Travel Information

VSS 2027 is being held at the Hyatt Regency Seattle, 808 Howell Street, in the heart of downtown Seattle.

Flying to Seattle

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA), commonly called Sea-Tac, has extensive domestic connections and nonstop service from major cities in Europe and Asia.

Airport Ground Transportation

Link light rail costs just $3 per person one way, compared with rideshare fares that can cost $50 or more per vehicle. Take the northbound 1 Line from SeaTac/Airport Station to Westlake Station downtown, then walk approximately 5–8 minutes to the hotel. The train ride takes about 40 minutes. Trains run frequently from early morning until about 1AM, and luggage is welcome on board.

At the airport, follow the Link light rail signs through the parking garage to the station.

There are ticket machines, but it is much easier to tap your contactless credit or debit card on the reader before boarding.

Taxis and rideshares also offer direct service to the hotel. The drive generally takes about 25–35 minutes in lighter traffic but can take considerably longer during busy periods. Rideshare prices vary with demand but will be higher than the $3 for the Link light rail.

If you are driving, the hotel offers on-site parking for a daily fee. Less costly parking is also available in parking lots near the hotel.

All Link stations and trains are step-free, with elevators at every station, which is helpful for attendees with mobility needs or heavy luggage.

Seattle Public Transportation

Seattle has an extensive and efficient system of public transportation, with frequent buses reaching across the entire metropolitan area. Visit https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro for maps and information about fares.

Weather in May

May is generally a lovely time to visit Seattle, with less rain than in winter, although showers are still likely, mostly in the early morning. Daytime temperatures are typically in the mid 60s°F (around 18–19°C), with cooler evenings. It would make sense to bring layers, comfortable walking shoes, and a light rain jacket.

Comparison to St Pete Beach

For attendees accustomed to traveling to St. Pete Beach, Seattle offers similar flight times from several major European hubs and substantially shorter trips from Asia.

Origin	To Seattle Nonstop	To Tampa
London	About 10 hours	About 10 hours, nonstop
Amsterdam	About 10–11 hours	About 10–11 hours, nonstop
Frankfurt	About 10 hours	About 10½ hours, nonstop
Paris	About 10–11 hours	From about 12¼ hours, connecting
Tokyo	About 9 hours	From about 15–17 hours, connecting
Seoul	About 10 hours	From about 16½ hours, connecting
Taipei	About 11 hours	From about 19 hours, connecting
Hong Kong	About 12 hours	From about 18½–20 hours, connecting
Singapore	About 15 hours	From about 21–24 hours, connecting

The Florida comparison above assumes arrival at Tampa International Airport (TPA), followed by a drive to St. Pete Beach. Tampa has nonstop service from London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Zurich, but currently has no nonstop service from Asia.

Travel from the airport to the venue is also shorter in Seattle: about 40 minutes by public transportation or 25-30 minutes by car, compared with 45-60 minutes by car from the Tampa airport to St. Pete Beach.