A couple of bids have rolled in for Toronto (following my tourist board contact being on vacation and having email problems), so I'll have actual data to discuss this weekend. This pleases me.

Appropos of nothing, it is one of those beautiful 72 degrees, sunny with a light breeze kind of days here in TO today that I'd like to bottle and release later at my whim. We often have days like that in May. Ahem.

Not downtown, but just off the UW campus:

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When I worked at UW, we used to put up out-of-town speakers here frequently, and they always gave it favorable reviews.

Drat. Fun will be happening in Seattle and I'll be in San Francisco that weekend.

Feel free to come trick or treating with Emmett.

Susan, that's a nice hotel. It's pricier than we really want to go, though ($405 for three nights, and there's nothing in there I could see about free parking).

It's on the list, and I'll see what Orbitz can do with a flight/hotel deal.

Deb, I know of some cheaper places, your basic Days Inn and Ramada-type chains, up at my end of town. Which isn't centrally located unless you consider proximity to me and the Reasons centrality.

OK, how about this?

College Inn? Anyone know it? It's a killer price, with airfare included for both of us in the total.

Ping Amyparker and see how she liked the Courtyard By Marriott Seattle Downtown Lake Union Hotel Seattle. It's pretty central. The lowest rate they seem to have is 99 a night, but there could be specials.

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(Slow x-post, as I was looking up rates on the last one)

College Inn? Anyone know it? It's a killer price, with airfare included for both of us in the total.

I can track down reviews.

deb, I've walked by it any number of times, and it's a gorgeous building. Only downside is you might have some noisey college students partying just outside your window given the location.

We really just need solid basic comfort and not too much noise. And the price - $512 total for both of our non-stop (WHOO!) airfare and three nights of hotel, is hard to beat.