melonln

Hello everyone.
A couple friends and I are going to Seattle in early May (around the 10th) and we're curious on the weather. We're from the southwest, so we're all quite thin blooded. What type of weather and temperatures are experienced in early May? We know to plan on rain, but will it still be quite chilly? Should we plan on just bringing layers or heavy duty gear?

Also, we have booked reservations for a Days Inn on Aurora Ave and 195th. From what I've been told from other discussion forums, it's a little unsafe there. Is this true? We cannot reverse the reservations because we have already paid for them to get a cheaper rate (we're super poor college students.) Anything to be worried about?

cspixie

The weather in Seattle in May can really run the gamut, so come prepared for beautiful, sunny days in the 70s or cold rainy days in the 50s. For example, we just broke a record and had a 79 degree day, but then the next day it was back down to the 50s.

Regarding your hotel, I wouldn't worry too much about the safety issue - though do be cautious. Aurora Ave isn't the best street, but some of the worst parts are down around 85th - 125th. Up at 195th you'll just be in the middle of some strip malls. I'd be more concerned about the fact that there just isn't much to do up there...

suze

May could go either way. It might be sunny and warm. Or rainy and cool. Definitely no "heavy duty gear" is needed. I live here and don't even own anything like that. I would check the weather forecast just before your trip.

That hotel is quite a ways out of downtown. Will you have a car? How are you getting around? It has the reputation because it's an area historically with some prostitution, etc.

suze

Oops, I was posting at the same time as Pixie.

Truly I don't believe that area will be dangerous for you, just ugly, and boring
;-)suze in seattle

melonln

Thanks to you all. We will have a car. It was the closest we could get downtown without paying as much as we can afford. How long do you think it will take to drive downtown say at rush hour? I don't think we would be driving around rush hour, but just for estimation.

suze

1/2 hour

NorthwestMale

If driving at or near rush hour (between hotel and town) you would do well to just GO up and down "Aurora" vs. trying to navigate on unfamiliar roads getting to the freeway and thinking you could save four minutes.

195th is really SO far out there (to the north) that the causes for fear are somewhat reduced.

And by "fear"... we in Seattle are novices to true "BAD" areas... mostly because Seattle has lots of hills, and the "good neighborhoods" tend to be on the hills... so the well-heeled can pay for great views. This keeps any neighborhoods from getting too large and too bad.

Truth be told you'll be fine at your hotel, and you'll endure the path into the city on some days... and perhaps be happily situated for any treks you might make to the north.

Enjoy your time here!

I think we know better than to wildly guess at the weather in early May (even though every one of us knows what the first such 'guess' would be).

Conceivably you really could land here and find sunny, mid-70's weather for a stretch of days. But don't blink your eyes, or else...

Andrew

melonln, I highly suggest researching Priceline.com because you can save a ton of money with their "Name Your Own Price" service. I've used it in Seattle before. Last year I got the Residence Inn in Lake Union (very close to downtown) for $55/night - in March. Prices you can get on Priceline depend on the going rates at the time you book (so if that's a very busy time and prices are high/mostly sold out city), don't expect great Priceline deals.

I've used Priceline.com dozens of times for hotels and swear by them.

Check out www.BiddingForTravel.com and www.BetterBidding.com for learn how to USE Priceline. Those sites are for customers - you can find out what Priceline's customers (like me) have paid for their hotels in, say, Seattle, and which hotels they actually get.

There's also Hotwire.com - where you don't bid but they offer you a price without you actually knowing the hotel, and if you accept, then you find out the hotel name. You can usually get a better deal with Priceline but it's more work. Just note that BOTH Hotwire and Priceline are non-refundable/non-changeable. You need to know your plans are firm before using them - but you can save a bundle of money with them.

suze

That's true. 195 is soooo far up there is it past the sleezy part of Aurora. And I do agree, best to simply commute using Aurora (old hwy 99) to come into Seattle downtown.

melonln

Thank you all so very much! We are looking forward to our trip and it makes me feel much better to know we won't have to be watching our backs while we're there too much.

sarahbellum

You can also take a bus (Metro #358) downtown from your location for very very cheap ($1.25/pp). This would eliminate the need to pay the very expensive downtown parking ($10-20/day, or more, someone else can maybe chime in on that).

Here is a handy tool for bus timelines:
http://tripplanner.metrokc.gov/cgi-b....pl?resptype=U

I suggest using a start point of 195th & Aurora and end point of 5th & Pine.

There is a REALLY yummy restaurant on 198th & Aurora, called Grinders. Their "grinders" (hot sandwiches/subs) are extremely tasty.
http://grindershotsands.com/_wsn/page2.html

melonln

Ok great. If we were to drive downtown, is there a place we could park for the day and pay an all day fee that would be near everything?

suze

Sure there's loads of parking lots right in the downtown core. Around Pike Place Market has several garages and lots the Market manages. Or the Diamond or U-Park type lots. You can find 'early bird' (in before 9:00am) specials for $10/day.