Sea Tac International Airport
Photo credit by Lee Rayl via trover.com
The Evergreen State, known for its lush vegetation, mountain views, and waterways is home to several affordably comfortable boutique hotels. Many of these hotels in Seattle are within 20 minutes of downtown Seattle which also means they are also very near the Sea-Tac airport. This is generally not a traveler’s first choice. Yet in each of the following options, most of what a traveler needs is available. Visitors may expect a basic refrigerator, microwave, and coffee/tea maker in each room. WiFi, if not available in the room, is generally available in the hotel common areas. All are properties within easy reach of the Pike Place Market, Space Needle, CenturyLink Field where the Seattle Seahawks play, the Seattle Aquarium and the Pacific Science Center.
Sea-Tac Crest Motor Inn
The Sea-Tac Crest Motor Inn is a favorite among business travelers because of its Fly and Park guest privileges that allow free parking with only one night’s stay. Even with traffic, the Sea-Tac Crest Motor Inn is just 15 minutes from Downtown Seattle. Although this is a 2-star property, its 40 rooms were completely renovated in 2000. It is not likely that you’d want to walk from the hotel to the heavily visited Southcenter Mall. But if you did, it would take you 10 minutes.
Skyway Inn Sea-Tac Hotel
Fifty-eight air-conditioned basic rooms await you at the Skyway Inn Sea-Tac Hotel, which is one mile from the airport. Forty-five of the fifty-eight rooms are non-smoking which means, contrary to the Evergreen State’s conscious-living hype, the hotel actually allows smoking in thirteen of its rooms. Upon request, roll away/extra beds are available.
Sea-Tac Inn and Airport Parking
The Sea-Tac Inn and Airport Parking is quite frankly a no-frills boutique choice where a room with one Queen bed averages $44.99 per night. So while this may not be a first choice for tourists wanting to be in the center of the city’s happenings, it is a hotel that a true traveler will remember because of its value. For this low price, guests make free local calls, access complimentary WiFi in public hotel areas, and cable television in rooms. Laundry facilities and a 24 hour business center are on premises. Perhaps best of all is the five-minute shuttle ride to Sea-Tac Airport.
Silver Cloud Hotel Bellevue
Cross Seattle’s Floating bridge and travel twelve miles east of downtown Seattle to arrive at the Silver Cloud Hotel Bellevue, home to Microsoft. Because Bellevue is the corporation’s home base, you would be correct to assume that pretty much every upscale amenity imaginable is available at Bellevue Square, just three blocks from the hotel. A refrigerator, microwave, and coffee/tea maker are in every room. What the room lacks the environment makes up for when selecting the Silver Cloud Hotel Bellevue.
Red Lion Hotel Bellevue
The Red Lion Hotel Bellevue gets very high ratings from past visitors. Although it has a Bellevue address, the hotel is a little more than five miles from Sea-Tac airport. Expect genuine value for the average daily cost. All of the rooms have a private balcony or patio. Interestingly, the Red Lion Hotel offers a Queen room with two Queen beds that is a smoking room and this is a little unusual. Breakfast is complimentary, as is the airport shuttle service that moves quickly because it travels a road that completely avoids Seattle traffic.
This post was written for Hipmunk’s Boutique Hotels in the US Fall 2015. All content and opinions are my own even though I received renumeration.
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