AndyK

Hello,
I am going to be visiting Seattle with friends over a 4 day weekend in mid-Oct. We are all around 25 years old. Where should we stay? We want to be near the action and we don't want to rent a car.

Assume price is not an issue.

We were thinking the Fairmont or Edgewater or something near the Pike Place Mkt. Is that where we should be?? Are those places even near the Pike Place? If there are 7 or 8 of us, is it possible to rent a condo or something like that near there? We don't want a W, Sheraton, Hyatt or cookie cutter hotel like that where we can stay at any city in the country regardless of how nice.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as we know nothing about Seattle.

Thanks,
AK

johnthedorf

Andy, You might check out Inn at the Market. Besides a deck that looks out over Elliot Bay the restaurant Campagne is terrific. Don't know about your budgets however. The Edgewater is where the Beattles stayed fishing from the windows.

Patrick

Oh, I love that "assume price is not an issue", which we so rarely see. I love spending other people's money!

Stay at Inn at the Market. It was simply wonderful and we only did a standard room. I peeked into a few really spectacular ones.

Gardyloo

Inn at the Market is fine; also check out the Monaco and Alexis, both Kimpton hotels. All buses in the downtown core are free, so a car would only be necessary if you want to venture from downtown. You can easily rent one for the day from downtown outlets of the major agencies - beats $30 parking fees at hotels.

I would skip the Edgewater in October. If it's rainy you'd be a long wet walk from anything in the commercial center.

Notwithstanding your aversion, you ought to check out the Hyatt - seriously a nice place, up there with the Olympic for class acts in downtown Seattle.

Surfergirl

The Edgewater's okay, but you have to drive from there. I agree with Inn at the Market. Perfect location, half a block from Pike Place.

AndyK

definitely seems to be a consensus here, thanks everyone, i appreciate it greatly.

Al_LaCarte

AndyK,

We stayed at The Edgewater last week and, personally, I thought both the hotel and location were great. First of all The Edgewater is the only hotel in Seattle that is right on the water (our balcony hung over the water). Their restaurant, Sixes & Sevens, was awesome and they also have one of the coolist lounges I've seen anywhere. Second, while not as close to Pike Market as the Inn at The Market, The Edgewater is still only about a seven to eight minute walk from Pike Market (we walked there every day). The Edgewater is also surrounded be some great restaurants such as Waterfront Street Grill and Anthony's Pier 66.

We have stayed at some other locations in Seattle: The Warwick on 4th & Lenora as well as Hotel Monaco, but I have to say I would return to The Edgewater, first.

AL

kimamom

Andy, I'd go with the Edgewater if you love water views. We stayed here for three nights, and loved this property. The rooms are decorated in a Pacific Northwest decor. We had the premiere panoramic water view room. Wow, it was spectacular.

We were in under the Breakfast on the Bay package which included a "no limits to what you could order breakfast" each am in Six Seven, which is a beautiful restaurant. We had the works each am before heading out to sight see each day.

The views from the lobby are breath-taking, you could see the jelly fish swimming directly under us. Also, the hotel shuttle that took us everywhere was invaluable, so we didn't have to drvie anywhere the entire stay.

The concierge was wonderful, even arranged for a complimentary limo to pick us up and take us to Salty's for dinner one evening.

I loved having coffee in my comfy robe by the fire each am, while watching the ferries in the am. The furry little bear footstools in front of the fire are a nice homey touch.

Our second choice was the Fairmont, since DD wanted a swimming pool, but we were very pleased with our stay at the Edgewater and would return again in a heartbeat. Enjoy Seattle! ***kim*** www.edgewaterhotel.com

larrys

Can't beleive no one has mentioned Hotel Andra.Great for travelers your age. Right in the middle of everything you want. It's a newly refurbished upscale hotel, many great restaurants near, 3 blocks from the Market, 1 block from retail center. Definitely not a cookie cutter hotel. Check out the web site www.hotelandra.com.
Edgewater is a good hotel but not within comfortable walking distance.
Even though you say price isn't an issue, Hotel Andra is likely a better deal as it is new and running great deals right now.

kimamom

Is this the hotel that has the new Tom Douglas place Lola? If I didn't love my water views so much, I would definitely consider this place for our next visit. ***kim***

stormygirl

I would think that the Fairmont or Edgewater are a little old and stuffy for a group of 25 year olds. They are for me and I'm 35!

I would stay at either the Monaco or the Hotel Andra (yes, Lola is the hotels restaurant). Both have great bars/restaurants, are more boutique- cool- stylish, are in good locations for the market and other downtown stuff. No car needed!

I'm not sure of condo rentals.

Have fun here, bring your gortex!

kimamom

Andy, the Edgewater was just recently renovated, very trendy and nice. A couple of my son's buddies (just turned twenty) stayed there for a couple of nights last summer and loved it!!

They thought the hotel was very nice and they're recommending it highly to all of their friends also. I can't comment on the Fairmont, but I'm sure it's very elegant if you like that kind of thing. I don't know if they have the "cool" lounge that the Six Seven has that they raved about!! ***kim***

jimshep

I regret recommending The Edgewater to a friend because he complained that it is inconvenient to the central shopping core and a wide range of transportation options. Now I always suggest, any hotel or motel within three or four blocks of the center--Fourth (or Fifth) and Pine.

Al_LaCarte

Kimamom, You are absolutely right about The Edgewater being renovated. We had never seen it before last week (except from the outside) but it was quite obvious that everything was brand new. And both the bar and restaurant we ultra-hip yet cozy and comfortable...a combination you rarely find.

Jimshep, I understand exactly what you're saying, and for people who don't enjoy really walking around a city (or for health reasons simply can't walk far) The Edgewater may seem a bit remote. That said though, from what I read previously on Fodors I expected it to be a thirty minute walk to anywhere from The Edgewater, when the reality is it's only 8-10 minutes to Pike Market or 10-12 minutes to the area you referred to (4th & Pine).

Living in a land-locked state (Colorado) we like to be as close to the water as possible whenever we vacation anywhere near it: that's one of the main reasons we initially chose The Edgewater (we honestly didn't expect it to be as nice as it is). However, depending on what you're in to,
I guess it only makes sense to pick a hotel convenient to the area where you'll be spending the most time.

AL

Gardyloo

Time for a wee reality check here. The OP is 25. Not the Edgewater's demographic. He's coming in mid-October. Rain. Wind. Dark. Crummy public transport access, especially at night (when many 25-yo folks, on weekends, don't fancy nesting.)

The Edgewater is a fine enough place to stay in the summer when the days are long and there are things to do on the central waterfront. In fall and winter it's a very different scene down there.

kimamom

Hi AL, yes isn't the decor gorgeous in that place? I just love all of the different materials they have used for decorating. And did you check out all of those cool fireplaces on the wall in the dining area?

Gardyloo, have you actually stayed here? Transportation was NEVER a problem for us, the hotel shuttled us anywhere we wanted to go and we never had to wait. They were very prompt in picking us up also, always arriving within ten minutes of our phone call. We didn't drive in Seattle in four days!

The concierge there actually called us a comp limo to take us to Salty's for dinner. We were treated like royalty here! ***kim***

Gardyloo

Stayed there, had conferences there, attended weddings there, ate there, drank there, parked there, floated by on sailboats, walked there, trolleyed there. Never fished from my window but wouldn't eat most fish from Elliott Bay anyway. I'm NOT dissing the Edgewater or people who stay there. I just don't think that its location is that compelling a reason to stay there off-season. If I were the OP I'd bid eighty bucks at the 4 star level on Priceline and use the savings for Mojitos (not really ), but that's just me.

kimamom

Except you won't have those gorgeous views of Elliot Bay. Gardyloo, perhaps you're spoiled by living in the area and take those views of granted.

I'm also land-logged in CA in the central valley and yearn for views of the water! It just depends on your own personal preference I guess. DH always asks me to book us in property where we will have some views of the water. I think I used to be a mermaid in my other life! LOL It's a major joke around our house! Think Splash with Tom Hanks & Daryll Hannah!! ***kim***

mscarls

We spent four nights at the Hotel Andra in a large, very modernly decorated suite in September and really liked it.

Some rooms even have flat screen TVs on the wall.

It's only a few blocks from the Market and Nordstrom's.

jimjim

AndyK, Please give a review of the hotel you picked.