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Getting from Seatac airport to downtown Seattle

Getting from Seatac airport to downtown Seattle

Old Sep 15th, 2017, 12:57 PM
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Getting from Seatac airport to downtown Seattle

Does anyone know of ground transportation that can get me from the airport to Seattle's neighborhood called First Hill? Also a decent hotel in that area?
Thank you!
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Old Sep 15th, 2017, 01:34 PM
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Why first hill if you don't yet have a hotel yet?

I'd probably take the light rail, get off at westlake and then catch a cab to hotel. That's the cheap way. There are also shuttles. Fastest way is can from airport to downtown.
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Old Sep 15th, 2017, 02:11 PM
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First Hill is very steep from downtown, so you'll have to use a taxi for at least part of the trip. Frankly I'd just Uber from the airport, depending on what time of day you're traveling.

First Hill is mainly hospitals and apartment buildings. There are a couple of hotels on top of the hill, the (wonderful but pricey) Sorrento - http://hotelsorrento.com/ and the less pricey Silver Cloud, which is on the northeast side of First Hill, close to Seattle University - https://www.silvercloud.com/seattlebroadway/
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Old Sep 15th, 2017, 03:10 PM
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My daughter works at Swedish Medical and I wanted to arrive as she gets off work so she doesn't need to come all the way to the airport. There's no plane leaving convenient to her work schedule, hence staying overnight at a hotel.

I'm assuming most of them will shuttle to the airport?

I've never used Uber so am not familiar with the procedure.

Thanks for the help!
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Old Sep 15th, 2017, 03:25 PM
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The Silver Cloud is more or less across the street from Swedish (assuming she's on the main campus - they're spread out.)

None of the hotels in central Seattle have free airport shuttles, but you can ride Shuttle Express for around $40 or a taxi or towncar will be around $50.

For a lengthy and rather complicated alternative, you could walk from the airport terminal to the light rail station (around 15 min. walk) and take the light rail ($3) to the International District station, then walk a block to the First Hill Streetcar ($2.25) which stops right in front of the Silver Cloud. The whole trip would take well over an hour, and you'd have to wrangle your luggage. https://m.tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/

Check out Uber, it's usually a good deal. https://get.uber.com/
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Old Sep 16th, 2017, 07:21 PM
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Light rail works for me (solo traveler , --over70...)
Silver Cloud is not inexpensive in my book , however is a great
hotel , good breakfast..great staff
last summer they would send their shuttle to Westlake center to pick up guests??
Extra info: walking distance to Elliott Bay Bookstore..one of best in Seattle !!!
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Old Sep 16th, 2017, 11:19 PM
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If you can't see your daughter that night- I'm assuming? If you could, no need for hotel...

I would just stay at an airport hotel, they do have shuttles, and then she could pick you up there the next day or you could take the light rail downtown to meet her. Generally cheaper. I like the silver cloud, but it's not what I consider affordable.
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Old Sep 17th, 2017, 01:39 AM
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Just a note about Uber, which has been mentioned. I've had a couple of experiences getting to downtown from the airport, and Uber has never turned out to be a bargain for that route v. ordinary taxis. You can try them and compare the price, but don't be surprised if it's not cheap.
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Old Sep 17th, 2017, 06:31 AM
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<I'm assuming most of them will shuttle to the airport?>
<I've never used Uber so am not familiar with the procedure.>

No, I'm not aware of any Seattle hotels that offer free shuttles to SeaTac. You'd use a taxi or public transportation.

You need a smartphone to use Uber, if it's something you haven't used, before I don't necessarily recommend it. I mentioned it only because it is popular with some.
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Old Sep 17th, 2017, 08:53 PM
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We used a car service between Seattle and SeaTac instead of Uber or regular taxis. More expensive (but not that much more) and much more professional. Waiting for us on arrival; polite, helpful driver; large, comfortable and spotlessly clean vehicle.
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Old Sep 18th, 2017, 10:09 AM
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Do you have a company you can name or link for us, WeisserTee?
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Old Sep 18th, 2017, 12:21 PM
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We use Uber and Lyft all the time around the city. Last week when we came back from the airport, we used Shuttle Express but their town car service not the usual group shuttle. They do a great job.
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 03:23 AM
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Will check, my husband booked them.
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 08:01 AM
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Thanks. Just curious since I live in Seattle, would be handy to know (both for myself and for helping others in the future).
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 01:34 PM
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Suze--As I already mentioned, The Shuttle Express town cars are great. We usually use their shared shuttles, but DH uses the town cars for work travel and we used them twice in the last few weeks and they were great. I am totally converted now!
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 03:55 PM
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For years and years, I used Evergreen Towncar Service. They have been purchased by Bayview Limo and the service hasn't suffered, so I continue to use them.
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 08:51 PM
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LOL, we didn't see any actual Town Cars from the car services. They were all large SUVs. One driver said that none of them still drives a Town Car.
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Old Sep 21st, 2017, 05:31 AM
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WeisserTee--Our two cars in the last few weeks were town cars, not SUV's, and that is what DH has always had as well.
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Old Sep 21st, 2017, 05:34 AM
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I see those long stretch black towncars at SeaTac every time, so that's curious. I've just never used them, hence my question.
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Old Sep 21st, 2017, 06:47 AM
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Our car service still uses Towncars - not the stretch limos, but the smaller town cars. I don't like the huge SUVs many companies use - I swear I need a ladder to get into them!
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