Booking for a trip to Seattle in 3 weeks. (I already have these two reservations...just deciding which to keep).

Should we stay at the La Quinta downtown for $89/night, or the Meditteranean for $149/night? I originally booked the Med. but with the cost savings plus free parking I'm wondering how I could pass up the La Quinta? Anyone stayed there?

It will be me, my mother (in her 50s and active), and my 18 month old daughter. We are going purely for touristy reasons...want to see the best that Seattle has to offer our 3 generations! We would like reasonable walking distance to activities. We weren't planning to get a rental car, but we can if it's going to be necessary (at either hotel).

The La Quinta is much closer to the retail core and the rate includes breakfast and free parking. It is a block or two from Whole Foods, and less than half a mile from the heart of the retail core.

The Meditteranean is in a neighborhood with good shopping and restaurant options about 1 1/2 miles from the heart of downtown (4th and Pine).

Wow, that's really cheap even for the La Quinta which is a basic motel but decent enough. But that rate is almost frighteningly low ;-). I'd be interested in knowing why--I wonder if the construction across from the Pan Pacific is causing issues there? I know they are close to each other but I can't picture exactly how close.

Have you read recent TA reviews of La Quinta that might give some insight (I haven't, I'm just wondering out loud)?

The Mediterranean is def a step up in quality but it's not as convenient location wise. La Quinta's out of the downtown core but still within 10 blocks or so of things--the Mediterranean is going to be more like a mile walk to anything other than Seattle Center--or of course you can take the bus.

It's the military/government rate, so hopefully that is the reason it's so low. I know, though...it's REALLY low! (And that is for all class of room, including the king suite).

Thanks for the info...I think we'll go with the La Quinta for now. Are the "walking distance" things downtown like a 10-15 minute walk or longer?

Ah, ok, that makes more sense then.

Yes, it would probably take me about that long to walk from La Quinta to the center of downtown but I'm a pretty fast walker. It's going to take a bit longer than that to things like the market and Pioneer Square.

The king suite at La Quinta has a separate bedroom and kitchen. We booked one through Priceline last year for visiting friends. They liked it.

There is a high rise going up RIGHT next to La Quinta at the moment. If you plan to be in your room during the day, I assume the noise will be an issue. I'd say it is about a 15-20 min. walk from there down to Pike Place Market.

Mediterranean is a MUCH nicer hotel. It is up at the base of Queen Anne so a bit further distance, but much more pleasant neighborhood. Busses run that route straight down 1st Avenue into town.