From what I recall, when I was able to get a room at a hotel that was showing as "sold out" online, but could get one by calling the hotel directly was that cancellations did not factor into the online inventory, but did show on the individual property's system. So if someone had booked a room, then cancelled it, it still showed as being booked. Clear as mud? :)

Since you are booking fairly far in advance, keep in mind that you can check prices for the hotel periodically and see if they go down. If so, you can probably get them to give you the lower price.

I just saved $20 per night by doing that for a reservation I have in August.

My advice would be to call first and see if they can just change it. If not, make sure you can get a new reservation before cancelling your current one. You don't want to cancel and then find out that there really isn't availability at the new price after all.

Oh, yay! Can't wait for the next adventure!

(I'd stay at the Peabody)

I can cancel as late as the morning of our stay so I'll definitely hang on to the rooms I have and keep checking others. Mama just told me her doctor is going to try her on new medication that doesn't have to be refrigerated!! If that works out for her, it makes booking a room a whole lot simpler.

Hi starrs, good to see you!

Most hotels can bring a small fridge to the room even when they don't advertise that. It's worth a call to ask if refrigerated medicine is limiting hotel choices.

You can always buy one of those small coolers that plug into your car or in to electric.

"5:30ish: Back to Beale Street for dinner. Best barbeque downtown?"

Haven't been to Rendezvous, but my guess is that's your best option. If you stick just to the Beale Street honky-tonk strip, I'd opt for Blues City Cafe.

There was (last I was there) an outpost of A&R BBQ in the area, also good.

Mama, I can't offer any advice but I loved your trip to New York and want to be along for this ride too:) Oh, and my mom wants to go to Memphis some day too, but I think it's my brother who will be taking her.

Five Alive

Hey Bachs, You said Neely's was the one bbq spot that was a "must", right? I see they have location of Jefferson that looks like it is only a couple of blocks off the Madison Ave trolley line. I think I read somewhere that this area of town can be "iffy" -- but 5 - 7 on a Saturday evening in early September? I don't want to put the ladies at risk but if walking a couple of blocks in daylight is not too scary, and leads to the best barbeque in town, I think they'd be up for it. What do you think?

Keep in mind there are different "Neely's" bbq joints. Neely's that you see on TV and Jim Neely. I think Jim is their uncle. They both have the "sock it to me" cake on their menus. Both of their bbq sauces are more on the sweet side.

Rendevouz has the Memphis dry rub ribs(they do theirs over charcoal, not wood). Blues City serves theirs wet, which in general, is not a traditional Memphis style rib. Intersting thing about Rendevouz is that the use oregeno(italian routes) in their spice rub. Rendevouz does have sauce on the side, if you want it.

Central BBQ is another favorite for most people. So is Corky's BBQ. There is also a place called Pig on Beale. Ihaven't ever eaten there, but it looks legit and looks like it's been there a while. Payne's BBQ is also a good on to try.

So ... are the dry rub ribs the ones Memphis is famous for? I've seen wonderful reviews for Rendevous but I've also seen a few bad ones. We will probably only have time for one barbeque meal. So many choices. How do I decide?

Everyone has an opinion as to which one is best. The ones I mention are usually on everyone's Top 10. Pick any of them.

Corky's is often at the top, it is my least favorite.

Rendevouz seems to get more of the attention on tv/food network/travel channel.

A few other things that you don't see at your typical bbq joint. Most of them have bbq spaghetti and bbq nachos.

Again, my three favorite places to eat in Memphis are Gus Fried Chicken, Blues City, and Peabody Sunday Brunch.

Interstate bbq is another place that is good.

I don't know that I have a favorite BBQ joint, they are all different but all good. Memphis sauce can be on the sweet side at central, neely's, and interstate. Some places have multiple sauce flavors.

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spiro, We're definitely going to Gus's for Sunday dinner. Not sure on the bbq yet but if both you and bachs say Blues City is good we might stick with that just to keep the schedule simple.

Peabody's brunch sounds fabulous but I'm not sure I can talk the ladies into forking over that kind of dough for breakfast. They balked over $8 ice cream in New York and preferred to keep walking in the rain rather than spend $11 for oatmeal. I'm thinking we'll probably do drinks in the lobby bar and watch the ducks. Do they have a signature drink there?

starrs, I've been thinking we should have seen this when we were in New York last year and now ... omg!! It's in Chicago?! Mama will be in Illinois in Aug and Sept. Not sure how I'll get everyone to the city but I will sure try!

edeevee, yes -- Neely's (the one on Jefferson) served up the best BBQ I had on my trip to Memphis. My understanding is that the Madison Avenue branch of the trolley runs through some pretty dicey territory, though -- I took a cab over and back from downtown at the recommendation of the place I stayed. Personally, I wouldn't chance wandering around the eastern stretches of that trolley line given what I've heard. Also note that I keep qualifying the particular "Neely's" I went to because I've seen reference to Interstate BBQ with "Neely's" at the head. They're not, as far as I know, the same place -- and if the food they dish up is like what I had at their airport location, I can't recommend them.

spiro's right -- there are plenty of BBQ choices in Memphis, and opinions differ. I'd recommend avoiding Corky's and Interstate given what I had at their airport locations. A&R and Central and Blues City were varying degrees of "middle of the pack," but plenty good enough. Neely's and BBQ Shop were the places I liked best. Rendezvous is plenty well enough known (reportedly very good), and Payne's reportedly does a terrific pulled pork sandwich topped with electric yellow cole slaw, but both were on vacation and closed when I was there -- Rendezvous is centrally located downtown, while both Payne's locations are in very dicey parts of the city and would require a car.

My understanding is that Memphis is especially well known for dry rub ribs, though some mop a glaze on as well (BBQ Shop, Rendezvous) while others put on or at least offer a sauce. One thing I liked about Neely's -- when I expressed uncertainty about whether to order ribs dry-rubbed or sauced, they suggested I get half one and half the other. It turned out to be the best of both worlds for me.

As to BBQ spaghetti, I say yes, try it -- it's very good, and not something normally offered at non-Memphis-based BBQ joints. Many offer this as a side dish.

The other thing to keep in mind on BBQ is that even the best places sometimes have an off-day -- reportedly it's the nature of this type of cuisine.

Based on what the others have said, I'd pick a BBQ joint that is in a safe, easily accessible place instead of going in search of "the best". "Best" is subjective and my guess is your ladies will be happy eating BBQ in Memphis - and happier if they feel comfortable in their surroundings.

I agree with starrs, but also want to add that the bbq at the airport is not much like what those restos serve in their own locations (According to DH who tried several both in town and at the airport )
DH liked Rendezvous but especially liked Interstate. Be sure to save room for dessert! Pies/cobblers are great at both.

edeevee, suggestions from my Memphis friend - <i>The Peabody is fabulous and the trolley system will allow them easy access to downtown but not much beyond that. Make sure they do the riverfront trolley tour for a great view of the river. The famous Rendezvous is down there for BBQ and everyone visiting Memphis should experience it. I would recommend there well above anywhere on Beale Street for BBQ.

Beyond BBQ they should consider BB Kings for music and the restaurant above BB Kings for some of the best food in Memphis. The upstairs place is tucked away and most tourists have never heard of it. To my knowledge there are no signs to get there but the name is Itta Bena. Enter on the side of the building under an awning and walk upstairs... It's a true hidden treasure for most people but you can find details on yelp. If I remember correctly they have piano music several nights of the week.

Sorry guys, busy times around here, plus I'm still bouncing back and forth on bbq spots. Just wanted to stop by and say thanks for offering your advice. I DO appreciate it!

Hi As someone who lives in Memphis, I just wanted to remind you that September is as hot as June with temps in the 90s and very humid. You mentioned heat and walking. October would be better if you aren't locked into September.
Don't forget about possibly riding the up- in- the -air trolley over to Mud Island. The Peabody ducks are just a 5 minute thing but the hotel is very old and neat.
As someone mentioned, Brooks Museum of Art and Dixon Art Museum are both great choices. Also the Pink Palace is an old mansion turned museum and one of our best. The Dixon has wonderful gardens all around it and will be pretty in September. Our Botanic Garden is gorgeous-but I know, enough with the walking!
Rendezvous and Neelys are two places people know from t.v. but are kind of overrated at this point. Locals still like Interstate as well as Corky's. Corky's is good but their restaurants don't have history so not as much atmosphere. (Yes barbecue is much better back at the restaurant as opposed to their airport locations.) Although our airport BBQ is better than some cities' restaurants. Germantown Commissary Barbeque is always packed and has been there many decades if you get a car.
I think you should rent a car and drive through some of the really pretty neighborhoods such as those around the 3 art museums I mentioned. Downtown isn't pretty at all. But if you had a car, and drove further in to midtown you could see some really pretty tree-lined neighborhoods.
Be careful downtown and around Beale. Beale is basically about 10 bars, great music, and drunk and homeless people. We just went to BB Kings and heard an awesome band. Their cover is $5 and cocktails $8 so it is pricey but they also have food.
We were named the 6th most dangerous city by U.S. News but luckily most of our murders are people who know each other and get into a fight. Still don't wander downtown at night aimlessly. Stay with the tourists. Restrooms can be really hard to find if you aren't in a restaurant or your hotel. We just don't have public ones downtown hardly at all.
I just wanted to advise about the heat especially when reflected off of the pavement.
Good luck and have fun!!