SeaTac hotels

Though just outside SeaTac proper, the convenience and amenities bring flight attendants and shoppers alike to Hotel Interurban. The elegant greyscale of most of the public areas and fixtures is broken up with bold glass and metal art, and nothing beats the beauty of the view of Mt. Rainier from the rooms on the upper floor. The large rooms are sophisticated and minimalist, with pops of green that give it a friendly feel and large windows that add warmth on sunny days.

One of the largest malls in the region, Southcenter, sits just a few blocks away, giving guests easy access to a huge variety of stores and restaurants. But stick around for a morning coffee in the lobby: the smell of fresh grounds comes from Urban Roast, which serves coffee from one of my favourite local Ethiopian roasters, Café Avole.

Step away from the concrete jungle of an airport town and into Cedarbrook Lodge’s peaceful garden, complete with streams and ponds. A former corporate retreat, it retains the gentle warmth with a feeling of seclusion amongst the babbling brooks and thick evergreens – particularly from the outdoor hot tub.

SeaTac doesn't boast any true luxury hotels, but this is one of the best choices for nearly any purpose. The main building holds the restaurant and spa, which makes the entire place smell incredible, and I automatically feel relaxed just stepping inside and breathing deeply. Copperleaf Restaurant and Bar is a destination in and of itself for dishes like house-smoked salmon tartine and nettle-saffron pasta.

Garden paths lead to the outbuildings, which hold clean, cosy, and simple rooms. Each building has its own living room, where the complimentary snack station is always stocked and includes delicious local ice cream.

The sprawling lobby that greets visitors, punctuated by pops of neon, shows off this sleek hotel’s best amenities. Arcade games, pool tables, and stacks of board games ensure that nobody gets bored at this hotel. An outdoor seating area just off the bar extends the space onto a pleasant leafy patio, dotted with flashy orange chairs.

The rooms are on the smaller side, as if designed knowing that guests will head down to the lobby for entertainment. Despite that, this is one of the best hotels in SeaTac for families travelling with children because of the open space in the lobby and the convenient shop there with plenty of snacks.

The hotel offers free parking to all guests, and travellers looking to head into Seattle can leave their car and make the half-mile walk to the nearby Angle Lake light rail station.

For the traveller who craves convenience and ease, the Hilton Garden Inn is one of the best hotels in SeaTac. The space is current and clean but without artifice or unnecessary extras. Tucked into a small space not far from the airport, this hotel ends up benefiting from the seclusion created by the much larger, nature-focused hotels on either side of it. The lobby shop, small pool, and laundry room all give guests the creature comforts of home. It runs some of the most frequent shuttles to the airport, and guests can also call a shuttle to the nearby shopping centre.

The rooms are airy, with rich notes of turquoise adding life to the spaces. Try to book a room facing south to get a nice view of planes taking off and landing at the nearby airport.

Among the best hotels in SeaTac on location alone, the Radisson sits directly across the street from the entrance to Seattle Tacoma International Airport (and the attached light rail station). There are shuttles, but it’s close enough that those travelling light could even walk over. It took me about ten minutes to reach the hotel.

While the front of the hotel faces the airport, the back opens into a leafy courtyard with patio seating, and many rooms offer a view of the adjacent lake.

The hotel is big and offers the many advantages of a larger hotel, including spacious rooms, a sizeable pool, and a well-furnished gym. The bar is excellent, stocking a range of local craft beers and regional wines.

Convenient and expedient, this hotel’s efficient airport shuttles and a prime location near a good selection of small restaurants make it one of my top recommendations for the best hotels in SeaTac for businesspeople and anyone wanting an easy overnight stop while in transit.

The focus in the decor and ambiance is form and function over aesthetics, with sound-proof windows that keep out the noise of the neighbouring airport and a free 24-hour shuttle to said airport, along with free parking for those with their own car. Travellers will find a microwave in their room to heat up meals, and the free hot breakfast each morning greets guests with waffles and sausages. This is one of the best hotels in SeaTac for anyone who cares more about ease of experience than having a radiantly coloured lobby or the newest furniture in the room.

Just up the hill from SeaTac Airport, this airy and contemporary atrium-style hotel is, in my opinion, a convenient spot to lay your head for a night. Perfect for business travellers and one-night stopover passengers. The hilltop perch means airport shuttles are still fast and constant, while allowing for a bit of a view from many rooms.

Even interior rooms have something of a view, as many overlook the courtyard-style atrium. For anyone arriving before or staying after checkout time, the large public space is an added benefit, with plenty of comfortable and pleasant places to sit and work, read, or simply kill time.

The ambiance of the public area carries into the guest rooms, all of which have a sharp, sophisticated look, with dark wood furnishings and luminously white bathrooms.

Located on the shore of Lake Washington, just a short distance from SeaTac, this hotel masters the balancing act of catering to family trips, business travellers, and romantic holidaymakers all at once.

Beach-front paddleboard rentals, a kid-friendly pool area, and stunning views of the lake set this hotel apart from others nearby and make it one of the best hotels in SeaTac.

While it sits outside SeaTac proper, the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington is convenient for accessing the airport and reaching Seattle and the Eastside, as well as locations to the south. Plus, the location is directly adjacent to a park with a nice play area and a few restaurants, and walking distance to tons of restaurants and stores. Local Vietnamese restaurant Anchovies and Salt is a must-try and right next door to the hotel, while Exit 5 serves Korean barbecue in Renton Landing. Both are among the area's best restaurants.

A short walk from the shops and restaurants of Southcenter, spacious rooms and facilities designed for longer stays make this one of the best hotels in SeaTac for stays of more than one or two nights.

The bright and updated rooms are bigger than most, with a fully equipped kitchen, as well as dining and work areas, which makes this a top choice for those on longer business trips in the area.

The public areas of the hotel are equally accommodating, with a big gym area, an indoor pool and hot tub, plus an outdoor patio with covered seating, a fire pit, and a communal grill to enjoy the long summer evenings. If you need a breath of fresh air, I recommend a walk to Bicentennial Park, which is less than a half-mile away. You also can hop on the Green River Trail, which follows the curving, tree-lined path of its eponymous waterway.

The splashy pink mural that greets visitors in the lobby sets the tone for this hotel, with its friendly, excited vibe. Bold colours and useful amenities dot the public areas, including a stocked mini-convenience store at the check-in desk, pool table, reading nooks, and workstations.

The rooms here are small and minimalist, with little more than basic furnishings. For travellers looking to get the most for their money, it makes for an enticing spot and is among the best hotels in SeaTac for Gen Z guests.

While there is not a ton of stuff in the room, the hotel sits just across the street from Southcenter, a large mall with all the restaurants and shops that anyone could ever dream of, including my local favourites like Brazilian coffee spot Kitanda and Dong Thap for Vietnamese noodles.