I'll be driving to Seattle in May, plan to spend 3 or 4 days to see the city.
My preference would be to stay in the center of things, close to the main attractions, but I assume that most of the hotels in the city center charge for parking (don't know how much, but it's usually significant).
I'd like to find a nice hotel (usually stay on club level in Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, Hyatt, so would like something equivalent) that has free parking and easy access to public transportation for getting to the city center.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Most do; one way to get around it (or live with it) might be to try Hotwire or Priceline, and make sure your bid is far enough below the internet rate to cover the parking charges. Most downtown-area hotels charge between $20 and $40 per day for parking.

There's a fairly upmarket hotel in the University District (about 3 miles north of downtown) that has free parking and a shuttle, plus a bus at the door - check out the Watertown Hotel - http://www.watertownseattle.com.

The Maxwell Hotel - http://www.themaxwellhotel.com/ - near Seattle Center (not the same as downtown) also has "limited" free parking - not sure what that means, but it's in an area with plentiful surface parking lots that might be okay in a pinch.

The Lake Union Silver Cloud - http://www.silvercloud.com/lake%20union.php - also has free parking, and you can walk to the Lake Union trolley stop for surface transportation. They also have a shuttle. Not Hyatt Club level stuff, but decent.

Les, we stayed at the Sheraton and it was a terrific location - right in the center of things, and close to public transit to get to the Seattle Center, etc. We didn't have a car, but I suspect that they charge parking. I would figure that the extra parking is just a bit more to the hotel rate, but that it would be worth it to be so conveniently located.

I apologize if this isn't the advice you were looking for.

I don't know of any hotels downtown that don't charge for parking (and it is steep - I've seen $35 and more per night). There's a Homewood Suites in Lower Queen Anne where you can usually easily find on-street free parking, but it's about a twenty minute walk to the downtown core, which might be more than you want.

Do try PL, as Gardyloo suggests. You should be able to get a four star in May for ~ $100, maybe a bit less.

Gardyloo,
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have a look at those hotels. I'm still at the beginning stages of planning this trip (it'll be a month long trip, so Seattle is just a small part of it). I still need to to research the sites we want to see there, so I'm not sure what I really meant when I said "in the center of things." Our time is mostly flexible, so I can add or subtract days in Seattle to ensure that we see the city properly.

Karen,
Thank you. I've always found the Sheratons to be comfortable, and parking may indeed be more reasonable than I expect - just something else I'll have to research. $20 per night is probably OK, but $40 per night is unreasonable, in my opinion, even if I can afford it. It doesn't seem like the hotel chains are giving up much in this recession.

Sheraton parking is $33.61 + tax, which seems to be a good value when compared to $16 + tax at the Silver Cloud on Capitol Hill or $10 + tax at the Best Western Loyal Inn near Seattle Center.

My preference would be to stay in the center of things, close to the main attractions.

I suggest you check around at the Mayflower, Andra, Warwick, Westin and other hotels in the downtown retail core and find one with a room + parking rate that is acceptable to you.

HTTY

I don't know of any hotels in downtown Seattle that have free parking.

Nothing wrong with the Hyatt or Sheraton, you mentioned liking. My personal favorites are The Mayflower Park and the Warwick. Any downtown hotel will be convenient to seeing the sights.

This place has one-bedroom "suites" with small kitchen, free breakfast, and free parking for about $149: http://www.lq.com/lq/properties/prop...436&propId=436

It is located a one-half mile walk from the heart of the retail core--Nordstrom, the Sheraton, etc.

HTTY

A family member recently stayed at that very same Sheraton/Convention Center in Seattle, and parking was equivalent to about $40 per NIGHT!!!

I so endorse using Priceline to get a great base rate in Seattle, and then expecting the worst with regard to parking.

For Seattle itself, perhaps parking at a long-term lot near the airport for 2 or 3 days, while you stay at a downtown location, might be a cost-effective alternative to $40-per-night parking.

(you'd use the "Link Light Rail" to get from the airport to downtown again)

Take Gardyloo's advice..stay at the Silver Cloud on LAke Union. I highly rec as I stay often

group of restaurants yummy & across street walkable or delivery ...

Silver Cloud is a nice mod priced hotel in a great location looking out on Lake Union. Old wood boat museum, nice park for walking. Whole Foods, REI nearby.
Trolley to city center is literally out the front door, convienent to Space Center, waterfront (ferrys) 5-10 minute drive,..
and website has some discounts. Easy access 1-5 freeway...

BTW, take a look at their other properties..you see my favorite one w/water view listed..
http://www.silvercloud.com/our%20hotels.htm

At a minimum of $139 per night from May 15 to 18, whyyyyyyyyyy would anybody trade central Seattle digs via Priceline for a place so far out of the way???

One could get a base rate on Priceline of $75-85 a night, pay the Priceline fee & taxes, AND a $40-per-day parking charge, and be very near to that nightly rate for the Silver Cloud on Lake Union.

Total bill for 3 nights at the Lake Union locale is cited at $482.04

A Priceline total @ a base rate of $85 per, for a midtown hotel no less, would be less, even with the $40-per-night parking charge that would be the 'worst-case' scenario.

For undercutting the $139 nightly charge at the Silver Cloud, one also saves the hefty 15+ % tax on that hefty charge.

The OP should opt for a nice hotel in the center of things, as desired, (even with expensive parking) vs. the Silver Cloud.