downtown hotels

bridget4mcg

I'm planning from afar, Boston, and just set the venue and date for Grosse Pointe War Memorial next summer weekday. I'm looking into getting a block of rooms downtown, so my loads of outoftown guests have things to do. I am leaning toward the Doubletree, but does anyone have any good recommendations?

Sue-n-Kevin

Welcome to the Detroit board! I lived in the Boston area for 6 years a loooooong time ago, and will be in Maine for vacation shortly! I miss New England, and my hubby's never been, so we are both looking forward to it.

I have never stayed at the Doubletree, but can recommend others. The Doubletree is really not near many places of interest a guest can walk to, and there are other good hotels that are. 

I can highly recommmend the Atheneum for both a hotel AND a place that is central and walking distance to things a visitor would want to see. My hubby and I have stayed there a few times when we have gone downtown for a special "night away", and it is in Greektown which has lots of great restaurants and the Greektown Casino.  

I have also stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn and it might be cheaper, not sure, but it's a farther walk to Greektown. The Courtyard by Marriott has a "People Mover" station attached, and the People Mover is a great way to see Detroit from above.  There is a walkway across Jefferson Ave to the GM HQ building (the Renaissance Ctr), and there are shops and restaurants there, and you can get to the riverfront which has a lovely view of Windsor Ontario across the river. The city has worked on the riverfront a lot in recent years and it's a nice place to walk.

The only casino hotel within walking distance of anything downtown is the Greektown. I have not stayed there so cannot comment on it.The other casino hotels (Motor City and MGM) would result in getting in a car and driving to anything a guest would want to see.

The best hotel, and therefore the priciest, is the Westin Book Cadillac. It was renovated a few years ago and is a jewel. However, it is pricey. It's a bit closer walking distance to things a guest might want to see, but again, not "right there".

A lot of people are wary of downtown Detroit. There is a lot to see, however the way it is layed out means that only a few are within walking distance of things that people will want to see.

You don't say exactly when your wedding is. I peeked at your bio and it says July 3, 2013, if that is correct. The Freedom Festival will be going on downtown (it usually lasts from the middle of the last week in June through the 4th or 5th of July). Dominion Day in Canada is July 1st, three days from our own Independence Day. The riverfront (Hart Plaza, next to the Renaissance Center) has a lot of festivities going on during that time frame, when we join our neighbors in Canada for a big joint celebration. This happens every year. There are games, bands, amusement rides, crowds. Based on that info, again, I'd recommend the Atheneum as it is not RIGHT near the festivities. The Courtyard by Marriott is across the street, and if the Freedom Festival is going on, it will be noisy if your guests are staying there and located on the east side of the hotel. 

 If the Tigers are town playing home games, the rooms might get a bit booked up, but the schedule for next season hasn't been released yet and they don't release it until the end of this year (I think). They won't, however, be completely booked. If for some reason we are playing an American League team that is a close driving distance (ie Cleveland or Chicago), we get a lot of fans traveling here to see their team at an "away game".

Hope that all helps. This is a very friendly board, so if we can be of any other help, let us know. There is a permanent "sticky" at the top of the board with a pushpin where local brides have rated their vendors, some of which you may want to use.

sbradke

I agree with everything Sue said. I know the city pretty well, having worked downtown for 10 years.  I want to reiterate that while the Doubletree is a beautiful hotel, there are hotels in better locations that are as nice or nicer. The Doubletree would make more sense in winter as it is closer to the hockey arena.  If it were me, based solely on location, I'd pick the Hilton Garden Inn or Atheneum. If my guest were looking for something really special, then I'd pick the Westin.

Meegles4

I live downtown. The doubletree is great, but as PPs said, it's off the beaten path. I recommend the Westin Book Cadillac or the Marriott Renaissance Center (could also do the Courtyard Marriott in the Millender Center, which is across from the Ren Cen).

I've never stayed at the Atheneum, but Sue is right that it's in a good location so that's certainly an option too.

bridget4mcg

Thank you all for your input. I will definitely look into those other options.

entropicbeauty

Just an FYI, if you do a block of rooms at the Westin for your wedding they actually offer a pretty decent rate. For my 9/1/12 wedding they're giving us the rooms for $132 a night (minimum of 10 booked)....and frankly it's worth it! We toured the doubletree, the Milner and the Holiday Inn and the prices vs. quality of them just made the Westin even better looking.

I was really impressed with the staff at the Westin, they went out of their way to show us around and answer any questions we had...not to mention the rooms are OUTSTANDING. I can't wait to sleep in the giant comfy bed

bridget4mcg

I found that deal too westin, and as I have dozens upon dozens of oot guests, this is perfect.