Is SeaTac a good place to stay in Seattle?

SeaTac is a good base if you have an early flight, a late arrival or want the cheapest rooms near Seattle. The hotels line International Boulevard beside the airport, almost all with free shuttles to the terminal, and the Link light rail runs from SeaTac/Airport station straight to Westlake in downtown Seattle.

This is an airport town rather than a neighbourhood. International Boulevard is a wide highway of hotels, car parks and casual restaurants, and most evenings are spent in the hotel bar or restaurant. The Museum of Flight, one of the biggest aviation museums in the world, and the Westfield Southcenter mall are a short drive north.

The downside is that there's nothing to walk to. Every sightseeing day means a light rail ride into the city and back, the area feels anonymous, and planes and traffic are never far away. It's not the place to get a feel for Seattle.

What makes SeaTac worth considering is value and ease. Rooms cost much less than downtown, the terminal is minutes away, and because the light rail is direct, getting to Pike Place Market is simpler than from many places that look closer on the map. For a short stay or a first and last night, it works well.