Kaltxi Aketuan

Seems like you're getting all excited for this! Me too. Perhaps the hotel front should be worked out at little sooner than in a couple of months if possible, to make sure we beat the 'normal' tourists and can get into the same hotel. I had the wacky idea of trying to see how many people would definitely be coming and then contacting one of the hotels (or manybe a number of them) to see if they could do a group discount for the weekend for us. Has to be worth a try doesn't it?

As for getting there, I think perhaps you missed off a couple of alternatives, especially if we wanted to pick up on the minimal impact on the environment aspects that Avatar highlights to us. There is always the train (Amtrak) or the bus (Greyhound.com | Home) for those who are on a route. The railway and bus stations are also close to the hotels and the Science museum too, especially the bus station.

Afraid I won't be so green, though, as I'll be flying in with CyanRachel from New York. Unforunately we didn't have a choice as they don't have anywhere in Seattle to leave our Ikrans and I aint cleaning up the doo-doo, it stinks!
I really like the idea of the T-shirts, especially Pandora Blueskins as I suspect many of us are on several forums and this T would make us all as one. Hey, congrats on you 200th post Miss Tammie.

@ Raiden - Hell yeah! After all this communty and AF has given me, the film we made together, the new friendships I have made, you bet I'm going to make every effort to come and say 'Kaltxi ma aysmuke sì aysmukan'. Oel ngati kameie for real! I had my interview for my first ever passport on Friday and hopefully will be getting it towards the back end of next week.

Right I'm off now to reseach some prices at the hotels CyanRachel has found for us and I'll see if I can find out if they would do discounts for groups and stuff. So might be worth hanging off booking a hotel just yet and I'll get back as soon as I can.

Ooo, I'm getting so excited I could restle a Thanator! GRRRR...Come on, let's dance!

Kaltxi folks,

Ok, well I've done a bit of research into prices for the hotels that CyanRachel has found for us. Irayo CyanRachel. I've put them in order of closeness to the Science Fiction Museum. But to be honest with you they are all well within walking distance, i.e. 15 mins walk. So if you are sitting comfortably, I shall begin

The Best Western Executive Inn:
http://www.executiveseattlehotel.com/
Price ranges from $145 to $175 for two people sharing one room. This place is on the door step of the Science Museum! Don't think Breakfast is included though. That is $7.95. Sturmbeest extra!

Travelodge Seattle Space Needle:
Stay at the Travelodge Space Needle Hotel in downtown Seattle, WA!
Kinda varied pricing structure but on average for 2 double beds it works out at $157.16. This is just round the corner from the Best Western Inn above, a little further from the Science Fiction Museum

Quality Inn:
Hotel near the Space Needle, Quality Inn & Suites Seattle Center, Space Needle hotels in Seattle WA
Prices range from $165 to $175 depending if it is 2 to 3 people sharing separate beds. It is slap-bang next to the Travelodge!

Holiday Inn: Express:
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites SEATTLE Hotels | SEATTLE-CITY CENTER | Overview
Prices for two people sharing a twin bed room is $151.60, they also do a 2 bed + 2 room with a sleeper sofa for $192.60. Just across the main road from the Quality Inn.

Hampton Inn & Suites:
http://www.hamptoninnseattle.com/
Price for a room with 2 double beds is $199 unless you pay upfront then it is $169.15. Other rooms are single double bed or some with a sofabed at $309! This place is slightly round the back of the Science Museum to the north, but still within walking distance.

Whilst I was at it I've found a few more places to stay on www.crshotels.com. Again these are in order of closeness to the Science Fiction museum and all within walking distance:

Warwick Seattle Hotel:
Seattle Hotels - Official Site of the Warwick Seattle Hotel - Hotels in Seattle, WA
Prices on average are $153 and it goes high like 'Hometree' looking towards the pointy thing..errr...sorry Space Needle! Wireless internet access is an extra though at $11 per day or $27 for three days. This one is about a 10 to 15 minute walk away. Do ya know there is a cinema opposite this hotel and guess what I'm thinking.... There is also an IMAX cinema near the museum too. Hmmm.., I wonder....

The Westin Seattle:
http://www.westinseattle.com/
This hotel is another 'hometree'! Prices vary depening on twin beds to bed plus sofa bed from $200.68 to $329.46 depending on what extras you want, like in room movie, local newspaper, parking packages etc It's on a road that goes straight to the Science Museum (5th Avenue) 15-20 min walk or can catch the bus on 4th Avenue. Or you can catch the monorail which goes stright to the Science Fiction museum and starts just across the road.

Hotel Max:
http://www.hotelmaxseattle.com/
Praces for a two bed room are between $170 and $189. This is within spitting distance of The Westin Hotel.

The Paramount Hotel:
http://www.paramounthotelseattle.com/
Prices range from $196 to $251 depending on age(!), extras and type of holiday you are having....it is a little further away than Hotel Max and the Westin, but only five minutes further.

The Hotel Seattle:
http://www.thehotelseattle.com/
A semms a two star hotel with prices for 2 bed rooms from $108 to $110. Single rooms from $90 to $110. This one is the furthest away at about just over a mile, so about 20 to 25 minutes walk, although you can always get the monorail into the Science Fiction Museum.

Well that's the run down of info so far. I hope it helps with people getting an idea of the cost. I'm exploring if any of these hotels would do a group discount/booking so it would be great to get an idea of numbers. I'm not saying I'll achieve anything. But it's worth a go to try and get us all into one hotel to share each other's company and interest in Avatar.

Oel nagti kameie - soon enough,

Alan

Can't wait to catch up with everybody.

If people indicate food preferences, I might make some recommendations for breakfasts and dinners. There are plenty of decent places to eat in the immediate vicinity, although some of my favorites are a couple of miles away, so I guess we'll see how the transportation situation shapes up. I can move a few people at a time.

Finally, if anybody plans to be in town on a weekday, I'll be happy to suggest--perhaps provide!--some "Seattle" things to do. Let's hope for better-than-average Seattle weather!

@ Alan:

Thanks for collecting the info...I take it the prices are for one night only. Are we planning on two nights or one? We should definitely double up to save on costs. I'm up for any of the hotels you mentioned however my top 2 would be the Best Western (for closeness and price), Space Needle (for price and uniqueness).
For the sake of counting numbers, count me in. Not 100% sure yet but most likely.

@ Eywa's Pet:

It is neat to have a view on the best places to eat at in the vicinity, and a guide that knows where we will be!
For all of the effort involved in getting to Seattle I would be interested in staying a few extra days to enjoy the area. In particular it would interest me to maybe go hiking. Is there any good hiking trails around? Maybe all of us as a group could take a hike and enjoy the outdoors like the Na'vi?

WOW, Alan, you really did your homework! Thank you so much for it and your time in posting it. That will help me and others get a good idea of accommodations!! Can't wait to meet all my fellow clanmates in Seattle!! WOOHOO!

Yeah it should be a blast!

And Irayo Alan for all of the effort you put into that list. It must have taken you hours to get all of that information... Also thank you for posting the info about my journey up to Seattle on AF!! In case anyone hasn't heard I need people to carpool up to Seattle with. (for economic reasons, and so I don't have to spend 20 hours alone driving, and of course to meet some new friends ) I live in Colorado and anyone who would like to meet me in Colorado from somewhere else or join me somewhere along the way up to Seattle, it would be an awesome trip. (I promise lots of snacks and Avatar Soundtrack... ) Umm, I have room for 5 in my car and anyone that wants to join me is welcome. Also having a car in Seattle wouldn't be a bad idea in case the group wants to go somewhere...

Certainly! Although you should expect to drive for most of an hour if you want some semblance of wilderness. This one is not far from where I live, and is a favorite of mine when I have most of a day to burn. WTA can show you lots of others, including reviews. I've recently taken up the sport of "ghost-towning" (hiking out to abandoned towns), however there are relatively few of these on the west side of the state.

For the urban hiker, there are also plenty of things to do that needn't involve driving (if you're near the EMP/SFM, that is). You could walk down to the Seattle Aquarium, the GameWorks arcade, ...the very first Starbucks location (although Le Panier, just a couple of doors down from the first Starbucks, sells better coffee IMO ). Or head over to the Seattle Arboretum, rent a rowboat, and row around the marshes.

No worries, my friends. CyanRachel did the best bit of finding the hotels cloest to the Science Fiction Museum. The ones I found were in downtown - doh! Anyway it was quite interesting doing the research as it involved doing the Google map street view thing. So I feel like I've 'virtually' been to Seattle already

I've also contacted the Best Western Executive Inn hotel...or their central help desk by email to try and to see if we can get a group booking discount. They replied saying there is a discount for group bookings, but I've asked if they would do like a promo code or something as we will be a group, but probably end up booking individually as we will be coming from all over the place. Not promising it will come to much, but you have to give it a go. The location of this place is too good to miss! Just fall out of bed and you are at the museum!

It appears that the Space Needle also has a restaurant too. That would be like having a meal up in Hometree!! "Sturmbeest waiter and don't spare the taylu!"

I also noticed there is an IMAX round the corner too. Now here's a thought: Do you think they might be ameanable to showing Avatar SE on say the evening of 4th June? Might be one or two of us interested in having a multi-clan showing there do you think?

@ Eyw's Pet - Thanks for the local knowledge, mate. It looks quite a hilly city in some places with some good views. Yeah I read Seattle was the home of Starbucks from 1971! Gets around a bit. Unfortunately I don't do coffee..or tea for that matter! Yeah I know, odd for an Englishman not to like tea.

Kiyevame,

Alan

I think that the IMAX idea is a neat one, however there would be some serious effort put into that. We would need to contact the place and even see if they would be willing to do it, then there is the issue of getting an IMAX copy of Avatar, and the costs involved and such. It also depends on how many people we have going. At this point I'm not sure if 6-7 people would be enough to offset the costs and convince the IMAX to show it...

I'm not saying it can't work, and in fact I think we should try (I have yet to see Avatar in any theater ), so maybe we could contact them once we have all of the information sorted out.

Also: about the hotels, if you can get a group discount at the Best Western, I would vote for that one because of costs and proximity to the museum. (However that Teylu does sound good... )

@Eywa's Pet:

I think we should do that hike, maybe on Monday if anyone else is up for it.? And maybe do some "urban hiking" to some of the places you suggested on Sunday possibly?

Good (but pricey!) food, great view. At the very least, plan on going up to the observation area above the restaurant. If the weather is nice, anyway!

Awesome idea! Let me know if you find any promising leads here. I might poke around too. The IMAX is actually on the premises of the Seattle Science Center, right next to the EMP/SFM. Nice new facility. They played Avatar when it was out, although I didn't go to see it there. Because they're part of the Science Center, they almost always have some cool 3D science documentary-type shows running there, so that's another something to see!

EDIT:
I'll have to see about taking some time off work, perhaps. I'm sure I'll be ready for it, anyway!

You're quite right of course. But it's sort of early days yet. Having said that I did manage to get our forum film shown at the IMAX in Birmingham (UK) before a screening of Avatar and there was six of us at that mini meet-up. Although there was the regular audience there too. I suspect that there will be quite a few Avatar fans in Seattle over that weekend though.

Maybe we ought to suggest if they could perhaps tie in with the Science Fiction Museum. You know, like 'for one night only!'. I would think there are still reels of Avatar SE floating about as the Birmingham IMAX has still been playing it through February. I kid you not!

I will. Feel free to poke! Yeah I did notice the prices for the Space Needle Restaurant. Think it works out at about $42-ish! Still it might be worth it, just to say you've done it. It revolves as well, from what I read. Does that mean it stirs your coffee for you?

Ok, I'll get mi coat...

Great job, Alan! Irayo, tsmukan, for posting all this info (and expanding on what I found).

At this point, from the pricing info I got, it looks like either the Best Western hotel or the Travelodge hotel would work, in terms of best prices and distance from the museum. Alan and I will be staying 5 nights in Seattle (arriving June 2nd and leaving on the 7th)

What say the rest of you, clanmates?
I think the sooner we choose a hotel and make reservations, the better!
Also agree that putting together some kind of list of who's coming that weekend would be good.

Kaltxi CyanRachel! I was planning on arriving late on Friday the 3rd, and staying until Monday the 6th, and then returning Tuesday early. (it takes me two days to get to Seattle) I think that the Best Western would be the best option, but the Travelodge is just fine too.

Maybe since you and Alan are staying that long you might be interested in climbing Mount Si (not too difficult: 8 miles RT 3,000 ft EG), it looks like some of us are interested in it. I was thinking probably Sunday or Monday...

Just a quick one as I need to fit some sleep in! HAHAHA...zzzzz...Oh sorry, where was I? Ah yes. I've contacted Best Western Executive Inn Hotel thingy place to see if they can do like a group discount even with us booking individually. They've replied back with a phone number for me to ring. So I'll be chasing that up as soon as I can. And yeah, we really need to start thinking about booking now before all the rooms fill up. I get back as soon as I can.

I'm hoping to go around the last week of July. I won't have any leeway in my plans though, if it happens it'll be part of a road trip and pinned down to the hour.