My husband and I will be in Raleigh North Carolina for New years and need to know what area/hotel we should stay in. We are in our 30's and like night life but want to be safe as well. Please help, Thanks Lori

I like the Brownstone and most of the good clubs are on Glenwood Avenue.

I always suggest the Clarion downtown as it is the most central and extremely safe. Due to most jobs are in RTP, we have unlimited hotel room downtown. The Brownstone is OK, but most likely still a short cab ride. The Sheraton downtown is OK and walkable to City Market, but a very healthly walk to Glenwood South. There is a Days Inn that was redone and is fairly close to Glenwood South, but this is an older motel and was somewhat a cheap old hotel, although it has been undone. I have not heard great things about the Clarion but that was while it was being remodeled, but it is right in the middle of everything. It is a taller round building that use to be a Holiday Inn. There are 3 main sections of downtown restaurants/bars. Glenwood SOuth is the most travelled and very lively at night (also includes the Powerhouse District which is 2 short blocks from Clarion). The next is the Wharehouse District/The Depot District. Some very good resturants,(Nanas, Humble Pie) Gillians, unique places ( 5 Star, Humble Pie--tapas,) and a couple of gay bars (Legends, CCs) and Whitle Collor Crime (look for big Thumbprint). The other location DT is Moore Square which has a few bars/restaurants including Tir na nog, Cafe Luna, Duck and Dumpling with a louder R&R bar called Slim's (one of my favorite). A couple of other items about downtown. If you get hungry latenight, go to Snoopy's or Char Grill at the corner of Peace and Hillsbourgh. Tell me what you like to do/eat and I will tell where to go.

Sorry, I meant we have "limited" rooms in DT. Within 5 years, we should have more rooms DT including a 4 Star and a couple of nice boutique hotels, but not there yet. Go out 12 miles into the middle of nowhere near the airport and RTP and there are numerous rooms/hotels.......

when I was researching hotels, I was torn between the holiday inn brookstone by glenwood south but some on travel advice talk forum said it was a little far out. The clarion was the one I was going to go with but last night I was on the travel advice forum site to check responses and everyone gave it a 1 out of 4. The Sheraton at $214.00 a night was a bit more than I wanted to spend. I think I might just go with the Holiday Inn brownstone.

I have seen those bad reviews and I really hate it as it is very central and inexpensive hotel. It was recently remodeled and is the best place location wise if you are out to walk to bars and restaurants. So, it could be issues with it. There is the Days Inn motel, but again, not sure what it is like as it it a long time motel that has been remodeled. It's previously life was a somewhat seedy econo-lodge, but that was before Glenwood south took over as a night spot, which it is near. You can walk to the area from the Brownstone (Hillsbough St ) if you can not get a cab. It is about a mile. Should be OK but always walk in pairs just in case. Raleigh is quite safe but certain parts of Hillsbough St may have a few late night beggers. But I do see people walking that part late at night and I did walk through a apartment complex along there late one night last month and noticed that the people on the street were more afraid of me than I was of them. Just being careful I guess

thank you so much. I talked to my husband earlier and I booked the Clarion. Sounds like it is in the best location for what we want to get out of our visit to Raleigh. Is there anything go on New Years Eve in these areas I can check into or is better to wait until I am in town and visit the areas and see what they have to offer?

In the past, Raleigh has held a first night celebration. Family friendly, alcohol free. The acorn (Raleigh is the city of oaks) drops at 7 p.m. and midnight. Some hotels will have a NYE celebration dancing/celebrating plus room plus brunch the next day. I haven't seen any ads for those yet. I think in the past, most ads came out in Nov. for the events.

Subway Scoundrel knows the area well.

First night is a very large party on the streets and in the galleries that is all over Downtown/Central Business Distric. Not sure how it will be with so much contruction on Fayetteville St. It is alchohol free so if you are looking of champaign/martini at midnight, it may be best to hit the area nightspots. As you move into November/Decemnber, I would start looking at websites like:
http://www.indyweek.com/durham/2005-03-23/cover.html
http://triangle.com/
http://www.zspotlight.com/list.asp?z...ion&zWhich=189
http://triangle.citysearch.com/
http://www.raleigh.com

I would think you would need to make dinner reservations early as it is a hard night to walk in and eat. Let us know what you like or what you are looking for and we can help. I know downtown inside and out can guide you to something I hope is acceptable. Just interested in why you chose Raleigh ?? and where are you coming from......

thanks for the new replies. I have been so busy I havent been able to get on to this website in the last week and 1/2. My husband and I go somewhere different every year for New Years Eve and have not been to North Carolina yet. We live in Chicago and have been to all the usual spots, New Orleans, London, Las Vegas etc so figured we would try N.C. this year. Thanks for all the web sites also, I will check them out.

horneprime, are you dead set on Raleigh? While it is a lovely town, I wouldn't fly all the way from Chicago to stay there for New Years Eve.

Have you checked into Charleston, SC? It would be a lot more fun, better food, shopping, hotels and attractions. Also, United flies direct from O'Hare to Charleston. It is about a two hour flight.

If you want to go with a low cost carrier, Spirit Air has direct flights from Chicago and you can drive to Charleston in 90 minutes. I think Hooters Air also has a direct flight to MYR.

GoT, as a resident of Raleigh, I was wondering the same thing!

I totally agree with Charleston - or even Savannah - over Raleigh for NYE.

Then again, my idea of New Year's Eve is not a non-alcoholic "party" full of kids. (Pretty much what First Night is mostly about for the majority of the evening.) Also, it has been rained out several times and it can be in the teens here in Jan. weatherwise.

After years of trying to find a REAL party in the area, and fighting to get into our favorite restaurants, we usually just stay home with a bottle of Veuve and I cook something special for dinner.

(Although the prix fixe with wine pairings for each course at The Duck and Dumpling for NYE this year was amazing, and hopefully they will be doing that again for NYE 2006.)

If you're set on NC, choose Charlotte over Raleigh. Downtown has a great bar/restaurant/nightlife scene. Definitely stay in a downtown (uptown) hotel.

Nothing against Raleigh - I spent 5 great years there, but Charlotte's got it beat for centrally-located nightlife.

Yea here come the semi-trolls. Stay in Raleigh. I live in Raleigh and go to Charlotte and I am sorry, give me Raleigh downtown/Gleenwood South/Warehouse district anytime. People are cooler and 10-times the music scene. Charlotte is OK, but a police state with cops and cop cars on every corner in uptown.. First night is OK, but plenty of places to go outside of 1st night and get dinner and hit the watering holes and leave the "first nighters" to themselves. Charleston is OK, I lived downtown in Charleston for 3 1/2 years and you can barhop and eat well and see some interesting things during the day. It is your choice, but I don't buy the Charlotte is better downtown thing. More people work and live there but to me, a lot bankers. People who have not been to Raleigh downtown in the last 2-3 years always say always say Charlotte is better. But Charleston is not a bad choice.

I have to stay in Raleigh this year for New Years we already booked the tickets and they want $100.00/ticket to change the destination. I dont want to pay $200.00 to change but can check out Charleston next year.

Horneprime......email me for ideas, restaurants, places to go , etc. As stated, if you want to eat dinner, it would be worth makeing a reservation. My email is [email protected]. I will be in Vietnam from Nov 17th -->Dec. 4th so will not be able to respond at that time. I also don't check this email daily.

My husband and I are flying into Raleigh this Thursday (11/10/05) and too are wondering where to stay so this discussion has really helped. We are wondering though, what about staying in Chapel Hill by the University of NC? and/or by Duke University? Do they have nightlife/restuarants? Are they safe neighborhoods? Are there any particular neighborhoods we need to avoid?
Thanks.
Sandra

Sandra, If you want to stay in a hotel and walk in that area, I would choose Chapel Hill and the Carolina Inn. I did a quick check and they are full as it may be game weekend. You might want to call. All is safe in Chapel Hill for the most part but always be careful. For Durham, it is hard to say. They do have some nightlife but not a place that is walkable that I know of. Ninth Street is OK but I find it limited. I like the James Joyce Tavern and The Federal but still somewhat limited. No hotel I know of in the nearby area except the downtown Marriott. Not bad and not too far from things but a short cab ride would be best unless you are going to "ringside". (I guess it is still open). A free for all bar where anything goes. 3 floors of fun. Don't be surprised if you see someone dressed only in a few strips of electical tape or someone out back spitting fire. Very ecletic crowd. Private club so you may have to have someone sign you in. Just ask at the door. Not sure what else is DT. http://triangle.citysearch.com/profi...ditorialreview.

In Durham, always watch your surroundings but most of the bad stuff happens in depressed neighborhoods. It is best to stay (when looking at downtown) from Hwy 147, on the left side of DT. There should be no problems. Also, if you book a hotel in Durham, be careful since most of the business travel is to RTP, there are tons of business type hotels there and since the Durham city limits encircles RTP, you could easily stay in a Durham hotel and be far outside the "real" city near the airport.

Maybe someone else can comment.

Not sure what you age or what your likes and dislikes are? Some very good restaurants in Durham/Chapel Hill but the row of bars/restaurants is in Raleigh. Another really nice hotel in Chapel Hill is The Siena. Short cab ride from Franklin Street.

I'd suggest staying in Chapel Hill -- it is a lovely place and there are wonderful restaurants. I live in Northwest Durham, about 10 minutes from Duke and 20 min from Chapel Hill, and we are totally thrilled with the choices we have (especially when all the students are back home and not here). Distances are really short -- it's only about 30 minutes to Raleigh, as well. (Our daughter went to NCSU a few years ago so we know Raleigh pretty well, too.) There are a couple of main "highways" you will use to get around, but don't worry -- the distances are short and it really doesn't take long to get anywhere. However, if you want to be somewhere that is walking distance to lots of things to do, I think the first choice would be Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. (I think the Siena is tres $$$$)

To my knowledge, Carolina Inn and Siena are about comparable in price. There are also a growing number of chains in the vicinity -- not walkable but bus-able by day and a short drive to park behind Franklin St. by night (Sheraton, Hampton, Holiday, Days Inn in descending order of $ and charm). Ball games (football and basketball) are always a problem during the school year -- if there's a home game, forget getting a room.

As to what's safe downtown in CH, I generally feel you're okay up to about 10 pm or so if you are in a couple, but after that, it's less certain -- although this is something the town is very very aware of and is working very hard to remedy. An election tomorrow, and downtown security is a top issue, so we'll see. But compared to Durham, let alone the Big Cities, you're fine for dinner and a movie or a little coffee-shop settin'.