tdelano

I would like to visit the Kansas City Plaza to enjoy the Christmas lights and shopping. Can anyone recommend a hotel within walking distance? Also is there any entertainment in the evening? Thanks!

lilcat

We live about 2h1/2 from KC and when we want to spend a weekend there near the plaza we generally go to the Best Western Seville Plaza hotel 4309 Main Street Kansas City, Missouri(http://bestwesternsevilleplaza.com/), there is a parking off Main and it is an easy walk down to the plaza district. There are several places to hear music near the plaza, and one restaurant with music across the street not far from the hotel, but if you have an early dinner and would like to stay for the music and order drinks after dessert, the waiters will ask you to leave (it happened to us once and we never went back although the food was good).

musicfan

I live in a suburb near Kansas City and I'm afraid the above motel would be near the bottom of my list of recommendations.

You don't mention budget in your post, but if the sky's the limit, then The Raphael or The Intercontinental are top choices. Also check out The Courtyard which is a nice converted apartment building that faces a park on The Plaza's east end. There is also a Sheraton Suites and a Hampton Inn & Suites, both in the center of the district.

There is a new hotel to the scene this year--I will do another post with the name and website.

I go elsewhere for live entertainment so I am not as familiar with that aspect of it.

musicfan

Brand new hotel:

http://www.hotelsorella-countryclubp...oad&platform=c

Sheraton:

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sherat...?propertyID=95

The Raphael:

http://www.raphaelkc.com/

The Intercontinental:

http://www.kansascityic.com/

Hampton Inn & Suites:

http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hot...SHX/index.html

The Courtyard:

http://www.courtyardkansascity.com/

I forgot to mention the nearby Embassy Suites:

http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/...EES/index.html

Bitter

musicfan's list is excellent.

I've stayed at the Hampton a couple times. It is very walkable to the Plaza, but doesn't really have a view of the plaza like some of the other hotels.

The Embassy Suites is being a little liberal or creative when it suggests it is on the plaza.

I'm not as up on the entertainment options. Years ago, Westport (just over the hill, north of the Plaza) was the entertainment district, but I think that has dwindled considerably. The Power and Light district, which isn't too far, certainly has a variety of bars and venues, including the Sprint Center.

musicfan

Thanks, Bitter!

Correct--The Embassy is a bit of a stretch compared to the others I listed. I include it because when we were kids and visited Kansas City, we often stayed there, but that was before the other options existed.

I did a quick search for music venues on The Plaza and got few results--Plaza III (also a restaurant) may have live music occasionally. I will keep an eye out to see if anything comes up in the local paper/alternative weekly and add it. If I knew what dates you were going to be here I could look more closely.

tdelano

Thanks very much for the great info!

tdelano

December 14th!

Bitter

is this part of or different from the Wichita trip? (Any decisions on the Wichita trip?)

tdelano

I was trying to decide between the two locations for this little trip and I think we are going with KC. I had heard about a great flea market in Wichita but I haven't had any luck tracking down the info on that so I think we will go to KC and enjoy the Plaza and save Wichita till the new year.

I am have just looked up all of hotel options and I am trying to decide between a value room at the Hampton or go for the more expensive Intercontinental room with the plaza view. Is it worth it???

Bitter

I don't know what to tell you. If you got the right room, I think it might be really nice to be in the IC. You might check to see if choice rooms are even available. However, you will have to cross a pretty busy road and brush creek to get to the Plaza proper.

musicfan

Can you call the IC and place a request for a room with a view of the lights? Then it might be worth the price difference. To compare the IC and the Hampton Inn is not really fair as the IC is probably the nicest hotel in the city. And yes, you have to cross a couple of busy streets and the creek but there are traffic lights and it is a pedestrian-heavy area anyway so there will be lots of people strolling--it's not like crossing the freeway.

December 14th? Just the one night? Do you like a particular type of music? I will see what comes up.

john111111

The embassy suites is great. My wife and I were recently there and used kansascityhoteldiscounts.com to find a good deal at the embassy suites.

Tabernash2

I have no hotel recommendations, other than to say that I grew up in Kansas City and LOVE the Plaza lights. Good choice for you.

It was always a family occasion to go to the Plaza during the holidays. My Dad especially loved it there. I miss it.

sunbum1944

I would stay at the Intercontinental if you can- much better "Plaza" experience.