Chicago

My mom and I will be visiting Memphis 9/25 - 9/29. We found 2 marriott properties downtown; a bit more than we would like to spend. Need recommendations for area(s) near downtown?

We would like to stay in the range of $80-$90. Of course, safety is our #1 priority over cost.

Thanks.

lmz

How far from downtown are you willing to be? In Memphis, you either want to stay downtown or you will come out east and be 20-30 mins from downtown. There is really not a whole lot hotel wise in between.
You don't want to stay near the airport. You could look in the midtown/medical center area but I don't think you want to be there either.

Looking on expedia, alot of hotels are sold out this weekend. Might be something going on downtown although I can't think of what.

If you are willing to come out east, look at east Memphis or Germantown but even then it looks like you are going to have a hard time with that price range. The Holiday Inn Express in Germantown shows $91/night.

jent103

Midtown is okay, but for visitors I agree - either stay downtown in the tourist area, or out in the Germantown/Cordova area. You mention Marriott specifically - do you have points there? Or are you open to staying at another chain?

japw82

We recently stayed in Southaven, MS, which is about a 15 minute drive from downtown on I-55. Lots of newer hotels, restaurants, and shopping to choose from. There is a newer Holiday Inn on travelocity @ $80 for your dates. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn and it was nice. There are a couple of Marriott properties if you are wanting to use points. Another area to consider is out around Wolfchase Galleria (Germantown). It's about a 30 minute drive from downtown on I-40. Once again, there are several hotel, restaurant, and shopping options.

Chicago

Unfortunately, we're not using Marriot points. We are open to reserving with another chain.

It appears that downtown seems to be the way to go.

Does anyone know the shuttle cost from the Memphis airport to downtown? Is there public transportation?

lmz

If you are not going to have a car then you need to stay downtown. There is really no other way to get around this city. I am not sure about shuttles from the airport. Either look into that or just take a taxi.

What are you planning to do while you are here? You are probably going to need a car unless you don't ever plan on leaving downtown.

jent103

Airport web sites often have helpful information.

http://www.mscaa.com/?q=directions/g...transportation

Looks like there is not a shuttle sponsored by the airport or any independent companies, but some hotels have one. LMZ is right that Memphis is not an easy city to do by public transport, but there are some shuttles available and there is a bus system. If you find the poster bachslunch, they posted a trip report a few months ago where they visited Memphis using only the bus system and shuttles. It takes more research, of course - it comes down to how badly do you not want to rent a car?

If you do rent a car, I would recommend bringing or renting a GPS, especially if you're not great with maps. The tourist areas of Memphis are fine safety-wise (do use common sense), but there are some areas you don't want to be lost in. Plus a GPS is just less stressful.

lmz

We do have a bus system here but I don't know how safe it is. I'll be honest, I don't hear about bad things happening on the buses but I also don't know anyone who uses them and I have lived her since I was a child. This city is pretty impossible to get around without a car unless you are doing things downtown and downtown only.

And I agree with jent103. You do not want to get lost. What are you planning to do while here?

bachslunch

Here's a copy of a recent post I did re having vs. not having a car in Memphis. Note that I did use the buses and trolleys (as well as the occasional cab) here with some frequency and did not encounter any safety issues doing so:

"Most folks apparently use a car when visiting Memphis (note that attractions tend to be spread out in this city) but one can manage without, especially if you're staying downtown near Beale Street. There is a free shuttle that links up the Rock and Soul Museum (located within a block of Beale), Graceland, and Sun Studio. A streetcar line runs down Main Street from the central city bus terminal to the north to the Amtrak station and National Civil Rights Museum to the south. A few attractions cannot be reached via bus (Ornamental Metal Museum, Slavehaven--Burkle Estate), but most of the rest outside of the immediate downtown can be reached this way. The buses in Memphis are more or less on time, not the cleanest buses I've seen, and something poor folks tend to ride, but if these issues don't bother you, I say go for it."

Agreed that if you don't have a car, you'll definitely want to stay downtown within an area bounded by Beale Street to the south, Front Street to the west, Adams or Jefferson Avenue to the north, and (running from north to south) Third-Street-to-Union-Avenue-to-Fourth-Street to the east. Many attractions are located here, and there are several good hotel choices in the area.

Will echo everyone else who suggests that you don't want to get lost in Memphis, as there are some very rough areas in the city. Would recommend doing your homework here and you should be fine.

Chicago

Hi all,
We will be staying in the downtown area. We plan to do things around the downtown area. Our intinerary is:

Sun Studio
Stax Museum
Civil Rights Museum
Graceland - Platinum
Mud Island
Peabody Ducks
Beale Street
W.C. Handy House Museum
Tunica the last day (Mom must do)

Chicago

Forgot we will rent car for tunica and have accommodations for that night.

bachslunch

Have not been to Mud Island, but all the other attractions you're planning to see are well worth a visit. If you're downtown, also consider (depending on your interests) the Belz Museum, the Cotton Museum, Rock and Soul Museum, or Memphis Fire Museum -- I really liked the Belz's collection, and the others are okay if their subject matter floats your boat.

Graceland and Sun Studio can be reached via the free shuttle that stops at these two places and the Rock and Soul Museum.

The Stax Museum can indeed be reached via city bus, though the area where it's located is definitely not good -- if you decide to take the bus there, I'd make sure to tell the driver to let you off right at the Stax Museum, and be sure not to wander the immediate area before or after. The bus stop going back to downtown is about half a block away, and you should be okay waiting for the bus in the daytime for a brief interval (it's wise to bring a bus schedule and check it to minimize your wait time). I did this when I went there, timing my exit from the museum very shortly before a bus came by. Or you can just take a cab over and/or back from Beale Street, as it's not prohibitively far away -- that will present the least hassle, for sure.

All else is within easy walking distance from downtown and should not present safety issues, especially during daylight hours.

crispy

We're travelling from Chicago to Dallas, and thought we would stop for the night at Memphis. If we take I55, it looks like we'll be west of the city. Are there hotels in that area, or should we aim for east of the city?

jent103

Downtown Memphis nearly backs right up to the river, so "west of the city" would be West Memphis, Arkansas. I would not stay there. Why not stay right downtown? - no need to drive out of your way to the eastern suburbs, unless there's a reason we don't know about.

lmz

I agree with jent103. Cross the bridge and stay downtown rather than in West Memphis, Arkansas