wask.com/wkoa/lifestyle/travel/sns-family-vacation-hotels-seattle,0,3247401.story
A convenient downtown hotel for under $250 a night (summer is peak) is considered a bargain. Downtown Seattle and near Lake Union are the best locations for families.
- Seattle Super Saver, run by the city's visitor's bureau, gives best available rates and deals at 83 Seattle hotels. You can also find more on its website about things to do, sports, shopping, food, and the arts.
- Silver Cloud Inn & Suites-Lake Union. Comfort, convenience and affordability make this chain a great choice, along with free parking, WiFi and a downtown shuttle. This hotel is across a street from Lake Union, with nearby boat rentals. Rates at the 184-room hotel are $159-$249 per night, with complimentary fix-your-own breakfasts (206-447-9500).
- Suites by Hilton Seattle Convention Center. This 198-unit Pike Street property has complimentary high-speed Internet, hot breakfasts and light meal evening receptions, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday. One-bedroom suites, studios and rooms start at $169 per night (206-682-8282).
- Hotel Monaco Seattle. Stylish, kid-friendly and pet-friendly, this hotel offers a "soFISHticated" family package deal, along with other deals, with Aquarium passes, pet goldfish during stay, goldfish crackers, plush goldfish toy and one hour of complimentary Nintendo games. The summer playground package allows for mom and dad to sip complimentary wine and kids to eat afternoon ice cream pops. Pint-sized robes, high chairs, booster seats and in-room safety gadgets are available upon request. Rates average at least $349 per night (206-621-1770).
- Mayflower Park Hotel. The 161-room heart-of-downtown shopping district property opens into the 80-shop Westlake Center. Nordstrom's flagship store is a block away. "Family Fun" deals include attraction tickets, monorail passes, kids' goodie bags and valet parking. Kids 17 and under are free with an adult. The summer hot deal allows a family to stay here for $175-$185 per night, but prices are higher for the average rate per night (206-623-8700).
- Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Up for a splurge? Kids love the 42-foot-long indoor pool, toy-filled goodie bags and tuck-in milk and cookies. The posh 450-room hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the site of the original University of Washington. The best available rates begin at $299 per night (206-621-1700). Look on the website for summer package deals before your vacation.
- Arctic Club Hotel. With a $30 million, 120-room remodel, this hip, 1916 Summit hotel originally catered to Klondike Gold Rush gentlemen speculators. Adults love the rococo-designed ceilings. A bevy of molded walruses, wrapped around a third-floor exterior, delight kids. Eight blocks from Pike Place Market. Rooms begin at $175 per night for 1 King Bed, non-smoking (206-340-0340).