Seattle had been on our journey record for years, however once we lastly made it to the Emerald Metropolis, we realized we’d made some traditional vacationer blunders. For those who’re planning a visit to the Pacific Northwest’s crown jewel, be taught from our missteps and take advantage of your go to.
On this article, we’ll share with you a number of the errors we made once we have been planning a visit to Seattle.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! In case your are touring quickly and nonetheless on the starting stage, you may also go to our The Poor Traveler Masterlist. Right here, we compiled journey necessities, together with immigration necessities and all our advisable motels and excursions. Simply go to this web page: TPT Masterlist. We’ve got a compilation for locations around the globe.
Seattle Journey Errors
1. Not staying lengthy sufficient.
Maybe our greatest remorse final yr was not staying lengthy sufficient in Seattle. Though Seattle was one of many cities we actually needed to set foot in, we didn’t understand how a lot we have been going to like it. We handled Seattle as only a stopover and booked a number of full days, considering that may be loads of time to hit the main sights. We have been incorrect. We barely scratched the floor of what the town needed to provide, and we hadn’t even ventured past downtown.
Seattle isn’t simply the House Needle and Pike Place Market. The town sprawls throughout numerous neighborhoods, every with its personal character. Fremont, Ballard, and Capitol Hill all deserve exploration. Then there’s every thing past the town limits: the San Juan Islands, Mount Rainier Nationwide Park, the vineyards of Woodinville, and the charming city of Snoqualmie with its beautiful falls. We utterly missed these experiences by confining ourselves to the vacationer hall.
If we might do it over, we’d finances not less than 5 to seven days. That may give us time to really expertise Seattle quite than simply checking bins on a sightseeing record.
2. Underestimating the costs.
Seattle is dear. Like actually costly. To begin with, Seattle is thought for having a excessive gross sales tax price, which as of late 2025 is greater than 10%, making it one of many highest amongst main cities within the US. The speed consists of a state gross sales tax price of 6.5% plus numerous native gross sales add-ons for county and metropolis wants, which at the moment totals round 3.85%.
Lots of the costs that you just see on the menus of eating places or the cabinets at supermarkets don’t embody taxes but. So when budgeting, be sure to account for these.
To us, although, excessive costs are most evident in lodging charges, particularly in peak season.
Let’s take, for instance, the resort the place we stayed. Within the low season, you may get a Queen room for as little as USD 72 per night time. However within the peak season, it could actually go as a lot as USD 616 per night time. On tremendous peak days, it could actually skyrocket to USD 842 per night time, together with taxes.
By the best way, we booked our room on Agoda.
TIP! While you e-book on Agoda, you possibly can rating as a lot as P5800 OFF should you redeem our low cost coupon. Simply go to www.thepoortraveler.web/agoda. You can too use our Agoda Promo Code AGODATPT. On the Agoda app, it’s essential to first redeem it on the COUPONS tab by getting into AGODATPT, then begin deciding on your resort and room. Then, upon checkout, enter AGODATPT once more in the fitting area. It provides you with 10% OFF, capped at USD 100.
That may someway reduce the prices. Additionally contemplate staying in neighborhoods exterior the town middle if finances is a priority.
There are numerous different methods to scale back bills, lots of which, we’ll focus on on our Seattle Journey Information article.
SEARCH FOR SEATTLE HOTELS HERE!
3. Dismissing native cafés.
Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks. And sure, vacationers dutifully make their pilgrimage to the unique Starbucks at Pike Place Market (and wait within the inevitable line). We did, too, simply to see what the fuss was about. Be happy to try this should you’re a fan.
However don’t miss out on the town’s unimaginable impartial espresso tradition, too.
To be trustworthy with you, I’m not an enormous espresso drinker. However Vins is, so I joined him as he sashayed into a neighborhood café in each space we visited. From Seattle Heart, we went out of our method to attempt Caffe Vita at KEXP Gathering House.
Caffe Vita’s menu is dominated by lattes, in order that’s what we ordered. Vins had the common latte, which had a wealthy, easy texture. The espresso holds up nicely, making it very balanced and never overpowered by the milk. I had the orange madeleine latte, my first time to attempt espresso with robust citrus taste, and I liked it. It was wealthy but in addition buttery, due to the madeleine cookie syrup and with simply the correct amount of orange zest.
We additionally checked out Espresso Vivace, one other legendary Seattle establishment, based in 1988 by David Schomer, a former Boeing engineer, credited with creating and popularizing latte artwork in america. Vins had an iced latte, and I had an iced caffe caramel. Each have been candy and had robust aroma, however we agreed that my order tasted higher.
Close to Pike Place, we paid a go to to Anchorhead Espresso, which takes pleasure in its severe Pacific Northwest espresso tradition. It has established a reputation for itself for single-origin beans and exact brewing strategies. We have been within the temper for one thing ice chilly, so Vins ordered Honey Bunches of Chilly Brew, which mixes chilly brew espresso with burnt honey, cinnamon, maple, and creamy oat milk, mimicking a cereal-y profile. It was additionally extra full-bodied than normal, so the style additionally lingered within the mouth.
I’m not an enormous espresso fan typically, so I had Iced Blueberry Matcha. It regarded like your typical plain matcha drink at first look, however the blueberries sang solely after you gulped. I appreciated the subtlety as a result of I used to be afraid that it will style extra like juice, nevertheless it didn’t. It used oat milk, too, as an alternative of cow’s milk. It was incredible.
Seattle’s espresso scene goes a lot deeper than its most well-known export. The impartial cafés are the place you’ll discover the actual innovation, ardour, and group that made this metropolis a espresso capital within the first place.
4. Staying above floor.
This sounds unusual, however certainly one of Seattle’s most fascinating features is what lies beneath the floor, and we practically missed it totally.
At Pike Place Market, we did what most vacationers do. What we didn’t do till the final hour was discover the Down Beneath or Decrease Stage. This lane of quirky outlets and eateries beneath the primary market is much less crowded and filled with hidden gems. You’ll discover classic shops, e-book and memento outlets, and a number of the market’s oldest companies tucked away down there. We nearly didn’t see it. However thank heavens we stumbled upon it.
However what we failed to go to was the Seattle Underground Tour. Seattle’s authentic downtown was constructed at avenue degree within the 1850s, however after the Nice Fireplace of 1889, it was rebuilt on prime of the outdated streets, primarily burying a whole metropolis beneath fashionable Seattle. The tour takes you thru these forgotten sidewalks and storefronts, full with fascinating (and sometimes hilarious) historic commentary.
Too dangerous we didn’t get to discover it!
5. Skipping the Seattle CityPASS.
For those who’re visiting a number of museums, don’t forget to buy a Seattle CityPASS, which provides you with an excellent low cost on admission charges.
It prices $129 for adults and $99 for youngsters ages 5-12 and saves as much as 49% on entrance charges. The move is legitimate for 9 (9) consecutive days starting on the primary day of use, providing you with flexibility to discover at your individual tempo.
The CityPASS contains assured admission to the House Needle (with day and night time visits inside 24 hours) and the Seattle Aquarium, plus your selection of three extra sights from choices together with: Chihuly Backyard and Glass, Museum of Pop Tradition (MoPOP), Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, Woodland Park Zoo, and Pacific Science Heart.
For shorter visits, the Seattle C3 move saves as much as 32% on admission to 3 (3) sights of your selection from an identical record that additionally contains the Museum of Flight, Seattle Artwork Museum, and Sky View Observatory. This works nicely should you solely have a day or two within the metropolis.
The passes are significantly helpful as a result of most of the included sights (just like the House Needle, Chihuly, and MoPOP) are clustered collectively at Seattle Heart, making it straightforward to go to a number of websites in someday. Some sights require advance reservations by means of the My CityPASS app, so it’s finest to plan forward.
6. Ignoring the climate.
We visited in Might and in June, and fortunately, the climate cooperated on each events. The sky was clear for many of our go to. However even the locals we talked to talked about to us how fortunate we have been as a result of our timing was nice. They stated, for a lot of the yr, it’s usually cloudy and drizzly.
Seattle’s climate is famously unpredictable, and “partly cloudy with an opportunity of rain” is virtually the town’s year-round forecast. Even within the driest months, you possibly can expertise 4 seasons in a single day.
For those who see that the climate is a bit gloomy, don’t go up the House Needle since you is likely to be underwhelmed by the view. Wait or transfer your go to to a different time or day. And out of doors the sunny season, put together for that probability of rain. Carry gentle rain jackets, costume in layers, and put on snug strolling footwear that may deal with moist pavement. It’s all about expectation and preparation. The sky received’t rain in your parade once you’re ready for it, and Seattle turns into way more pleasant.
7. Driving downtown.
We don’t drive overseas, so we didn’t make this error, nevertheless it’s one thing that caught out for us as we have been exploring the town. Seattle’s downtown core is extremely walkable, and the general public transportation system is definitely dependable. The Hyperlink Gentle Rail connects the airport on to downtown and runs often. Inside the metropolis, you will have buses, the South Lake Union Streetcar, and the Seattle Heart Monorail. For these out of the best way, rideshare providers are available and sometimes cheaper than parking anyway.
Fee is best with an ORCA card, the common good card accepted on all transit programs, together with gentle rail, buses, ferries, and water taxis. Playing cards could be bought at gentle rail stations. The cardboard itself prices $3, however you possibly can prime it up or add day passes for extra financial savings utilizing the myORCA app (Android) or the Transit GO cell app. However should you’re simply staying in Seattle for a day or two, you most likely received’t want a card. Simply buy particular person passes from the machines or the apps.
The Regional Day Cross ($6) presents limitless rides for a day and is ideal for vacationers. You can too use the Transit GO cell app to buy instantly out of your smartphone. Most fares embody a 2-hour switch window between buses, trains, and streetcars. Use Google Maps for real-time arrival data and instructions.
Driving in Seattle is mostly pointless for guests staying downtown, except you intend on occurring day journeys to locations past the town limits. But when your itinerary is confined within the metropolis middle, no must lease a automotive or drive your individual.
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For worldwide locations, contemplate PGA Sompo’s TravelJOY Plus insurance coverage. You may GET IT HERE. Don’t neglect to make use of WORTHIT for a particular reasonably priced price.
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2026 1 26 – First uploaded
Edited by: Asta Alvarez
