<p>So my daughter and I are planning a visit to the campus for a couple of days. We are flying from California into Seattle most likely on Thurs, April 15th through Sat April 17th. Any suggestions on where to stay as far as convenience to both the school and airport? We have no clue as we are not familiar with Seattle at all! Thanks</p>
<p>Hey. My mom and I are flying out about a week before you.</p>
<p>We’re staying at Hotel Deca. It’s really nice, probably nicer than it needs to be for our purposes… But if you’re only staying a few days it won’t be too expensive. It’s only a few blocks away from the UW too.</p>
<p>As far as being near the airport and the UW… that’s not really possible.
Go to google maps and find the UW and SeaTac. They’re quite a ways apart. I think we’re going to be taking a shuttle to the hotel, which is what you would have to do (or a taxi- or the bus if it’s not too late and is still running when you get there)</p>
<p>I’m coming from Virginia but I’ve looked into Seattle a lot (almost obsessively…)</p>
<p>At one end of the spectrum, a really nice but somewhat pricey hotel in the University district is the Watertown. Includes very good breakfast and many nice amenities such as bicycles for the use of guests. If you are on a very strict budget there’s the College Inn which is also well-located in the U district in a charming old building but has no parking, no tv, and the bathrooms are down the hall. Includes continental breakfast. Smelled of smoke last time we stayed there. If you are visiting UW you should definitely stay in the U-district rather than downtown or at the airport. As far as price goes, there are many other choices in between these two I’ve mentioned.</p>
<p>I work in downtown Seattle and think it would be a better base than airport or U District. Lots of good restaurants in walking distance, Pike Place Market, etc. I got a very nice package at the Hyatt Olive 8 (new hotel) that included parking and full breakfast for $169/night when I had to stay downtown to work late. Very nice. You can take a quick cab ride to UW.</p>
<p>If you want near the school, there’s also the Silver Cloud Inn - University. It’s ok, not luxury, but they have various rates and deals sometimes. Very short drive to UW. Close to University Village Shopping Center, lots of stores and restaurants.
Located:
Silver Cloud Inn - University
5036 25th Ave. N.E.
Seattle,WA 98105</p>
<p>i’ve stayed in both the hotel deca and the university inn in the u-district. both are just fine.</p>
<p>as far as transportation, depending on how much stuff you bring with you it’s relatively easy to get from the u-district to seatac by bus and rail.</p>
<p>I would also suggest Deca. It’s a block down from the ave, so about three blocks down from campus. There’s plenty of great food on the ave, too. I’ve always enjoyed staying there. Nice rooms, fun vibe, good location.
It isn’t close to the airport, but no hotel in the University District is. However, Deca is very easy to get to from the airport. Get off the NE 45th St exit, drive a little bit, and it will be on your left.
Other ideas: Silver Cloud Inn (right next to U Village if you like to shop, could easily walk to campus), College Inn, University Inn</p>
<p>I suggest staying in the Westlake (downtown) area of Seattle. You’ll have close access to the buses that go straight to UW, as well as the lightrail that now goes directly to the airport!</p>
<p>[Seattle</a> Hotels - Westlake Center & Seattle Monorail Station - Seattle WA](<a href=“http://www.seattle-downtown.com/westlake-center/]Seattle”>http://www.seattle-downtown.com/westlake-center/)</p>
<p>Heres some information about the Westlake center. The hotels are very close by. One is literally across the street and over a block or so from the transit center. To get to the UW, go either to the transit center (underground, you won’t miss the entrance from the street) and take one of the 70-something(there are several) buses (all going to campus). Those go directly onto University Ave, which is right next to the admissions building (Schmitz Hall) and next to the campus. If you don’t want to go take one of those buses, find either the 48 or 43 bus on ground level. Take it north and you’ll end up on campus, too. If you stay on the 48/3 long enough, you actually end up on the OTHER SIDE of Schmitz hall that you would have been on if you took a 70-something bus. </p>
<p>To get to the airport, buy a ticket at the Metro station (also at the westlake transit center) and hop on the light rail going East/Southbound, which comes every five minutes. The very last stop is the airport. You can also get to Westlake station coming from the airport.</p>
<p>I travel through Westlake Transit Station all the time and will probably still go through there since I will be a commuter next year. Its very convenient and it has a great location. There are lots of restaurants, small shops, and the convention center is right nearby.</p>
<p>Have fun in Seattle!</p>
<p>Edit: This is also very convenient if you’re NOT going to be renting a car. Although it may take an extra few minutes to get to places, you’ll see more Seattle life if you’re on the streets and will get a feel of the campus even more since you’ll have to walk a bit more or take more public transportation. If you are going to be renting a car, I still suggest taking at least one day going around using public transit.</p>
<p>I would recommend not renting a car in Seattle. It’s one of my least favorite places to drive, a lot of hills and one way streets. Public transit isn’t too bad, and free within certain areas of Seattle on innercity busses I think (although I could be wrong about it being free. I haven’t taken a bus through Seattle in a couple years). The city itself is beautiful and worth seeing on foot. Enjoy your stay here :]</p>
<p>@smileee - yes, there’s still a free zone downtown.</p>
<p>thank you bubbleteachibi. I should probably get used to bussing again for next year :P, I’ve only taken them once or twice since getting a license…</p>
<p>thanks for all the replies! At this point, we would probably just take a taxi (or shuttle if offered) from the airport to the Hotel. My daughter & I both lack in the directions department and we would be like “tweedle dee & tweedle dum”!!! So we would like to stay in a hotel that is a little more upscale than having to use a bathroom down the hall LOL!! When you say pricey for Watertown Hotel, what are we talking here? Also did a search on Orbitz with hotel and flight packages, they seem to have some good deals on the bigger chain hotels i.e. Hyatt, Westin, Marriott. Does anyone have any advice on these hotels? I’m assuming we would just take a taxi to visit the school from wherever we stay. Thanks again!</p>
<p>@ucmomhopeful - I can’t help you on the hotels, but I really do recommend you take public transportation at least for a day. It’ll probably be cheaper to take the bus, and you’ll get to experience the people ‘in Seattle’. If you ever get lost, I’ve found that the metro bus drivers are VERY helpful, respectful, and courteous when people ask for directions or ask to be let off at a stop a long ways away if they don’t know their way around. I also highly recommend Google Map’s bus route planner if you do plan on taking the bus at some point. You can see all the stops and zoom into street view to look at landmarks.</p>
<p>Definitely, definitely stay at Hotel Deca. I stayed there during my visit earlier this month, and it is located just a few blocks from campus, in addition to everything else on University Ave. I think we got a rate of $110 per night, which is a great deal! If you’re just staying in that area of Seattle, there won’t be any need to rent a car! Everything is within walking distance, so if you catch a nice day it’s really beautiful :)</p>
<p>UCMom- I am also a Ca. mom - with two that attended UW. Although downtown Seattle is a must during a visit to the area, I would recommend that you stay in the U district and close to the school and it’s activities for your visit. There is so much to see and do. Catching a bus to and from the downtown area is a no-brainer. Any and everyone will be able to show you where to catch the bus to go downtown-and back. Or, there is always a taxi. But Seattle is known for it’s good bus system, and your student will most likely be on them frequently -they are great. And ‘Bubble’ is right-most bus drivers are great!
On the west side of campus, the Deca and Watertown are probably both in the $150 range–depending on a million different factors. Both multifloor hotel types. Both centrally located to the school and “Ave” (Seattle’s mini version of Telegraph Ave in Berkeley). University Inn is also close by and is probably closer to $125 - smaller, clean, feeling of family run, breakfast, most rooms very nice, but a bit older feeling (well…except that the Deca has been around forever-just keeps getting renovated). The SilverCloud is a large chain hotel, and located on the opposite side of campus from the previously mentioned places. Believe me, it is certainly not a “bathroom down the hall” type place - none of these accommodations are. The nice thing about Silvercloud is that it is located next to University Village, an upscale and convenient retail area within easy walking distance. Starbucks, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Lucky, Anthro, restaurants, drug stores…etc. It is also a nice (if not longer) walk to the campus. Last time we stayed there it was about $150 with breakfast.
For large chain hotels, you will probably need to go downtown. But short of being a Rockefeller (LOL), I don’t think you would object to any of these places - they are all nice in their own way. Just google and call for rates. You really can’t go wrong with any of those four places. If your daughter ends up at the U, you’ll probably stay in all of them by the end of her time there!
Good luck.</p>