Four of us girls are planning on spending the weekend in Seattle in May for a shopping/spa getaway. We want to be able to walk everywhere so think we will stay downtown? Any hotel and/or day spa suggestions? We are treating ourself so we don't have to be on a tight budget.

When I'm out in Seattle, I stay at the Alexis on 2nd St. Great boutique hotel that has an Aveda Spa in the building. Shopping and Pikes Place Market are both walking distance.

After much research and dozens of posts on this topic here that I've read through, I'm looking forward to a one night stay at the Inn at the Harbor Steps, and then a three night stay at Hotel Andra a few days later after we go to Vancouver and Whistler. Both seem like really nice and convenient hotels. We've stayed at the Alexis and the Inn at the Market previously. Love the Inn at the Market, but it has gotten very pricey. We're paying $148 for Inn at Harbor Steps, and $159 for Hotel Andra.

If you want to splurge, I think the Inn at the Market with a view room would be THE BEST!

When we lived in the area, we used the Nordstrom spa. It is in the Nordstrom store, so the location is perfect for combining that with shopping and sightseeing.

I really like the Inn at the Market and yes, it has gotten pricey. The view rooms cannot be beat. You are steps away from Pike Market. Check with the concierge regasrding spa treatments elsewhere.

Personally, I'm a big fan of the Gene Juarez spa downtown. http://www.genejuarez.com/

However, if you wanted to spa like a true Seattleite you might go to Ummelina http://www.ummelina.com/ or Habitude http://www.habitude.com/. Habitude has locations in Ballard and Fremont (neither downtown, but somewhat close, relatively). Ummelina is downtown; I've never been there but hear it's good.

For a real lush experience you could go to the Salish Lodge & Spa - but that's out of town a ways. But OH! http://www.salishlodge.com/.

Salish Lodge is wonderful, you'd need a car but it's less than 1 hour from Seattle and a pretty drive. Not to mention you'd see Snoqualmie Falls, a gorgeous waterfall.

I like Spa de Lago in Madison Park. That's about a 15 min. bus ride from downtown. But a in a lovely neighborhood right on Lake Washington. Have lunch or drinks & nachos at Cactus restaurant.

And my downtown hotel choice would be The Mayflower Park Hotel.

For shopping these are a few of my favorite boutiques and shops:

Sway and cake
Tulip
Nuevo Modo
Barneys
Kenneth Cole
BCBG
Watson Kennedy (for the home and bath)

All of these are right in the downtown core 1st up to 6th; Pike and Spring

Nordstrom has a nice spa. Ummelina is very nice. If anyone is looking for a new cut or color talk to Tony at Seven (7).

And get dressed up one night and head to the new Ibiza Dinner Club for good food, cocktails and music.

I like staying at the Monaco (cheetah bathrobes and live goldfish- very customer service oriented) I've also heard good things about the W and the new Andra.

I think a very fun thing to do is the Teatro Zinzanni- its downtown also.
It takes place in an antique wooden circus tent- includes dinner and performance- its a cross between the Circqe de Soleil and the Moulon Rouge-
I did it with several girlfriends and we had a ball-
Its beyond discription.

I agree about Teatro Zinzanni. Very unique experience! For a spa I would recommend the new Vida Wellness Spa at the Pan Pacific on West Lake. They're ayurvedic treatments are to die for!

http://www.vidawellness.com/