Seattle › Where To Stay › Cheap Hotels
Updated: September 21, 2022
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The 7 Best Cheap & Moderate Hotels in Seattle
The Best Budget Hotel in Seattle: Ace Hotel in Belltown – close to restaurants, nightlife, shopping, downtown Seattle, and Pike Place Market.
1. Ace Hotel
Hip, quirky boutique hotel in a fantastic location (steps from some of Seattle’s coolest bars and restaurants). The building is old, but the vibe is fresh and fun: think high ceilings, wood floors, original artwork, and minimalist design. Guest rooms are clean and comfortable; standard rooms have full platform beds, in-room sinks/vanities, and share bathrooms (these are clean and plentiful), deluxe rooms have en-suite baths and full, queen, or king beds – and the best have partial water views. Interior rooms have air conditioning. Daily waffle breakfast. Located in the fun Belltown neighborhood, an easy walk to Pike Place Market and the Space Needle.
2. Warwick Hotel
Comfortable and modern hotel, great central location (5-minute walk to Pike Place Market), amazing views. Guest rooms are spacious and bright, with comfy beds and marble bathrooms. All rooms and suites have Juliet balconies; those on the 5th floor and above have unobstructed city and Sound views. Recently renovated fitness center and pool/hot tub, good in-house restaurant and lounge. Excellent location: close to shopping and downtown attractions.
3. Courtyard Pioneer Square
A modern hotel in a historic building – The gorgeous marble lobby dates from the early 1900s, but this hotel’s vibe is sleek, contemporary, and urban. Guest rooms and suites are cozy, with large windows and great views. There’s an indoor heated pool, fitness center, coin-op laundry, and a bistro-style restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner. Located in Seattle’s financial district, so don’t expect a lot of nightlife nearby but it’s easily walkable to all of downtown, with super easy access to buses and light rail. The Pioneer Square transit station is one block away.
4. Best Western Plus Pioneer Square
A clean and comfortable historic district hotel. Guest rooms have original woodwork, vintage decor, and air conditioning. Bathrooms are small, but well-appointed. Some rooms have balconies with city and Sound views; avoid west-facing rooms if road noise is an issue. Continental breakfast provided. Located in the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood, walking distance to the ferry terminal; Seahawks, Mariners, and Sounders games; and Pike Place Market.
5. Moore Hotel
Historic hotel with loads of charm – one block from Pike Place Market. Guest rooms are comfortable and spacious, with high ceilings and retro decor. Bathrooms are no-frills, but clean and serviceable. Shared bath “European Style” rooms have in-room sinks/vanities and the lowest rates you’ll find anywhere. Suites come in many configurations and are great for families. There’s no AC, so avoid west-facing rooms in the summer months if you’re bothered by street noise. Lovely marble lobby, fantastic coffee shop, unbeatable location and price.
6. The Maxwell
Fun midrange hotel in a quieter neighborhood. The atmosphere here is vibrant and very family friendly: all rooms have microwaves, Junior Suites sleep six, and there’s wood-fired pizza right next door. The indoor pool isn’t huge, but it’s great for kids. Located near Seattle Center – walk to the Space Needle, museums, grocery stores, and the monorail into downtown. Complimentary shuttle bus takes guests pretty much anywhere in the city. Free parking, wi-fi, and bike rental.
7. Hotel Hotel
Boutique, no-frills hostel in charming Fremont (10 minutes by bus from downtown). Hip, clean, and secure, Hotel Hotel has co-ed shared-bath dorm rooms with lockers, private rooms with shared or en-suite baths, and a private-bath family room that sleeps four. There’s a well-stocked kitchen available for guest use (and free daily breakfast), and a communal lounge space with TV. Surrounded by great food and fun shops in one of Seattle’s best neighborhoods.
Map of Cheap Seattle Hotels
Best Seattle Hostels
If you’re open to staying at a hostel, here is one more to consider (with a great location): The Green Tortoise at Pike Place Market is Seattle’s most famous hostel and a great option for small budgets: along with free breakfasts, they offer 3 free dinners a week, bike rental, and loads of communal tours and events.
Read More
- Seattle Travel Guide
- Where to Stay in Seattle
- Seattle’s Best Hotels
- Best Family Hotels in Seattle
- Best Boutique Hotels in Seattle
- Best Hotels near Pike Place Market
- What to Do in Seattle
- Best Seattle Bars & Nightlife
- Where to Eat in Seattle
- Seattle: The Best Time to Go
- Seattle’s Best Activities for Families
None of these hotels except Ace and Hotel Hotel are cheap.
Aida
Point taken. I try to give a range of hotels on the lower-half of the price scale but some can creep up in cost. Thanks for the feedback.
Any recommendations for cheap hotels in Seattle that are good for families, and have a pool?
Thanks.
Lila
The cheapest Seattle family-friendly hotels with swimming pools are the Holiday Inn Express and the University Inn.
The Holiday Inn Express is located about six blocks from Seattle Center, which houses the Space Needle, Science Center, Experience Music Project, Chihuli Museum, and the Monorail into the central downtown shopping/Pike Place Market district. It’ll take about 15-20 minutes to walk there with kids in tow. All guest rooms at the Holiday Inn Express have microwaves and fridges, and there’s free continental breakfast and a heated indoor pool. West-facing rooms have Space Needle views, but they also look out over busy Highway 99, so ask for an east-facing room if you’re sensitive to road noise.
The University Inn is located near the University of Washington in what’s known as the U-District. It’s a nice, quiet spot near a fantastic urban bike trail (the inn has bikes for guests to borrow). Premium rooms have microwaves and mini-fridges, and continental breakfast is included in your stay. Their outdoor pool is open seasonally. The University Inn is a bit further from most places you’ll want to go, but they offer a free shuttle service between the hotel and many popular tourist spots, including central downtown (from there it’s an easy Monorail ride to Seattle Center) and the Woodland Park Zoo.
Hi, if you had to choose between the Moore Hotel or the Ace Hotel for one night in August, what would you do?
I’d like to stay downtown (instead of near the airport) so am willing to “rough” it slightly. Traveling solo.
Any help appreciated.
Lauren
The Moore and Ace Hotel are both great budget options, but I’d choose the Moore, especially as you’ll only be staying one night. It’s very close to both Pike Place Market and the downtown shopping district, and its central location means that you’ll spend less time getting around. The Moore is also the cheaper of the two: single occupancy European (shared-bath) rooms start at just $85/night, and you can get a single occupancy queen room (with en-suite bath) at the Moore for less than you’ll pay for a shared-bath room at the Ace.
If, however, you’ll be spending most of your time around Pike Place Market, and you’re looking for a more hip and funky (rather than historic) vibe, Ace Hotel is a fine choice. It’s in Belltown – a hipper neighborhood and an easy walk to Pike Place, but it’ll be a longer hike up to the shopping district. And the free breakfast that Ace offers can help to offset some of the extra cost you’ll pay to stay there.