Heading to Seattle in Sept, need suggestions

[DropIt]

Don't ask Ichiro where to get sushi. Its racist

[Poison]

Originally Posted by dropit

don't ask ichiro where to get sushi. Its racist

ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Misterpants]

Originally Posted by Poison

Awesome thanks slcrocket! Is it true that most downtown hotels charge $30- $40 a day to park? Even if youre staying there?

That was my experience when looking around.

[Poison]

Originally Posted by Misterpants

That was my experience when looking around.

It is true then, wow, i mean i could understand if you werent a guest at the hotel but youd think theyd be "nice" enough to include parking when you stay.....

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Poison

It is true then, wow, i mean i could understand if you werent a guest at the hotel but youd think theyd be "nice" enough to include parking when you stay.....

At the hotel we stayed at, they didn't have any underground parking of their own. So the valet guys just took it to a parkade around the corner where they obviously had some sort of arrangement. Don't forget to factor in tipping a couple of bucks each time you get your car... When I was looking around for hotels there, it seemed like a pretty standard practice to charge per day.

[Misterpants]

Don't forget to play the Starbucks counting game. We counted 11 from our downtown hotel to Pike Place. Also check out the first Starbucks at Pike Place, it's pretty cool and has really good buskers.

[slcrocket]

Originally Posted by Poison

It is true then, wow, i mean i could understand if you werent a guest at the hotel but youd think theyd be "nice" enough to include parking when you stay.....

A lot of times it's so they can prey on people who think they have to stay downtown to do the downtown activities.

If you're going to have a car with you, I'd suggest staying at a hotel in one of the neighboring areas. It's fairly easy to get a hotel in the University District (and you usually won't have to pay for parking), and you can even go so far up as the Northgate area and get reasonable hotel rates. It's still a straight shot to get to downtown Seattle using either I-5 or Highway 99, and the 20 minutes of driving or so is usually worth something ridiculous like $40 per night parking.

Just an idea.

Oh, and one other thing - if you end up driving into downtown and need a place to park, get on Alaskan Way (it's the road with most of the waterfront shops/restaurants people have been referring to) and you can park underneath the highway overpass. Lots of people do it and it's just a little walk to Pike Place (and the waterfront is RIGHT next to the parking), and it's like 4 bucks for 3 hours parking. It's where I ALWAYS park if I'm going to that area.

[metallicat]

I just came back from Seattle. I spent two nights at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel downtown, and it was great but very expensive. I only stayed there because I got a good deal. I saw two Mariners-Yankees games, and that ballpark is incredible. If you have a chance, go and see a game. Sit anywhere. There is no bad seat unless you're behind the foul pole.

Seattle Coffee Works on Pike near the market is great for breakfast.

I avoided all of the tourist traps like the Space Needle. Just not worth it for me. Take the train in from the airport. The Link it's called, is awesome. $2.50 got me from the airport to my downtown hotel. Much better than spending 50 bucks or whatever on a cab.

[MJM]

Hey Poison, if you or your girlfriend work for a company that has many US offices i'd call around the hotels in Seattle and ask if they have a corporate rate for your company or ask someone in your office that would know or could find out (admin/logistics).

I got a smoken deal a couple of times in Seattle at the Sheraton using my company's corporate rate, and the good thing about if your get a corporate rate is it usually gives you free parking.

[MRCboicgy]

Honestly, I stay down at SeaTac and drive into town for the days I want to. Not everything I want to see and do is DT, and the savings are worth it.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

I just came back from Seattle. I spent two nights at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel downtown, and it was great but very expensive. I only stayed there because I got a good deal. I saw two Mariners-Yankees games, and that ballpark is incredible. If you have a chance, go and see a game. Sit anywhere. There is no bad seat unless you're behind the foul pole.

On that note, when we went to Safeco in 2008 we probably spent the last third of the game walking around the stadium. You still get great views of the field, and you can check out all the little features of the ballpark (including the area by the bullpens where you can stand right beside where the relievers warm up.

[Poison]

Originally Posted by MJM

Hey Poison, if you or your girlfriend work for a company that has many US offices i'd call around the hotels in Seattle and ask if they have a corporate rate for your company or ask someone in your office that would know or could find out (admin/logistics).

I got a smoken deal a couple of times in Seattle at the Sheraton using my company's corporate rate, and the good thing about if your get a corporate rate is it usually gives you free parking.

Thats a great idea i never thought of, im not sure if we would have corporate rates for the US but it sure is worth asking!

[Poison]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

On that note, when we went to Safeco in 2008 we probably spent the last third of the game walking around the stadium. You still get great views of the field, and you can check out all the little features of the ballpark (including the area by the bullpens where you can stand right beside where the relievers warm up.

Definately planning to go see a game or two, my fave team is there, Texas, anyone know of what my chances are to get an autograph from any of the players? Can you bug them during warm ups, batting practice?

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Poison

Definately planning to go see a game or two, my fave team is there, Texas, anyone know of what my chances are to get an autograph from any of the players? Can you bug them during warm ups, batting practice?

According to this (good reference guide): http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/sea/...park_guide.jsp

Autographs
Guests may seek autographs from the time the gates open (2 hours prior to game time) until the end of batting practice (45 minutes prior to game time). Guests seeking autographs, in others' seating sections, must move to their ticketed seats 45 minutes prior to game time or when the ticket holder arrives.

Batting Practice
The Mariners hit 2 hours and 25 minutes before game time for one hour. Visitors hit 1 hour and 25 minutes before game time for 40 minutes. All batting practice times are subject to change due to events at the ballpark. Please note, the teams occasionally do not take batting practice for games with an afternoon start time (1:10, 1:40 and 3:40).