I'm looking at a possible Easter trip to Seattle, and I've been checking out some of the hotels.

I like the Kimpton hotels, and I'm coming up with comparable prices for the Vintage Park and Monaco. I've also looked at the Mayflower and Warwick. Essentially, it's $100 less to stay at either the Warwick or the Mayflower Park than the Monaco or Vintage Park.

Do you think location or quality is big enough to warrant the extra $100? Mostly, it comes down to parking charges. The Mayflower has a special where they are not charging for parking during the month of April. And the Warwick has a decent sale so the $27/day parking charge when added to the room charge is still about $100 less than the Monaco or Vintage Park.

Alternatively, are there cheaper parking options besides the valet parking for the Vintage Park and Monaco?

I used to live in Kirkland, and I went to school at UW, but I can't remember what the parking garages downtown are charging and whether there are good overnight parking options.

Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

We really liked The Alexis Hotel [a Kimpton]; good location and really nice rooms.

http://www.alexishotel.com/

The Mayflower is a classic Seattle hotel with an A+ location for everything downtown Seattle has to offer.

The Mayflower and Warwick are both acceptable alternatives and, of the two, most travelers seem to prefer the Mayflower.

I like the Monaco in Portland but not so much the one in Seattle.

Perhaps you will be in town during our April restaurant week: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/seattlerestaurantweek/

HTTY

We'll just miss restaurant week. Thanks for your input. I've stayed at the Monaco in Portland, too, and I liked it a lot.

Debit, the Alexis looks like the best location for being near the water, but the room rates are higher.

Kurieff, this interactive map may be helpful
http://www.parkingcarma.com/parking/WA_Seattle/

ps - I'd pick the Kimpton

I'd go with the Mayflower without skipping a beat. The Kimptons are fine; I'd also go for the Alexis, then the Monaco, then the VP in that order. The VP is really in an office area and is not as close to the visitor action as the others; the Monaco is in a converted former office building and is closer to the action (and across the street from the new library) and we really like the Monaco's restaurant, Sazerac. However the Mayflower's location would trump either.

...the Alexis looks like the best location for being near the water...

Being in the heart of the retail, restaurant, and entertainment core trumps being near the water in downtown Seattle.

HTTY

>

I don't disagree.

We want to visit friends who live on Queen Anne. We'll also be visiting the zoo and the aquarium. I'd like to try eating at Delancey since I loved Molly Wizenberg's book and blog. But we don't have many other plans; maybe show our seven year old the troll in Fremont, and we'll drive by the UW hospital since she was born there.

It sounds like the Mayflower is a good choice. Thanks for all the advice; I appreciate it very much!

Sounds like you have made up your mind, but I will chime in anyway

Of the ones you mention, we have stayed at the Alexis, the Mayflower and the Warwick. The Alexis is very nice. The Mayflower is my favorite. The Warwick I would not stay at again (service was good but the rooms we had were quite dated). We have stayed at the Mayflower a handful of times and really like it. They have quite a few rooms that have 2 full bathrooms, so that might be nice for all of you.

Thanks, mms.

When we lived there, we visited downtown a lot, but I never paid attention to the hotels so I definitely appreciate the input!

We'll be going over Easter. We lived in the area in 2004, and we had 80 degree temps over that Easter weekend. We swam in our apartment complex's pool on Easter Sunday, and then we had dinner with friends on Queen Anne. The flowers were blooming, and we had lettuce and peas from the garden and mint for mojitos. It was unusually warm and so beautiful!

kureiff--When we lived there, we stayed at hotels for special events. Either military balls or the marathon. now, DH works there during the week, and so we will be moving back. I sure miss it, but am thankful that for now I am up there every few weeks.

I like both the Mayflower Park and the Warwick very much. I wouldn't give $100 more for another hotel myself. Both of them have a great location, good staff and service, nice restaurant on property. Mayflower Park is historic (the oldest continually operating hotel in Seattle). Warwick doesn't look like much from the outside, but I've had really good experiences there.

mms, I didn't know you were moving. I'm sure it will be nice to be there and to skip the traveling back and forth!

Suze, thanks for your input. It sounds like it's a good choice.

kureiff--DH has been working up there for over a year, so he would like to shorten his commute, lol. We will wait til DS finishes high school tho, so for now either DH or us commutes every weekend. Ahhh, the things we do for love, lol!

I was wondering if you'd wait until your son was done with high school. I hope the commuting is going well. When I was at UW going to tax school, a lot of the students commuted from the Portland area. It has to be tough going back and forth!