<p>Need a suggestion for a hotel. They will arrive in the evening and head to the campus around 9 am. They fly home that afternoon.
So no time for Seattle sightseeing. I was thinking either something near the campus or possibly just having them stay out near the airport. If they stay near the airport will they have traffic down to Tacoma in the am?
Thanks</p>
<p>Stay by the Airport and drive down. Allow one hour for the drive. Lots of good hotels by the airport. Nothing much in Tacoma.</p>
<p>We stayed at an airport hotel and drove down in the morning but it was a Sat. so don't know about traffic. If you get a chance, try to meet the Admissions Director, Melanie Reed. My D interviewed with her and she was, quite simply, the nicest person we met at any college during the entire application process.</p>
<p>UPS has a list of hotels on their admissions website Some, I believe, give discounts if you're visiting the University. We were told by two UPS parents that the hotel right on the water (can't remember the name, but it will be obvious if you look at the site) is particularly nice, and also closest to campus.</p>
<p>The traffic from the airport to Tacoma in the AM can be horrendous. Plus, the airport hotels are not any cheaper than staying in Tacoma. The Silver Cloud Inn is in the right location. I've never stayed there, since it was built since my D was in school in Tacoma (she went to a private high school about a mile from UPS). There are several nice restaurants and a Starbucks in the area. </p>
<p>The Museum of Glass in Tacoma is lovely if there's any time to spare.</p>
<p>My experience has been SB from Sea to Tac in the AM is not that bad at all. The heavy flow is NB. Evening is the opposite.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Silver Cloud Inn in Tacoma. <a href="http://www.scinns.com/13home.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.scinns.com/13home.htm</a> It's very close to UPS, has a great breakfast, and a great view of the sound. It is close to the railroad tracks, but it didn't bother us. They have a UPS discount.</p>
<p>Stay in mini's garage.</p>
<p>If you want to stay in a lovely quiet village type location that's still close to UPS, try Gig Harbor. We did Mathcamp at UPS last summer and parked our RV at Gig Harbor for that period. There are a few nice small hotels there. I think the second bridge should be finished now, so traffic across the bridge should be much eased.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Silver Cloud Inn when we visited last year. It was very nice. It is literally down the hill from the campus - about a 5 min drive to admissions parking. Easy access to the freeway.</p>
<p>That's the one that was recommended to me by two UPS parents -- thanks!</p>
<p>Barrons--I regularly drive from Sammamish past SeaTac (the airport) and on to Tacoma in the mornings (we commute to Portland twice a month). I've encountered both zero traffic and horrendous traffic. If I had to keep a schedule, I'd opt for not doing the drive first thing in the AM.</p>
<p>Nope, the new bridge won't be finished until this summer. No way I'd voluntarily submit to the morning rush hour across the Narrows. I don't know from hotels in Tacoma, but I used to stay at the airport Marriott before I moved here. It's a typical Marriott property -- reliably clean and well-maintained. I like the woodsy PNW decorations, too.</p>
<p>Hi Mom60: When your family members pass through Sea-Tac, there is a nice new shopping/eating addition called the Central Terminal.</p>
<p>I can recommend two restaurants there: Anthony's (nice local seafood restaurant chain) and Dish D'Lish (more casual cafeteria style, healthy excellent food by famous local celebrity chef). Starbuck's, newstands, bookstore, cool gift shop called Fireworks. This is a pleasant place to wait if you have time. I always try to get food at Dish D'Lish for the plane ride.</p>
<p>Thanks for the better info, then WashDad. The bridge traffic was indeed horrible last summer. We would get up before six am to beat it and then sit around waiting for the students to get out of bed so we'd have something to do! I thought it was supposed to be done by now. Thank God it will be by the time Mathcamp goes back there.</p>
<p>I second the Museum of Glass. Also nearby is the old railway station that's now a courthouse, I believe. More Chiluly (sp?) pieces are in the lobby.</p>
<p>My son would enjoy the Museum of Glass but they are not a really tight time frame. We are trying to have him miss the least amount of school as possible with his visits.
They fly in Monday evening and out tuesday late afternoon.
The Silver Cloud looks nice and has a room available. It is a bit expensive but I think they will be happy after the cheap motel I booked them in for their visit to UOP.</p>