Visiting TN for 1st time this Oct. Torn betw. similiarly priced Sheraton, Renaissance, & Union Station hotel. Is one better located (I will have a car)? Atmosphere? Also, generally how's the weather in TN early Oct? Thanks

Tennessee (my home) in October will probably be hot. Long sleeves at night would be the most you would need. I don't know about the hotels myself but I have heard that Union Station is best for atmosphere.

Kate,

Have you priced the Hilton Suites Downtown? It just opened about a year ago and is very nice and conveniently located. Of the three hotels you mentioned, I would probably choose the Renaissance because of its central location. The Union Station is several blocks from the downtown core.

Not sure about hotels but we had dinner a couple years ago at a GREAT place called Jimmy Kelley's. It's an old house, the food was wonderful and the service was excellent.

I agree about Jimmy Kelly's. It is in west Nashville, near Vanderbilt U. I would stay at the Loews in west Nashville--not downtown, but a 5 minute cab ride( if that), and near some of the nicest restaurants in town.

Union Station is great but a very long walk to main downtown area. Try the new place The Palm that is near the arena. Robert Redford sighted there several times. And the food is good too. Ever consider the Hermitage Hotel? Lovely.

Second the Hermatige...very nice....out of the ones you mention, the Union Station is by far the coolest and has the best atmosphere...however it is a LONG walk to downtown from there. If you have a car, try the Maxwell House (THE Maxwell House of THE coffee).....the Sheraton is also very nice.

Chris is in KY

I have stayed at the Regal Maxwell House on several occasions for basketball tournaments. The rooms are huge and very clean. It is also a convenient location for getting most anywhere in the city, BUT, you would have to get back on the interstate go down 2? exits and get back off in downtown area, find a parking garage and then walk around all day. Not covenient if the point of your stay is to experience the atmospere of the downtown area. by the way, Regal Maxwell House is a business hotel, not a deluxe hotel and has NO atmospere. I had forgotten about the Hermitage Hotel, what a wonderful place, though rather expensive. It is a historical old hotel with lots of marble and a southern/victorian feel. It located next to the Tennesse Performing Arts Center and within walking distance of anything you would want to visit in the downtown area. Of your choices though, I woould say the Renaissance is the best located. Don't know where you are coming from but TN weather in OCT is usually still warm. There have been Halloweens where I have worn shorts and others where I worn a jacket, you can't tell. You should be fine in short sleeves though with a sweater or jacket to throw on just in case. Sine you have a car, I suggest visiting the area around Vanderbilt for some really good restaurants and a change of pace from downtown. also suggest do a visit for at least a couple of hours to the gardens at the Opryland Hotel which is on the Northeast side, not far from the airport, definitely something to see.

Maybe someone here can answer this. I styaed at the Union Station hotel about 4 years ago. Is it the same place that is in the new Lonestar video? It looks the same, but smaller in the video.

By the way, I didn't think the walk was too long to downtown, but the weather was great when we were there. We did take a cab back to the hotel one or two nights - very easy to find one downtown.

IS THE BEST WESTERN DOWNTOWN A GOOD LOCATION. WE ARE GOING TO NASHVILLE FROM NEW YORK & WE WANT A NASHVILLE ATMOSPHERE NOT A NEW YORK CITY ATMOSPHERE. ARE WE IN THE WRONG LOCATION. IS IT NESSARY TO HAVE A CAR WHEN STAYING DOWNTOWN.
WE WANT THIS TO BE A COUNTRY WESTERN VACATION, IF WE WANT TO BE IN CHINA TOWN OR THE VILLAGE WE CAN HOP IN OUR CARS & DRIVE 20MINS TO MANHATTAN.

Thanks to everyone who replied to my query. I want a convenient downtown hotel so that if my husband wants to walk one way and I another, we can do that and meet up later. Sounds like the Renaissance might be our best bet for the price.

I remember reading about Jimmy Kelley's on a previous posting, so that is a must.

As for the weather, we are coming from
No. Calif., are shorts appropriate downtown during the day? Thanks again!

I second the Hilton Suites. It is the newest hotel downtown. It has Eddie George's Sports Bar which we ate at recently and thought was very good.
We have stayed at the Renaissance and the Doubletree Hotel which are both downtown. Our rooms were nice at both hotels. Union Station defintely has the atmosphere - it use to be an old train station. We have walked around inside but never stayed there. We did walk from downtown to see it but it is a little bit of a hike...fine on a nice day. I think Oct is wonderful in Tn and Ky in October.
Make sure you go by and see Opryland Hotel as Angie mentioned. Beautiful to walk through.
Don't know anything about the Hermitage but think I will check it out one day.