Pool Preferences When It Comes To Seattle’S Downtown Hotels, Sometimes A ‘Dive’ Isn’T Necessarily A Bad Thing

Consider this a universal truth: Teens love pools.

If you’re traveling to Seattle with a carload of adolescents for spring break, it’s an important concept to grasp. No matter how many times a kid declines the chance to perform the backstroke at home, a hotel pool always beckons.

Yet, on a weekend trip to Seattle with our 14-year-old daughter Megan, I discovered that the inner workings of the teen-age brain hold multiple truths: pools delight; so, too, do new-release in-room movies; and when it comes to those little bottles of shampoo on the sink, Garden Botanika is the gold standard.

Together, Megan and I compiled a guide to downtown Seattle hotels for teens and their parents — with one important caveat. While kids’ first question may be, “Is there a pool?”, parents must memorize this line: “What’s your best available rate?”.

That’s reservation-desk code for “Name the cheapest price you’ll charge for this room.”

Parents should ask lots of questions, such as, “Is that better than the AAA or Entertainment rate?”, “Do you charge for parking?” and “Does that include a continental breakfast?”. Keep negotiating, and the price often drops.

Three nights in downtown Seattle won’t be cheap, but they don’t have to be prohibitive either, if you know how to work the phones.

Last week, we checked the best available rates in early April. They’re listed in the guide on page H5. But like airfares, they change rapidly, depending on occupancy. We offer no guarantees these rates will be available when you call.

We narrowed the list at first to hotels with pools, then broadened it to include several accommodations which made up with other amenities for what they lacked in water.

As for location, we followed Megan’s internal homing device.

Once upon a time it was simple to take Megan to Seattle. Buy tickets for the Pacific Science Center and the Space Needle, pick up a basket of fish and chips at Ivar’s, and she was happy.

At 14, Megan’s line of sight has shifted from Seattle Center and the piers to a square block bordered by 6th and 7th Avenues, Pike and Pine.

It’s here that teens gravitate, to brand-name shoes and brand-name fun. Within this square block, they find Niketown, Planet Hollywood, Old Navy and Gameworks - Steven Spielberg’s high-tech arcade. Nearby are Nordstrom, Banana Republic and J. Crew.

So it’s here we focused our search.

“Most teens feel like their parents are dragging them to all these tourist attractions,” Megan explained. A wiser approach is to let at least some of the itinerary flow from the natural inclinations of teens themselves.

Kids’ tastes vary. In our family, Megan and her older sister, Brooke, like Thai food, plays, ballets, shopping and basketball. Other teens will prefer a different mix, perhaps with a greater emphasis on museums, burgers, pizza or video games.

The first week in April will be a fine time to visit Seattle. Teens devoured the film “Titanic.” The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the musical play in April. Both the Sonics and the Mariners will be in town.

Year round, visiting teens with extra allowance enjoy Pike’s Market and stores such as Urban Outfitters in the Broadway Market at Broadway and Harrison.

But ground zero for teens in Seattle has to be Gameworks. Here the simulated games zoom and explode and crash. A parent’s first impression: The death of civilization. A teen’s reaction: Dude!

At Gameworks, kids can snowboard, slay dinosaurs and race the Indy 500. Here, Megan found, a 14-year-old girl with a few kick-boxing classes under her belt can whip a highly competitive 47-year-old man in six straight rounds.

Shopping at Niketown, Old Navy and Nordstrom can occupy a kid for hours, as can movies in a nearby multiplex.

Teen girls migrate to the Bobbi Brown and Mac cosmetics counters at Nordstrom. Best tip from a hotel concierge: Schedule make-overs in advance by calling (206) 628-2111 and asking for your favorite counter.

Considering that fascination for beauty products, our guide includes a ranking of one to three shampoo bubbles, depending on the desirability of the hotel’s toiletry line.

Here’s the rundown.

A definite splurge:

Four Seasons Olympic Hotel: This hotel pampers parents and teens alike, with the best pool in the city, and endless amenities. This place will not only provide you with a bathrobe, it’ll also throw in the slippers. Tell your reservation agent you’re bringing along kids. She may arrange for free Mariners hats or T-shirt. Best available rate, when booked with an Entertainment card: An executive suite, regularly priced $379, with a king bed in one room and a fold-out sofa in the other for $187.50. Toiletry rating: Three shampoo bubbles bars for Four Seasons’ own brand in oversized bottles.

Megan’s comment: “Great slippers. If somebody did up the Davenport, this is what it would be like.”

Call (206) 621-1700 or (800) 821-8106.

Pools with a view:

Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers: Superb pool, elegant rooms, but this hotel, like its sister, The Westin Seattle, caters to business travelers. Kids will like the little pizza place downstairs, Andiamo Presto, where a giant slice will set you back only $2.50. Best available rate spring break week is $129 for a $276 room with two double beds at the Sheraton. Two shampoo bubbles for Avalon and Gray, an Australian line.

Megan’s comment: “Nice place. Not so snooty that you wouldn’t feel at home.”

Addresses: The Sheraton is at 6th Avenue and Pike and The Westin’s at 1900 5th Ave. Call (206) 621-9000 or (800) 204-6100 for the Sheraton, or (206) 728-1000 or (800) 228-3000 for the Westin.

Madison Renaissance Hotel: This hotel caters to business travelers, but offers plenty of extras to families, if you happen to time it right. Luck out with a discount package, upgrade to one of the Club Floors, and you’ll find yourself with free hors d’oeuvres, pop, continental breakfasts and a pool to boot. Best available rate for a double room facing the freeway, $139; $179 for a club room with freebies and a view.

Two bubbles for Bath and Body Works toiletries.

Address: 515 Madison. Call (206) 583-0300 or (800) 278-4159.

No pool, but cool:

Hotel Monaco: No staid botanical prints here. This place lures kids with trendy decor, vibrant shades of cornflower yellow, blue and raspberry, and an adopt-a-pet program. Your dog or cat is welcome here, plus you can request a goldfish for the night. Some regulars stipulate that they always want the same fish. Sazerac restaurant next door adds to the hipness factor. Best available rate under a special promotional package: $125 for a room with two queen-sized beds. Three bubbles for Neutrogena.

Megan’s comment: “If you’re a teenager who likes to stay in cool places, this is the hotel for you.”

Address: 1101 4th Ave. (at Spring St.) Call (206) 621-1770 or (800) 945-2240.

Mayflower Park Hotel: This beautifully renovated 1927 hotel connects to Westlake Mall, a definite plus for parents who want to let the kids roam for an hour or two - just the time it takes, by the way, for a fine meal at Andaluca, the Mediterranean restaurant that breaks all stereotypes about hotel food. Best available rates for a deluxe room with two queens: $180 seasonal rate, or $100 with an Entertainment card. Three bubbles for Aveda.

Megan’s comment: “Westlake Mall is really best for younger kids, with Disney, Turn Off The TV and Natural Wonders.”

Address: 405 Olive Way (at Fourth). Call (206) 623-8700 or (800) 426-5100.

Cavanaugh’s On Fifth Avenue: This hotel, with the familiar name, would seem to be the perfect selection for Spokane accidental tourists who can’t bear to leave home. The interior, a former office building, however, resembles not the Inn At The Park so much as the Ridpath. The rooms have Lodgenet, so that kids can watch “Waterboy” or “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” at any hour. Special packages include theater tickets or Ride the Ducks tours (on amphibious vehicles which conquer land and water.) Best rates: $109 for two queens with an Entertainment card; $160 without. Two bubbles for Gilchrist and Soames, a British line.

Megan says, “Friendly desk clerks.”

Address: 1415 W. 5th Ave. (between Pike and Union.) Call (206) 971-8000 or (800) 325-4000 in Seattle or 326-8000 in Spokane.

Suites:

Summerfield Suites (formerly Plaza Park Suites): Here the pool is outdoor and heated, but people use it year round. Suites are the bigger draw for families. A one-bedroom suite includes a sitting room with a fold-out couch and a full kitchen. These rooms can sleep four or six, depending on the number of beds in the bedroom. Best available rate for the first week in April was $139, which includes a free continental breakfast, and a shuttle service downtown. One shampoo bubble and a pearl for Prell.

Address: 1011 Pike. Call (206) 682-8282 or (800) 426-0670.

A bargain:

Travelodge: This throwback to the 1962 World’s Fair will remind you of a time when all the motel rooms were plain and all the towels were thin. What this spot lacks in style, however, it makes up in price and practicality. Here, the parking is free, as are the morning coffee, doughnuts and juice. Rooms with microwave ovens and refrigerators help parents minimize restaurant bills. And the monorail station, three blocks away, makes quick connections to the teen zone downtown. Best available rate for a room with two double beds: $89. One shampoo bubble for Revlon Flex.

Megan says: “Noisy, but a deal.”

Address: 200 6th Ave. North. Call (206) 441-7878.

Other ideas for keeping costs down: Book one special night in an expensive downtown hotel, and spend the rest of your visit in a cheaper location at Seattle Center or in Bellevue.

And if you’re determined to stay downtown but eager to avoid $15 to $20 nightly parking rates, here’s a cheap, ingenious solution. Drop the kids and the luggage at the hotel, then drive back to a Park and Ride lot in Bellevue. Take exit 9 off I-90. The lot is on Bellevue Way and SE 24th, 1/2 mile from I-90. Bus 226 to Downtown Seattle comes by every 15 minutes.

You can keep the car there for free for 72 hours. It’ll take extra legwork, but over a three-day visit, it saves an extra $45 to $60 you can sink into a room with cool bath products, plus one awesome pool.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Spring break in Seattle Teens in Seattle over spring break might enjoy these events: “Titanic,” the musical play, at 5th Avenue Theatre, at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 4, at 8 p.m. April 6-9 and at 2 and 8 p.m. April 10. Tickets range from $27 to $65. The Seattle Mariners play the Chicago White Sox at the Kingdome at 7:35 p.m. April 5, 7:05 p.m. April 6 and 7:35 p.m. April 7. They play the Oakland Athletics at 7:05 p.m. April 9 and 6:05 p.m. April 10. Tickets range from $6 to $28. The Seattle Sonics play the Houston Rockets at 3 p.m. April 4, the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. April 6, and the Portland Trailblazers at 7 p.m. April 8. The games are at KeyArena at Seattle Center. Tickets range from $18 to $100. For tickets, call TicketMaster at (206) 628-0888 or (509) 735-0500. You may buy tickets in person at Rite Aid stores in Spokane at 10722 E. Sprague, 7714 N. Division, 112 N. Howard and 4514 S. Regal. For online purchases, go to www.ticketmaster.com