Help with a [City of Detroit] Hotel Selection

[English]

I'd recommend either the Inn on Ferry Street or the Roberts Riverwalk hotel. My favorites near work and home, respectively... both offer absolutely free, professional shuttle service everywhere... and both are in some of the most beautiful settings the city has to offer.

The Inn is in close proximity to [[in the Park Shelton) a creperie, upscale coffee shop, indie bookstore, and a great little sushi place. I wish Rodin were open, but that's coming. Ferry Street, the Art Center district, and the DIA are beautiful, walkable, and relatively blight free. [[Just shepherded the Cultural Center tour there today.)

The Roberts is right on the Riverwalk. They've got their own restaurant and bar, and there's the Rattlesnake Club. But there's also everything Joseph Campau has to offer, including the Atwater Block Brewery, the Detroit Brewing Co. and They Say. The Riverwalk is also a nice conduit east to [[almost) Belle Isle, and west to the Dequindre Cut, RenCen and CBD. Your guests can rent bikes if they like. Not sure if the pedicabs come down that far... Rivertown's got a longer way to go than Midtown does when it comes to certain things. But it's my new neighborhood, so I'm biased... I think we're the best secret of the city.

I'd lean towards the Inn simply because of Chene Park. The problem with Chene Park is that depending on the event, sometimes it draws a young, crazy crowd. One of my colleagues left River Park Place several years ago because of all the commotion down there after a concert. I live about a mile away, and whenever there's a show I'm not going to or I need to sleep, I am very, very happy for that mile. Also, the Riverwalk's best season is really May through September [[or so I hear), and once fall comes, Midtown may be more lively.

As for the hotels in the CBD, I don't know as much about them. The only one I've ever stayed in is the Pontch, 12 years ago this weekend, and it's now closed. I've been in the B-C when my friend was here for the US Social Forum; her room was nice, but since I travel for work, it just seemed like a very nice business class hotel. When I travel to a new city, I like to be in the midst of the action, so maybe the Atheneum, Marriott, or Greektown Casino hotel would work well.

I just find the Inn and the Roberts Riverwalk to be beautiful, well-appointed, and unique. If I were trying to impress a visitor, I'd put them there... WSU and the DMC put special guests and candidates for top jobs up at the Inn all the time. It seemed pretty busy today when we were by.

All the best... here's hoping your friend has a good time here!

[chitaku]

Atheneum is a great hotel with almost a boutique feel to it. I really dug the room my parents got there for new years some years back.

[Flintoid]

Have him stay at either Greektown or the Atheneum. When people think thriving urban area they think people and foot traffic along with lined up shops and restaurants. They think Manhattan because that is what media has given to us as what "good" urban is. As great as the BC is, it is still slightly isolated in comparison to say greektown. Your friend wont be convinced that we are a nice, walkable city unless it's the best, most walkable part of town that he is staying in. That part of town is greektown. You walk out your door and right there are dozens of places to go. That will change his perceptions. Downtown is indeed leaps and bounds ahead of where it used to be, but much is still a work in progress. Make sure your friend sees Campus Martius, the Riverwalk, Foxtown, etc. Staying at the Atheneum or Greektown is the best idea though if you want to truly change his mentality. It needs to be an area that we all can agree is incredibly urban and walkable.

[ddaydetroit]

2 website reviews I swear are tripadvisor.com if I'm doing the backpack circuit [[ cheapskate ) the lonely planet. I used the reviews today in trip advisor to find a hotel and the reviews were right on I got a cheap hotel with a pool that's very nice In an area where most hotels are twice as much in Phuket. Some of the reviews for Detroit hotels are scary all reviews are from People that have stayed at the hotels

[cman710]

I have stayed at the B-C, the MGM, and the Greektown. In terms of pure luxury, I think the MGM is far and away the best choice. However, it does not have much going on right around it. The Greektowm room I stayed in was nice, but not as nice as the MGM. Personally I do like the Book Cadillac the best of the three, but your friend would probably be best off at the MGM or Greektown.