It's official but we need help [Visiting Detroit]

**rid0617** · June-27-11, 03:37 AM

We have made the decision and are coming to Detroit. Yea I know. Heard that out of you before. But had to sell a business and other things before we could get too serious.

We are making a low budget trip arriving at the airport 11.09am. Been looking at basic motels. Don't need fancy, wireless or all that other stuff. Just want a bed to sleep in, food close by and a fairly safe area with common sense.

We're looking at the Hotel St Regis or the Corktown Inn. Only will be staying 3 nights so it's not like we'd be there a long time. I know internet sites over rate things. Noticed some negative, some positive comments about both places. Since you folks are up there do you think these would do the trick? Airfare for us will be around $800 so just doing basics because the move itself will be expensive. Thanks in advance

**PaulieG63** · June-27-11, 03:55 AM

Hey rid!

I was just looking on hotels.com...the Shorecrest Hotel is like $60.00 a night and the Detroit Regency Hotel is about the same. Both are on East Jefferson within easy walking distance to downtown. I've never stayed at any of these hotels, so I can't offer up an opinion one way or the other...but they appear to be the cheapest and within walking distance to most that the Motorcity has to offer. Good luck!

*WOW...jus realized ur leaving today* Have a great time...

Paul

**rid0617** · June-27-11, 04:35 AM

We're leaving June 30th and should arrive around 11.09am. We'll leave Detroit on July 3 to come back to hickville. Going to spend the entire time riding the neighborhoods and house hunting. Guess I should have been more precise what day we were arriving at 11.09am. Been up all night and fingers are sleepy

**401don** · June-27-11, 07:22 AM

Why stay in a dump like the Corktown. Just bid 65 bucks for a 3 star on Priceline. For a 3 night stay you should get approved.

**Pcm** · June-27-11, 05:56 PM

You could Couchsurf or maybe use HomeAway.com?

http://www.homeaway.com/search/refin...owntown#sp=454

**DtCtyGrl** · June-27-11, 07:01 PM

You can stay at the Ren Cen Marriott for $149 or the Courtyard Marriott DT for $139 - have never been disappointment by the service! The staff is excellent and it is easy access to everything downtown. Enjoy your trip!

**rencense** · June-27-11, 07:05 PM

Its not crazy cheap but take a look at the greektown hotel prices. I've gotten a room there before for just over 100 out the door [[90 with my AAA discount) this is a bit more than some others but the hotel is absolutely stunning IMO one of my favs I've ever stayed at. When I've gone they threw in a breakfast buffet that was quite good, some free casino credit if you want it, and you can park for free in the structure. all in all a great place and a pretty good value [[maybe i just got lucky on the price though)

**rid0617** · June-28-11, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by 401don

Why stay in a dump like the Corktown. Just bid 65 bucks for a 3 star on Priceline. For a 3 night stay you should get approved.

I had never thought about it. Kind of thought you don't get what you bid on or it's not there when you arrive. Will try it. Thanks

**rid0617** · June-28-11, 03:29 AM

Trying to stay below $90 or so for this trip. This one is just economy fact finding. The next one will be when we want to stay a little nicer because we will be living out of it waiting for our furniture. Since gas has gone up moving companies have an entirely different price book. Move, storage, transporting 2 cars up there and incidentals look like about $7,000 before down payment on house. Think we have too much stuff even after thinning things down

**rid0617** · June-28-11, 03:31 AM

Originally Posted by Pcm

You could Couchsurf or maybe use HomeAway.com?

http://www.homeaway.com/search/refin...owntown#sp=454

I could be quite comfortable staying there for good

**CLAUDE G** · June-28-11, 03:51 AM

Go on Hotwire.com, and look to see whats available in Detroit.

Anything 4 star and above is going to be one of the following...

MGM Grand
Greek Town
Motor City Casino
Book Cadillac

The other thing to consider is that Motor City has a stay and play package for $149, and you get $50 free play in the Casino. Even if you don't want to Gamble, take the $50 voucher to the casino cashier and the room runs $99 per night,

If you don't stay at any of the 4 hotels I just mentioned, you might as well just stay in Southfield or Troy,

**MidTownMs** · June-28-11, 06:01 AM

Go to www.hotels.com. I have always used them and have gotten at least 50% off the price of 4 & 5 start hotels and have never been disappointed.

**Roq** · June-28-11, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by CLAUDE G

If you don't stay at any of the 4 hotels I just mentioned, you might as well just stay in Southfield or Troy,

Seconded. Stay at the Red Roof Inn in Madison Heights. Seriously.

**oldredfordette** · June-28-11, 06:53 AM

Spend a couple extra bucks for one of the casino hotels or RenCen. Or the Hampton Inn in Mad Heights is also nice and convenient to downtown. Seriously, forget about Corktown Inn. Nasty nasty nasty.

**jtw** · June-28-11, 08:11 AM

What about the Hostel Detroit, in Corktown?

**gnome** · June-28-11, 08:16 AM

Rid, I fear you are going to either spend a ton or end up staying in the sticks. From what I understand you are looking for an Extended Stay, Pet Friendly, place with a kitchenette. I suggest you look at the Free Ads heading on this site. There are a couple of Forum members who have places to rent, or you could check out craigslist for sublets/short term rentals.

Good luck

bartock · June-28-11, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by gnome

Rid, I fear you are going to either spend a ton or end up staying in the sticks. From what I understand you are looking for an Extended Stay, Pet Friendly, place with a kitchenette. I suggest you look at the Free Ads heading on this site. There are a couple of Forum members who have places to rent, or you could check out craigslist for sublets/short term rentals.

Good luck

I wonder how you would define "the sticks." The area outside of the CBD is not "the sticks," though some areas within city limits look like it. Good deals to be found in Madison Heights, Roseville, Dearborn, Southfield, Romulus are not in the sticks. Hell even Novi, Troy, Auburn Hills and along Hall Road are not "the sticks."

**gnome** · June-28-11, 10:10 AM

Since we have no idea where Mr. Rid is looking to settle, suggesting any suburban location is problematic. If he's interested in Morningside or East English Novi could be an hour+ away. Moreover with M39 closed staying in Southfield and looking in DelRay would mean Mr. Rid will need to spend a lot of time in his auto.

Now, that might not be a problem for you, but since he expressed a concern about gas money, I thought staying in the City would be nice if he could find an Extended Stay place that accepted pets and had a kitchenette. Since those kind of places are not in the City, I thought maybe he could find a friendly forum member who is renting their place.

Keep in mind Mr. Rid is coming from a small town down south. For. Him a drive across town might be 15 minutes, for folks around here who think nothing of driving in from Commerce, Milford or Metamora the notion of an hour and half behind the wheel is a snap; for someone unfamiliar with our traffic weirdness, such a drive would be difficult. Also, I'll bet ya Mr. Rid has never seen or even heard of a "Detroit Left".

I would prefer our new neighbor spent as little time in his car, kept as much cash in his pocket and enjoyed himself.

IMHO

**Django** · June-28-11, 10:21 AM

We have rooms for rent, I sent you a PM with some details.

**Bagley** · June-28-11, 12:47 PM

I would stay at the hotel in the Ren Cen as you'll be near the river, a movie theatre, restaurants, casinos, Greektown, etc... Also, if you like the area, there are some great solid neighborhoods nearby. alternately, if you might be more artsy and less "Downtown", the Inn on Ferry Street is walking distance to the DIA and several restaurants. Also Midtown is sort of where the buzz is in town right now.

**hamtown mike** · June-28-11, 12:51 PM

rid,
Detroit is a city of extremes. extreme wealth and extrem poverty.
The same extremes apply to the hotels that I am familiar with.

The shorecrest is sketchy [[weekly rate sketchy), though the attached clique diner is awesome. st regis has changed hands a few times with management and services being wishy washy. I hate to see you stay someplace that would have you second guess your decision to move here. I'd say try to find the best rate at any of the casino hotels, book cadillac, fort shelby, or renaissance marriot. Corktown has a recently open hostel but I cannot speak to it.

hope you enjoy your new home!

**BrushStart** · June-28-11, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by hamtown mike

rid,
Corktown has a recently open hostel but I cannot speak to it.

I can speak to it, at least to what it looks like on the inside and the people who run it. Hostel Detroit is a great place to stay on a dime. Seriously, if I were working with the OP's budget, there's no question that the Hostel would be my #1 choice. They have group and private rooms, all very cheap, in some cases less than $30/night. Multiple clean kitchens and bathrooms, well-apportioned common areas, and a nice backyard. They also do bike rentals, and you are only a few blocks from Michigan Ave and Corktown, which has a cab stand. The people involved there did a fantastic job with the place and it has a lot of local flavor built right in. My advice: Stay at the hostel; you can't go wrong.

**Danny** · June-28-11, 01:04 PM

Are you actually moving to the City of Detroit or 'Detroit' [[ as in the suburbs!) You decide.

bartock · June-28-11, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by gnome

Since we have no idea where Mr. Rid is looking to settle, suggesting any suburban location is problematic. If he's interested in Morningside or East English Novi could be an hour+ away. Moreover with M39 closed staying in Southfield and looking in DelRay would mean Mr. Rid will need to spend a lot of time in his auto.

Now, that might not be a problem for you, but since he expressed a concern about gas money, I thought staying in the City would be nice if he could find an Extended Stay place that accepted pets and had a kitchenette. Since those kind of places are not in the City, I thought maybe he could find a friendly forum member who is renting their place.

Keep in mind Mr. Rid is coming from a small town down south. For. Him a drive across town might be 15 minutes, for folks around here who think nothing of driving in from Commerce, Milford or Metamora the notion of an hour and half behind the wheel is a snap; for someone unfamiliar with our traffic weirdness, such a drive would be difficult. Also, I'll bet ya Mr. Rid has never seen or even heard of a "Detroit Left".

I would prefer our new neighbor spent as little time in his car, kept as much cash in his pocket and enjoyed himself.

IMHO

The areas I mentioned are not the sticks, that was the point.

I assume there will be some exploring of the surrounding areas. There are some things - especially on the retail side - that people from other places MAY be looking for, that the suburbs have and the city does not.

A central area such as Madison Heights is not going to result in any longer drives, and would actually be the same or a shorter drive than from downtown to some areas.

And your points about driving distances MAY be moot if the cost savings of staying at more inexpensive, but decent, accommodations outweigh the additional mileage on a vehicle at $3.50 a gallon.

I suppose a forum member may be accomodating, but how would staying say in EEV or out that way make a drive to like Rosedale any shorter or use less gas than if someone was staying in a place like Southfield?

But, the point was, the areas I mentioned are not the sticks, especially to someone from a small town.

**rid0617** · June-28-11, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by gnome

Rid, I fear you are going to either spend a ton or end up staying in the sticks. From what I understand you are looking for an Extended Stay, Pet Friendly, place with a kitchenette. I suggest you look at the Free Ads heading on this site. There are a couple of Forum members who have places to rent, or you could check out craigslist for sublets/short term rentals.

Good luck

This trip is only 3 days 2 nights. Then the next trip will be extended stay. No pet involved because our dog is 15 years old, going blind and already deaf, then throw in the arthiritis in the hips. Probably have to her put to sleep