I will be staying at the Westin downtown hotel over the labor day weekend. As for parking, I am wondering if it will be easy to find just street parking (instead of paying over $20 per night to park at the hotel)?

In a word, no. You might be able to find an inconveniently (and unprotected) parking lot with no in-and-out privileges that charges less than $20 for 24 hours....but then again, you might not.

In addition, Labor Day weekend is the time for the Bumbershoot arts festival at Seattle Center (around 400,000 people attend) and the Westin is a block from the monorail station that serves the Center. Many humans will be trying to park on the street or in cheap spaces near the monorail station so they can avoid the congestion and breathtaking parking fees they would encounter nearer the Center. Pay the $20 and consider yourself lucky. BTW, Bumbershoot is a hoot - www.bumbershoot.org

Thanks jumpshep and Gardyloo! Now I am really thinking twice about renting a car. Do you think we will be able to get around okay using public transportation? Also, roughly how much does it cost to get a cab ride from the airport to Downtown (Westin)?

Sorry...it's jimshep.

Hi, The last time I took a cab to the airport it cost $30-35; however, I think the Westin is the terminal for a bus that shuttles people into town. Call the Westin in Seattle directly for more information about this.

Whether you need a car depends on where you want to go. Check out Enterprise--they have an office within walking distance of the Westin and renting a car down town is a lot cheaper than renting at the airport. You might rent a car for a day or two to do the "car" things you want to do.

If you like to walk, Seattle Center (Space Needle), Pioneer Square, and the Pike Place Market are all an easy walk--as is the pier for Argosy boat tours (half-price tickets on sale at the Pike Place Market.

There are also Greyline and other tour operators who give comprehensive tours of the city.

The Gray Line shuttle goes from Sea-Tac to the Westin (and other downtown hotels) every 15 minutes and costs just $8.50. It's a big ugly bus but hey, it's cheap and the drivers offer commentary as well!

Forgot to mention that the entire point of my previous post is that it's not necessary to rent a car. Airport transfers can be inexpensive and you can cab it when needed for far less money than renting a car and parking it downtown!