Seattle - Hotel Advice Please
 

Hi All -

I had written another post about a trip to Seattle and Vancouver, but it got so cluttered with posts I thought I would write about hotels here.

Hotels seem to be pretty expensive in Seattle if you want to be downtown (200-250 a night). I had some surgery done on my knee recently so we will probably take ubers during our time in Seattle, but we'd like to stay downtown so that we can easily make a trip back to the hotel during the day if need be.

Looking at the Courtyard Seattle Downtown/Pioneer Square and Renaissance Seattle Hotel. Would you suggest staying in that area? Also, does anyone know which of these is better?

Other possibilities are the Hyatt at Olive 8 or Lake Union area?

Thank you!!

If you want to be right downtown, the best located of the hotels you list are the Renaissance and Hyatt 8. Both are very nice. You might also want to consider the Inn at the Market.

What is it you want to see/do in Seattle? If it turns out more things you want are in the Seattle Center area, then hotels on Lower Queen Anne might be a good option.

Since your knee surgery was "recent" and you're worried about mobility, can we assume this trip is in the near future (as opposed to next year or some such)?

As a fellow bad-knees person, I don't like the location of the Renaissance at all: it's at the top of one of the steepest hills in Seattle, on the site of a former cable car stop (we had them similar to San Francisco.) It also doesn't have many restaurants or places of interest nearby, and has a freeway for a neighbor.

The Pioneer Square Courtyard is better located, particularly with respect to access to Pioneer Square and the south end of downtown, but it's in more an office district than a tourist hub.

The Hyatt/8 is well located; for Lake Union I would limit myself to either the Silver Cloud or Residence Inn, as these are close to the Lake Union streetcar. The Lake Union Courtyard on the west side of Lake Union and the cluster of hotels on Mercer or Denny near (on a map) to the Space Needle are actually in rather bleak and trafficky locations.

Look around the Westlake area; check out the Mayflower, Roosevelt, Warwick and other places in that area.

I'll echo Kathie - what are your plans for sightseeing and how many nights are we talking about? And when?

Good call, Gardyloo - I had forgotten just how steep it is at the Renaissance. I don't like the location of the Courtyard particularly, as it isn't convenient to some of the places I would expect a visitor to want to access, like the Market and the Art Museum.

But give us some more info and we can be more helpful.

Of the ones you mention I like Olive 8 best.

Courtyard Marriott is OK, it's in Pioneer Square, so the south end of the downtown core.

My favorite hotels are: The Mayflower Park and The Warwick.

Thank you all so much for the advice.

Gardyloo - Great tip in regards to the Renaissance being on a hill! That is very helpful!

Even if we do end up ubering places, I'd rather be in a location where restaurants are around the corner, we have options if need be, and aren't in a deserted area at night.

Some of the activities that have interested us based on research are:
Space Needle
Seattle Center/Chihuly Gardens and Glass
Pike Place Market
Art Museum/Olympic Sculpture
Underground Tour
EMP Museum
Fremont Area - I think there were cute shops/boutiques here

Most of these seem to be downtown, except the Fremont area.

After reading all of your comments, I think the Hyatt/Olive 8 may be the best option for us or at least that area

Olympic Sculpture Park is closer to (so should be grouped with) the Seattle Center, Chihuly & the EMP

Seattle Art Museum is in the central downtown core, just a bit south of the Pike Place Market (so those two would go together)

And the Underground Tour is in Pioneer Square (the most southern end of downtown)

Yes that's the most central area for a hotel... Olive 8, Mayflower Park, Hotel Max...

I just came back from Seattle and stayed at the Grand Hyatt, on Pine Street. Great location and a really nice hotel. I highly recommend it!