West - Seattle for Two Days: Do I Need to rent a Car?

I am going to be visiting Seattle next week for two days, although I will only be spending one night in a hotel (in early on day one and take the redeye out on day two). I'm trying to figure out if it makes more sense logisitically and financially to rent a car or to do the taxi/public transportation route.

I'm staying at the Hampton Inn in Queen Anne (700 5th Avenue North). I would be able to stash my car there for one day @$13.00/day but would need to park it elsewhere from checkout until late evening on day two of my visit.

I plan to visit all the usual touristy things in downtown Seattle, plus I'd like to get out on the water at some point. I don't mind walking or taking busses, but I don't want to spend excessive amounts of time doing this given my limited time in the city.

Truthfully, I have no idea which will end up costing more money, but I'm more concerned about wasting time than money on this point.

Suggestions? One "con" to relying on public transit is that I'm going to have to go back to the airport late at night, and riding a bus after dark goes beyond my comfort zone. FYI, my hotel does not have an airport shuttle.

If you're not going to really use the car.. then what you save in rental and parking will pay for your late night cab ride back.

If you are planning just to stay in the downtown area... then I dont think you need a car. Downtown isnt that big, and you'll spend more time trying to find and pay for parking than it would necessarily take you to walk, or hop a free bus in the downtown zone.

Having stayed in that Hampton, I have walked that to our office on Pike and 4th ish and have not had any issues. If you don't mind a cab, couple of buses and just generally hiking around it's a great way to see the city IMO.

So no car is needed.

Since you are only staying for two days and are only around the downtown area, I don't think you will need a car. Bus #194 connects you between SEA and downtown, and several buses (#3, 4, and 16) run between downtown and the Hampton Inn. You can also do a 10-15 minutes walk to Seattle Center and hop onto the monorail to downtown. It is fairly convenient.

My office is 3 minutes walk off that Hampton Inn (I drive by it everyday.) You come at the right time as the weather is pretty nice these few days!

Thinking of using the 194 from the airport to downtown. I'm staying at the Marriott waterfront - have looked at the map but can't seem to determine if there is a stop nearby - if so, how many blocks walk

Anyone know?

If not the bus, abut how much is taxi from airport to downtown?

There is quite a walk from the closest #194 bus stop to the Marriott waterfront. The closest stop would be the Westlake tunnel station, then walk through Pike Place Market and all the way down to Waterfront, and then a little up north to the Marriott property. The casual walk can take 20 minutes. Going back to the bus stop, dragging your luggage back up the steps to downtown from Waterfront, is not fun at all. :td:

The Port of Seattle website shows a taxi ride to downtown Seattle for about $33 (http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/ground/groundrates.shtml#s). I think this is on the low side. Another website (http://www.worldtaximeter.com/seattle/downtown/sea-tac-airport) shows $53, and I think this is more reasonable.

Thanks for the info about the bus to marriott - I'll take a taxi!!! good to know amount so i can have cash as not all taxis will take credit cards

As always, good information on flyertalk

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The Port of Seattle website shows a taxi ride to downtown Seattle for about $33 (http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/ground/groundrates.shtml#s). I think this is on the low side. Another website (http://www.worldtaximeter.com/seattle/downtown/sea-tac-airport) shows $53, and I think this is more reasonable.[/QUOTE]

actually on the first link you sent I found a link for shuttle from the airport to downtown hotels - every half hour and only $11 one way, $18 round trip

I'll use the shuttle