We're travelling from Australia and joining a cruise in Seattle. This is our first visit to Seattle and not sure where we should stay. We have several days to sightsee prior to the cruise, and like walking around a new city. Which is the best area to stay in? We would appreciate any recommendations for hotel and/or sightseeing.

We have stayed twice at The Alexis which is near Pike Place Market. Great hotel and location.

Kimptonhotels.com

Hotels in Seattle during cruise season are quite expensive, so be prepared for sticker shock. In addition, some basic information, such as how many persons, taste/budget in accommodations, etc. would help narrow things down.

It would also be useful to know what cruise line you're using. Seattle has two cruise terminals, one located on the central waterfront, very close to many hotels and downtown conveniences, the other a couple of miles to the north in a more industrial area with no hotels located conveniently close by.

Also, downtown Seattle is very hilly, with the land rising sharply to the east as one leaves the waterfront, and some hotels are located on quite steep hills. Might be an issue for some, for others, not so much.

There are a couple of mid-range hotels located right in the middle of the commercial core that are very popular with cruisers, and for good reason - excellent quality and not outrageously priced. One is the Mayflower Park - http://www.mayflowerpark.com/ - easily walkable from most downtown attractions and located adjacent to a stop on the light rail system that serves the airport.

If you're sailing on Norwegian, there are two hotels on the waterfront located within short walking distance of the Pier 66 terminal, the Waterfront Marriott - http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...tt-waterfront/ - and the iconic Edgewater - http://www.edgewaterhotel.com/ but both are on the more expensive end of the spectrum. And of course, all the major hotel chains - Sheraton, Hilton, Hyatt, ICH, Marriott, Fairmount, Four Seasons - and their subsidiaries are well represented in Seattle.

You might also look at the "West Coast Departures" board on Cruise Critic - on which you'll find this question asked again and again and again and...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=413

As for the "what to do for a few days" part of your question, hard to answer without knowing more about your interests. You might also mention where else (if anywhere) you're going in N. America before or after. Seattle is in the middle of one of the most diverse and scenic parts of the country, so you'll have to choose regardless.

This will help with the "which terminal?" question:

http://www.portseattle.org/Pages/default.aspx

Go also to http://www.visitseattle.org/Essentia...ttle-Maps.aspx

Click on Stay under the Visitors tab. This is a very useful site for visitors.

Be aware that the waterfront seawall is being replaced in stages; don't be deterred by the construction delays.

I would suggest staying in downtown Seattle. That is by far the most convenient for sightseeing, and where most of the hotels are located.

Hotels I like include: Mayflower Park Hotel, The Warwick, Alexis, Hotel Andra, Inn at the Market.

Sightseeing: Pike Place Public Market, the Waterfront, Pioneer Square historic district, Space Needle/Seattle Center.

Second for the Edgewater. Not on the water, in the water. Lively bar, good eats.

Hotels I like include: Mayflower Park Hotel, The Warwick, Alexis, Hotel Andra, Inn at the Market.

These hotels along with the Sheraton, Westin, Hyatt at Olive, and Grand Hyatt are among the ones from which I would select. They are in the heart of the retail core and perfect for shopping, dining, nightclubbing, theatergoing, sightseeing on foot, public transportation, etc.

If you don't want to be in the midst of the action, check out Residence Inn, Courtyard, and Silver Cloud which are all near Lake Union.

HTtY

The Edgewater sits quite a distance outside the downtown core. I don't consider that one to be as convenient.

The northern part of downtown (near the Space Needle) is not that great. You really want to be a bit south of that. I like the following hotels: Westin, Sheraton, and Edgewater. Westin and Sheraton sometimes go for quite cheap. They both have great pools, but the Sheraton is a bit nicer, in my opinion because the pool is at the top of the hotel (covered, indoors) with great views of the city.

A little cheaper, Sliver Cloud Stadium is also a good choice.

During cruise season, nothing will be cheap. We flew my mom up last summer in August and the Sheraton was over $300 per night, to give you an idea.

I personally really like the Mayflower Park Hotel. It is a beautiful hotel, in a perfect location, IMO. That said, there are so many others that are very nice as well.

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. We wanted to be in the centre of things, not accidentally booking a hotel in a business area miles away from shops and restaurants. I'll be checking out your hotel recommendations and making a booking soon.

We had a great dinner at The Edgewater, at Six seven, but it was a long way away from what most people would want to see and do while in town for a few days. It might be convenient for a night just before or after a cruise, but we have sound that staing at The Alexis we were in the best area for a tourist with a few days to visit. Easy access to sites, great restaurant, the beautiful library, and public transit is plentiful. A taxi to pier for departure is easy and would work.

I stayed at The Roosevelt, 1531 7th Ave, across from the Pacific Place mall. It was walkable to most everything downtown, such as Pike Place Market, restaurants, SAM (Seattle Art Museum), very cool library etc.,and probably costs less than some of the others mentioned.

Hi there Marg, just starting to get serious with some planning for our trip next year. So I'm book marking this for reference. Your other questions have also been really helpful......thanks, I'll be 'stalking' around here for a while. ;-)
ps. unless I missed it, I can't see what time of year you will be travelling?

I've stayed at the Inn at the Market… and would recommend it. It was awhile ago so I don't know what the room rates are now.

Frankly, I would at least CONSIDER staying at the Four Seasons which is within very easy walking distance of the Pike Place market, the water's edge, etc. Great pool, too. Big downside (for some) is the "cluttered" view of the water and by that I mean that nasty Public Storage facility that blocks some of the view.

Service is wonderful, at least it was when we stayed last September.

Frankly, I would at least CONSIDER staying at the Four Seasons.

Me too!

Many of Seattle’s hotels are clustered within a .3-mile walk from 5th Avenue and Pine, which is the heart of Seattle’s retail and entertainment core. They include Hotel Max, The Camlin, Hyatt at Olive 8, The Westin, The Sheraton, The Warwick, Hotel Andra, The Mayflower Park, The Grand Hyatt, The Paramount, The Roosevelt, The Motif, Candela Hotel, The Hilton, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, W Hotel Seattle, and The Vintage.

These four hotels are within a .4-mile walk from 5th Avenue and Pine: The Four Seasons, Hotel Monaco, The Crowne Plaza, and Homewood Suites.

HTtY

My wife and I stayed at the Hotel Monaco (Kimpton hotel) in October, 2013 while I was attending a conference. Great location, short walk to Pike's Place market, small cozy restaurants nearby, a short walk down the hill to the waterfront.

Mayflower Park without a doubt. Top bar service, easy walking to sights.

Depends on budgets. It not an issue I'd definitely add the Fairmont Olympic, Four Seasons, the Sorrento.