Seattle Ground Transportation Question
 

We are needing ground transportation from Sea-Tac to downtown for 5 people. Shuttle service is the least expensive at $18 for a round trip. Car service is $40 each way but will only accommodate 4 people. Other than the shuttle (which seems to take forever with all the stops, etc) does anyone out there have suggestions for reasonable ground transportation? We don't want to spend more that $50 each way.

In July, my husband and I flew into Sea-Tac and asked at the info desk about getting a cab. We were told to hop on the city BUS! I think it cost about $1.50 each and it was direct to downtown - quick, convenient stops in the tunnel. Our stop was the 3rd one, right by our downtown hotel. I recommend it highly unless your hotel is in an out-of-the-way location.

I would not recommend using Metro bus if you have anything more than one small suitcase each. They really aren't set up for that.

The Greyline Airporter (full size bus that loops thru the downtown hotels and has a place for suitcases under the bus) doesn't have any stops between the airport & downtown... That's why I suggest them over a shuttle service like Airport Express that drives around dropping people off. On Greyline they only stop at the few major scheduled hotels downtown. I believe currently approx. $10 per person each way.

What hotel? And I can tell you the closest stop. If you mean $50 each way for ALL 5 people, this is your best choice.

www.graylineseattle.com
$11 one way/$18 round trip

I'm not sure I said it clearly above, but depending which hotel your are staying at (in which part of downtown) you could be the first stop when the bus gets off the freeway, or you could have to wait thru a half dozen other hotel stop if yours is furthest north (Warwick).

We're staying at the Sheraton across from the convention center

I took that local bus and it was great! BTW, there is an express version and that is by far the way to go. Suze is right; don't do this if you have a lot of luggage. There was one woman with a huuuuge piece of luggage which was incredibly stressful for her and very disruptive for everyone else. There was no place to put it and she totally blocked pass through in the aisle. I think it may have been bus #194 but I'm not sure. Just google it but there is a great route.

The Grayline is very comfortable and reliable. The Sheraton is the fifth stop; you'll spend about 10 minutes stopping at the other hotels, and arrive at the Sheraton 43 minutes after leaving SeaTac.

enzian beat me to it. Yes the Sheraton is one of the scheduled stops on the Greyliner loop. for a group of 5 this would definitely be an easy way to do it.

Are there really no car services that have a van for 5 people? While the Grayline sounds fine -- at $55 one way for 5 people, it doesn't sound like any great deal. Am I wrong?

My only other objection to the Grayliner is that it takes 45 minutes from the airport to the Sheraton. Add in up to a half hour wait for the next bus (if like me, you've always just missed one) and it can be an hour and 15 minutes to get there! OK, if you're not in a hurry, I suppose.

A company named STITA has a franchise at SeaTac and from time to time we have been driven from the airport to our home in Seattle in a STITA van that seats five or more people.

If I were you, I would contact STITA and inquire about a five-seater for your trip from SeaTac to the Sheraton Hotel (and, perhaps, work out your return trip as well).

[email protected]
206-246-9980

HTTY

Excellent idea to contact Stita for availability of larger cars. They're the only company allowed to pick up from SeaTac, so they should know the answer.

Sure if you can get a towncar for $55 for the 5 of you, that would be better & quicker than Greyline, I agree.

There is a tricky way :) Put one or 2 people on a shuttle with all luggage, the rest can take the cheap bus.

Thanks everyone. I have found limousine and van options but they aren't in our budget. So, I guess we'll have to suck it up and take the shuttle unless anyone out there was able to access transportation other than the shuttle for no more than $50 each way.

Greyline Airports is NOT that bad. Other than taking a bit of extra time it is incredibly convenient. Especially if you are staying at a downtown hotel that is a scheduled stop... which you are.

I'm curious, japw82 -- what was STITA going to charge you?

Personally, I'd rather pay something like $75 than $55 to cut an hour off the trip.

I agree. I have decided that it is a good investment, when there is no good alternative, to pay the going taxi rate from airports to hotels rather than to hold out for a lower rate that I would prefer to pay.

I always catch a taxi myself. I happily spring for the $37 each way (airport to my apartment).

There are always towncars and vans waiting along with regular taxi(in the parking garge, on ground transportation level) though I've not priced them.
suze (in Seattle)

A taxi is always convenient, but I must admit, hopping that express bus and arriving downtown within 20 minutes was a delight. Felt happy to spend the $$$ saved in a Tom Douglas restaurant!

elnap29- Did you have luggage? And if so, was that an issue using the bus? thanks.

elnap, that sounds good, but I invariably miss one bus so have to wait up to half an hour for the next one. And I'm never the first stop so 20 minutes would be out of the question. I just booked at Belltown Inn for a night in May and looked at the bus schedule -- I'm near the last stop at the Warwick -- an hour ride from the airport, so that makes it up to an hour and a half total, then still walk three blocks with the rolling luggage (not really an issue, though).

The Belltown told me they can reserve a towncar for a fixed price of $35. Compared to $22 for two bus tickets, that is a done deal!