stumpworks73

I will be harsher than jent's nononononono and say if you are on vacation, don't stay in that neighborhood and don't stay at a Super 8. You aren't close to anything you want to do.

The Vanderbilt-West End area is pricey. You are in a destination city, the preferred area, safe, pleasant, and family friendly hotels. The hotels are less than the Gaylord but will still make for a great visit.

jent103

jeni - you can get the Hampton Inn Vanderbilt (on West End) for $88.40/night (probably plus taxes), if you pay in advance. If you don't want to pay in advance, it's $104. That location is right between the Vandy area and downtown, across the street from a good Italian restaurant and near a lot of others. Five-minute drive to either downtown, Centennial Park or Hillsboro Village (add parking time for downtown).

The downtown one would be somewhat more convenient to some things, but it's $159/night. There are other options, I'm sure, but that's one possibility that won't completely break the bank. If Hampton Inns are representative of the other chains, I'm honestly not sure staying in the suburbs would save you much - the Bellevue location starts at $101 and Brentwood is still $75. The Antioch one is $67 but I wouldn't recommend that location.

(hoping this link works)
https://secure.hilton.com/en/hp/res/...questid=225899

musicfan

Not sure what kinds of bargains you might get that time of year, but you could always check and see what people have been getting on Priceline by going to biddingfortravel.com and/or betterbidding.com Of my four trips to Nashville, I've used Priceline for two of them. You also might look at Travelzoo, enter Nashville as your destination and see if anything pops up (got a great rate at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis by using Travelzoo so I am a fan!). Staying in suburbs would save you a little $, but not enough, in my opinion, to be worth it; suburbs all look the same these days and I like to feel like I have left home when I travel (I live in a suburb).

I am not familiar with the Super 8 you mentioned, but on a tour last spring we picked up some people at a Ramada Inn that was in that area and it was...icky. I'd rather stay home than have to stay somewhere like that.

musicfan

Also, if you aren't a AAA member, consider joining if you can. A single basic membership is pretty reasonable, and members usually get 10-15% off room rates, as well as free maps, discounts on admissions to some attractions (Country Music Hall of Fame is one, I think) and hotel specials that can be found in the area travel guides you can request for your destination.

jaclynone

My Mom and I are going to Nashville the first week in December. We are going to stay at the Hutton Hotel near Belmont University. They are having a fall special where if you spend at least 3 nights it is $111 a night. You can go to their website and go under the specials icon and it is a Fall getaway special. That is a great price for a hotel that close to downtown. I have never stayed there but the reviews are all great. I have also stayed at the Opryland hotel and think it is way overated and overpriced. The gardens are beautiful but all I can really afford to do is walk and look because EVERYTHING including a bottle of water is way overpriced. We are also going to be taking a "NashTrash" tour and going to see the stars homes on "Tommy's Tours"(these can also be found on the internet. On Sat night we are going to Chaffins Dinner Theatre....hope you have a great trip!

musicfan

We did "Tommy's Tour" in March and it was big fun and a great deal. We wanted to do the "NashTrash" tour too, but they were taking that week off for Spring Break...maybe another time.

jent103

Yep, the Hutton would be in a great location for your purposes, jeni4515, if it fits in your budget. It's a new hotel right on West End, close to the Hampton Inn I mentioned earlier.

trvlgirlmq

For hotels around the airport check out Elm Hill Pike area. Marriott, Embassy Suites, La Quinta, Springhill Suites are all represented. You'll only be a few minutes from both downtown and Opryland.

Nash Trash tours are a hoot. I highly recommend them! For Christmas just do what we Jews alway do: Chinese takeout and a movie. The theatre at Opry Mills will be open (the rest of the mall closed). Lots of other historical things to do during the day like The Hermitage, Belle Mead Mansion or a day trip to the Jack Daniels distillery.

trvlgirlmq

Also wanted to say that this years ICE is A Charlie Brown Christmas. I've done the Grinch one and I think it's a little too much money to spend freezing by tuchas off. I think we went through in about 10 minutes because we couldn't take the cold.

jeni4515

Thanks so much for all the posts. I will definitely check out the Hutton Hotel (jaclynone) and their Fall specials. And this is the first I've heard of the NashTrash and Tommy tours so they are on my list to look into.

I was able to get flights on the 24th, returning the 29th so we should have plenty of time after Christmas to add this to our list of to dos.

We have the ICE thing here as well only Grapevine is having the Grinch (I think you all had that last year). I just want to find stuff to do out there that we wouldn't get to do here.

I'll keep you posted on what I find.

Jaclynone...have a great trip and post on how it was. THanks again everyone for all the advice and help. I sooooo appreciate it!

musicfan

Just wanted to add that I checked out the Hutton Hotel on TripAdvisor and wow--they are really impressing people so if that deal fits your budget, it sounds almost perfect! Good find!

As I recall, it had JUST opened as I was planning my Spring 2009 visit so it wasn't coming up on any searches yet, but it sure looks and sounds terrific! Now I wish I was going back...I'd stay there, especially for $111/night!

girlonthego

We stayed at the Gaylord and it was fun and different. I think on Christmas morning it will be a nice place to be. I can see where people would say it is pricey and over the top, but it was a unique place and I think for Christmas, it would be where i would stay.
My DH used to stay at the Vanderbilt Marriott on business trips.
We took our kids who were about 11/12 at the time to the Wild Horse Saloon and they got up and line danced. I am sure if the place has food served, your son will be allowed in with you. Not sure of course since we weren't there late at night.

jeni4515

Well, sad news. I just found out I have to put a new roof on my house so there goes the vacation budget. My thanks to all of you for your responses. I will definitely be keeping all these ideas in my vacation folder as we do plan to get to Nashville, it just won't be this Christmas.

Appreciate all the feedback...