Where's a good Hotel in Detroit? I'm aiming for next year's auto show.

I guess the title says it all. I want to make the next Detroit Auto Show. I'm assuming the whole city won't burn to the ground by then. I hope.

What's a good hotel that won't land me somewhere ugly in town?

FindlaySpeedMan wrote: What's a good hotel that won't land me somewhere ugly in town?

Something in Toledo??? Oh, wait. You said you didn't want to be somewhere ugly.

Are you in Findlay, Ohio? It's a pretty quick trip there and back, no real need to spring for a hotel.

Might not even be an Auto Show in Detroit next year. The show and Cobo Hall and the City Council haven't exactly got along since the last one.

My employer is in a rough area of Detroit and when I go in I usually stay out near the airport and drive in.

But grafmiata is right, it can't be more than 100 miles each way.

Hyatt Regency Dearborn isn't bad. I've heard that the Dearborn Inn is nice. The Ponchartrain used to be the place to stay, right across the street from Cobo, but I've heard that it's gone downhill since being bought by a chain. Best strip clubs are in Romulus AFAIK.

If you want company stay in touch and we can do a GRM group trip meeting somewhere by 75, say at Cracker Barrel on 224 exit. Have breakfast, drive up spend the day and back home the same night.

Steve

Having lived in Toledo 2 years, I would either stay at one of the casinos in downtown Detriot (they are within walking distance from Cobo), stay at the Windham Hotel in downtown TOL, or stay in Findlay (small city, quiet, right off I-75). It takes about 40minutes to get from TOL to DET; add on a half hour if you stay in Findlay. Have fun at the Big 3 convention... The Cleveland Auto Show has been far better than NAIAS for a few years now.

Windsor, Ontario Canada
Just across the Detroit River. Check with the hotels in Windsor or The Windsor Casino they may even have shuttles running you right to the front door of Cobo.

If you have to be "right there" look into the Detroit Casino hotels but expect them to be very pricey.

Hotel room for a night in Detroit? Why don't you just save money and buy a house?

Are you aiming at Grassroots prices or a nice place? If the later the Book Cadillac hotel (http://www.bookcadillacwestin.com/ ) is stunning and has just finished $200million renovation. Or 30 mins up the road in Birmingham is the Townsend, (http://www.townsendhotel.com/ ) that's very nice we had our weeding reception there. Most rock stars stay there when on tour, you never know who you'll bump into in the lobby or outside.

I'm fed up of Detroit and SE Mi getting a bad rap, yes we have our troubles, but there are some beautiful places to live, stay and visit.

jrw1621 wrote: Windsor, Ontario Canada Just across the Detroit River. Check with the hotels in Windsor or The Windsor Casino they may even have shuttles running you right to the front door of Cobo. If you have to be "right there" look into the Detroit Casino hotels but expect them to be very pricey.

I'm going to second the Windsor suggestion. You won't have to worry about the city burning down while your there. They also have a casino and if you win, they don't tax you like they do in US casinos.

We've stayed at the big ones downtown:

Marriott RenaissanceDetroit Ren Center it always a good choice. It's the home of GM and is a nice river walk from Cobo Center. Although, for the show, it's icy. Good, reliable hotel.

Book Caddilac- Westin Book Cadillac- really nice hotel, right downtown. It also has two good restaurants- Roast and the 24 Grille. We've stayed here twice over the last couple of years- really really love it.

Fort Shelby - Doubletree Ford Shelby this was just refinished last Novemner, and we stayed here for the CCHA (hockey) finals in March. Again, very first class service.

Hilton Garden- Detroit Hilton Garden Inn This was finished a few years before the Super Bowl in Detroit. Never stayed there, but we did eat at a good fish house right around the corner.

BTW, don't belive the fear that Detroit is a horrible place. The square mile that is downtown is REALLY cool. Food, bars, music, etc. We walk everywhere, unless the weather is horrible- then there's the people mover. If you are coming up, you should also consider the Detroit Institude of the Arts, and some of the other museums in the area. It's NOT going to burn down.

BUT. For the auto show, you should book early. If you are a government employee (of any type) rates are very competetive (like <$100).

Eric

Thanks, everybody.

Long story short, I'm starting a little grassroots online paper called the Findlay Speed Times. It's not even fledgling yet, but I'm thinking hard about what to do with it.

Since Detroit is a big part of Findlay's auto scene, I should try to make a mission to the auto show. If I'm taking things a little seriously, then, I should probably pop out of a hotel in taxi distance of from Cobo on showday. That way I can hit the ground early, get what I need, and then zip back home to Findlay on I75.

I didn't even think about Cleveland. In fact I should probably plan on both of them. Oy vey. First priorities are the auto shows in my own hometown, though. Nobody else is knocking themselves out to cover them except me.

Uh, I believe some people have suggested very nice hotels, but the question is REALLY, "Hey, where's the nearest cheap hotel to Cobo that doesn't also double as a crackhouse or anything like that?"

Detroiters- I'm not trying to hate, I'm just a small-town guy who doesn't want to pull a big stupid boner in the big city. I'm glad to hear you say good things about your town. That's what I like to hear about Detroit.

For the record, the last time I booked a hotel room sight unseen, in Chicago, I landed me and the girlfriend in the middle of the gay district. Which was actually a shrewd move, but you can imagine her father's jokes at my expense.

Aussiesmg, I will keep in touch. It'd be very cool to crew up.

Are you planning to attend The NAIAS during The Press Preview, The Indusrty Preview, The Charity Preview or The Public Show?

AngryCorvair wrote: Hyatt Regency Dearborn isn't bad.

+1 got a suite on priceline about three years ago for $85 a night.

Another suggestion: Embassy Suites in Southfield. I stay there often. Excellent breakfast and easy access to expressways.

As others have said, as long as you are right downtown, like at the casinos or the Brook Cadillac for example, you will be fine. They are indeed probably pricey. If you do stay at the Brook Cadillac, skip Roast. I had dinner there a week ago and I felt the food didn't live up to the price/hype. Although, if you LOVE meat above all else, you might like it.

If you want to be outside the city, the northward suburbs are clean and safe. Look at Troy, Clawson or Royal Oak. If you are looking for cheap there is a motel 8 in Clawson that is 20 minutes from dowtown via I-75.

If not staying downtown I'd go for the earlier suggestion of Southfield. You can get right on the lodge freeway that dumps you out right by Cobo, be there in 20 mins. I live just North of Southfield and getting in and out of down town is easy.

It would be cool to meet another GRMer who is so local