English visitor in Seattle
 

First time in Seattle most reasonable priced downtown hotels full due to convention. Should I stay at airport hotels and travel downtown and what would be the cheapest way to get downtown without a car and how easy is it or is it worth paying for an expensive hotel which is located downtown. Only visiting for 2 days. What the best points to see in such a short time.

<BR>The downtown hotels are sky high in summer.If you stay at an airport hotel,take a free shuttle to the airport,go to ground transportation,and take a bus that stops at major hotels downtown.They run most of the day and it's much cheaper than a taxi.Seattle is my favorite city--spend a day at Pike Market and take a boat tour the second day.

Pike Place Market is not going to take you an entire day to experience. While down visiting this area, hop on one of the free downtown buses and check out the Pioneer Square area of town (historic district). The museum is also hosting the Titantic exhibit. I'd also recommend checking out the Music Experience. You might also want to see if the Mariners are playing in town if you want to experience baseball first hand. <BR> <BR>Try Priceline if you want to see if you can secure a downtown hotel at a more reasonable price.

There are several bed and breakfasts around Seattle as well that you may want to check out. Staying at the airport and then taking a shuttle into town is fine or the bus ($1.25 from the airport to town). Getting around downtown is free (free ride zone) so you don't need a car. If you email me (noted above), with your interests, I'll be happy to send you a list of things to do and see.

I guess my take would be that central, if not downtown Seattle is worth the extra money if it's your first time. At the airport, with only a couple of days, you will spend an awful lot of time waiting for, or sitting on, buses instead of enjoying our fair city. For a couple of less expensive, but still comfortable alternatives, you might try some central, but not downtown, hotels, like the Silver Cloud Inns at Lake Union or University Village, http://www.scinns.com/ or the Marriott Courtyard or Residence Inn properties at Lake Union, or the University Tower (formerly Edmond Meany) Hotel, http://www.meany.com/ in the University District. All have convenient local bus service downtown, and are in pleasant, interesting locations.

Back in 92 our family (from Vancouver - a 2 hour drive north) spent the weekend at the Warwick downtown which was very nice and classy. We were able to get a discount from our local newspapers. <BR> <BR>It was close enough to walk to the downtown areas (ie: Pike Place Market), and the monorail (where it takes you to the Space Needle, the Science Center and the new Music Experience Project).