Travel from airport to downtown hotel and back (Seattle: credit card, how much)

[paraag]

What is cheapest yet most convenient way to travel from airport to downtown hotel? I see on google maps there is some public transport "LINK" (a light rail or some sort?) but do I have to do booking or just buy ticket and jump on it? Anyone used such a transport and is it reliable?

Its my first visit to city. And would prefer to spend less.

[homesinseattle]

Yes. Just hop on the light rail at airport, accessed via a skyway and about 10 minute walk through the parking garage (connected to terminal). You can just buy ticket when you get there, it will get you downtown in I'm guessing about 35 minutes. Here's a good link, have a nice trip! https://m.soundtransit.org/schedules...0479/1_99913/1

[hurricane harry]

Link is the best.
A short covered walk from the terminal to the station.
Purchase an orca card before boarding and swipe it at the kiosk before going to the second level and just get on.
About a 25 minute ride to downtown.
Pretty painless.

[tobester]

Originally Posted by hurricane harry

Link is the best.
A short covered walk from the terminal to the station.
Purchase an orca card before boarding and swipe it at the kiosk before going to the second level and just get on.
About a 25 minute ride to downtown.
Pretty painless.

Don't really need an Orca card, just pay your fare and keep the receipt.

[paraag]

Is frequency good? Also how much is the fare and is cash needed?

[homesinseattle]

paraag, no more than 15 minutes. Depending on the time of day, sometimes as little as 6 minutes. Here is the link for that: https://www.soundtransit.org/Schedules/Link-light-rail. Should be $3.

[mhays25]

I'd say a four minute walk from the terminal. All things considered, Seattle has one of the best airport-downtown connections in the US. Link isn't the fastest system and some cities' systems are even closer to the gates, but ours is one of the best combinations of proximity, speed, and frequency.

[fnh]

Link is convenient, reliable and cheap. *IF* you will be using public transportation aside from the trip from/to airport, buy the ORCA card. The card itself costs $5 but gives you free transfers across modes (Link, bus, water taxi, streetcar). Hang onto the card for any future trips, it remains good indefinitely and you can just add money to it.

Tourists, there are also $8 Day Passes that you can load onto ORCA:
http://metro.kingcounty.gov/fares/pd...y-pass-faq.pdf

If you're planning to use only the Link, then I would just buy the singe fare ticket.

[CatWarmer]

I tried out the Link for the first time on my recent visit. There was an employee driving a little golf cart type vehicle giving courtesy lifts so I only walked a minute or two inside the parking garage before he offered me a ride. I think that was something new? It wasn't just because I was an older woman towing a big suitcase because he checked with a few other people who apparently preferred to walk.

Anyway, it took about 2-3 minutes via the cart but it's about a third of a mile so it depends on how fast you walk and where you enter the garage. It would have taken me about 10 minutes I guess (I walk slow but steady at my age).

I bought my ticket at a machine near where the cart dropped me off using a credit card and never had to show it, nor did I see any entry gates. I just bought the ticket, went up an escalator, and waited a couple of minutes for the next train. So I'm not sure when or how they check single use tickets. The ride itself was decent, fairly new cars somewhere between a bus and subway in seating.

[mhays25]

The golf cart(s) must be for the handicapped or elderly. But I do see seemingly-healthy people using them. They are pretty new.

The distanct is about 1,200' after you exit the nearest end of the airport terminal.