Travel & guest guide
Airports, drive times, flight discounts, places to stay and a travel advisor who can handle it all for your guests.
AAP Travel: your wedding travel concierge
Alicia Anderson Pieri is a Seattle-based destination wedding travel advisor with Fora Travel. She arranges group air and hotel for wedding parties and guests: room blocks, flights into Seattle or Wenatchee, rental cars, transfers and full guest itineraries.
- One contact for the couple, the wedding party and any guest who wants help
- Group air quotes and airline group codes
- Hotel room blocks and hotel perks where available
- Pacific Northwest destination wedding experience
Visit aaptravel.com (opens in new tab) · Alicia's Fora profile (opens in new tab)
Airports & drive times
The Methow Valley is a drive from every airport, and that drive is part of the trip. Times below are to Winthrop in good conditions.
| Airport | Drive to Winthrop | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle–Tacoma (SEA) | About 4 hrs via SR 20 (in season); 4½–5 hrs via Stevens Pass & Wenatchee | Most flights and the lowest fares. Every major rental company. |
| Wenatchee Pangborn (EAT) | About 2–2½ hrs | Closest commercial airport. Alaska Airlines nonstops from SEA and Portland (PDX). Hertz on site; Enterprise nearby. |
| Spokane (GEG) | About 3½–4 hrs | Good option for guests from the east and Midwest. Year-round route via US 2 and SR 20 over Loup Loup Pass. |
| Bellingham (BLI) | About 3½ hrs via SR 20 (in season) | Handy for guests from British Columbia. In winter the drive is much longer. |
Airline group discounts
Airlines offer group fares for weddings, but only through one organizer. The couple (or AAP Travel for them) sets it up, and guests use the code.
- Alaska Airlines, the main carrier at SEA and the only airline at Wenatchee, has a wedding group program. With 20 or more guests flying from different cities, the couple gets a discount code guests use on alaskaair.com, valid three days before and after the event. Groups of 10 or more on the same flights get a group fare with free name changes. Alaska wedding group travel (opens in new tab)
- Other airlines: group desks at most major airlines quote fares for 10+ people on the same flights. Delta's meeting discounts are aimed at conventions of 50+ and generally don't fit weddings.
Guests: ask your couple for the group code before you book.
Couples: set it up early
Group codes work best 9–12 months out, before your save-the-dates go out. Put the code and booking window on your wedding website. Want it handled? Ask AAP Travel.
Lodging & room blocks
Lodging is spread across Mazama, Winthrop and Twisp, from mountain resorts to riverside inns, cabins and vacation rentals. Summer weekends fill early, so book as soon as you have the date.
See our local lodging list for places to stay near your venue.
Room blocks: coming soon to the planning portal
We're building room block requests across several partner lodges at once into the couple's planning portal. Until then, we arrange blocks for our planning clients directly.
Tips for guests
- Book inside the couple's room block before its cutoff date.
- Stay near the venue to cut night driving on dark rural roads.
- Cabins and rentals are great for families or groups of friends.
- Many properties have two-night minimums on summer weekends.
Rental cars
You'll want a car. There's no airport shuttle to the valley and rideshare is scarce here.
Rent at the airport
SEA has the most choice and the best prices. Wenatchee has fewer cars, so reserve early for summer weekends.
Winter driving
From November to March, ask for all-wheel drive or snow-rated tires and carry chains over Stevens Pass.
Carpool & shuttles
Coordinate rides with other guests, and ask the couple about wedding-day shuttles. Planning clients can have us arrange them.
Travel FAQ
What's the closest airport?
Wenatchee Pangborn (EAT), about 2 to 2½ hours from Winthrop and Twisp, with Alaska Airlines nonstops from Seattle and Portland. Most guests fly into Seattle (SEA) for the widest choice of flights and fares.
Do I need a car?
Almost certainly. There's no scheduled airport shuttle to the valley, and venues and lodging are spread from Mazama to Twisp. Rent at the airport, carpool with other guests, or ask the couple whether a wedding shuttle is planned.
Can I drive the North Cascades Highway?
Only in season. SR 20 closes every winter, usually between mid-November and early December, and reopens in spring, often in April or May. In winter, come over Stevens Pass (US 2) via Wenatchee instead. Check WSDOT before you leave.
How do I get the group flight discount?
Ask the couple for the group code. Airline wedding discounts are set up by one organizer for the whole event, then shared with guests.
When should I book a room?
As soon as you have the date. Summer weekends fill early and many properties are small. Book inside the couple's room block before the cutoff date if there is one.
What about cell service?
Coverage is good in town and spotty on highway passes and back roads. Download offline maps before you drive.