The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Bellingham, Washington

The Heliotrope Hotel has a cozy common area for relaxing and meeting other guests
The Heliotrope Hotel has a cozy common area for relaxing and meeting other guests | Courtesy of Heliotrope Hotel / Booking.com
Julie Fanselow

Bellingham is an outdoors-minded college town in the northwest coastal corner of Washington. It’s close to Canada – the British Columbia border is a half-hour drive away – and a port for the Alaska Marine Highway ferry service. Whatever brings you to Bellingham, you’ll love these budget-friendly places to stay – bookable on Culture Trip.

1. Best Western Plus Bellingham, for easy airport access

Hotel

A stylish king room in soothing shades at the Best Western Plus Bellingham
Courtesy of Best Western Plus Bellingham / Booking.com

This Bellingham hotel is handy for the small yet efficient Bellingham International Airport and Locust Beach, a local favorite on Bellingham Bay. Boldly decorated rooms blend shades of brown, blue and orange; big beds mean a good night’s sleep before a full breakfast. Peckish? Browse the lobby convenience store. Work up an appetite in the seasonal outdoor pool and pump iron in the 24-hour gym before you cross the street for dinner at the friendly Greek restaurant.

2. Four Points by Sheraton Bellingham Hotel and Conference Center, for its proximity to Western Washington University

Hotel

A homey two-queen room with striped carpeting at the Four Points by Sheraton Bellingham Hotel and Conference Center
Courtesy of Four Points by Sheraton Bellingham Hotel and Conference Center / Booking.com

The welcome at this spacious hotel in Bellingham is warm, from the lobby with a double-sided log fire to the atrium-style heated indoor pool and year-round, farm-to-table dining on a heated patio. Parents visiting students – it’s a four-minute drive to the Western Washington University campus – will sleep well in light-filled rooms made homey with striped carpets and furnishings.

3. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Bellingham, for spacious studios

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A warm, homey studio with two beds at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Bellingham
Courtesy of SpringHill Suites by Marriott Bellingham / Booking.com

A few miles northwest of downtown and near the airport, SpringHill Suites has spacious studio-style rooms in shades of earthy green and yellow. Start the day at the breakfast buffet, loading up on pastries and fruit, then wind down later in the Chuckanut Lobby Bar, which has handcrafted cocktails and happy-hour specials. An indoor pool and a fitness room back up the many outdoor recreation options in Bellingham.

4. TownePlace Suites by Marriott Bellingham, for homey extended stays

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The five-story TownePlace Suites by Marriott Bellingham with brick and wood accents
Courtesy of TownePlace Suites by Marriott Bellingham / Booking.com

Handy for extended stays, rooms at TownePlace Suites in Bellingham have cheery decor with some nice extras, such as an over-the-couch table and a kitchen so that you can whip up your favorite meals or cook on the barbecue outside. A large map in the lobby helps you find local attractions and special events. Some amenities, including the pool and lobby bar, are shared with the adjacent SpringHill Suites.

5. Oxford Suites Bellingham, for a relaxing stay

Hotel

A relaxing suite with one bed, decorative oars and carpeting at the Oxford Suites Bellingham
Courtesy of Oxford Suites Bellingham / Booking.com

Hearty-cooked breakfasts of eggs and potatoes, among other delights, and an evening reception with appetizers are complimentary at this hotel a few miles north of downtown and across from the Bellis Fair Mall. Suite-style rooms favor soft brown and beige tones and feature a separate sitting area, making you feel more at home. The indoor pool, hot tub, steam room and sauna provide more ways to relax.

6. Heliotrope Hotel, for a local experience

Hotel

A modern-rustic room with a custom-made bed at the Heliotrope Hotel
Courtesy of Heliotrope Hotel / Booking.com

It’s all about the local experience at this converted motel in Bellingham. Retro-cool modern rooms feature the work of local artists, and even the beds are made nearby. Common spaces keep things relaxed, from the Hub, with complimentary coffee, a fireplace and books to borrow, to the Yard, for games of cornhole around the firepit. It’s in an excellent location in a residential neighborhood about 25 minutes on foot from downtown or the waterfront.

7. The Guest House, for a private entrance

Guesthouse

The Craftsman-style Guest House with beautiful landscaping, steep stairs and pot plants
Courtesy of the Guest House / Booking.com

Each of the three homey and comfortable suites in this charming Craftsman-style house overlooking Bellingham Bay has a private entrance and kitchen. This Bellingham inn is on the edge of Fairhaven, an inviting section of town, home to many restaurants, the Amtrak depot and the ferry terminal. It’s also convenient to downtown Bellingham, Western Washington University and the scenic Chuckanut Drive.

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