'll send you some info -- some of it out of date. if you are going to spend a lot of time in the room you may want a nicer hotel...

[MikeSid]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I'll send you some info -- some of it out of date. if you are going to spend a lot of time in the room you may want a nicer hotel...

+1
$35 more per night gets you the Sorrento or Westin or Vintage Park, etc. etc.

[kanadary]

i would go on priceline and get a place downtown. you're not going to want to walk too far in dec. its pretty wet and relatively cold.

[scottmandue]

I'm lost here guys... where/what is "downtown"?

Can I take light rail there?

[artplumber]

Try some of the boutique hotels - Alexis is one. I can't recall if we stayed there or some of the others, but they are more reasonable than you might expect and give you a more unique experience than the hotel chains. I think you might need a car. The buses exist, just not what I'd do for a "honeymoon". Your SO is from Portland right? If you're thinking of moving, might as well get accostomed to the rain. They jog in it - with shorts that time of year Greenlake? some lake in the north central part of town. If you love the outdoors, gotta go to Discovery Park. Love Lake Washington drive/Seward park, the Arboretum, Volunteer park. Eat on Alki point for dinner - great view.

PS the hotels should be cheapest then, so you should be able to find something decent...

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Can I take light rail there?

If you wanna see 'da HOOD - I'd take a cab.

[island911]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I'm lost here guys... where/what is "downtown"?

Can I take light rail there?

you Can... but its much slower than even the bus. (but at least it was Billions of dollars)

aren't you in Portland?" just drive up.