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.