Arctic Club Hotel Seattle

[kdowneymd]

Has anyone stayed here? I booked one night Friday July 7 prior to our departure on July 8 pier 91. We would like to walk around Friday afternoon after we arrive at SEATAC at 2 PM from JFK. Reading other hotel reviews about downtown it sounds like some of the areas are a little dicey.

[Gardyloo]

It's a fine hotel - converted office building with walruses. Ask to see the Dome Room - great.

 

It's in the middle of the highrise office zone; the only dicey people around will be the bankers, lawyers and bureaucrats who contaminate the area. But y'know, it's a big American city. Walk around at 2 in the morning with $20 bills hanging out of your pockets and the bad guys might find you. Otrherwise, meh.

 

It's a decent hike from the Pike Place market, but as you'll be on east coast time, use the time difference to your advantage, and get to the market before 8 for breakfast and a walk-round. In cruise season, and particularly on weekends, the market gets horrendously crowded by 10:30; time to bug out. Buy some flowers for your cabin from the low stall people at the market and make it back to your hotel for your cab/Uber to the dock.

 

For arrival day, my suggestion would be to drop your bags, then walk half a block to Columbia Street, then turn downhill and walk down to the ferry terminal at the foot of Columbia. Get on the West Seattle water taxi - http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/WaterTaxi/WSeattle.aspx (summer schedule not out yet) - and ride across Elliott Bay to Seacrest Park in West Seattle. Right on the dock is a terrific casual cafe/bar, Marination Ma Kai, with great Korean/Hawaiian food and even better Mai Tais, a sunny outdoor deck, and the best drop-dead view of Seattle going. Walk off the Loco Moco and/or booze along the pedestrian/bike path that runs up to Alki Beach; if you're energetic enough you could even get as far as our own wee Statue of Liberty facing the ferries and Olympics, then take the shuttle bus back to the water taxi dock, back across the harbor, and up the hill to the walruses. It's a d@mn fine Seattle afternoon, cheap, fun and extremely scenic, way better (IMO) than fighting the mobs at Pike Place or paying $20+ for an elevator ride up the Space Needle.

[kdowneymd]

Thank-you! Those groups are often the most disreputable!

[kdowneymd]

Decided to rebook a night at the Four Seasons, more expensive but a good deal and closer to areas we want to visit