How do I visit downtown Seattle on a tight budget?

Question

My daughter and I wish to visit during her spring break at the end of March, hopefully motels will still be on winter rates. any suggestions would help, I will also be visiting the chamber of commerce in Seattle for further help.

Answer 1

I recommend staying outside the city - I work at a hotel in SeaTac which is about 15 miles south of downtown. Most hotels will be at a slightly higher rate for spring break but if you stay outside the city you can still get a good hotel for a reasonable rate.
There are several transportation options instead of the renting a car to get you downtown easily. Seattle Express offers bus service from airport hotels to the waterfront /downtown area for $15 person round trip. There's also the express bus (public trans) which will pick you up at the airport and take you downtown via the freeway ($2.00 person each way). If you choose this option take the hotel's shuttle to the airport - all airport hotels have an airport shuttle.

I'd also check out the Southside Visitor's Center.

Whatever hotel you choose call them & talk to them about where you want to go and how to get there.

Answer 2

Here are a couple of suggestions for budget travel:

Stay at the Seattle Youth Hostel: http://www.citypass.com/city/seattle.html It is right downtown, near the Pike Place Market, and very safe and clean

If you plan to visit a lot of the sights get a City Pass: http://www.citypass.com/city/seattle.html It might not be worth the price if you plan to visit only a few of the attractions.

Use public transportation. Metro buses are free in the downtown area. Here are some links to help you use the system:
http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/ridefree.html Ride Free area and a map of the downtown routes:
http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/howride.html How to ride Metro, with a link to fares. check out the various passes--one of them might be a good buy, depending on how much you want to travel.
http://tripplanner.metrokc.gov/cgi-bin/itin_page.pl?resptype=U Trip planner; just fill in your departure place and point and your destination; the program will tell you which bus, when, where, everything.

Seattle has some amazing parks: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/index.htm
If the weather is nice, you can spend some time visiting them. Start at Terry Pettus Park http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/terrypettuspark.htm and work your way along the Lake Union waterfront, peeking at the houseboats. Visit Green Lake http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/greenlak.htm to walk, jog, or people-watch. Try Golden Gardens http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/Golden.htm or Alki Beach http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/alki.htm for salt-water beaches.

I'm sure the Chamber of Commerce will tell you about the museums, but I'll just put in a plug for MOHAI, the Museum of History and Industry, and the Burke Museum on the UW campus. depending on when you visit, the cherry trees may be blooming on the UW's Quad.

Ride a ferry! Even if you just get off and then get on again for the return trip, the ferry to Bremerton will give you great views of Seattle and Mount Rainier. the Seattle terminal is close to the market and the hostel.http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

Webcams: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/neighbors/washcams.shtml

Answer 3

Hotels in the nearby Tacoma area are a better value. Seattle is known for having an exellent public transit system which can really get you anywhere quickly, safely and is even fun to use with buses, trollies and ferry service throughout the region! Check out king county metro transit and www.soundtransit.org

Answer 4

You can walk through pike place market, most tours of Seattle are free so you can take the underground tour, the tour about the Native Americans. Seattle is name after a Native American Chief so that will be fun it was for me. Seattle is a beautiful place so you can have alot of fun walking and looking at things.

Answer 5

I have vacationed in Seatte a few times and love it. I would recommend checking out vrbo.com for a place ot stay. I used it last summer and stayed in a little apartment downtown for a lot less than a hotel. I am going to use it again this summer. I really am on a budget so love the savings!

Answer 6

Visit the Pike Place Market. It is free (unless you buy something there) and fun. If you do spend a little take the "Underground Tour."