Our friends stayed at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel over Christmas and loved it. I looked on the web site and looks a little too traditional for us. Maybe a little too expensive. We are early 50's and are looking for a little romantic, long weekend with lots of walking, eating, sipping and other things like that...We would love a hotel, downtown, convenient to the "action" in downtown, but not fancy or expensive. Maybe around $150? Willing to go higher if needed to enhance the experience...any suggestions here? Thanks all...

When is just as important as where. In summer/tourist season $150 gets you bupkis. Over President's weekend, you can get the Hyatt for $169, and probably some good specials at any of the Kimpton hotels for under $200, maybe including a meal or three.

Check your dates for the Hyatt, Mayflower Park, Alexis, Andra, Inn at the Market, Vintage Park, or Sheraton (the latter under construction so not really that swell at the moment.)

My AAA book says the Mayflower Park has rooms in that range. The describe it as "elegant warmth with the old-world charm of a European hotel". I haven't been inside, but friends of our who have stayed there like it. The location is excellent, right downtown at 4th and Olive. WE have enjoyed their restaurant, Andaluca.

Other places to try, although I don't know the room prices, are Inn at the Markeet, Inn at Harbor Steps, Hotel Max, and Hotel Andra.

It seems you are looking for a hotel near the heart of the retail core, which is 4th and Pine (Macy's) or 5th and Pine (Nordstrom).

These include the aforementioned Andra, Sheraton, Grand Hyatt, and Mayflower. Others are the Westin, Warwick, and seldom-recommended Roosevelt, Paramount, and Max.

The Mayflower Park Hotel
Hotel Max
Hotel Andra
Warwick Hotel

We are talking a random weekend in the spring, open somewhat, depending on a few other factors. Maybe I should shop the prices first and then try and book. We have a free companion fare on AA so was hoping to use it on this trip.

Where would YOU stay on this weekend, and why? Location? Price? The rooms? We love rooms with balconies (kind of like having an extra room) and of course a view would be great, but pricey...Let's put a max of $200 on it...

The first three on my list do not have balconies, because they are older buildings that have been refurbished (so standard square brick structure exterior).

Try Inn at the Market, they have views for sure but I'm not sure about views & balconies in that price range. If those two things are more important, maybe even someplace like the Westin or the Edgewater?

My personal absolutely favorite hotel in Seattle is The Sorrento. But it really doesn't fit any of the criteria you're seeking.

It's doubtful you'll get a water view in that price range at the Inn at the Market. I put in some random weekend dates into Expedia for March and April, and it look like rates go up a bit for April, at least for most of the hotels. Both the Grand Hyatt and the Westin are more modern than traditional, and will give you views and I think the Westin has little balconies. The rate on Expedia was $199 for each in March--all things being equal, I'd go for the Hyatt over the Westin even though it doesn't have balconies. Try seattlesupersaver.com as well (run by the Seattle vistor's bureau). The Andra is modern and a bit less expensive that those two but doesn't have views or balconies.

The Warwick is less expensive and at least some rooms have views and small balconies, but I just don't think it's anything special.

Absolutely agree that the Warwick is nothing special. But the location is OK in Belltown, and it does have some views and teeny balconies.

Without bidding Priceline or something, I agree with others that $200 with balcony and view (can it be any city view or you hope for a water view?) in downtown Seattle is a tough call.

The Waterfront Marriot has views and balconies---at a price. A water view room without balcony is $259 on a random weekend in April.

But both the Grand Hyatt and Westin, suggestted by NWWanderer, are better located. I wonder what the views are like from the Hyatt? It seems like they might be mostly obstructed by buildings.

I would imagine the lower floors at the Hyatt don't have much of a view but the room I saw when a friend stayed there was on a higher floor (high teens, maybe? I can't remember exactly which floor) and faced north with a nice view of the city over to Lake Union, the Space Needle and you could even see a bit of Elliott Bay and the mountains as well. It was definitely more of a city view than water view but still quite nice.

Actually was thinking city view, not water. Thanks. Will look into these suggestions.

I really like the Alexis, but we didn't have any views from our room. Great location though...short 5 minute walk to Pike Place Market and that area, and the hotel itself is nice, but not stuffy at all.

We have had numerous stays at the Westin and like it too. More business style than the Alexis, but still very nice. We always stay on the higher floors and there are some fantastic views from there! Great location too, right by Westlake Center and such. Short walk down to Pike Place Market as well.

Just a thought. Let's say we didn't stay in downtown Seattle. What would be the next best neighborhood?

Lower Queen Anne at the Marqueen or Mediterranean?

Silver Cloud on Capitol Hill or Lake Union?

A B&B on Capitol Hill?

But you lose everything you asked for in your original post about being downtown, convenient to the action, walking distances, etc.

Since price is a consideration, use priceline. I got the 3 star crowne plaza for 80/nt and the 3 star red lion for 90/nt at the beginning and end of my last vacation, late September. Only drawback is you can't cancel.