By Thomas Brown of UpTake Networks

UpTake, as everyone knows by now, is all about who you’re traveling with and why you’re traveling – if you’re taking a trip with that special someone in your life, we’ll help you find a romantic place to stay and the perfect things to do.  Or if you’re planning a family vacation with your kids, then we’re the site for you.  But what about old-fashioned deals that are based on price?  UpTake has our Feelin’ Broke listings, but what if I want to start my vacation planning based exclusively on price?  At the risk of offending our Prez (sorry, Yen!), I recently took a trip using exactly this approach.

There are lots of players in the travel deals space – Sherman’s Travel and Dunhill to name but two; but I wound planning my recent trip to Seattle with our friends at Travelzoo.  Their Top 20 lists travel deals that would be aptly described as travel steals, as evidence by this gem that I booked:  A three-night stay at the oh-so-hip Hotel Max for just $139 per night.

If you’ve been to Seattle lately, you know this is a fantastic rate, particularly in the fall. But to appreciate what a sweet deal it was, consider what I got:  Located downtown, the Max is just a ten-minute walk from Pike Market.  It follows an approach similar to the Kimpton brand – take an otherwise ordinary hotel and transform it into something chic and avant-garde, simply by taking chances with style, art and design.  Think tons of tomato-red fabric.  Think original works by Seattle artists throughout the hotel.  Think touches that are simultaneously thoughtful, whimsical, and provocative; such as an in-room “Spiritual Menu” that lists not only the predictable King James Bible, but also the Tao Te Ching and the Bhagavad Gita.  Or the “Pillow Menu” I found on my bed, allowing me to choose from close to a dozen varieties.  And tucked away near the mini-bar, I stumbled across an “Intimacy Kit,” complete with (ahem) . . . batteries.

Rates at the Hotel Max are normally around $200 this time of year, so my Travelzoo deal was just that – a real deal.  It so happens that the Hotel Max could also qualify as a romantic hotel, especially for the younger set.  Hmm . . . do I sense a “romantic deals” category emerging?

(From top – the door to my room; more artwork at the Hotel Max, Photo Credit: Eyeliam )

I like parks to offer more than a play structure and a couple of swings.  These Seattle parks are located in cute neighborhoods for lunch or snacks and offer natural or unique man-made entertainment. You decide if you need to bring your swimsuit, your bike or both to take advantage of what these beautiful parks offer their visitors.

Alki Beach Park – Alki Beach Park is “a long beach strip that runs from Alki Point to Duwamish Head on Elliott Bay. It’s a great spot for a 2.5 mile walk any time of year, and in the summer draws joggers, rollerbladers, volleyball players, beachcombers, sunbathers, bicyclists and strollers out to enjoy the sun.”  I like this beach because of the views and the surrounding neighborhood.

Gasworks Park near Lake Union-I like this whimsical park.  Some visionary turned a gasworks plant that originally  turned coal into gas into a city park. The Seattle Park & Rec dept. says, “The boiler house has been converted to a picnic shelter with tables, fire grills and an open area. The former exhauster-compressor building, now a children’s play barn, features a maze of brightly painted machinery”  It also has a sun dial and is a great place to fly kites.  Nice winds, but not too gusty.

Madison Park near Lake Washington- Madison Park offer a play structure for the little ones, a bit of grass to play on, swimming or wading in the lake, views and lifeguards during the summer. 

Washington Park Arboretum (near the University of Washington)- pack a picnic and wander the grounds of this lush, verdant park. In the spring wander through the aptly named Azalea Way or walk the Shoreline trail through the freshwater marsh.  You can also rent canoes at the University of Washington and paddle along the shoreline.

Waterfall Garden Park–I happened upon this jewel of a park during my first job out of college when I was dreaming of the great outdoors and not the dull work in my in box.  The park features a 27′ waterfall with beautiful stonework and benches.  It is a surprising oasis in the midst of the concrete desert and high rise buildings. Leave that in-box way behind…

Green Lake–Walk, run, ride and skate around the lake at this park.  The lake is small enough for most elementary age kids to get around if you go their chosen pace.  You can also snag a treat at the Starbuck’s (actually local in Seattle) or grab dine al fresco at several restaurants near the lake.

These parks are fun for a romantic date, a family of four or anyone wanting to enjoy some solitude surrounded by the beauty of Seattle.

Ready to pack your bags? Here is a great resource for flights to Seattle.

On Friday nights, you’ll find me feasting on Asian food in Seattle’s International District, locally known as “the ID.” With the company of four adventurous friends, we make up the “Jackson Five” – so called because the main East-West drag through the ID is Jackson Street.

The ID is a thriving, mixed ethnic neighborhood that has a shiny new gate, and a scattering of new buildings squeezed in between the ID’s old brick mid-rises – buildings that were home to Japanese general stores, flop houses, and benevolent societies. Hipster Japanese kids share the sidewalks with freaky people, hard luck cases, tourists, sports fans headed to or from the nearby stadiums, and residents who are there for the shopping.

The ID changes all the time – my favorite dim sum place is now something different and untried, and that tiny burrito counter now serves Vietnamese soup – so it’s impossible to get tired of the ID.

Here are a few of my favorite places in Seattle’s International District.

Kobo at Higo on Jackson sells pretty household items – vases, placemats, original artwork, books, a variety of whatever the Japanese word is for ‘chatckas.’ The merchandise is stylish, even the kids toys. Higo used to be a general store stuffed to the ceiling with flip flops, plastic kitchen items, soup bowls, cleaning supplies… During the shameful period when we interned our Japanese citizens, Higo was run by a Jewish friend of the family. He handed the store back intact when the family was released. The owners have integrated some of the traces of the general store into the current decor, hat mannequins, attractive shoe boxes, display cases, so it still has a touch of the old time about it. Kobo is at 604 Jackson Street.

The Teahouse at the Panama Hotel was built in 1910 and if you look through the floor – there’s a thick glass plate at the back – you’ll see into the basement where the Japanese bathhouse once was. The space is lofty and elegant and, like Higo, acknowledges the past residents. Go for tea. The Panama Hotel is at 607 Main Street.

The menu at Hing Loon isn’t just on the table, it’s on the handwritten signs that cover nearly every available space on the walls. The food flies out of the kitchen – country style pancake with shrimp, radish with fish ball, any number of things you’ve never heard of and can’t imagine. Their green onion pancakes are just about perfect and the salt and pepper squid is a personal favorite. Make no mistake, this place is dive with zero ambiance, but the waitresses are cheerful, the food is delicious and last time I was there, they handed out sesame balls with the fortune cookies and your bill. Hing Loon Seafood Restaurant is at 628 Weller Street.

I never get tired of Saigon Bistro, a little further up Jackson in a shopping complex with the world’s worst parking lot. Saigon Bisto makes terrific pho – Vietnamese noodle soup – and their crepes are some of the best I’ve had. These aren’t European style crepes – there are bean sprouts and shrimp and other yummy things folded into the batter, then they’re served on a big tray with lettuce to wrap your bites in. Get coffee, too, Vietnamese coffee is served with condensed milk so it’s thick and sweet and oh so delicious. Saigon Bistro is at 1032 Jackson Street.

Pam Mandel is a freelance writer in Seattle, Washington. She blogs about travel and other adventures at Nerd’s Eye View.