Housed in a renovated 1909 Tudor building, this little inn has few frills. It is essentially a step up from a youth hostel in the European mold. Rooms are clean if somewhat noisy, as the sounds of the pub downstairs filter easily through the paper-thin walls. There are no televisions or radios, and each single-sex floor has a lone bathroom at the end of the hall. But the rooms do have an ascetic charm. The location (a block from the university) is ideal, and the rates can't be beaten. If you need clean, inexpensive accommodations in the heart of the University District, this is your place.

Although it doesn't possess quite as much history and flair as the other area hotels, this is a solid alternative for those visiting on business. Some rooms have excellent views of the city, but for the best views, spring for the Queen Victoria Suite. The service is efficient and courteous. The Brasserie Margaux restaurant is conveniently located downstairs. A free 24-hour shuttle is available for downtown area appointments. Packages are available.

Hotel Deca Seattle was built in 1931, by the same person who designed the Skinner Building downtown. This Art Deco building overlooks the University District's bustling shopping and collegiate scene. The octagonal tower provides excellent views of the campus, the city, and nearby lakes and mountains. For some good food and jazz drop in at the District Lounge downstairs to taste some of the international dishes offered here.

Located a block from the Pike Place Market, this curiously quaint establishment seems like it fell out of a small European village. Once you work your way inside the single door leading upstairs, you will realize why this is considered by many to be Seattle's best-kept lodging secret. There are two 800-square-foot (74.32 square meters) suites available, each with its own private bath, kitchen, balcony, and spectacular view of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. The other rooms share four bathrooms. Some rooms offer astonishing views of the bay, and the enormous breakfast is simply wonderful.

Better known than its neighbor, Pensione Nichols, Inn at the Market boasts of an envious location right within the bustling Pike Place Market. With such a location, nothing is too far from your room from eclectic restaurants to places of interest. The  elegantly furnished rooms afford stunning views of the city's coast as well as the market itself. Each of the rooms are differently decorated; some with light woods while some with dark. Each room comes with its own iron and ironing board, refrigerator, coffeemaker and soft terrycloth robes. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, large bathrooms and views of downtown, Pike Place Market or Elliott Bay. Room service dinners come from the acclaimed Campagne restaurant. Complimentary town car service and privileges at a nearby private health club are included.

Located near the Millionaire's Row mansions, this converted mansion is perhaps the most elegant bed-and-breakfast in all of Seattle. The elegant rooms are furnished with antiques of impeccable taste, and although the inn is equipped with full modern amenities, you will probably just want to soak in the atmosphere of an era gone by. The Carriage House is also available. It accommodates small families and groups of four or more.

Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue is a sophisticated, modern hotel that sits in the middle of downtown Seattle. The sleek, elegant lobby features subdued hues of black, olive and red. Unlike many other downtown Seattle hotels, it is refreshingly void of heavy antiques and dark wood, favoring a polished, contemporary look. The lobby also features huge windows that look out on Pike Street and passersby. The rooms offer lovely views of Puget Sound and downtown Seattle, and guests can request a queen-sized or king-sized bed.

Inn at Harbor Steps has 25 suites in a small residential condo/apartment complex just off the waterfront. Along with enjoying the amenities that include indoor pool, sauna and fitness room the guests also enjoy the comforts of breakfast in bed. All the rooms are large and airy with great views and lovely quilts. Some of the rooms have wet bars and hot tubs as well. The Pike Place Market and several galleries are a stone's throw away, and the Wolfgang Puck Cafe is on the building's first floor ensuring you are thoroughly entertained.

The Westin Seattle is your front door to the Pacific Northwest! An ideal urban retreat, this hotel is just steps away from the Washington State Convention Center, Pike Place Market PDAv, and Seattle's most enticing shops. The Westin Seattle is a non-smoking hotel and one of only two hotels in the city offering unobstructed views of Puget Sound, Lake Union, and the Seattle skyline. After a day of meetings and sightseeing, you can relax and unwind in the elegant Lobby Bar, featuring a full-service bar and flat-screen TVs. The hotel features a large, softly lit lobby and the largest ballroom in the Northwest. Also, you can enjoy upscale dining in the hotel.

Antiques fill this restored 1903 Victorian house called Capitol Hill Inn. Beautiful dark wood lines the wallpapered walls and ceilings, and the quaint rooms take you back in time. Owners Katie and Joanne Godmintz a mother and daughter duo have clearly found their calling. The antique furnishings add to the authentic feel of the inn, and the high-powered Jacuzzi adds just the right amount of indulgence. Breakfast might include quiche, thick French toast or tender blintzes, and it always includes an assortment of fresh fruits and juices.