As the birthplace of both Starbucks and grunge music, Seattle is indeed a special place. The port city sits on Elliott Bay, and its many parks and and recreation areas make up 6,200 acres. Furthering Seattle’s status as a perennially desirable vacation spot are touristy destinations like the Space Needle, Pike Place Market or Woodland Park Zoo.
Below are five picks for cheap hotels in downtown Seattle. It’s certainly not the cheapest city, but we’ve tried to balance out the pricing by selecting hotels with both reputation and affordability.
Pensione Nichols
From $191/ night
Past guests have rated this property very, very generously in terms of location, and it’s easy to see why. It’s only five minutes from Pike Place Market, and many other notable attractions are close by and less than a mile away: the Space Needle, the Original Starbucks, Seattle Aquarium and Seattle Art Museum. The rooms and suites in this hotel have a charming, cozy vibe, and some of them feature skylights or private bathrooms. Couples love the location for two-person trips, and a games room is available for a little quiet competition after exploring Seattle all day. Beneficial to your walking stamina, meanwhile, is the daily breakfast, including items like fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee and tea.
The Inn at Virginia Mason
From $159/night
Situated in a residential neighborhood near the Virginia Mason Medical Center, this hotel is within a few paces of Seattle’s city center. It’s an advantageous location, and the Inn capitalizes on it with its rooftop garden, where guests can indulge sweeping views of Seattle. Rooms come with a coffee machine and TV, as well as free wi-fi. There’s not a large amount of amenities on-site, but there’s plenty of stuff nearby: the Frye Art Museum, the Seattle Public Library, Paramount Theatre and Seattle University. Seattle Center Monorail and University Street Station are within a half-mile as well.
Best Western Plus Pioneer Square Hotel
From $187 / night
Offering slightly more rustic charm than your typical Best Western, this property is in Pioneer Square, a location loaded with restaurants, markets and gourmet coffees. Speaking of morning pick-me-ups, the free continental breakfast features waffles, breakfast sandwiches, yogurts, cereals, baked goods and more. For the business traveller, there’s a meeting space and business center, as well as free wifi throughout the hotel. Feeling more athletic? Passes for a nearby fitness facility can be had for a fee. It’s close to plenty of public transportation as well.
Staypineapple at Hotel FIVE
From $215 / night
This popular and attractive property has a vibrant, almost youthful feel to its decor. That’s good, since you’ll need the energy to explore Hotel FIVE’s surroundings: the lively neighborhood of Belltown. The hotel offers bikes for guest use to aid you in exploring the city. A Keurig coffeemaker is included in each room, providing yet another jolt to your day. A fitness center is available to work off the calories from free pineapple cupcake and coffee offered every afternoon. For further goodies, Max’s Cafe is an on-site eatery serving brunch until noon and promises “eclectic comfort food.”
Belltown Inn
From $165 / night
Seattle is a gorgeous city, and its hotels seem to soak up that beauty. The Belltown Inn is another good-looking property nestled within the city’s hustle and bustle. A furnished rooftop terrace supplies guests with another option for taking in the sights of Seattle. Inside your room, you’ll find amenities to make your stay in Seattle as comfortable as it is beautiful: a kitchenette, coffeemaker, TV and private bathroom. Outside your room, a business center and launderette are available for guest use. As for location, the Belltown Inn is close to the original Starbucks, Westlake Station and the Olympic Sculpture Park.