Whether Everett, Downtown, Southside or beyond, here are great places to stay in Seattle
I’ve been visiting Seattle since 1999. Along with Jodie and our two kids, we’ve also traveled to Seattle as a family multiple times over the years. Whether an overnight stop or a few nights to enjoy the area, sometimes we’ve stayed with friends in West Seattle or Kirkland. Mostly we’ve stayed in an array of hotels throughout the broader Seattle area.
We’re going to share some notable stays from our experience in Seattle, along with a few other hotels that consistently rate well with families. That way, whether you want to be walking distance from Pike Place Market and a paper bag of Daily Dozen Doughnut Company donuts (especially tossed with cinnamon, minutes from SeaTac Airport, or ready to hit the road to northern Washington or the San Juan Islands, you can find exactly the right stay for you.
Plan your trip
Understanding the Seattle area (optional, destination-dependent)
Where to stay in Seattle is a balance of the purpose of your trip, the activities you want to do, and the overall amenities you want from your stay and the area around your lodging. Here are a few thoughts based on our experience visiting Seattle and broader Washington State over the decades:
- Downtown: Excellent for main Seattle sightseeing, such as Pike Place Market, Space Needle, and the Waterfront. Also good for quick stopovers, such as when embarking on a cruise or taking the FRS Clipper to Victoria, BC.
- North Seattle: Fremont, Gas Works Park, Bellevue, Edmunds, and more: Attractions to the north and east of the main city can be easier to reach if your stay is in the northern Seattle area. If you’re heading to the San Juan Islands, North Seattle makes an easier jumping-off point.
- Southside: Proximity to SeaTac Airport, Museum of Flight, or highways to head to Tacoma, Long Beach, and more, are all pluses of basing in Seattle Southside (more: check out our 72-hour Southside guide).
4 places where we’ve stayed in Seattle
You know how sometimes you go somewhere so many times that you don’t realize how many until you really think about it? That happened to me as I started pondering these Seattle hotel recommendations.
At first, I only remembered a couple of places Jodie, the kids, and I have stayed. Then I thought about it more: The hotel we crashed at for days after flying back from Japan, when we bought our RV. One hotel that made it easy to catch our cruise to Japan, and another for when we took the FRS Clipper to Victoria, BC, when Canada became the first country all four of us visited together.
Then I really thought. Seattle was my second visit to the West Coast. From 1999 onward, I stayed multiple times at a hostel in downtown Seattle. That stay not only made it easy for me to explore Seattle on foot and by bus, but it deepened my love of the Pacific Northwest and is no small part of why I moved to the region about a year later.
So, from my young adult stays to family visits, here are four places we’ve stayed at and recommend in Seattle.
Downtown: Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle by IHG
1100 Fifth Avenue, Seattle Central Business District, Seattle, WA 98101
The Kimpton had us at the library. No, really: Seattle Public Library’s spectacular, airy Central Library is on the opposite corner and deserves a visit when you want some quiet downtime. Oh, and the Seattle Art Museum is about five blocks away.
Our comfy room felt sumptuous, plus we could borrow a microwave, kettle, and more from the front desk. Staff were always quick with help or a recommendation. As an added perk, the lobby frequently hosted small-scale guest events, with gentle live music, beverages, and snacks.
Staying at the Kimpton can be a solid balance of access to downtown attractions or heading to the Space Needle. If sailing out on a cruise, the Kimpton is about a 20-minute rideshare from the cruise terminal at Pier 91.
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Downtown: Fairfield Inn & Suites Seattle Downtown/Seattle Center
226 7th Ave N., South Lake Union, Seattle, WA 98109
A big plus during our stay was the included hot breakfast, not to mention comfortable, friendly lighting throughout the room and public areas. For green space and easy outdoor access, Denny Park is on the opposite corner.
While farther north than the Kimpton above, the Fairfield is only about a mile from downtown attractions such as Pike Place Market. We found the Fairfield’s location especially useful as a jumping-off point for trips to Victoria, BC. When catching the FRS Clipper to Canada, the port is less than 10 minutes from the hotel.
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Downtown: Green Tortoise Hostel Seattle
105B Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101, United States
My first visits to Seattle included stays at the Green Tortoise throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. Today, other travelers continue to report the hostel as a convenient location, with clean rooms (dorm-style and private), along with affordable stays that offer unparalleled access to downtown attractions.
The Green Tortoise also offers regular event nights, from music to free beer. I’ve also found the hostel useful for finding organized small-group day trips to Seattle sights and hikes outside just the city.
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Everett/North Seattle: Executive Residency by Best Western Navigator Inn & Suites
10210 Evergreen Way, Everett, WA 98204
Northern Seattle communities such as Everett can be ideal for cutting accommodation costs. They’re also more convenient when you want to be in the Seattle area but not smack in the middle of town. Or, we often find Seattle stays here useful, when we are heading to another part of Washington, such as northern Washington or the San Juan Islands, and would prefer to start the next day’s journey having already passed through Seattle’s infamous traffic gridlocks.
This Best Western shone with a neutral color palette and clean rooms and public spaces throughout. Especially after returning to the USA from Japan, we needed a few nights of resting up, and we made heavy use of our room’s well-appointed kitchen space. When we needed to venture out, we didn’t have to go far. The hotel offered convenient highway access and proximity to other amenities such as groceries (various grocery stores, including a Grocery Outlet, are less than a mile away) and casual dining.
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Seattle Southside/Sea-Tac Airport: Best Western Seattle Airport Hotel
20717 International Boulevard, SeaTac, WA 98198
While downtown Seattle and its more immediate areas get all the attention, we’ve found that Seattle Southside deserves more attention.
In fact, our 72 hours in Seattle guide goes over our family experiences in the area.
The building offered secure access and a decently comfortable room with two queen beds. The overall space was a pleasant stay, and some areas seemed a little dated but in good shape. Best Western’s included breakfast is a consistent, tasty way to start the day—especially for a family who appreciates having one less decision to make in the morning.
Above all, this hotel deserves a look for its proximity to attractions throughout the Southside area, such as the Seattle Chocolate Factory, Angle Lake Park, and the Museum of Flight. Plus, the hotel is a straight-shot, 10-minute drive to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
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Other consistently top-rated family-friendly stays in Seattle
Our personal recommendations have been solid choices for us as a family, and we prioritize overall family friendliness, cleanliness, comfort, and safety wherever we stay. If the properties above aren’t available or not quite what you’re looking for, here are some other consistently top-rated family-friendly stays in Seattle.
Fairmont Olympic Hotel
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Hyatt Regency Seattle
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Lotte Hotel Seattle
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Hilton Garden Inn Seattle Downtown
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Residence Inn by Marriott Seattle Downtown Convention Center
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Find your place to stay in Seattle
Seattle has great stays near the amenities you need and the activities you came for
My visits to Seattle were no small part of why I fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. From my stays as a young adult to ongoing visits with my wife and kids, we’ve explored and stayed throughout the Seattle area. Whatever you need out of where to stay in Seattle, from Southside to north to beyond, you can find the right stay for your trip.
