Baltimore Questions- Specific Hotel Locations on Priceline Issue
 

Baltimore Inner Harbor/Downtown and Baltimore Stadiums area- how far are these from each other and is the walking decent between them? Doable distances in poor weather months, for instance? Mainly residential or business?

Looking at lodging locations, I'm not sure where I'd rather be. Which of the above? It could be wintery weather time.

For Baltimore Stadium, are you talking about Camden Yards (the current Orioles Stadium) area, or something else? I have no idea what Baltimore Stadium means. It might mean the old Memorial Stadium (whish was originally called Baltimore Stadium), which is very far away from Inner Harbor. It might mean the stadium where the Ravens play, which is not as far, but also not as close to Inner Harbor as Camden Yard.

Find out what is meant by Baltimore Stadium, then I/we can help you.

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Go to www.betterbidding.com and you can see the list of hotels in the Inner Harbor/ Downtown area. There are no hotels listed in the "Stadiums" area though.

I just went on Priceline and there is no "Stadiums" area listed there either.

I do not think Stadiums means Camden Yards - since that is Inner Harbor.

Be careful with Baltimore and Priceline. I would not be comfrotable with anything other than Inner Harbor since there are some really sketchy areas in Baltimore.

No kidding about "sketchy". My cab driver got lost and I was really nervous until he found his way back to civilization. I'd book a good hotel in a good area in Baltimore.

I agree that Baltimore would be risky for Priceline. It's a patchwork quilt downtown, and you could get in the wrong place IMHO. We used to stay downtown at the Tremont Park, and there's also the Tremont Plaza. They are nice boutique-type hotels. Otherwise, stay right at the Inner Harbor, at one of the chain hotels.
:)>-

I used to teach English at a high school in Baltimore. Have you ever seen "The Wire?" I don't have to watch that show on HBO because all those scenarios were played out in my classroom on a daily basis.

Stay at the Inner Harbour, JJ5. You don't want to wander into the wrong neighborhood, even though a tough Chicago broad like you would probably scare off some Bloods.

Thingorjus

Yes, parts of Baltimore are a bit sketchy, but all big cities are.

Go for the Inner Harbor - anywhere there would put you in a close walk to the Stadiums and the rest of the tourist areas. Camden Yards and M&T Stadium are side by side, so it doesn't matter which one you are talking about. They are right across the street from the convention center if you see a reference to that. Most of the hotels are in this area.

Federal Hill is also quite nice, but really the only hotel there is Intercontinental Harbor Court - which is very, very nice.

By the way to poster emd - although you might not realize it, you come off a little snarky. Since the old Memorial Stadium has been closed and completely demolished for over 5 years, it would be a good assumption that JJ5 wasn't talking about that area. And while you are correct about M&T Stadium isn't as close to the Inner Harbor as Camden Yards, since they share the same parking lot - your statement is a little misleading.

I've been busy as a one handed wall paper hanger, and never got back to Fodors to read the answers.

But thanks all. I'd already actually decided upon Inner Harbor anyway, but was real curious at the map and bidding designations on the Baltimore Priceline grid. They do give you a check off selection for areas called Federal Hill and also for Baltimore Stadiums (plural)- areas to choose for bidding. Those look like small shaded areas of only 3 or 4 block radius each.

And they aren't listed on the bidding sites at all.

I would prefer not to do Priceline and prepay on this trip, as there are such great deals available in other places like quikbook- anyway.
I know we will stay in Inner Harbor regardless. We will not be in Baltimore long, but we will have 1 totally free day- so I'm sure we will see as much as we can.

Would it seem doable to take a train to Mt. Vernon for a Friday in April from the Inner Harbor area?

The Federal Hill B&B that someone in the other thread gave me seems fabulous and would work fine, and my SO would love it, but they don't have availability for all the nights we need. And I think on this trip, I would rather do a large 3-1/2 or 4 star hotel this April, as who knows what the weather might bring and if I might just want some spa or luxury time.

Yes, we will be going to Camden Yards on Wed. and on Thursday nights. Maybe I'll do primo seats once and then also some others. Or might take the inside ones if the weather turns up sour.

I do appreciate all the details, and the neighborhood warnings too.

Yes, you are right, Thingorjus- on all counts.

But it is not either the Crips or the Bloods here. It's the Gangsta Disciples and the M's, and I don't think any Bloods would recognize me, so that would not be a good thing.

Keep any advice coming or rec's.

Thanks. I sure wish Philadelphia series was in a better time frame!

JJ5, I would wait until the Orioles put tickets on sale and buy from them as their games do not sell out. You will pay less for the same seats. I don't think there is the need for a 3rd party Ticket Broker

It is the area SOUTH of the Ravens Stdium. If you go to Priceline and click on the shaded area of "Baltimore Stadiums" it will give you a more detailed map....not sure what hotels are down that way, but maybe a local can.

Yes, I am waiting until then to get tickets. I am not worried at all about availability. Someone on the other thread gave me excellent suggestions about locations.

It was either this in April or SF Giants about a month later- but I've been SF before and want some place I haven't been.

We are really looking forward to a bunch of these 3 or 4 day baseball trips this year. I'm trying to work Seattle in too, but the logistics may not fall.

Pittsburg is coming to U.S. Cellular- gooooooood! I'll be there.

And thanks too, milemarker0, I do see that now. I truly wasn't tempted but it was just "strange" for Priceline. I've used them numerous times and for Baltimore it doesn't seem like a very good selection all around anyway.

hotwire has one really good choice, but I'm still holding out for something better. LOL!

We have done Priceline for Baltimore when going to see Orioles game. Ended up with Westin which is a few blocks off Inner Harbor, but fine. While I am not a Holiday Inn fan the one called Inner Harbor is quite nice - stayed there last summer for a game. All the Inner Harbor hotels are walking distance to Camden Yards.

Regarding ticket availability, we bought Yankees/Orioles tickets on-line a few weeks prior to game. Even got Red Sox/Orioles tickets a week prior to game date, but venue did evnetually sell out for that series - and I expect this year it will sell out faster.

Other than those teams, tickets should be easy to come by.

Hendersons Wharf Inn is really nice. It is just across the water in Fell's Point - itself an interesting place. You would connect to Harbor Place by water taxi. BTW, a daily water taxi pass is a good deal. As others have mentioned, the stadiums are easily walkable from the Inner Harbor and Memorial Stadium is but a Memory.

You write of being near the Stadiums and wintry weather in the same post. Are you looking at next years football season? Other than that there is nothing going on at the Stadiums during the winter.

BTW- single game Oriole tickets are on internet sale now.

No, that was tongue in cheek, because someone on the other thread related how dire the weather will be for April games, as I said in the OP of that thread, that it couldn't be worse than home games during April in Chicago.

If it is 25 degrees F, like she said was possible, I would be very surprised. And I still warrant it will be fine. We saw nearly all of D.C. last Feb. - 6 days with three snow storms within that stretch, and we still thought it was eons warmer than Chicago.

No, weather will not matter unless the game gets totally rained out. Then we will have the other game and fun regardless.

Answer Baltimore hotel questions on the other thread, posted 1/17/08- please.