University Hotel

We really enjoyed the comfort and beauty of the University Tower Hotel with its art deco interior & large corner windows looking out over the city of Seattle.

The guest rooms were large and the lobby had beautiful furniture and artwork as you can see in this photo. The staff was friendly & helpful.

Directions: University Area

"Well, you are a local, so how do you know how good this hotel is?" Uh, the other day I locked myself out of my house (and my office at work); the locksmith I called couldn't pick the house lock after more than an hour of struggle, and he gave up. So I had to return to work and booked myself into this hotel near my office....

As it turns out the hotel is fine. The building is an octagonal tower, and every room is a corner room. Most rooms should have a good view of Mt. Rainier, the Cascades or the Olympic Mountains. Rooms are tiny and oddly shaped (because of the architecture), but quite comfortable and nicely decorated in a deco style.

Perhaps the main thing going against this hotel is the location. It's in the University District, convenient for University of Washington or Safeco Insurance, but not for downtown. Also the area has very limited dining options - the University Avenue has many fast food joints catering to students, but for fine dining you will have to look elsewhere.

The University Motel is housed in an old apartment building that has been converted to motel rooms. It's not a swanky place to stay, but it is serviceable, and by far the cheapest place to stay in Seattle that is not a hostel. On the plus side, you not only get a bedroom, but also a living room with cable TV and couch, a dining room with dining table, a full bathroom with tub, and a full size kitchen with appliances, pots, and dishes. This is a great place to use as a base for explorations in and around Seattle, especially if you're staying in the area for several days. It's also good for larger groups, as some rooms come with up to 3 beds, 2 kings and 1 queen! Lots of room!

2 minute walk to the heart of the U District, 15 minute busride to downtown Seattle, 20 minutes to south Seattle, 35 minutes from SeaTac Airport.

Make sure to ask for weekly rates, which cut about $5-6 off every night's stay. Don't let them charge you more than $65 a night on a per night basis, or $60 a night on a week long stay. Compared to the University Inn just a couple of blocks down the street, which charges $90-$120 a night, depending on the season, the U Motel is a steal!

Unique Quality: Also has a laundry room. Underground motel parking. Fun thematic rooms with somewhat-tacky decorations. My personal favorite is the nautical room.

Directions: University District (just north of NE 47th St on 12th Ave NE)