I've given up on the Clarion James Madison. Has anyone ever stayed at the Radisson in downtown Norfolk?

Franka, I really hate to keep being negative, but I would choose the Clarion over the Radisson. The Radisson doesn't have as good a location (noisy intersection, a little further from the attractive part of downtown), and it changed hands about 5 times in the 4 years I lived there. With that said, I've never personally stayed there or been in the hotel. It's just my impression from what I heard from other locals, so maybe I'm not qualified to give an opinion. Did you look on travelocity & tripadvisor for reviews? What are you looking to do in Norfolk, and how long are you planning on staying? Did you check the Marriott & Sheraton at Waterside? The Holiday Inn Portsmouth is also a possibility, since it is just a short ferry ride to downtown Norfolk.

I stayed at the Sheration Waterside in July 2003 and it was a fine hotel. Nothing extraordinary, but great location and fantastic view of the harbor. (We had a big Navy ship parked right outside our window.)

Thanks, JennyL and Gekko. I'll be in Norfolk for about 5 days to look for a house to buy since I'm relocating to Virginia. So - I don't need anything touristy, but would like to be as close to Ghent as I can get, which is why I was interested in the James Madison (but read one real horror story about it on tripadvisor.com). I've considered the Marriott and it's a possibility, but the Sheraton is a bit too pricey for this kind of visit. I don't want to stay at some depressing motel chain-type place, but don't want to go too much over $100/night. Location's important.

You will love Ghent...that's where we lived, and I miss it! There is a B&B in Ghent that I found in the Norfolk CVB book (can't remember the name), and it seems as if the prices were reasonable- comparable to Clarion. Again, I've never stayed there, but it looked good. You might look it up. I think it was right next to the art museum, so you could easily walk downtown from there to restaurants etc.

I think you're talking about the Page House Inn. It is a very nice b&b - I have friends who stayed there - but it's a bit pricey. The minimum is $130, and I just don't want to spend that much. Thanks.