Cheap Hotels in Seattle

Seattle has had its turns in the national spotlight as the home base for Microsoft and the musical grunge movement, but just because it is not in the headlines does not mean this Pacific Northwestern city has turned into a backwater. It is a picturesque and vibrant city with lots of attractions for the visitor to enjoy, especially if you are particularly interested in outdoor activities. Unfortunately, you may find that the most central and desirable areas are not full of cheap hotels in Seattle.

There are several areas within the city of Seattle that are still considered inside the city limits but not necessarily totally convenient for visitors to stay in. The closer you can get to downtown Seattle proper, the closer you will be to most of what you want to see and do in the city. Of course, as is the case with most big cities, places that claim to be cheap hotels in Seattle may be in a suburb or on the outskirts of the city rather than actually in the heart of it. If you are not within walking distance of downtown, make sure your hotel is near a bus stop - Seattle's public transit system is quite good.

Should you be hunting outside the downtown/Pioneer Square/International District area for cheap hotels in Seattle, you might look in the Capitol Hill neighborhood - which is to the East of downtown and boasts a lively arts community and is within a reasonable walking distance of downtown. If you see addresses like Bellevue and Kirkland, be aware that these are suburbs of Seattle but are actually quite a distance from downtown - especially at rush hour, when the trip can take up to an hour.

A few cheap hotels in Seattle worth your consideration are Best Western Seattle Hotel in Pioneer Square (easy walking distance around downtown, in Seattle's free bus zone, 75 rooms, free WiFi, free breakfast), Renaissance Seattle Hotel (downtown Seattle, 553 rooms, internet available, indoor pool, fitness center), University Inn (in the University district near University of Washington, few minutes from downtown, free WiFi, free breakfast bar, free local shuttle to area attractions and hospitals), Watertown Hotel (in the University district near University of Washington, free breakfast, free loaner bicycles, free local shuttle to area attractions and hospitals, free laundry facility, free secure parking, WiFi available, fitness center), and the Historic Panama Hotel (in the International District, in Seattle's free bus zone, private rooms but without private bathrooms, free WiFi).