Traveling to Seattle to see Microsoft? Here's some helpful info

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If you are traveling to Seattle to see Microsoft in the near future, then here's a list of great information that might help you along. This content typically gets fired off from event coordinators at Microsoft to those who are traveling to Microsoft for an event. I received this info when I showed up for NEO (New Employee Orientation).

It's great stuff. Please let me know if any of this info is dated.

The Details:

Hotels

If you have not already booked your hotel, we recommend you book your hotel near the Microsoft campus so that it is easy to get to/from Microsoft. The following hotels are in the area surrounding Microsoft. Some hotels provide complimentary shuttles to/from the Microsoft Campus, which are listed first. Please contact the hotels directly to make reservations. You are responsible for providing your own transportation between your hotel and the Microsoft campus.

Hotels providing complimentary shuttles to/from the Platform Adoption Center (Building 20)

Silver Cloud Inn (I stayed here during NEO and thought it was top notch)
425-746-8200
2122 152nd Avenue NE
Redmond, WA
Complimentary High-Speed Internet Access
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. every half hour (10-15 minutes lead-time required)

Residence Inn
425-882-1222
14455 NE 29th Pl.
Bellevue, WA
Wireless or Dial-Up
Shuttles run every hour (15-20 minutes lead-time required)

Courtyard by Marriot425-869-5300
14615 NE 29th Pl.
Bellevue, WA
Guest Teks for High Speed
Complimentary High-Speed Wireless

The Hotel does not have its own shuttle service; although attendees can walk across the street to the Liberty Bldg. and have reception request Microsoft Shuttle Service (10 minutes lead time required)

Additional Hotels

Homestead Village
425-885-6675
15805 NE 28th St.
Bellevue, WA 98008

Marriott Residence Inn (Redmond)
425-497-9226
7575 164th Ave. NE
Redmond, WA 98052

Silver Cloud Inn
425-637-7000 or 800-205-6937
10621 NE 12th
Bellevue, WA 98004

Bellevue Hilton
425-455-3330 or 800-235-4458
100 112th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004

Bellevue Doubletree
425-455-8777 or 800-547-8010
300 112th Ave SE
Bellevue, WA 98004

Car Rentals

Car rentals are the most common method of transportation in the Pacific Northwest. Simply book your car rental for pick-up/drop-off at the Sea-Tac Airport. Here are some car rental companies you can consider:

Driving/Parking

  • For directions to the Microsoft Platform Adoption Center, please use this link.
  • There is parking in and around Building 20.
  • Cars parked in “Yellow” zones will be towed.
  • You need to register your vehicle at Building 20 reception only on day 1.
  • If you park elsewhere on the Microsoft campus, you need to register your vehicle at Building 20.
  • Before you leave the car, please be sure to have the following information with you whenyou enter the building:
    • Make of car, model, color, and license plate.

Directions and Maps

Sea-Tac Airport to the Microsoft Redmond Campus

Driving Instructions to Microsoft from Sea-Tac International Airport via Interstate 405:

  1. Follow the signs TO FREEWAYS. (This puts you northbound on Hwy. 99.)
  2. Turn right onto Hwy. 518
  3. Follow signs to Interstate 405 - Go North on 405 for ~ 14 miles through Bellevue
  4. Take the East Hwy. 520 - Redmond Exit
  5. Take the NE 51st Street Exit
  6. Turn right onto 51st Street
  7. Turn right onto 156th Ave. NE
  8. Turn left at NE 36th Street onto the Microsoft campus.

Maps: Zooming away, from the airport, north to Microsoft:

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Bellevue and Redmond

Maps: Zooming in; showing Bellevue and Redmond, progressively showing a more detailed view of the area around the Microsoft Campus:

 

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Taxi

A taxi from SeaTac Airport to the Redmond area should cost approximately U.S. $50 for any of the taxi companies hired for transportation.

The following taxi companies are available for hire and frequently used:

  • Yellow Cab: 206-622-6500.
  • Farwest Taxi: 425-454-5055.

Airport Transfers
If you will not be using a rental car, two optional services are available from the airport to your hotel:

  • Super Shuttle: Pick up the courtesy phone at the Travellers Information Center located at each baggage claim (approximately $18.00).
  • STITA Taxi: Pick up outside baggage claim (approximately $30.00-$35.00 to downtown Bellevue).

Shopping and Other Commercial Facilities

The Crossroads Shopping Complex is easy to find. Several choices for shopping, movies and restaurants (less than 2 miles)

  1. Departing from the Platform Adoption Center parking lot, turn right
  2. Turn right again at the first intersection
  3. At the traffic lights at the next intersection, turn left onto 156th Avenue
  4. Proceed down 156th Avenue.

The Crossroads Shopping Center is on the left, at the fifth set of traffic lights.

Redmond Town Center. Several choices for shopping, movies and restaurants (less than 3 miles.

  1. Departing from the Platform Adoption Center parking lot, turn right
  2. Turn right again at the first intersection
  3. At the traffic lights at the next intersection, turn right onto 156th Avenue
  4. Merge to 520 East towards Redmond
  5. Take the West Lake Sammamish Parkway Exit
  6. Turn left onto West Lake Sammamish Parkway
  7. Turn right on Leary Way NE
  8. Turn right on Bear Creek Parkway
  9. Turn left on 74th Street.

Important Traveler Entry Requirements

If you are traveling from outside of the United States, please be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules, regulations, and procedures you are likely to encounter during your trip. Here are some resources for your review (if necessary): https://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/

Please note: As of January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document.

Health and Safety

Pharmacies are located in most large grocery stores and are often open until 10:00 p.m. Emergency departments of Washington hospitals are open 24 hours a day. Travel and medical insurance should be presented at the time of admittance.

Weather and Climate

For information, visit MSN Weather for Redmond, WA: https://weather.msn.com/local.aspx?wealocations=wc:USWA0367

Currency and Exchange

Money: $1 is divided into 100 cents. Coins: 1, 5, 10, 25 cents. Notes: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 (bills exceeding $50 are not likely to be accepted due to counterfeit security).

Obtaining Money: if you have a foreign bank pass with a Cirrus or Maestro logo, you can get money from an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). ATMs are usually available at any gas station or retail area and are available 24 hours per day. All currency exchange establishments - in banks, major hotels, airports, streets or elsewhere - must show exchange rates and fees.

Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club are the most commonly used credit cards. Please contact your credit card provider and inform them you are planning to travel to the Unites States.

Things to Do and See