Now that my first post on the forums nearly caused a panic, I have a question.
Is there a good reason to not get a room at on of the airport hotels? I've noticed that most of them run shuttles to the light rail station. Given that rooms out there are less than $100 a night, for the most part, and light rail fare is pretty inexpensive, I'm just looking for a reason to spend the extra cash staying downtown.
Pax Prime 2013 Checklist: Time Off [X] Badge [X] Hotel [?] Flight [X]
Now that my first post on the forums nearly caused a panic, I have a question.
Is there a good reason to not get a room at on of the airport hotels? I've noticed that most of them run shuttles to the light rail station. Given that rooms out there are less than $100 a night, for the most part, and light rail fare is pretty inexpensive, I'm just looking for a reason to spend the extra cash staying downtown.
Because the light rail completely shuts down by 1 AM, and you lose a lot of the community.
And as someone who travels fairly regularly, being able to quickly drop things off in a safe hotel room is a godsend.
Now that my first post on the forums nearly caused a panic, I have a question.
Is there a good reason to not get a room at on of the airport hotels? I've noticed that most of them run shuttles to the light rail station. Given that rooms out there are less than $100 a night, for the most part, and light rail fare is pretty inexpensive, I'm just looking for a reason to spend the extra cash staying downtown.
Convenience, the light rail takes 38 minutes plus wait time to get to downtown Seattle. Also the last departure from downtown is 12:37am so it limits how late you can stay downtown.
Now that my first post on the forums nearly caused a panic, I have a question.
Is there a good reason to not get a room at on of the airport hotels? I've noticed that most of them run shuttles to the light rail station. Given that rooms out there are less than $100 a night, for the most part, and light rail fare is pretty inexpensive, I'm just looking for a reason to spend the extra cash staying downtown.
The light rail is like 2-3 bucks each way and It's like an hour trip each way, so you if you want to take a break during the day and go back to your hotel you can't take a break for less than 2 hours and like 5 bucks.
It shuts down early, and if I remember correctly from last year it starts later and shuts down even earlier on the weekend. So you limit what you do during the day/ night by a few hours potentially more.
And finally you lose connection to the convention and its atmosphere. During the weekend downtown is transformed to a nerd paradise with so much going on.
EDIT: guess it got figured out, but I'll leave this here for anyone else who had your idea.
If you're really worried about money you could always room share once the thread goes live. Depending on how many people you want in your room or how many people you stay with it can be pretty cheap.
I've already reserved at the homewoods 1.5 Miles away from the convention. I've stayed there for 3 PAX's and it's always amazing. Takes about 15-20 minutes to reach the shuttle train. But area is amazing.
I've got the executive suite, enough beds for 5, and will house 6-8 comfortably.
Once room share goes live, please pay attention as I'll have 3-4 spots open. 2012's group is reforming for this roomshare. It's a party share, however no drugs. Last year I caught someone, and I removed them from the room. If I catch someone this year, they will forfeit their room share costs, and need to figure it out on their own.
I just booked my room at the Virginian. it's only about .5 miles from the convention center and through airbnb it was only $50 a night! the host still has a few apartments left for rental but those are $85 - $90 per night. My suggestion is to send him a question and see if he would be able to lower the price. Advantage is it is an apartment that I will be staying in with a full size fridge and a kitchen for cooking. Saving money on dinners ;-) This is my first time using airbnb I hope all goes well!
I just booked my room at the Virginian. it's only about .5 miles from the convention center and through airbnb it was only $50 a night! the host still has a few apartments left for rental but those are $85 - $90 per night. My suggestion is to send him a question and see if he would be able to lower the price. Advantage is it is an apartment that I will be staying in with a full size fridge and a kitchen for cooking. Saving money on dinners ;-) This is my first time using airbnb I hope all goes well!
I was waiting for the passes to go online before booking that same room!
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CanaryAvenger"Yes, they're birds, not planes nor superheroes. And the time will come where they kill us all"Registered Userregular
How large of a window do you guys think we have for booking hotels like the Sheraton?
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sanovahNerd of the WestSan Diego, CaliforniaRegistered Userregular
How large of a window do you guys think we have for booking hotels like the Sheraton?
It depends on how long your stay is and if you are getting 2 or 1 bed.
If I remember right the 2 beds sell out much quicker.
♥ Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 ..♥ East '12
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Spud387Man of InactionVancouver, BC, CanadaRegistered Userregular
Has anyone here stayed at the Roosevelt, Grand Hyatt or Red Lion? I am considering those three, but I have never stayed there before. What are the rooms & hotels like? (room size, amenities and personal opinions on your stay)
Also, lots of people love the Homewood suites on Pike st. How far is the walk? Any real downsides to the location?
Prime 2016 Status: Skipping. 2017, The Return.
Attended: PAX Prime 2010/'11/'12/'13/'14
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StarYoshiGame Designer / Data ScientistUSARegistered Userregular
edited April 2013
I stayed at the Crowne Plaza the last time I went (2009) and it was nice. I may try to find a room there again, but I'm still undecided.
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bacon_avengerDefender of Pork ProductsPacific NW, USARegistered Userregular
Also, lots of people love the Homewood suites on Pike st. How far is the walk? Any real downsides to the location?
The walk is about a block or two(ish) from the main entrance. You can get an accurate look by hitting up google maps and looking up the address of the Homewood (Street 1011 Pike Street, Seattle, Washington, 98101, USA). Entering in Washington State Convention Center, Convention Place, Seattle, WA will find the centre itself. Street view it, and Bob's yer scudder!
Downsides? Umm, it's closer to the interstate than most, and the walk isn't perfectly flat?
Has anyone here stayed at the Roosevelt, Grand Hyatt or Red Lion? I am considering those three, but I have never stayed there before. What are the rooms & hotels like? (room size, amenities and personal opinions on your stay)
Also, lots of people love the Homewood suites on Pike st. How far is the walk? Any real downsides to the location?
I stayed in a single room (single bed) at the Grand Hyatt last year. Relative to other hotels I've been in, the room is -very- spacious. I didn't use it much, but the hotel does have free wifi IIRC (or I might have somehow connected for free without the password; this has happened in multiple hotels for me), and it was actually really fast for being in such a crowded hotel. I personally loved it.
The only downside to the Hyatt I can think of is the price. IIRC my party paid a total of about $892 for four nights (arriving Thursday night, leaving Monday morning). Assuming you want to arrive a day before PAX and leave the morning after, it'd be over $1000 total this year, if prices are constant. Also, the walk is probably about three minutes longer than the Sheraton, and there seems to be less attendee mingling (but those are pretty minor concerns, at least to me).
Has anyone here stayed at the Roosevelt, Grand Hyatt or Red Lion? I am considering those three, but I have never stayed there before. What are the rooms & hotels like? (room size, amenities and personal opinions on your stay)
Also, lots of people love the Homewood suites on Pike st. How far is the walk? Any real downsides to the location?
We tried, but failed, to get into Homewood last year. Since they have fewer rooms than most other hotels, it is pretty difficult to get in.
Stayed at the Roosevelt in 2010 and are planning to stay again this year after trying the Crowne Plaza and Sheraton. Its an older hotel, so the rooms aren't quite as nice as some of the other newer hotels, but the room we had was spacious and it is a bit cheaper than the others in the immediate vicinity. Rooms don't have a fridge if I recall, if that is important to you.
I know there was a couple people asking about the Westin a while ago. My husband stayed there last week for work and said it was great. Really nice hotel, quiet and the rooms were clean. It was about a 10 minute walk to the convention center area or pikes market place.
♥ Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 ..♥ East '12
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sanovahNerd of the WestSan Diego, CaliforniaRegistered Userregular
I know there was a couple people asking about the Westin a while ago. My husband stayed there last week for work and said it was great. Really nice hotel, quiet and the rooms were clean. It was about a 10 minute walk to the convention center area or pikes market place.
Did they actually clean his room and change the towels and everything in the bathroom?
I know there was a couple people asking about the Westin a while ago. My husband stayed there last week for work and said it was great. Really nice hotel, quiet and the rooms were clean. It was about a 10 minute walk to the convention center area or pikes market place.
Did they actually clean his room and change the towels and everything in the bathroom?
Yea he said it was great and he can be pretty picky when it comes to cleaning. It was better than the Homewood we stayed at last year. We are heavily considering staying there this year instead of the Grand Hyatt.
♥ Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 ..♥ East '12
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sanovahNerd of the WestSan Diego, CaliforniaRegistered Userregular
I know there was a couple people asking about the Westin a while ago. My husband stayed there last week for work and said it was great. Really nice hotel, quiet and the rooms were clean. It was about a 10 minute walk to the convention center area or pikes market place.
Did they actually clean his room and change the towels and everything in the bathroom?
Yea he said it was great and he can be pretty picky when it comes to cleaning. It was better than the Homewood we stayed at last year. We are heavily considering staying there this year instead of the Grand Hyatt.
Cool thanks. I guess I just did get a bad floor or maid assigned to my room last year then.
I am going for the Sheraton. I want to get in to the more social aspect of PAX this time around. Any other hotels have a lot of mingling in the lobby in case I miss getting my ideal hotel?
I normally have pretty good luck staying at Westins. If your room is not being cleaned properly you should let the front desk know and they will take care of it. They might have had your room flagged as going with the green choice where they do not clean it on purpose.
@BadNews65 last year there was "pax stuff" inside of the Sheraton, Red Lion, and Grand Hyatt. I would assume any of those three would have a significant mingling presence.
I normally have pretty good luck staying at Westins. If your room is not being cleaned properly you should let the front desk know and they will take care of it. They might have had your room flagged as going with the green choice where they do not clean it on purpose.
Yeah don't get me wrong I figured it was some mistake, but overall it was a great stay last year. Honestly if I wasn't going to be in Seattle for a week and a half before PAX checking out apartments and colleges and needed a full kitchen I'd study t there again.
Posts
Is there a good reason to not get a room at on of the airport hotels? I've noticed that most of them run shuttles to the light rail station. Given that rooms out there are less than $100 a night, for the most part, and light rail fare is pretty inexpensive, I'm just looking for a reason to spend the extra cash staying downtown.
Because the light rail completely shuts down by 1 AM, and you lose a lot of the community.
And as someone who travels fairly regularly, being able to quickly drop things off in a safe hotel room is a godsend.
Convenience, the light rail takes 38 minutes plus wait time to get to downtown Seattle. Also the last departure from downtown is 12:37am so it limits how late you can stay downtown.
The light rail is like 2-3 bucks each way and It's like an hour trip each way, so you if you want to take a break during the day and go back to your hotel you can't take a break for less than 2 hours and like 5 bucks.
It shuts down early, and if I remember correctly from last year it starts later and shuts down even earlier on the weekend. So you limit what you do during the day/ night by a few hours potentially more.
And finally you lose connection to the convention and its atmosphere. During the weekend downtown is transformed to a nerd paradise with so much going on.
EDIT: guess it got figured out, but I'll leave this here for anyone else who had your idea.
If you're really worried about money you could always room share once the thread goes live. Depending on how many people you want in your room or how many people you stay with it can be pretty cheap.
I've got the executive suite, enough beds for 5, and will house 6-8 comfortably.
Once room share goes live, please pay attention as I'll have 3-4 spots open. 2012's group is reforming for this roomshare. It's a party share, however no drugs. Last year I caught someone, and I removed them from the room. If I catch someone this year, they will forfeit their room share costs, and need to figure it out on their own.
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A couple hours like 2 or 3 maybe less. It's one of the big 3 hotels and one of the first to sell out.
It depends on how long your stay is and if you are getting 2 or 1 bed.
If I remember right the 2 beds sell out much quicker.
Also, lots of people love the Homewood suites on Pike st. How far is the walk? Any real downsides to the location?
Attended: PAX Prime 2010/'11/'12/'13/'14
PAX Prime / PAX Dev 2014
PAX Prime 2013
PAX Prime 2009
Downsides? Umm, it's closer to the interstate than most, and the walk isn't perfectly flat?
I stayed in a single room (single bed) at the Grand Hyatt last year. Relative to other hotels I've been in, the room is -very- spacious. I didn't use it much, but the hotel does have free wifi IIRC (or I might have somehow connected for free without the password; this has happened in multiple hotels for me), and it was actually really fast for being in such a crowded hotel. I personally loved it.
The only downside to the Hyatt I can think of is the price. IIRC my party paid a total of about $892 for four nights (arriving Thursday night, leaving Monday morning). Assuming you want to arrive a day before PAX and leave the morning after, it'd be over $1000 total this year, if prices are constant. Also, the walk is probably about three minutes longer than the Sheraton, and there seems to be less attendee mingling (but those are pretty minor concerns, at least to me).
We tried, but failed, to get into Homewood last year. Since they have fewer rooms than most other hotels, it is pretty difficult to get in.
Stayed at the Roosevelt in 2010 and are planning to stay again this year after trying the Crowne Plaza and Sheraton. Its an older hotel, so the rooms aren't quite as nice as some of the other newer hotels, but the room we had was spacious and it is a bit cheaper than the others in the immediate vicinity. Rooms don't have a fridge if I recall, if that is important to you.
Did they actually clean his room and change the towels and everything in the bathroom?
Yea he said it was great and he can be pretty picky when it comes to cleaning. It was better than the Homewood we stayed at last year. We are heavily considering staying there this year instead of the Grand Hyatt.
Cool thanks. I guess I just did get a bad floor or maid assigned to my room last year then.
Yeah don't get me wrong I figured it was some mistake, but overall it was a great stay last year. Honestly if I wasn't going to be in Seattle for a week and a half before PAX checking out apartments and colleges and needed a full kitchen I'd study t there again.