Synopsis:
Rates: Easily 1/3 less than anything else in town
Rooms: Enormous (they are all converted apartments) with complete kitchens
Location: Quiet, less than five minutes from I-5, walking distance to several movie theatres and two grocery stores
Caveats: There are two other hotels with University in their name nearby, both much more expensive. The website here is [--]

Full Details:
From the outside the property looks like the vintage 1960's/70's apartment building it once was. . .the entry hallway is equally unprepossessing, with slightly faded carpet and a color scheme that runs to harvest-gold and avocado green with the kind of paneling you associate with your old rumpus room.

When you walk into your room, however, you realize what a fantastic bargain this place is. Each room is, literally, an apartment, with a full kitchen completely stocked with utensils and equipment, a large dining area, spacious living room and a bedroom with enough closet space for a family of four.

The bathroom in my place had brown and green linoleum and lime green ceramics, but it was spotlessly clean and everything worked perfectly.

The beds are great and the walls have the original artwork--you'll see what I mean. It's comfortable, quiet, and if you order a suite you'll have enough room for four people.

The location is perfect: you are two blocks from a Safeway and across the street from a large drugstore, but are on a quiet side street with little traffic. The entire University District is just four blocks away, and you can be on I-5 in less than five minutes.

This is perfect for a longer stay, of course, but since the rates are easily $20 to $40 less per night than other hotels in town, it is a bargain for anyone. You will pay less than anywhere else, but you will get MUCH more.

I recently went on vacation to Seattle last week and stayed at the University Hotel, which I book on Expedia for $129/night. The University Hotel was surprisingly a lot nicer than I thought it was going to be and the hotel staff were very friendly and professional. We checked in at around 1 a.m. and the front desk staff was surprisingly very pleasant at such a late hour. The decor reminded me a lot of what you would find in a Kimpton Hotel and had a boutique feel. Unfortunately the location is not all that great if you do not have a car with you and want to be in downtown Seattle; although the drive is only about 5 minutes. There is however a bus stop a block away you can take downtown. Also another great thing about the University Hotel is that they have a binder filled with take-out menus, from which you can order from local eateries and have it delivered to your room to satisfy whatever cuisine you crave.

I would definitely recommend the University Hotel for the great rate I got, which I think is a lot nicer than a hotel you would get at $129/night in downtown Seattle. The rooms were very comfortable and clean with a boutique feel; they also come with a refridgerator and microwave.