Where to Stay

Over the past several years, Seattle has become quite a popular tourist destination, especially in the summer when the threat of rain diminishes. Most hotels are located in the downtown area, but visitors can certainly find excellent lodging options in the outlying areas as well.

Bellevue and the Eastside

Seattle's sister city across Lake Washington, Bellevue has boomed with the growth of high-tech companies. It's an ideal spot for visitors who don't mind a short commute, although at rush hour crossing the bridge can take up to an hour. Hotels here include the posh Bellevue Club Hotel and the beautifully appointed Hyatt Regency. More moderately priced hotels include Red Lion Bellevue Inn and the Sheraton Bellevue. If you're looking for an even more casual place to stay, try the Bellevue Silver Cloud Inn or the Bellevue Lodge. These centrally located hotels, convenient to business and shopping, are ideal for business travelers visiting Microsoft, US West, Nintendo or any of the other companies filling the ever-expanding business parks in Bellevue, and in Redmond just five minutes to the east.

A few minutes east on the shore of Lake Washington, Kirkland is filled with condominiums, restaurants, art galleries and yachts. Kirkland's impeccable Woodmark Hotel sits right on the water and offers beautiful sunrises.

Downtown Business/Shopping Area

Most of the larger hotels are located here in the heart of the action. These are also the city's most expensive hotels. Accommodations for the shopping set include the Westin, Mayflower Park Hotel and the Fairmont Olympic, all high-quality hotels within easy walking distance of Pacific Place Shopping Center, Westlake Center, Nordstrom and Pike Place Market. Near the Washington State Convention Center, you'll find the Sheraton and the Seattle Hilton. The Hotel Monaco is also nearby.

SeaTac

If you don't want to stray far from Seatac Airport, which is about half an hour from downtown, there are plenty of options, as long as you don't mind the sound of airplanes taking off and landing. The Red Lion Hotel Seattle Airport the and Seattle Marriott Sea-Tac Airport are a few among many along the Pacific Highway (US 99) corridor.

University District

This part of town is always bustling. College students form the core population of the area, so inexpensive stores and restaurants abound. The hotels here are less expensive than those downtown, and considering the proximity to the city, it's not a bad place to stay. The University Tower Hotel and the University Inn provide comfort at reasonable prices.

Waterfront

While the Waterfront is a tourist Mecca, it is not the easiest place to find a hotel, so book early. The Edgewater is perched over the water on a pier, and every window has a view. As a matter of fact, Edgewater is the only waterfront hotel downtown. Located at the south end of downtown in historic Pioneer Square, the Pioneer Square Hotel is also close to the waterfront. And between those two sits The Inn at the Market, a nice hotel located at the frenzied Pike Place Market and only steps from the bustling waterfront.