Neighborhoods

The Waterfront -- Seattle's most touristy neighborhood, the waterfront has the city's finest views and is home to several worthwhile attractions and activities. The Edgewater is the city's only true waterfront hotel, and it should be the top choice of anyone wanting to spend a Seattle vacation in the thick of things.

Downtown & First Hill -- Downtown Seattle is the heart of the city's business community and home to numerous business hotels. Although these properties are among the most conveniently located Seattle accommodations, they are also the priciest, designed primarily for business travelers on expense accounts. Many offer discounted weekend and winter rates, however. The area has plenty of good restaurants, but they tend to fall into one of two categories -- cheap lunch spots or expense-account dinner places.

Belltown -- Belltown, which extends north from Pike Place Market, is Seattle's fastest-growing urban neighborhood, and has dozens of restaurants, an equal number of nightclubs, and several good hotels. If your Seattle travel plans include lots of eating out at hip restaurants or late-night partying, then Belltown is the place to stay.

Pike Place Market -- Pike Place Market is one of Seattle's top attractions and a fascinating place to explore. In addition to all the small shops, produce stalls, and fishmongers, the market has lots of great restaurants and one of my favorite Seattle hotels. If you aren't going to stay on the waterfront, this area makes an excellent alternative.

Pioneer Square & the International District -- The historic Pioneer Square area is Seattle's main nightlife district and can be a pretty rowdy place on a Saturday night. By day, however, the area's many art galleries and antiques stores attract a very different clientele. Still, even in the daylight, be prepared to encounter a lot of street people. Warnings aside, this is one of the prettiest corners of Seattle and the only downtown neighborhood with historic flavor. The International District lies but a few blocks away from Pioneer Square -- again, a good place to explore by day but less appealing at night.

Queen Anne & Seattle Center -- The Queen Anne neighborhood is divided into Upper Queen Anne and Lower Queen Anne. The former is an upscale residential area with an attractive shopping district. The hotels listed are in the lower neighborhood, which conveniently flanks Seattle Center and also offers lots of inexpensive restaurants for the budget-minded.

Lake Union -- Less than a mile from downtown, and lined with houseboats, marinas, and waterfront restaurants, Lake Union has a quintessentially Seattle character. Floatplanes use the lake as a runway, and you can rent a kayak, canoe, or rowboat from several places around the lake. If you are happiest when you're close to the water but want to avoid the crowds of the Seattle waterfront, this area is an excellent alternative.

Capitol Hill & East Seattle -- A mile or so uphill and to the east of downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill has a split personality. It's a hangout for the 20-something crowd and contains the city's main gay neighborhood, yet it's also home to numerous large restored homes, many of which have been converted into bed-and-breakfast inns. If you prefer B&Bs to corporate hotels, this is the best neighborhood in which to base yourself. Although Capitol Hill is a bit of a walk from downtown, the neighborhood has good public bus connections to the city center.

North Seattle (The University District) -- Ten to 15 minutes north of downtown Seattle, the University District (more commonly known as the U District) appeals primarily to younger travelers, but it does offer less expensive accommodations than downtown and is still fairly convenient to Seattle's major attractions. Also nearby are the Burke Museum, Henry Art Gallery, Museum of History and Industry, Woodland Park Zoo, and, of course, the University of Washington. As you would expect in a university neighborhood, there are lots of cheap restaurants, making this an all-around good choice for anyone on a budget.

Near Sea-Tac Airport -- The airport is 30 to 45 minutes south of downtown Seattle (depending on the traffic). There's little to recommend this area as a place to stay -- besides its proximity to the airport, of course.

The Eastside -- The Eastside (a reference to this area's location on the east side of Lake Washington) is Seattle's main high-tech suburb and comprises the cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, and Redmond. Should you be out this way on business, you may find that an Eastside hotel is more convenient than one in downtown Seattle. Two of the most luxurious hotels in the metropolitan area are here on this side of the lake. If it isn't rush hour, you can usually get from the Eastside to downtown in about 20 minutes via the I-90 or Wash. 520 floating bridge. During rush hour, however, it can take much longer.

Bainbridge Island -- Although Bainbridge Island is a 30-minute ferry ride away from Seattle, the ease of the commute to the city makes hotels in downtown Bainbridge Island eminently recommendable. Riding the ferry between the city and this idyllic island community captures the essence of the Seattle experience. The hotel and inn listed here are both within a short taxi or bus ride of the ferry terminal. If you're traveling light or have already checked in and don't have your bags with you, you can even walk.