Seattle is one of the coolest cities in the entire country. From the iconic Space Needle to the legendary music scene that brought us Nirvana, Pearl Jam and so many others, it’s a place bursting with culture, nature, food, and fun. But let’s be real – hotels in major cities can really drain your vacation fund fast.
Well, my wife Sam and I recently spent a long weekend in Seattle, and we figured out how to do it on a reasonable budget while still having an incredible time. In this blog post, I’ll share our strategy for finding cheap(ish) yet awesome hotels, along with some specific hotel recommendations and room rates to consider. Here’s the inside scoop!
The #1 Thing to Know About Seattle Hotels
Like many major metropolitan areas, Seattle hotel prices vary wildly depending on the neighborhood and proximity to major attractions. Hotels in the heart of downtown near the Space Needle and Pike Place Market are going to be the most expensive. Hotels a little farther out in surrounding neighborhoods will be cheaper. So setting your location expectations is key!
Sam and I went into it knowing we likely couldn’t afford to stay downtown this trip. Our priorities were: 1) Safe area 2) Free parking 3) Reasonable room rate 4) Cool neighborhood vibe. We weren’t too concerned about being walking distance to the biggest tourist sites, since we’d have a rental car and didn’t mind driving 10-15 minutes to get to places.
With that in mind, we started looking in neighborhoods like Queen Anne, Ballard, Fremont, and the University District. These are all areas with plenty of restaurants, bars, parks, and their own distinct local culture – plus way cheaper hotels than downtown.
Cheap(ish) Seattle Hotels We Considered
After a bunch of research on hotel review sites, a few options really stood out to us based on our priorities:
Hotel RL by Red Lion Olympia (Rates ~$130/night) This stylish hotel is located right near the Olympia waterfront area, about a 15 minute drive from downtown Seattle. The decor has a cool Pacific Northwest adventure/outdoorsy vibe and many rooms have views of the harbor. They also allow small pets which was a plus for us! While not the cheapest, the rates seemed very reasonable given the convenient location and amenities.
University Motel (Rates ~$100/night) You definitely get what you pay for at this no-frills budget motel, but reviews said it was clean, safe and well-located in the quirky University District. At around $100/night it could be a solid choice if you’re really watching your budget and just need a basic place to sleep near restaurants and bars. No free parking though.
Ramada by Wyndham Olympia (Rates ~$75/night) For a familiar chain hotel at a hard-to-beat price, this Ramada near the Olympia waterfront area caught our eye. Very affordable rates around $75/night and free parking. Reviews were a bit hit-or-miss in terms of rooms being updated, but it’s hard to complain much at that price point! Sounded decent enough if you’re barely spending time at the hotel.
Where We Actually Stayed: Salt Hotel (Rates ~$175/night)
In the end, we decided to splurge a little and went with the Salt Hotel in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. We loved the idea of staying in a boutique hotel in a cool, walkable area with tons of bars, restaurants, and shops right out our door.
At around $175/night (for a King Suite), the Salt definitely wasn’t the cheapest option. But by Seattle standards it felt very reasonably priced for the amenities and location. And the free parking and unique PNW/outdoorsy decor won us over.
Our room was beautifully renovated and had lots of personal touches. Think: Pendleton blankets, a modern bathroom with luxury toiletries, and a sitting area with a funky cozy chair and ottoman. We also had a little kitchen area with a coffee/tea station, mini fridge, etc.
As for the location, Ballard was absolutely perfect! It almost felt like we were staying in a small beach town rather than a big city. We loved all the little breweries, seafood spots, parks, and shops scattered around the neighborhood. Yet downtown Seattle was just a 15-20 minute drive whenever we wanted to go explore the big touristy sites.
Looking back, the Salt hit such a sweet spot in terms of value, location, and overall experience. Would I have loved to pay $100/night? Of course! But when you factor in the money we saved by not staying downtown, the free parking, boutique feel, and amazing neighborhood, it really was a fantastic choice for our long weekend trip.
A Few More Seattle Hotel Money-Saving Tips
Here are a few final nuggets of advice for saving money on hotels in Seattle:
- Use travel rewards wisely – We paid for our Salt Hotel stay using free night certificates from my wife’s credit card. Definitely utilize any travel points or hotel rewards you have!
- Consider Airbnbs – You can often find great deals on Airbnbs in residential neighborhoods outside of downtown. Just be sure to read reviews carefully.
- Stay a bit farther out – We didn’t go this route, but hotels down in Tukwila near the airport can be very affordable compared to downtown if you don’t mind being farther from the major sites.
- Look for free parking – Paying $30-50/night to park can negate savings on a cheaper hotel room. Focus on options with free parking included.
- Explore different neighborhoods – Open your search outside of downtown to find wayyyy better rates. Neighborhoods like Ballard, Fremont, and Queen Anne have plenty of cool amenities around.
The Cheapest Hotel May Not Be the Best Value
After our amazing experience staying at the Salt Hotel in Ballard, the big lesson we took away is that the cheapest hotel rate isn’t always the best value for your trip. Sometimes paying just a little more can yield an awesome experience in a great neighborhood – without even coming close to downtown prices.
Do your research on different areas, look for boutique or package deals, and don’t forget about parking fees! You may find the perfect balance between budget and experience.
Seattle is too amazing of a city to not visit because of hotel costs. With some strategic planning for your travel dates and open-mindedness to different neighborhoods, you can absolutely make it an affordable vacation. We sure did, and we made some incredible memories along the way!