Emucom

It's time to plan my annual trip to Detroit for the NAIAS show on Jan. 14th. Any suggestions for hotels? I would like to keep the rate below $100 if possible (2 people). Anything else going on in the area besides the auto show?

Citylghts

You don't say if you're driving or flying, but probably your best bet for hotels would be in the Dearborn area. It's about 5 miles from the airport and 10 miles from downtown. There's a Hyatt, Marriott Dearborn Inn, Courtyard, Towne Suites and The Ritz among other hotels around there. If you try priceline,

You'd be close to The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. The Museum is noted for its transportation collection which includes all the Presidental limos and the bus on which Rosa Parks rode. The village contains historic buildings which were moved and reassembled including Edison's labratory, the Wright Brothers' home and shop and Stephen Foster's home. Check hfmgv.org for all the details.

Another activity would be to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts about 4 miles north of the auto show and see the Rivera Murals depicting the auto industry of the 1930s. They're having a Claudel and Rodin exhibit through Feb 6.

There are also several hotels in the Livonia area around I-275/I-96. They're only about 20 minutes from downtown Detroit. I hope this helps.

wliwl

I have no idea where you are going to be in Detroit, but there was awhile there when my husband was traveling to Detorit every week for work. He always did Priceline in the Troy area and got GREAT hotels for like $50 a night. Last visit was in August where he stayed at the Troy Marriot for $50.

If you're comfortable using Priceline, you might give it a try. Go to Biddingfortravel.com and look under Michigan, Detroit area for recent winning bids.

SusanEva

Catch a show at the Fisher Theatre, beautiful, opulent decor:

http://www.nederlanderdetroit.com/index.htm

Agree with Citylights, especially if you're going to the Auto Show, the Henry Ford Museum has one of the best historical collections of the automobile.

http://www.hfmgv.org/museum/

Also a fan of the Detroit Institute of Arts - worth a trip!

SusanEva

Emucom

Thanks for the suggestions, we have stayed in Dearborn many times, at various hotels. Last year we stayed north of Detroit near the Chrysler headquarters (Big Beaver Rd.). We went to the show, then the next day took a tour of the Chrysler Museum and stopped off at the Greektown Casino on the way out of town. We will be driving in from Cleveland. We might stay in Dearborn again, but I was wondering if there are other suggestions. I've stayed at the Mariott RenCen, also Novi. Just wondering, but probably end up in Dearborn if there are no better ideas.

On a side note, how would you describe Motor City Casino, as compared with the others in town? I have been to MGM and Greektown.

Keith

Emucom, how was the Chrysler museum?

Keith

Emucom

Fun, but I thought it would be a bigger display than it was. If you are a member of AAA, you can get a discount on admission. Go early as they close down everything at 5:00 p.m. (at least they did last year). I purchased a die cast car at the gift shop.

Emucom

Any other suggestions?

Keith

While you are at the show, go up the street just a few blocks to Lafayette & Michigan and visit either Lafayette Coney Island or American Coney Island.

The two small restaurants were opened by brothers, side by side, in 1917. The American is still in the original family.

Lafayette's appliances and counters look like they are at least 50 years old, but everything is very clean.

Coney Islands are to Detroit, what BBQ is to KC.

Keith

Emucom

Thanks,

We were looking for alternatives to eating lunch at the show. What else is withing walking distance to Cobo?

Emucom

Also, anyone here have any experience with Holiday Inn Detroit - Southfield?

Emucom

ttt

tesaniedi

FYI, the Walter P. Chrysler museum is open until 6pm. They are also open on Monday the 16th (usually closed on Mondays) for Auto Show visitors. My mom is the administrator...

Also, I work in Dearborn and second it as a location to stay -- nice hotels, tons of restaurants and close to downtown (closer than Troy or Auburn Hills-- DCX HQ).

Emucom

It is between the Courtyard Dearborn and the Holiday Inn Southfield.

Emucom

Oops! I tried Priceline for the first time, and they gave me the Residence Inn Southfield. It looks like I only saved $4 per night, because I could have gotten the room for $59 a night through AAA. Oh well, next time I will learn not to use priceline. I even read biddingfortravel.com FAQ's. Anyways, now that I'm stuck with that hotel, what is in the Southfield area to eat/see/do?

kelliebellie

That is a good area to stay because you will be central to a lot of things. Getting downtown won't take you too long (20 min?) Bring your passport or birth certificate if you have one. Zipping over to Canada can be fun. We like the casino over there a lot (Canadian money though) and they have a Little Italy on Erie Street that has wonderful Italian food. Check www.metrotimes.com for restaurants and happenings in the Detroit area.

If you have any shoppers, the best mall is Somerset at Big Beaver and Coolidge in Troy. Birmingham is a cute trendy town for shopping. Or you are only half an hour away from Ann Arbor. Go see the campus and their museams and restaurants. Or catch a basketball game or hockey game if they are in town. www.mgoblue.com You can always pick up tickets out front. Same with the Pistons.

Just trying to think of things you haven't tried yet! The place is scrubbed up a bit for the Superbowl, so you will see many new restaurants downtown. You can ice skate in front of the Compuware building if that is your cup of tea. It looks like the weather will be good.

Emucom

Trip report -

All went well. We stayed at the Residence Inn in Southfield. Ok place, although it could use a renovation. The area surrounding the hotel was quiet. There were no restaurants that we could find near there, as the hotel is right in the middle of office buildings. We ate at Kiernan's Steak House in Dearborn both Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday we went to the Auto Show. Another good year for the auto show, we were tired when it was over. I had to park in the RenCen garage, but I did not know it was going to cost $15 to park for the day! I thought there was a show special for parking like around $7 bucks. My lesson is "Read the rate sheet at the ticket booth".

The next day we went to Motor City Casino. I gambled about $120 and came away with $160. At least I was ahead. We left there and drove into Toledo and ate dinner at Tony Packo's. We had a hard time getting there, because the I280 bridge was out, and I had to go the long way on I75. I highly recommend the restaurant! Delicious food, and fun atmosphere.