My husband and I have 3 nights this summer in Seattle. Neither one of us has ever been before so we'll want to do the main tourist sites. We've narrowed our hotel choices down to: Hotel Vintage Park, Hotel Monaco and Alexis Hotel. All three are Kimpton properties, I believe. Any suggestions?

I have not stayed at the other two so cannot comment, but we loved the Alexis. We had an enormous room, largest I have ever seen! Very well appointed and decorated as well. The location is fine, a nice easy walk to the market and Westlake Center area. The staff were friendly, and very helpful. The valets were quick to retrieve our vehicle, and the bar and breakfast restaurant were good. I would not hesitate to stay there again at all.

The Alexis just finished a renovation of its rooms so that would probably be my first choice of the 3, followed by the Monaco.

What's the rate difference for your dates? That would probably influence my decision as well.

If you are willing to consider a non-Kimption property, the Andra is a good bet and slightly more centrally located than the Kimpton places. But downtown Seattle is pretty compact so you can walk everywhere from pretty much any part of downtown.

Another vote for the Alexis.

The Vintage Park and Monaco are located more in the office core; the Alexis is a bit more convenient for Pike Place and Pioneer Square, also the waterfront.

That said, the restaurant at the Monaco (Sazerac) is quite wonderful, and it's across the street from the new central library, something of a tourist draw in itself. You'll be happy at any of them, but for a first-time leisure visitor, I'd probably go with the Alexis.

I'd also give Alexis the edge because of location. But I think you'd be satisfied with any of the 3.

I have stayed at The Alexis, the Inn at Harbor Steps, Inn at the Market, and the Andra. Overall my favorite might be Inn at the Market, but it's about twice as much money as the others. Next I loved the Andra. I like its location at the edge of Belltown, better than the Alexis in fact. Nearly all the restaurants we liked going to are closer to the Andra, for example. I know Kimpton has changed a lot of their hotels, but it WAS a Kimpton if not still.

Actually the Andra has never been a Kimpton hotel, but it's very Kimpton-like ;-).

My confusion, I guess. We also stayed at Fifth Avenue Suites in Portland that trip (July 2005). I was thinking I had booked both through Kimpton and joined their program to do so.

Many many thanks for the input. At this point, my husband and I are definitely leaning towards the Alexis. Can't wait!