Hotels in Detroit

[Mark Gordon]

I'm thinking of visiting Detroit for the 1st time for a few days in early May. I would appreciate any advice on a suitable hotel/neighbourhood. I am a non-driver, so will need to get around by public transport and taxi.

[Guest greatness]

well

 

Have you checked tripadvisor or yelp.com? I hope you have a great time there.

 

I'm thinking of visiting Detroit for the 1st time for a few days in early May. I would appreciate any advice on a suitable hotel/neighbourhood. I am a non-driver, so will need to get around by public transport and taxi.

[seaboy4hire]

Trip Advisor would be your best bet. I'll check with some friends that are from the area (now live in Seattle) on which areas would be best and safest since is all I hear are horror stories about the city.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[lookin4hotties]

Detroit

 

Detroit is one of the worst places to visit without a car,

unless you plan to stay at a hotel near the airport. Public

transportation is quite meager, there are buses but they're

few and far between. Most people who say they live in

"Detroit" actually live, work, and play in the suburbs.

 

The easiest thing to do (especially if you are planning to do

hotel in-calls), would be to stay at a hotel right in the Detroit

Metro Airport area. You'll have a 5 minute cab ride or hotel

shuttle to your hotel. I think there is a new Embassy Suites

in the Detroit Metro Airport area that is quite reasonable with

a free cooked-to-order breakfast, high speed internet, etc.

All the Detroit Metro airport hotels are in Romulus, Michigan.

 

The downside is there isn't much to really do in that area,

particularly if you don't have a car. There are also several

suburban hotels in areas like Plymouth, Novi, Livonia, or

Farmington Hills, but I would not recommend you

stay out in the suburbs without a car.

 

If you must stay downtown, there are probably a few nice hotels

but I don't know what they are. There are a few things

to do in in downtown Detroit such as visit a casino, professional

sports stadium or the Detroit Institute of Art. Downtown has a

historic "Greektown" neighborhood which caters to tourists, sports

fans and gamblers, and it's easy to deal with if you are walking.

http://www.visitgreektown.com/

 

Unfortunately, just a few blocks from that area, you will see

a lot of boarded-up shops at street level, even near all of the

well-kept office buildings and skyscrapers. Downtown Detroit

tries hard, but has a long way to go.

 

Have a great trip and good luck!

 

 

Lookin4hotties

[Romann]

Try reaching out to Mr. Sean Knight as I'm pretty sure that he frequents Detroit a handful of times a year and has some advanced knowledge of the city.

[gp0560]

It's my understanding that the Book Cadillac hotel downtown has been refurbished and remodeled and is open for business again. I suspect it will be pricey, but it is a distinguished hotel.

 

Good luck.

[OneFinger]

I used to live in the suburbs of Detroit. The downtown area is VERY, VERY scary. Personally, I don't agree with the post that suggested you stay near the airport. Since you're not driving, this is a real problem.

 

Last time I visited there I stayed downtown at the Holiday Inn Express, 1020 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226.

 

http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/en/detroit/dttwb/hoteldetail#

 

They were just starting renovations when I was there - it is now complete. The staff was very accommodating they upgraded me (at no charge) to a very spacious suite. Ideal location for Fox Theater, the new ballpark, casinos, and the Masonic Temple Theater.

 

They have a "people mover" (elevated tram) in Detroit and this hotel is within very short walking distance to one of those stations. Very convenient.

 

Again, Detroit is full of burned out buildings, drug traffic, and gangs. I always carried two wallets with me. My "real" wallet and ID was carefully hidden on the body and the other wallet was in my back pocket with no ID and ten $1 bills. If anyone tried to mug me, I'd gladly give up the wallet in my back pocket.

 

Don't mean to scare or alarm you. But, you do have to be careful, try to blend in as a local, and avoid the "tourist" look.

 

I would suggest you book a tour through the hotel for the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. You could easily spend an entire day at each facility.

 

http://www.thehenryford.org/

 

The museum has the car JFK was riding during his assassination, the Spirit of St. Louis, lots of artwork, sculptures, etc. Greenfield Village has taken actual buildings and moved them to this location. Some of the buildings are the Wright Brothers bicycle shop, Thomas Edison's lab, and the homes of Stephen Foster, George Washington Carver, Noah Webster, and many other "neat" buildings.

 

Again, these are NOT replications - they are the actual buildings, furnishings, etc. Edison's lab and all the equipment alone are worth the price of admission.

 

Good luck with your visit.

[+ purplekow]

[The museum has the car JFK was riding during his assignation, the Spirit of St. Louis, lots of artwork, sculptures, etc. Greenfield Village has taken actual buildings and moved them to this location.

 

Just could not resist your word mix up. Not even in Detroit do they have a car for every JFK assignation. Wonder if Jack ever wandered over and had an assignation with one of the boys.

[Mark Gordon]

Thanks for the helpful advice guys, both posts and messages. The Institute of Art, Greektown, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village will all be on my agenda. Advice seems to be split between staying near the airport or in a suburb such as Troy, to as to avoid the problems downtown; or staying downtown, but being careful, so that I can explore and get around by tram. Would clients actually be hesitant to visit me downtown?

[Jeremy]

The Spirit of St. Louis

 

The original Spirit of St. Louis is located in the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. However, several reproductions have been made, one of which is located in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. Others are located in St Louis (2); Garden City, Long Island, NY (1); Minneapolis/St.Paul(1); Oshkosh, Wisc.(1); San Diego (2); Polk City, Fla.(1); and, Germany(2).

 

Jeremy

[OneFinger]

... Would clients actually be hesitant to visit me downtown?

 

I'm amusing that most clients would be local and very aware of the downtown climate. Personally, I'd have no trouble going to a downtown hotel for the right escort. Plus, the hotel I suggested has a very secure parking garage.

[Buddy15]

This isn't about hotels, but travel writer Peter Greenberg has an article about Detroit on his site today (petergreenberg.com)

[Mark Gordon]

Peter Greenberg Article

 

This isn't about hotels, but travel writer Peter Greenberg has an article about Detroit on his site today (petergreenberg.com)

 

http://www.petergreenberg.com/2010/04/08/off-the-brochure-travel-guide-detroit-michigan/

 

Nice article, thanks for the heads-up.