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Seattle Travel Questions

tompalm

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We are putting together a reunion for a bunch of Navy guys from my first squadron and trying to find the best place to stay in Seattle for $200 a night or less. A few questions I have are:

1. What is the best hotel in the downtown area. It looks like the Double Tree Artic Club, Marriott Courtyard, and Hilton Garden Inn are close to the Light Rail and will fit the budget. Which are those do you recommend, or there any others?

2. Is the Light Rail the best way to get from the airport to the hotels above? Can you catch the rail right inside the airport terminal, how much does it cost and how often does it run?

3. What would be the best activity for one day or maybe two days if time permits? Is Seattle Center worth a look? How about a visit to the Microsoft Visitors Center or a bus tour of Seattle. Most people have probably walked the waterfront, seen the aquarium, Pikes Market.... So looking for other ideas.

4. What might be a good restaurant for a group of 40-50 people that is close to 3rd Ave, or the Double Tree. Last time we had over 100 people, but I don't think that many will show this time.

We are looking at arriving on a Friday and catching an Alaska Cruise on Princess on a Sunday during May 2016. Would it be best for each couple to catch their own cab up to pier 66 for boarding the ship, or is there a better way to transport a group.
 

easyrider

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We have had groups at the Lake Union Courtyard by Marriott. The city view rooms are pretty cool as you see the Space Needle. It looks like a flying saucer at night. The rate included a decent breakfast.

The Inn at the Market would be a great place to go but Im not sure it would handle your group size. There is alot of activities next to this place.

http://www.innatthemarket.com/

The light rail would get you to down town Seattle from SeaTac. After that you may need a taxi. It might be easier to use the shuttle express at about $20 a person. They drop you off in front of the hotel and are only a few dollars more than the light rail.

You might be able to use the banquet room at the Courtyard at West Lake for a group meal. They do special occasions, meetings and weddings.

Bill
 

jacknsara

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. . . 4. What might be a good restaurant for a group of 40-50 people that is close to 3rd Ave, or the Double Tree. Last time we had over 100 people, but I don't think that many will show this time. . . .
Aloha,
Tom Douglas is a major local to Seattle restaurateur and has several restaurants in the general area. I know they have banquet facilities but am not sure the size or cost.
Here's the link http://tomdouglas.com/
Jack
 

dsmrp

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Aloha TomPalm,

We are putting together a reunion for a bunch of Navy guys from my first squadron and trying to find the best place to stay in Seattle for $200 a night or less. A few questions I have are:

1. What is the best hotel in the downtown area. It looks like the Double Tree Artic Club, Marriott Courtyard, and Hilton Garden Inn are close to the Light Rail and will fit the budget. Which are those do you recommend, or there any others?

The DoubleTree Arctic /Club and Marriott Courtyard are very close to each other and the link rail Pioneer Square station. I've known some work consultants who liked the Marriott. The Doubletree is an older bldg, but a pretty good location too, on 3rd Ave, right across the street from rail station. (btw Pioneer Square station is the one I use every day). Both hotels are on the south side of downtown area, away from the higher priced & central Pine & Pike Streets. Has their fair share of street people at night, but so does most of downtown. Hilton Garden Inn is on the NE side of downtown; not quite as convenient to rail. I would choose DoubleTree or Marriott over Hilton for location and ease of transit use, bus or rail.

You might want to look at the Mayflower Park hotel, a small hotel, extremely well located to all the main downtown action. Or the Hotel Monaco, a boutique hotel located somehwat kitty-corner to the Fairmont Olympic hotel. Not sure if these will meet your budget.

2. Is the Light Rail the best way to get from the airport to the hotels above? Can you catch the rail right inside the airport terminal, how much does it cost and how often does it run?
Light Rail is certainly the least expensive. It costs about $3 one way from airport to downtown, but takes about 45-50 minutes. It runs quite often, weekdays about every 5-10 minutes during peak hours, about 15-20 minutes in late evening and early morning. Operates about 5 am - 12 Midnite.
The airport rail station is on the north side of the airport parking structure. Depending upon your airline, it could be a walk the entire length of the baggage claim area.
A cab to downtown will cost at least $40, and take about 30 minutes, longer with traffic.

3. What would be the best activity for one day or maybe two days if time permits? Is Seattle Center worth a look? How about a visit to the Microsoft Visitors Center or a bus tour of Seattle. Most people have probably walked the waterfront, seen the aquarium, Pikes Market.... So looking for other ideas.
How about Museum of Flight, down by Boeing Field? would need car or you could take the bus...
The Experience Music Project (EMP) is a popular tourist attraction too. It's at Seattle Center.
If you want a great 360 view of Seattle and beyond, go to the Observation Deck, floor 76 or so, of the Columbia Center tower on 4th Ave. It's only 1-2 blocks away from Double Tree or Marriott.

4. What might be a good restaurant for a group of 40-50 people that is close to 3rd Ave, or the Double Tree. Last time we had over 100 people, but I don't think that many will show this time.
The Wild Ginger is a Thai restaurant, well rated, on 3rd ave but several blocks north of Double Tree. I think it's also large enough to accommodate 40-50.

We are looking at arriving on a Friday and catching an Alaska Cruise on Princess on a Sunday during May 2016. Would it be best for each couple to catch their own cab up to pier 66 for boarding the ship, or is there a better way to transport a group.
If Princess ship is truly leaving from Pier 66, a cab from hotel to pier would be fine. But if it's using the cruise terminal #91 farther north, you might consider chartering a bus if you have a large group.
 

dsmrp

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Just to clarify, I was referring to the Marriott Courtyard on 2nd Avenue between James and Cherry Sts. The Lake Union Marriott which Bill-Easyrider referred to is north of downtown by a mile or two.

Also if you do decide to use light rail from airport to Double Tree or Marriott,
use the 3rd Ave & James exit, north mezzanine, from the Pioneer Square station. The direct non-red eye flights from Honolulu land about 9-10 pm at night. The south mezzanine to 2nd & Yesler is definitely much much sketchier at night .

Here is the URL for Sound Transit which runs the light rail.
http://www.soundtransit.org/schedules/light-rail/link-light-rail/weekday

There are 2 bus systems, Seattle Metro (local) and Sound Transit (commuter longer distance). They don't take each other's transfers for cash fares, but do participate in a joint transit card called "ORCA". ORCA card costs about $5 and then you load $ onto your card. Buses which run up and down 2nd, 3rd and 4th avenues and in rail-transit underground tunnel are a mix of both systems. Probably better if you stick to Metro around downtown.
 
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easyrider

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Also if you do decide to use light rail from airport to Double Tree or Marriott,
use the 3rd Ave & James exit, north mezzanine, from the Pioneer Square station. The direct non-red eye flights from Honolulu land about 9-10 pm at night. The south mezzanine to 2nd & Yesler is definitely much much sketchier at night .

I don't like the Pioneer Square area unless things have changed regarding the homeless vagrant drunks and drug addicts. The entire area smells like urine. The panhandling is out of control, imo.

I do like the Inn at the Market because it is close to Kells Irish Bar and Pike ST Market. Other than that, we like either staying on the waterfront like at the Edge Water or more often the Lake Union Courtyard by Marriott. The Lake Union Marriott is in a cleaner area of Seattle and a short ride to anywhere down town by street car or taxi.

We do stay at the WM Camlin often on bonus time but there is no way to get 30+ room here.

Bill
 

dsmrp

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I don't like the Pioneer Square area unless things have changed regarding the homeless vagrant drunks and drug addicts. The entire area smells like urine. The panhandling is out of control, imo.

I do like the Inn at the Market because it is close to Kells Irish Bar and Pike ST Market. Other than that, we like either staying on the waterfront like at the Edge Water or more often the Lake Union Courtyard by Marriott. The Lake Union Marriott is in a cleaner area of Seattle and a short ride to anywhere down town by street car or taxi.

We do stay at the WM Camlin often on bonus time but there is no way to get 30+ room here.

Bill

True, the Pioneer Square area still has homeless shelters and homeless people sleeping in the public park adjacent to the county courthouse, and panhandlers. Yet on Fridays & weekends Pioneer Square has people frequenting the bars and eateries cause it's close to the sports stadiums.
There are usually certain best approaches to an area or neighborhood. The north side of Pioneer Sq area of downtown Seattle is better than the south side.

The OP asked for 1) best hotel in the downtown area, but also 2) best place to stay in Seattle for $200/night or less. Downtown Seattle is an expensive place to stay. Sure the best & more conveniently located hotels are the Fairmont Olympic, Westin, Sheraton, Hilton etc uptown, but would cost more than $200/night. It's the usual trade off: location & time vs cost.

Uptown on 3rd Ave between Pike & Pine, near Macy's and also Westlake center on 4th has LOTS of young people (mostly men) hanging out on the streets in the evening into late night. I'm sure there are drug deals going on ... I see more cops there than at Pioneer Square. Yet it's part of the downtown core. Depends a lot on time of day, and what direction you're approaching from.
 
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tompalm

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Thanks for the great info everyone. Part of the reason for staying at the Courtyard or Double Tree and being close to the light rail is that lots of the guys are still working for the airlines and might drop in for one night. Especially for the guys that live in San Francisco or the west coast, they could jump seat up on Saturday afternoon, have dinner and see everyone and catch a late flight home. I don't expect too many guys will do that, but there are some that would.
 

MULTIZ321

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Aloha TomPalm,



...


How about Museum of Flight, down by Boeing Field? would need car or you could take the bus...

+1 for the Museum of Flight suggestion. This would be great for your group of ex-Navy vets. Another alteranative to get there and back would be Uber. Probably could get 3 or 4 in a car to help defray expenses.


Richard
 

dsmrp

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Thanks for the great info everyone. Part of the reason for staying at the Courtyard or Double Tree and being close to the light rail is that lots of the guys are still working for the airlines and might drop in for one night. Especially for the guys that live in San Francisco or the west coast, they could jump seat up on Saturday afternoon, have dinner and see everyone and catch a late flight home. I don't expect too many guys will do that, but there are some that would.

The Courtyard looks more modern and fun; the DoubleTree is more sedate and historic. The north entrance/exit from rail station puts you out at 3rd & Cherry, literally a stone's throw to the DoubleTree, and a short block to Courtyard.

I was also going to suggest the Boeing Factory tour up at the Everett plant, but a bunch of airline flyers likely wouldn't be interested in seeing the skeletons of commercial airplanes :rofl:
Still if a few are interested, the strictly enforced limitation for children is a height of 4 ft or more.

Also for coffee afficionados, Starbucks has their Reserve Roastery and Tasting room up on Pike street, just east of downtown & convention center.
 
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