My kids as well as we will be spending 2 nights in a Seattle area in midst May. We need a place to stay thats as distant underneath $100 a night as possible. Clean as well as in a protected area is all I’m asking for. Also any suggestions upon cheap, cold things to do in a area would be great. My kids have been 16, seventeen as well as 20.
Inexpensive hotels will probably take you into a less than desirable neighborhood. Ballard is a nice little neighborhood north of downtown (quick bus ride) and there are several reasonable bed and breakfasts there:
Otherwise, I’d suggest trying Priceline.com and bidding less than $100 for a 3+ star hotel in downtown Seattle and see if your bid goes through. Oftentimes, I’ve saved as much as $40-60 a night on Priceline.
As for fun, cheap (and FREE) things to do…
Pike Place Market – a must see! Free
Seattle Waterfront – Free
Instead of taking an Argosy Cruise for $25+ per person, you can take a ferry ride for much cheaper. You’ll get a great view of the city from the boat, a relaxing 1 hour round-trip boat ride (to/from Bainbridge Island) all for about $7. (Free return trip – you have to exit the boat at the other end and then get back on for free)
Schedule/info:
Seattle Center – even if you don’t go up the Space Needle (it’s expensive), Seattle Center usually has some fun, free or inexpensive things going on. Here’s the website, check the calendar for the days you are there:
Parks – Seattle has some amazing parks you can visit for free. I would highly recommend Alki Beach, since there’s a great view of downtown and the Olympic Mountains (if it’s a clear day). Other great views are from Kerry Park and Gasworks Park.
Good luck and have fun!
There is nothing in city that I would reccomend for under $100 a night…..for $120 or so there is a la quinta and holiday inn express that are in good spots…..If priceline isn’t your thing and you cannot afford that I reccomend staying by the airport….you can get something in the mid range of safe quality for 60-70 a night…another plus is that most places near the airport will not charge you to park, while any hotel in city will charge AT LEAST $30 a night to park…
Try the “Inn at Virginia Mason” in First Hill…just a few blocks’ walk from downtown but in a quiet, residential neighborhood.
Take the kids on a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island…very pretty and if you walk on (rather than bring a car) it’s fairly cheap.
Go to the observation deck in Columbia Center (sometimes called “Bank of America Tower”) for a cheaper alternative than the Space Needle (and it’s 10 stories higher).
Be sure to check out the very cool downtown library at 4th & Madison.
When you’re downtown, you can jump on any bus for free. Look on the bus stops for the “ride free zone” sticker. It’s an easy way to get from one end of downtown to the other.
The Underground Tour in Pioneer Square is fun and interesting, and not too expensive I think. Teenagers would like it.
EMP is very, very cool, especially if the kids are into music, but it’s a little pricey. Maybe you could check around online ahead of time for discount tickets.
Go to Pike Place Market for lunch one day…you could spend a whole day there alone! Seattle Art Museum is across the street. Also check out the Olympic Park Sculpture Garden nearby.
Take the kids to see Bruce & Brandon Lee’s graves at Lake View Cemetery in Capitol Hill or go see Jimi Hendrix’s grave in Renton. Email me at if you want tips on how to find their graves in both cemeteries.