Seattle hotel recommendations

[Ravenne]

We're considering spending a day exploring Seattle a bit before hopping the train to our cruise. Does anyone have any hotel recommendations in the area? Any suggestions on which train station to catch Amtrak Cascades to Vancouver? We'll likely fly into SeaTac, possibly on a red eye so we'll need a room for the night we arrive. We're thinking of exploring Seattle a bit for 1 day, (Space Needle, Pike's, and anything else that we may be able to reasonably squeeze in in 1 day) back to hotel, then hop on the train the next morning, which should be the day before the cruise, stay 1 night in Vancouver before boarding the ship. Does that sound like an ok plan? In theory, I'd like to save some $ and skip the night in Vancouver and just take the train in on embarkation day, but that makes me nervous.

Anyway, any recommendations on where to stay in Seattle? I don't plan on renting a car for such a short time, so Uber/Lyft and public transportation will have to do. We're a party of 4 with school aged kids, so clean, safe, and relatively easy to get around from, as well as get to the train station from is perfect. Thanks!

 

[MUN]

We're considering spending a day exploring Seattle a bit before hopping the train to our cruise. Does anyone have any hotel recommendations in the area? Any suggestions on which train station to catch Amtrak Cascades to Vancouver? We'll likely fly into SeaTac, possibly on a red eye so we'll need a room for the night we arrive. We're thinking of exploring Seattle a bit for 1 day, (Space Needle, Pike's, and anything else that we may be able to reasonably squeeze in in 1 day) back to hotel, then hop on the train the next morning, which should be the day before the cruise, stay 1 night in Vancouver before boarding the ship. Does that sound like an ok plan? In theory, I'd like to save some $ and skip the night in Vancouver and just take the train in on embarkation day, but that makes me nervous.

Anyway, any recommendations on where to stay in Seattle? I don't plan on renting a car for such a short time, so Uber/Lyft and public transportation will have to do. We're a party of 4 with school aged kids, so clean, safe, and relatively easy to get around from, as well as get to the train station from is perfect. Thanks!

Are you flying home from Seattle or Vancouver? We stayed at the Westin in downtown Seattle for a couple of days after our cruise. It is a short walk to Pikes Place Market. Seattle has good public transportation. We took the monorail to Seattle Center (space needle, EMP museum, Chihuly "art" museum) and the subway to the baseball game and to the airport. The Westin is close to the monorail stop and a subway stop. I believe, although I'm not 100% sure, that the Amtrak station is near the baseball stadium.

MUN

 

[Ravenne]

Are you flying home from Seattle or Vancouver?

I think we're going to fly into Seattle, then fly home out of Vancouver. Mostly because I really would like to experience the train ride from Seattle to Vancouver.

 

[bumbershoot]

Any suggestions on which train station to catch Amtrak Cascades to Vancouver?

There's only the one, just south of downtown. King Street Station. http://www.amtrakcascades.com/seattle

I would want to be close to the train station since it leaves so early So if the Silver Cloud Stadium is available, I'd do that. Gets hard to book if there are games and shows though.


Don't be bummed about the hotel in Vancouver. Sightsee there, too. (Way better than Seattle imo)

 

[KarenP99]

We flew into Seattle, took the Link Light Rail to the Westlake station, called the hotel (Hyatt Place Seattle Downtown) and they came and picked us up. The hotel was great for our family of five. On the Saturday before our cruise we took a cab to the Amtrak station and took the Cascades to Vancouver. Our plan worked really well and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

 

[Ravenne]

How early in advance should we arrive to the train station to catch Amtrak Cascades? Say the train departs at 7:45 am, how early should we get there?

 

[Westcoastwild]

Vancouver will be cheaper hotel wise actually so I have no idea why you'd want to skip that night? But absolutely do not head from Seattle to Vancouver the day of your cruise anyway. Way too dangerous with west coast Amtrak.

I'd want to aim for getting to the train station by 7 am. Because if you miss that train, you're sol.

BIG question: what is your budget hotel wise? When is this?

For seattle, if budget is elastic, you essentially want to stay as close to westlake station as possible. Because then you have easy access to light rail (airport and king street station), the monorail (Seattle center- where the space needle is) and you'd be easy walking distance from the market.

Seattle- a good day would look like:

Walk down to Pike place market for breakfast, hit market for a few hours. You need to do this as EARLY as POSSIBLE. It becomes very crowded after 10am and shuts down around 3ish. Take monorail to Seattle center, do space needle. Eat lunch at chihuly's collection cafe or the armory food court. Pick one or two places to see: EMP, Sci fi museum, pacific science center, or Chihuly glass. If this is soonish, I'd pick pacific because the terra-cotta warriors are there right now and it's great. If you have nerds with you- sci-fi museum is unique and awesome. Chihuly is great if you want unique Seattle and art. EMP is great for music fans- not my thing, but fun.

Depending on age of kids, hang out at the musical playground and blow off steam (I don't remember what the cut off age is, but it's a great playground).

For dinner, head to waterfront. Hit Ivars or Elliot's or even take the water taxi to west Seattle to eat at salty's.

Maybe ride the great wheel if it's nice. Hit the pirate shop, curiousity shop, and carousel if still open.

For your day in Vancouver I'd focus on Stanley park, the aquarium, and granville island market.

 

[KarenP99]

I think that we had our "free" breakfast at the hotel around 6am and then took a taxi over around 6:30. We had bought the standard tickets, so wanted to be there early to get good seat assignments. The place was empty when we got there - we waited a bit to check our luggage and then waited in line until they started issuing seat assignments. The station is beautiful and I love to people watch so I didn't mind a small wait.