stoweflake

I had a hotel for my trip coming up this week but just found out that there is a $50 a day charge for parking a car. Would anyone be able to provide me with a hotel in the capital district with a lower car charge? I was hoping for less than $250. thanks for your help

Gardyloo

It's a bit late as we're still in cruise season (meaning heavily booked and costing $$$) but have a look at the Silver Cloud hotels on Broadway and Lake Union, the University Inn and Watertown hotels in the University District, the Maxwell Hotel in lower Queen Anne, and maybe one or two of the hotels near the Space Needle. There aren't many hotels on Capitol Hill, which is what I assume you're referring to.

stoweflake

Thank you for your help. We will be coming from the Mt Hood area and visiting a lavender farm and the other places outside of seattle. Maybe I could cut down on one night in seattle to save some money. Thanks again.

Gardyloo

There are plenty of hotels near the airport that are walkable or have shuttles to the light rail station at the airport, from which the train to downtown Seattle is quick and costs $3. Parking will be free at most of them.

Where are you visiting lavender fields in September? Up on the Olympic Peninsula?

Kathie

There are a couple of Marriotts (Residence Inn or Courtyard) in the South Lake Union area, and I noticed the other day that there is a Hampton Inn at the edge of Seattle Center. I would guess all of those would have less expensive parking.

If you have your heart set in lavender fields, do check to see that they are in bloom. The lavender in my garden is long gone! And the only lavender fields I know of are on the Olympic Peninsula, not exactly on the way from Mt. Hood.

MidwestHiker

Have you looked at overnight parking in a separate parking garage, rather than looking for a new hotel with cheaper parking?

The locals could probably help more with that, but if you're willing to walk a little (or a lot, depends where your hotel is) you might save quite a bit of money and skip the hotel rebooking. I found a few garages that are around $20/day.

http://seattle.bestparking.com/neigh...l-hill-parking

Fodorite018

As mentioned, lavender will not be in bloom, and may have been cut back already. Not sure which lavender farm you are planning, but there is one in Woodinville that is nice, FWIW. We go there a lot as they have some wonderful products.

Christina

That fee is ridiculous. Even where I live, in Wash DC, hotels right in the center of the city don't usually charge that much (more like $40), although a few of the most expensive ones do (like the Ritz).

I stayed at the Mayflower in Seattle and their current fee is only $35, for example. Of course these things are best to find out in advance.

Springhill Suites by Marriott at 1800 Yale Ave (South Lake Union area) only charges $26 a day for valet parking, although about 25% taxes are added onto that. Still, a lot cheaper than $50 a day. It's right near the expressway.

suze

<hotel in the capital district >

What do you mean by "capital district"?

Do you mean on Capitol Hill?

If so, there's only one hotel there I am aware of. The Silver Cloud. But there are many B&Bs in that neighborhood.

suze

http://www.sbmansion.com/

Here is a beautiful B&B on Capitol Hill near Volunteer Park. It is in your requested price range. You can find free, non-metered street parking in this neighborhood (it's where I live).

stoweflake

5 days Portland and Seattle
Day 1 - Portland
We stayed in an Embassy Suites for two nights, one full day. Hotel was walking distance to two car rentals, Hertz and Enterprise. During the day we walked to Powell's Books, a fantastic, famous book store. And then the Portland Art Museum after eating at a cluster of food trucks (selection included a wide range of options, southern food like jambalaya and gator nuggets, plus grilled cheeses, Indian, Mexican, Lebanese food and many more options) and sat in a park to eat.
We did a little shopping and stopped in a coffee shop or two before dinner.

Day 2 - Portland to Hood River
We drove out early from Portland for Hood River. Went straight to a bike/wine tour with MountNBarrel, a new company in the area. Co-owner Sarah led our tour through a little antiques shop with friendly owners, an organic farm with live stock (including a shy alpaca), and then 3 wineries with breakfast and a light lunch included throughout (and brownie bites at the last winery, all included). There was a car shuttle between the last two wineries since there were ample pours during the tastings. After that ended around 2pm, we went to the water front and watched people wind surf and kite surf, among the last of the season (mid-Sept). It was quite a sight. Then back to a hotel in Hood River, the Comfort Suites, and dinner in the area. (The Best Western that another poster suggested in Hood River wanted a 3 night minimum so we opted out of that hotel.)

Day 3 - Hood River to Seattle
Left Hood River, got breakfast at the Egg River diner and headed out for a hike. We went to Horsetail Falls trailhead, 30 minute drive back towards Portland, and ended up hiking in the rain, but we were prepared with ponchos we got from a Walmart in Hood River and kept relatively dry. It was beautiful and the falls were nice in the mist. There are 5 falls along the route. That afternoon we had planned to take the scenic drive up through the Columbia River Gorge area to Seattle but since it was raining and we couldn't see much from the road, we went back through Portland and up I5, which saved a couple hours from the scenic drive.

Day 4 - Seattle
We stayed in an AirBnB in Capitol Hill area.
We still had our car and went to the Boeing factory in Everett, WA. It was a 25 minute drive from Capitol Hill on a weekend. It was very cool. A 90 minute tour of the actual factory where they built Boeing 747s and other planes. We could see the engineers taking a break to play ping bong. It was very cool. Then we drove south to a lavender farm that is also an event/wedding venue. It was beautiful and smelled amazing. We drove back to Seattle, dropped the car off near Pike Place Market and then walked around the market, got snacks and rode on the Great Wheel, which is on the water front. Cheese, rhubarb and other kinds of pasties from Pirosky Pirosky were a hit for us at the market. Then we went to the Triple Door to see Loudon Wainwright perform.

Day 5 - Seattle
We took a more low key day this day. We went to the Chihuly museum (which was gorgeous, particularly the gardens. If you have a chance for the 10 minute talks in the galleries, they are worth a listen). Then we wandered back to Pike Place market for more parties, then saw a movie nearby and did a little shopping before dinner (resting back at the apartment in between).

Day 6
Fly out of Seattle

happytrailstoyou

Thanks for the update.

Did you find parking at the right price?

HTtY