alexusfr

We will be traveling to Seattle in April. I plan on using Priceline to get our hotel. I think I will have a good chance of getting the Rennaissance Hotel at 515 Madison st. I am wondering if this is a good or bad location for getting to the shopping areas, PIke place market, and other fun stuff to do in Seattle?
thanks

Gardyloo

In my opinion the Renaissance is one of the more poorly-located hotels in Seattle. It's at the top of one of the steepest hills in the city, surrounded on three sides by office buildings and on the fourth by Interstate 5. It will be a fair walk to the shopping areas and the Pike Place market. It's on the edge of the office core, so not too many restaurants in walking range either.

Plus it's been known to rain in Seattle in April.

Not sure what the PL star rating is for the Renaissance, but I'd probably be inclined to shop a bit more aggressively with known properties before relying on PL. Check out the Warwick, Hotel 5, Mayflower Park, and Red Lion (downtown) before you start bidding.

alexusfr

thanks Gardyloo
If I wanted to stay closer to the hub would you recommend staying near the Seattle center/space needle?

Gardyloo

The Space Needle and Seattle Center are a mile from the commercial core, Pike market etc. Not inaccessible, but while the monorail runs from Seattle Center to downtown, many of the hotels in that area are on the other side of Seattle Center from the monorail, plus the monorail's hours aren't especially terrific. Personally I wouldn't risk PL in that zone in April.

SusanM

We visited Seattle when our kids were little. After a few days of repeating "we're going to Seattle" in front of them, our oldest blurted out irritatedly, "WHO is Attle?!?"

(We stayed outside of the city so no help there, sorry.)

SusanM

Maybe that should be "irritably."

CascadeBob

We've scored a nice hotel room in downtown on Priceline before, but BEWARE: Parking isn't included in the room quote and it can be quite expensive, up to $40/night.

Things to do: Pike Place Market of course, but nearby Seattle Center usually has something going on (besides the Space Needle). The Chihully House of Glass at the bottom of the Space Needle is very interesting and the attached Collections Café is very good. If you are a rock n roll fan, then the Experience Music Project at Seattle Center is for you (think Jimi Hendrix). Funky Fremont is always fun and Saturday Market in Ballard is too. The Boeing Museum of Flight south of downtown is excellent. You can take harbor tours or ride the "ducks", amphibious tour vehicles that enter Lake Union. Dim Sum in the International District is good. Check live music venues at the dinner shows at Triple Door or Jazz Alley and local bars like the Crocodile or Tractor Tavern.

suze

No, I do not think Seattle Center is more convenient. It's several miles from Pike Place Market (just one example).

I don't know Priceline, but the truly centrally located hotels are ones like: Mayflower Park, Westin, The Warwick, Roosevelt, Hotel Max, etc.

Bobmrg

Suze, straight line Space Needle to the Market is .802 mile, according to Msft Streets and Trips.

alexusfr

thank you for your replies. I was not able to get a room through priceline so we have decided to go with the Westin. we stayed there before and it was in a great location but with a price unfortunately. Now all we need to do is find some good locations for chinese food. last time we were there we were not able to try the famous chinese food that you are known for up there.

suze

Wild Ginger is one of my favorites, an excellent restaurant near where you are staying (it's not specifically "Chinese" but pan-Asian in food style) at 1401 3rd Avenue.

Long's Provincial also nearby and highly recommended (1901 2nd Avenue) but it is Vietnamese.

Wann's Izakaya 2020 2nd Avenue is a great spot, but it's Japanese.

For true Chinese I think you need to go to International District (Chinatown). Hopefully someone will recommend something there for you.

Gardyloo

Ah, a good Chinese restaurant in downtown Seattle... if only.

Yes, you'll need to head to the Chinatown/International District, but even there it's not like you were in San Francisco or greater Vancouver. For whatever reasons, it seems the best Chinese restaurants in the area are in the suburbs or in residential areas of Seattle difficult to reach without a car. (Note a big "in my opinion" applies here.)

Among the places we like in the I.D. are Seven Stars Pepper - http://www.sevenstarspepper.com/ - upstairs in a VERY unassuming strip mall on Jackson, or the venerable House of Hong - http://www.houseofhong.com/ - but ONLY for their dim sum, better than average. Hing Loon in the I.D. is also good - http://www.hingloonseattle.com/

But Cumin lamb at the Seven Stars... OMG. Better bring a fire extinguisher.

Otherwise, you'll need to hop in the car and head to Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon in the Maple Leaf neighborhood, or several large and very good places in Bellevue or Renton/Kent.

Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese? Whole 'nother story.

suze

Thanks for confirming Gardyloo (and I live in Seattle!). I simply couldn't think of any place actually "Chinese", like in the traditional way people usually think of it.

I most often eat Thai which is easy to find. And I do love the Wild Ginger as I already mentioned.

happytrailstoyou

Vancouver is the place for great Chinese food, but we are very pleased for a new Chinese restaurant in our neighborhood: Regent, on Capitol Hill at 14th Avenue East and East Pine Street (on the #10 bus line).

The dining room is pleasant, the food is fresh, and the prices are reasonable. Look it up on Google--it's a good place.

HTtY

PS We liked the Sea Garden in Chinatown (ID), but a fire put them out of business until they can find a new location.

eroz

Are you non refundable at the Westin? I'd keep checking expedia or kayak, hotel prices are all over the place. We like the Crowne Plaza to be downtown and have also enjoyed the Mediterranean Inn by the Space Needle. A slightly further walk but not too bad and under $200 http://www.mediterranean-inn.com/