Thanks everyone for your replies. Thereuare, I think I heard at some point that the Holiday Inn in the Space Needle area was not a desired hotel but that the 2.5* hotels were O.K. I thought I would have better luck in Lake Union (1st choice) or Space Needle areas and was not really trying to avoid the Pike Place area. Do you think I could find a better rate in the Pike Place area? Do you know of any * levels in any of the areas that I should avoid?