Originally Posted by
bhatnasx
I'm doing a mulit-city trip where I'm flying DC to LAX to SEA to DC. I may be able to get an extra day in Washington State. Right now, I'm flying LAX-SEA on June 9, a Saturday, and I need to be in Burlington, WA, for work by Sunday, June 10th at the latest (though I may need to be there on the 9th, still not sure...) & I was planning on driving up from SEA. I will be staying at the Fairfield Inn in Burlington, WA.
I'm wondering which would be the best hotel for me to stay at for any of the following options:
1) 1 night doing tourist stuff in SEA itself.
2) Exploring North Cascades Nat'l Park (willing to drive upto 2 hours per directions)
3) Exploring Olympia Nat'l Park (willing to drive upto an hour per direction since I've been there before)
4) Or, driving SEA to YVR, spending the night in YVR, before driving back down to Burlington, WA
Based on those 4 options, does anyone have any recommendations as to which would be the best (and most cost effective) hotel?
Thanks!
I would like to offer some thoughts on both #1 and #4.
#1 - Assuming cost is not an issue, I absolutely love the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. Great location on Elliott Bay. Most of the rooms have at least a partial water view, and some of the rooms have downright terrific views. C-Lounge is good with views of the city skyline (IIRC, c-lounge is open weekends here). You will be very convenient to the Pike Place Market, as well as to the piers and Seattle Art Museum. The Space Needle is a 5-minute cab ride, or if it is a nice day and you don't mind hills, it's not a bad walk.
#4 - In YVR, there are a Marriott and Ren right across the street from each other, about a block from the harbor. I stayed at the Ren last week (slightly cheaper), had a view of the Marriott from my room, and had a serious case of hotel envy. The Ren is over 30 years old, tired, and in serious need of a remodel. That said, the staff was among the friendliest I've encountered in the Marriott system. I believe the lounge is closed on weekends, but Plats get breakfast coupons.
As an aside, I'll mention that I just stayed at the FFI Burlington last week. It is literally brand-spanking new (opened last month). Staff was very good, and as a plat I was given a small suite with a sitting area/coffee table and a separate TV. The property is literally right next to the 5, but I had no noise issues - the white noise from the A/C masked it quite nicely.