Four ways to save money when visiting Seattle

 

 

1. Skip the Space Needle.

I know, I know, I’m telling you to skip the most iconic icon that has ever icon-ed in Seattle. By all means, when you go to Seattle Center to visit the Experience Music Project or to see a sweet laser show at the Pacific Science Center, definitely check out the Space Needle…from the outside. Otherwise, you are paying $18 to ride in an elevator, and that is just tooooo ridiculous.

Instead, try going to the Columbia Tower, where admission to the 73rd floor observation deck is a much more reasonable $12, with unlimited re-entry all day–perfect to come watch the sunset from one of the highest points in the city. The Columbia Center observation deck provides a 360-degree view of Seattle, and then your cityscape shots can include the Space Needle.

2. Forget the rental car.

Unless you’re going to be driving outside the city, I’d very much recommend that you skip a rental car. Parking in Seattle (especially more densely populated areas like Downtown, Belltown, Queen Anne, and Capitol Hill) is unbelievably time consuming, frustrating, and expensive. While our public transportation is a little behind other major metropolitan areas, it’s perfectly sufficient for getting around town. Take the light rail from the airport into town for only $2.75, and the bus is pretty easy to navigate to get around town. Bus drivers are pretty helpful, and if you ask they’ll usually make a point of letting you know where your stop is.

If you don’t like taking the bus, there are always taxis in the downtown area (stick to yellow and orange cabs, the flat rate taxis are a rip off), or there are really great taxi alternatives like Black Crown Car and Uber.

3. Eat pho.

If you aren’t familiar, pho (pronounced “fuh” as in “holy fuh, I can’t believe you haven’t tried pho!”) is an incredibly delicious, cheap, filling, wonderous, beautiful, hangover-curing Vietnamese beef and noodle soup. Most pho places do have veggie options, but if you’re vegetarian/vegan you’ll want double check to make sure that the broth is actually vegetable broth, sometimes they put veggies in beef or chicken broth. Pho probably occupies more street corners in Seattle than Starbucks does, and for good reason. It’s supremely satisfying, and very cheap. At an average of about $6-$7 for a gigantic bowl of super-filling goodness, it’s a great way to fill up on a budget.  Don’t forget to add the Sriracha!

Pho places worth checking out:

• Than Brothers (All over)
• Pho Le’s (Capitol Hill)
• Tamarind Tree (International District)

4. Late-night happy hour

If you’re going to be taking advantage of Seattle’s excellent nightlife, keep your peepers open for places with late-night happy hour. It’s more common than you might expect, and even happens on the weekends. Late night happy hour usually starts at around 10 or 11 pm, and with limited menus and drink specials, you can get food and booze for cheap!

Places with late night happy hour:

• Via Tribunali (Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Georgetown, Fremont)
• Barrio (Capitol Hill)
• Palace Kitchen (Belltown)
• Toulouse Petit (Lower Queen Anne)
• The Matador (Ballard, West Seattle)
• The Sitting Room (Lower Queen Anne)
• Knee High Stocking Company (Capitol Hill)

 Have any more tips for people ballin’ on a budget in Seattle? Leave them in the comments!