which seattle hotel?
 

Hi--My active 76 year old mother and I are attending a conference the third week of June in Seattle at the Westin hotel. The conference rate is rather steep (189 + tax) so are looking for an alternative. Considering Silver Cloud (129-149 + tax), Red Lion (159+tax) and Marqueen (153+tax). Which do you recommend? Hotel shuttles are available from the Marqueen and Silver Cloud but don't know how often they run or how expensive/how much of a hassle it would be to commute to the Westin. Would like a clean, safe, quiet hotel in a neighborhood can walk to good inexpensive-moderate dinner or breakfast choices (if not offered by the hotel). Mediterrean hotel was considered but at $139 perhaps it would make sense to pick one of the more highly rated hotels. Suggestions?

I'm afraid I don't know the other hotels, I've been away for awhile. But, if price is the primary factor, and you just want clean and safe, there is a Best Western just one or two blocks from the Westin on Sixth Avenue you may wish to check. If you are looking more upscale, or specifically want one of the other hotels you mentioned, hopefully another poster will come on to share.

Just a note though, the Westin is really very nicely located, so may be worth the extra just so you don't have to waste it in travel time. Also, be sure to have their seafood cobb salad! It's great(:

I hope you enjoy Seattle!

The Westin has a great location and really comfortable beds.

Silver Cloud and Marqueen are not very convenient for downtown conventions

Another problem: Breakfast is not a meal easy to find in Seattle (as it is in NYC and in smaller towns that have a lot of diners and coffee shops of the old-fashioned kind).

Suggestion: Check out Summerfield Suites at 1011 Pike. The AAA rate for June 12 is about $126 for a standard room, and the rate includes a continental breakfast.

The Summerfield is next door to the Convention Center and it is near the last stop in the downtown "ride free" zone.

The Red Lion at $159 is not a good value. The Warwick sometimes has a good deal going, and it's location isn't bad. Hotel Andra and the Mayflower are additional places to check out. The Max (formerly The Vance) has a good location but the rooms are small.

Thanks for the advice. Actually the Mayflower was my first choice but rates are over $200. Andra is also over $200 per night. Hmmm. The going rate for the Red Lion was over $200 per night so I thought the $159 was a good rate. Checking tripadvisor.com, the last two posters for the Summerfield were very negative. Possibility is Max at $152 per night on their website.

Summerfield Suites is a good hotel. We stayed there for months. They have a shuttle service.

I think the issue with the last two tripadvisor posters is because the Summerfield has new management?

I'm not too thrilled with TripAdvisor. If it is to be believed, the #1 place to stay in Tucson is a Hampton Inn at the Airport.

I checked out the last Summerfield review, and I find it impossible to believe the writer's claim that every room is a room for pets.

You are best off with the Westin. Unless you are strapped for cash, stay there.

Since am paying for both mom and myself (airfare, hotel etc.) am looking for a place that is less expensive. Since the tax is 17%, savings over 4 nights for any of these would mean getting 4 nights for the price of 3 at the Westin. Thanks again.

Which is why I recommended a place where you could stay for six nights at the cost of the Westin for four nights, but you pooh-poohed it. Good luck, and goodbye.

The cruise business has pushed up hotel prices in downtown Seattle big time; your price point is exactly the one cruise pax are trying to hit, thus rooms throughout the summer are very scarce.

I think the Silver Cloud is your best bet. Even if their shuttle doesn't run late, a cab from the Westin to the SC (and I assume you're referring to the SC on Lake Union, rather than the ones on Capitol Hill, University Village, or the new one at Safeco Field) will be $10 or $15, way less than the up-charge for the room.

The SC will also give you a free breakfast, something the Westin certainly won't, so potential additional savings there.

The Red Lion occupies a converted office building. The location is good, but people we know who've stayed there felt that it was overpriced for the quality (which seems to be endemic in Red Lions at the moment.)

In only a few cases of personal knowledge, I have yet to hear much good about the Marqueen. Certainly the location is not so hot for a conference at the Westin. (Might be if/when the monorail is repaired and running again, which may not be until after your visit.)

I think you are underestimating the hasssle it will be taking taxis and shuttles around Seattle every day. In your shoes, I would probably spring for the Westin.

That said, the Mediterrean does fit your request for a neighborhood you can walk around with some moderate priced places to eat (lower Queen Anne near the Seattle Center). I've only seen it from the outside but it looks a nice enough hotel.

I stayed at the Summerfield Suites for a night at Christmas time, and my two cousins (and their newborns) stayed for two weeks. I thought it was great for the price. I mean, we're not talking the plushness of the Fairmont, but the rooms were roomy and nicely appointed. My cousins usually stay in VERY nice hotels and they were pleased with Summerfield. The location is outstanding for purposes of being in the shopping / convention district.

I'm not familiar with the SC or RL or Marqueen, so can't help there.

Good luck and enjoy your stay!

I stayed at the Red Lion on 5th Avenue in Seattle in August 2005 twice and found it to be a great location. It is right across the street from City Centre where I went for coffee at Starbucks every morning. They also have a bunch of food kiosks with some small tables where you can grab breakfast items. The hotel also has a very nice restaurant upstairs that does serve breakfast although I never actually ate there and a pub downstairs. It is .26 miles to the Westin (according to Mapquest) so you should have no problem getting there for your convention. I got a good rate on Priceline for both stays and the rooms were very nice. It is centrally located and in a very good neighborhood. One morning when I was going on a tour from the nearby Sheraton (I think) I saw Alex Rodriguez of the NY Yankees going into City Centre so if the NY Yankees stay in that area, you know it's good!! My advice would be to try to get the hotel on PL or Hotwire if you feel comfortable doing that.

Thanks everyone. Happytrails--I wasn't poopooing your suggestion. I really do appreciate your input. I checked with Summerfield Suites and it is $169 per night for the nights we are there--no AAA or AARP rates available at that time. Best Western only has king bed (no rooms with 2 doubles or queens) available. I had no idea this would be so tough--the cruiseship explanation does make sense. Over 4 nights, would save $188-281 if stay at the Silver Cloud, Mediterrean ($234), Max ($174) over the Westin--why have been searching around rather than just going with the Westin. Thanks again for your input.

If you're sure you're not staying at the Westin, the Summerfield Suites is a good location and $169 is a very reasonable rate for summer in Seattle which is the most expensive time of year to stay for the reasons Gardyloo stated.

I've stayed at the Mediterranean, which was fine; nothing fancy, but clean, very nice roof garden, pleasant staff and a Starbucks right off the lobby. Easy walk to Seattle Center; easy to catch a bus to downtown. Just be sure that you don't get the room with the double bed that resembles a daybed (hard to describe, but some of their smaller rooms have a double bed that sort of pushes underneath a ledge to make a daybed).

Thanks again for the wonderful input. After seeing another posters suggestion to try hotwire, I secured the Sheraton for $137--it is only 5 blocks away from the Westin. I am definitely sharing your suggestions with my friends who are also looking for less expensive rooms for this conference.

Excellent solution (yes it is a fine location, a few long city blocks walk over to the Westin but definitely closer than others you were considering).

The great rate at The Sheraton is no doubt because it is a construction site--they are adding a new tower. When I passed the hotel yesterday, I noticed that the main entrance has been demolished. Ask for a room on the north side (the tower is going up on the south side).
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