Seattle to Vancouver Amtrak Questions

[Spart02]

We just booked airfare to Seattle for our June 2013 Alaska cruise which takes off from Vancouver. Here's our plan:

Airplane to Seattle arriving around 9:30 p.m. Saturday evening

Hotel in Seattle?? Suggestions for what's best near the Amtrak station? Suggestions on cheapest way to get to hotel with a party of 7 plus luggage?
Amtrak Station Address:
303 South Jackson Street
King Street Station
Seattle, WA98104

Suggestions for transportation to Amtrak station???

Sunday - Traveling early in the morning on Amtrak train.
Suggestions for where to stay once in Vancouver that's affordable? How to get to the hotel from the Amtrak station with a party of 7?

Monday morning - Board Disney Wonder
Suggestions for getting to the cruise terminal for our party of 7?

We're so happy to find cheap airfare to Seattle but now we have a LOT of planning to get us to Vancouver and to the cruise terminal. We would love any ideas or suggestions you have! Thanks so much!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

That's pretty much our plan as well. I haven't started to look for airfare yet though.

 

[Clotho]

I have to admit, this sounds like a rather fiddly and complicated way to get to Vancouver with that many people and luggage. Downtown Seattle is about a half hour from the airport, so hop a cab to the hotel (well, two cabs for your group, or at else a van service). Then hop another cab or van to the train (no decent hotels near the train station...it is sketchy there). Long train ride (but pretty!) to Vancouver. Then another cab to a hotel. Then another cab to the pier. Sounds like more steps than I would prefer in your shoes. Ad honestly, i wonder what it saves you overall in cost with all he cabs and hotels versus a tighter connecting flight to Vancouver? Just some food for thought!

 

[NWmom]

There is a thread on Vancouver from 2011 Alaska season that should help with Vancouver hotels.

Also this seasons Seattle thread has info on Seattle hotels

With when your flight comes in-arrange transport from the airport. With the time change it will feel later.

From hotel to train station- cab

Once in Vancouver- there are cabs van cabs that are plentiful. It's less than $10 to the port/hotels near it.

Pan Pacific is over the port- very modern decor
Fairmont Water front is across the street and had free luggage transfer. More traditional decor

Both of these hotels were much closer to everything we wanted to explore and if we went again, we would try to stay in one of them.

From the port other hotels might be uphill. Ours was. We paid for a cab to transfer us and the luggage the 7 blocks to the port. We spent a lot of time exploring and the uphill climb at the end of the day just seemed longer

Return trip- we had the afternoon/evening train. We live in Washington so just dropped our luggage at the train station, paid the fee to hold it and explored for a few more hours in the science center. Were home before the 11 o clock news.

If you are going back to Seatac- the shuttle gets you there quickly compared to the train.

For the person that asked why not just fly into Vancouver?- last year that was several hundred dollars more per person.
It more than paid for the difference.

 

[Spart02]

Thanks so much NWmom. That really helps! And yes, we are saving over $1000 to fly into Seattle, so for us it's worth the extra headaches.

If we stay near the Space Needle in Seattle, any ideas what two cabs would cost to get us to the train station? I have only ridden in about 2 cabs in my whole life. Taking cabs scares is going to be the part that scares me most!

 

[April1971]

When I traveled to Seattle, I was impressed with the bus system. Might be hard with luggage, but you could look into it for getting to the train station. You might look into whether it is an easy bus ride from your hotel. The cabs will be easy to deal with, nothing to worry about there, but you might get some Canadian dollars before you go. I know the exchange rate at the airport is awful compared to in the city itself and the train station may be the same way. In Vancouver, I think the Pan Pacific and Fairmont at the port are pretty pricey hotels, but it would save the worry of getting to the port. I was in Vancouver this summer and stayed at the Sheraton Wall Centre and at Sutton Place. Both were very nice. I got a great rate through hotwire.com, around $129 per night. Vancouver is a great town, really good walking around the port.

 

[Spart02]

So if we would spend the extra money and stay at the Pan Pacific or Fairmont, are you saying it would be manageable to walk to the cruise terminal even with luggage? How close are they to the cruise terminal?

 

[tajz90]

Outside Amtrak, cabs are plentiful. Grab one, head to airport. ( do this in reverse obviously! The hotels by the airport will have a free shuttle that will pick you up and get u to hotel) The hotel we stayed in brought us to the airport the next morning and was quite easy. (grab a cab and head to amtrak in morning.). We took the train / subway system to out hotel in Vancouver. Easy easy and CHEAP. We stayed at the Pan Pacific which is on top of the port. You can wake up and watch the Wonder sail in and when your time comes, just walk downstairs. We booked a good enough rate considering there was no transport to port. Go online and sign up for their deals.

Train ride from Seattle and Vancouver was rough and boring. Sorry. I had a very romantic idea about it after hearing how beautiful the scenery was. Not sure what everyone sees in it, but its cheaper than flying into Vancouver

 

[tajz90]

Totally misread your plans for the first. Sorry.

Oh, and the hotel Disney uses at the port is the Fairmont. It is across the street from Pan Pacific.

 

[April1971]

I wasn't paying that much attention to where the ships come in, but I know they are right on the waterfront. I would call the hotel itself and ask them if it is close to where the Disney cruise ships dock. It is certainly possible that it could be close enough to walk even with luggage, but if they dock at another part of the port, it could be too far.

 

[tajz90]

So if we would spend the extra money and stay at the Pan Pacific or Fairmont, are you saying it would be manageable to walk to the cruise terminal even with luggage? How close are they to the cruise terminal?

The Pan Pacific sits on top of the port. You literally get into elevator and push the button and you are there. The hotel will bring luggage for you, but we just wheeled it down to the porters ourselves.

 

[sarbah77]

We stayed at the Silver Cloud Inn, which was a really short walk to the Amtrak station. The station itself is right near the baseball/football fields in the city, so the hotels were more expensive than the area was sketchy.

We loved our train ride from Seattle to Vancouver. Then we cleared customs, walked across the street, up a flight of stairs, and took the subway to the cruise terminal. It was fun. In 24 hours, we were on a plane, a train, an automobile (the van from the airport to the hotel; but now there is an inexpensive light rail)... and a boat.

 

[Spart02]

Sarbah77 - So you didn't think the hotels near the station were sketchy, but they were expensive, is that correct? And was it fairly easy to manage your luggage from the train station in Vancouver to the cruise ship terminal?

 

[sarbah77]

Sarbah77 - So you didn't think the hotels near the station were sketchy, but they were expensive, is that correct? And was it fairly easy to manage your luggage from the train station in Vancouver to the cruise ship terminal?

Correct; not sketchy, just expensive, because of their location to the professional sports venues.

The luggage from the train station to Vancouver was more difficult - we had to haul our stuff up a flight of stairs. There may be an elevator, but it wasn't obvious to us, so we just picked it up and walked up the stairs. That said, there were only 2 of us and not too much in the way of luggage (maybe 2 regular suitcases, a carry on, and our backpack?). That said, the subway runs often that it's not a big deal if you have to stage the whole luggage up the stairs thing - one person at the top, one at the bottom, and one carrying it. My impression was that the Vancouverites were more interested in getting to their destination than what the crazy tourists were up to.

 

[SG101]

I'm bumping this thread as I also would like input as to where you stayed in Seattle (we're a family of 2 adults, 2 children), what hotels were nice and maybe provided free shuttle (I don't mind taking the light rail to the train station either). We're thinking we may need to fly into Seattle from LGB (Long Beach, CA), and take AMTRAK from Seattle to Vancouver.

I would really appreciate everyone's feedback since I'm booking our Alaska 2014

 

[NWmom]

So if we would spend the extra money and stay at the Pan Pacific or Fairmont, are you saying it would be manageable to walk to the cruise terminal even with luggage? How close are they to the cruise terminal?

Both are easy walking distance. Pan Pacific is an elevator ride down. Literally

Fairmont is across the street from there..

We stayed at Sutton Place. Took a cab to port because of luggage, but walked there several times being a tourist.

When we go back, we will stay the several blocks closer to port because it is also close to Gastown (sp?)

There are threads on both Seattle and Vancouver that cover in depth all your questions.

 

[LemonPie]

I'm bumping this thread as I also would like input as to where you stayed in Seattle (we're a family of 2 adults, 2 children), what hotels were nice and maybe provided free shuttle (I don't mind taking the light rail to the train station either). We're thinking we may need to fly into Seattle from LGB (Long Beach, CA), and take AMTRAK from Seattle to Vancouver.

I would really appreciate everyone's feedback since I'm booking our Alaska 2014

We stayed at The Inn at the Market which is literally right next to the Pike's Place Market. It was a bit pricey but fantastic. The service was top notch and the view was great and close to everything. We took the light rail into town ($2.50 a person) and found it quite easy. The hotel was about 2-3 blocks walk from the rail station but with wheeled suitcases it was not bad at all. The hotel had a courtesy (1st come, 1st served) town car. They took us to dinner one night and picked us up. I think they also had kitchenettes or rooms with more than 1 bedroom. We would definately stay there again.

 

[SG101]

We stayed at The Inn at the Market which is literally right next to the Pike's Place Market. It was a bit pricey but fantastic. The service was top notch and the view was great and close to everything. We took the light rail into town ($2.50 a person) and found it quite easy. The hotel was about 2-3 blocks walk from the rail station but with wheeled suitcases it was not bad at all. The hotel had a courtesy (1st come, 1st served) town car. They took us to dinner one night and picked us up. I think they also had kitchenettes or rooms with more than 1 bedroom. We would definately stay there again.

A bit pricey? Holy Moly....it's really pricey, but it looks so nice. I would love to stay there one day. Thanks for the info.

 

[LemonPie]

A bit pricey? Holy Moly....it's really priceyQUOTE]

This is how I am feeling about the hotels in Vancouver. With the 5 of us it is either 1 really expensive room or 2 kind of expensive rooms. I guess I have till September to decide what to do, that is when we cruise to Alaska.
We did stay at the Inn at the Market for out 24th anniversary so it was an adult get away not just a "need to stay someplace" kind of trip. They did give us a bottle of wine as an anniversary gift, one less I had to buy

 

[jxd]

After researching on cruise critic, here is our plan on a budget w/2 adults, 2 kids (11, 8):

Fly into SEA Friday night...very late arrival.
Stay @ HI Express SEA. (new hotel and above par for HIExp)
Cab to Amtrak next morning. Sky train is cheaper but not interested @ 6:00am.
Amtrak to Canada Place. Pick up rental car and spend 2 nights in Whistler.
Board ship on Monday.

Airport hotels are $100/night cheaper than hotels close to Amtrak. Marriott Courtyard is within walking distance to both Amtrak and Sky Train if you want a room close to tracks but more expensive than SEA hotels.