Priceline Hotel: 2.5* Seattle (Renton - Kent) Hilton Garden

[windjay]

I am flyinginto SEATAC on June 7 , seeing a doctor in the University area at 9 the next morning and then going to B.C.We don't want to get hung up in rush hour traffic on I-5 but would like to get a clean room cheap. We will have a rental car. where should we bid and at what level?

[thereuare]

Some board members are local to the area and can probably help as they would know the area and traffic conditions better than me.

Once the best zone is determined i can try to help with bidding parameters.

[WillTravel]

In my recent bids for Seattle, one of them was a 2* $39 bid in the U District - Northgate District. This got a counteroffer for $11 more. I suspect the hotel I would have gotten is the Silver Cloud Inn in the U District. No way to know of course, as there have never been any reported bids in thisarea. But I suspect a $45 or so bid might work in that district. That hotel has positive reviews on TripAdvisor.

Alternatively you could bid for a downtown hotel. It would be no more than 2 or 3 miles to where you're going, so even in the worst traffic it wouldn't take that long (I hope). I'll be posting soon with my positive review of the 2* Springhill Suites which we just stayed at. If you were lucky enough to get that, it would be a quick ride.

Alternatively you could bid for a Lake Union hotel, which would also be no more than 2 or 3 miles and probably less risk of traffic also.

[deleted]

While I think Lake Union / University Districts are the closest, Bellevue might be cheaper, but I don't know that I would want to hassle with the route over the 520 bridge in the morning especially if you are unfamiliar where you're going, unless the price was really right. We need a local to shed light on I-90/520 traffic at that time of morning. Most of the Bellevue hotels I have seen are near I-405, which is an easy drive from the airport to avoid most of I-5.

I'd definitely avoid staying south of Seattle or too far north (Lynnwood) since you seem concerned about the traffic, particularly at that time of day. Downtown Seattle can be difficult to navigate if you aren't familiar, and parking charges can be really high, so unless there is a real compelling reason to stay downtown, if it was me I'd avoid it for your stay.

Why don't you check prices at Lake Union / U-District and see what comes up that you can reserve and cancel if you get a better deal?

[deleted]

I'd forgotten about your Springhill Suites bid, willtravel. I'd been thinking about 3* or 4* prices downtown and figuring that was pretty high for a quick overnight.

[mucsea2003]

I would definitely stay away from Bellevue for your plans. Traffic can very likely be bad, so you might miss your appointment. I would suggest to try Lake Union 2.5* which will likely yield the Courtyard or the Silvercloud Inn on Lake Union. From there it is only a short drive to the UW which is not prone to rush hour traffic. If that doesn't go through for up to $50, I would switch to University/Northgate which should be a little bit cheaper! Downtown is probably not to be recommended because of distance to UW and parking.

Good luck!

[WillTravel]

Another option if you want to be sure of location and parking charges are these two sites which often offer reasonable discounts:

http://www.roomsaver.com

http://www.seattlesupersaver.com

[windjay]

I screwed up. I meant the Seattle U. area not UW.

[WillTravel]

That doesn't change the advice that much. Seattle University is in the Capitol Hill district which is not that far from any of the choices mentioned: Downtown, U District, Lake Union. I walked to and from the Capitol Hill district from downtown last weekend.

[mucsea2003]

I agree. Actually the Springfield Suites where WillTravel stayed would be a good location for Cap Hill, but so is Lake Union. I'd be careful with Northgate/UW though, because Northgate is really quite out of the way for Capitol Hill. I recommend bidding Downtown and Lake Union.

[deleted]

Have you decided what you want to bid on, Windjay?

Looks like a Silver Cloud has come up on TOBB...That opens up the Lake Union options but at a hefty price.

[windjay]

The thing that scares me the most is bidding a 2* and getting Queen anne. the reviews of that hotel are scary. I may just have to bid 21/2 and gamble on the parking.

[mucsea2003]

The Courtyard on Lake Union has free street parking across the street. From the Silvercloud Inn it is about two blocks to free street parking.

[windjay]

Ended up bidding $30 2* Renton. got 2 1/2 * Hilton Garden. Used savings Barn on June 14th purchase also reported.

[thereuare]

Thanks for the report and the support of using the 'barn.

Good luck with your travels.