Seattle Travel Forum

Hi

We're planning on going to Seattle from either Victoria, B.C., or Vancouver B.C. around May 11th. We will not have a vehicle.

This is a two part question:

1. What ferry services are available that go from Vancouver, B.C. to Seattle or from Victoria, B.C. to Seattle?

2. Not being familiar with Seattle area, and since we will not have our own transportation, we would like to stay in a central location and use the cities bus/shuttle system. Any suggestion on where to stay?

Hey there.

I just moved to Victoria and the easiest way to travel from here to Seattle is via the Clipper Ferry. www.clippervacations.com

I would recommend using www.priceline.com. Everytime I used priceline.com with these options, they give me the Hyatt for a price lower than a Best Western in Downtown!

Star Class: 3+
Location: Downtown
Bidding Price Range: $55 to $100 (start at 55 and work your way up)

See also my answer to the question below, "Choose hotels downtown or near the airport," several posts below, which might be helpful to you.

There are no ferries between Vancouver to Seattle since they are both on the mainland.

Without a car your only options between Vancouver and Seattle are train (Amtrak's one and only daily train leaves at 6pm and arrives in Seattle about 4 hours later), bus (Amtrak, Quick Shuttle, or Greyhound - approximately 4+ hours), or airplane (half hour flight not including customs/boarding/waiting times).

The bus likely gives you the most choice in terms of schedules, but you'll want to observe the starting/ending points. I know that Quick Shuttle picks you up in downtown Vancouver and drops you off in downtown Seattle. Amtrak bus picks you up at the Vancouver bus depot called "Pacific Central Station" which is a short distance east of downtown. And then it drops you off at the main train station in Seattle which I also believe is outside of downtown. Ditto Greyhound.

From Victoria to Seattle, the easiest way to get between the two is to take the Victoria Clipper. This only leaves about 3 times each day. I've never been on the Clipper, but it takes you from downtown Victoria to downtown Seattle.

We stayed in Seattle last May and were happy with our hotel and location. We stayed at the Best Western next to the Space Needle. It was reasonably priced with no problems and you could walk across the street and take the monorail downtown (a direct 4 minute trip for about $2). The view from our window was directly at the Space Needle, which is next to the monorail and is part of Seattle Center, including the Key Arena and Experience(as in Jimi Hendrix)Rock Museum. Not technically downtown but even without the monorail it is not that far. In 2 days we managed to get to to a Mariners game, explore Seattle Centre, including the obligatory trip up the Needle (not quite the CN Tower but still a helluva view) and wander around downtown,mainly Pike Place market which is huge and has various and sundry items for sale.

When I stayed in Seattle, we indulged and stayed at the Westin and no rental car. It was great! We can easily walk to everything and the monorail to the Space Needle was also within a few block of walking. Trolley cars and buses run all over Seattle. I have to say, the rooms at the Westin are amazing! The beds feel like you're sleeping on clouds!

Yes, the Westin in excellent and very centrally located. In that higher budgetary range there are many very good hotels, one of my favorites being the boutique-y Alexis Hotel. Our primo hotel is the grand Fairmont Olympic Hotel, but it will cost many dollars that could otherwise be spent on nice salmon and Dungeness crab dinners!

Definitely go with the clipper, it is quick and easy. It drops you off at the Piers, which is right next to the Edgewater Hotel and not far from the Marriott on the Water. You are within walking distance to Pikes Place and some shopping. Great trip, I have taken it a few times!