Starwood Preferred Guest - Detroit: Which Starwood Property? [Master Thread]

Hello all,

I needed some help on hotel stays in Detroit. I would like to stay at a Starwood property, but it does not appear that there are any downtown. I have never been to Detroit and was curious as to whether it was worth it to stay downtown or to stay at the Sheraton in Novi or one of the other properties.

Any advice on things to see in Detroit is also appreciated.

Thanks for the help.

I've never stayed downtown Detroit (well, not in the last 10 years anyway :) ) so I can't comment on hotels downtown. Stayed at 4 pts near the airport, and, well, it's a 4 pts.
The Detroit Institute of Arts is supposedly one of the biggest in the country, but I was quite disappointed when I went a few months ago. Allocated 2 hours for it, but was done after half an hour.
Nearby is a science center kind of thing, but that too was not particulary impressive.
Chrysler Museum is way outside downtown.
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village is nice ^ , but that is not downtown (btw, one can often get a good rate at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn -- oops, not *wood, sorry!).
Westin Southfield is not bad. Not downtown.
Unless you have business downtown, there is little reason to stay there, IMO. If you are going on a weekend, it's easy enough to drive into downtown (if you need to) from Southfield or Dearborn or the airport. Done that last couple of times I was there.
Roads are HORRIBLE :( in the motor city...maybe that's how they test the cars' shocks...
Sorry can't help with downtown question.

*wood definitely does not have a good presence in Detroit (but do out of town areas and near the airport).
If you have business downtown, stay at the Marriot Ren Center. If you want to stay outside the city but close enough to get to it, I would stay at the Ritz Carlton Dearborn or the Hyatt Regency Dearborn. I have stayed at all of these and they are all very nice.

I have also stayed at the Hilton in Northfield (?) near Troy because of business but do not recommend it. If you do have business in Troy, I would recommend Somerset Inn. Very friendly and next to the mall.

Also note (with the above poster) that roads are always in poor conditions but since you're from CA, I'm sure you won't care since you will have a rental car.

The Westin at DTW is a fairly nice hotel, if in a bit of a boring area (Romulus isn't exactly fun central) and the drive to downtown shouldn't be terrible from there.

While I'm sure the Sheraton in Ann Arbor would be too far for you, I had to take the chance to suggest you avoid it in any case. After several stays there I have officially given up on that property.

The Novi Sheraton and the Southfield Westin are both nice hotels, and are perfectly acceptable if you want to stay Starwood. Most people would tell you, however, that the area's finest hotel is the Townsend, in Birmingham. Your choice downtown is the Marriott at Renaissance Center or the Courtyard (formerly the Omni) across the street from the Marriott, the new Hilton Garden Inn, or the Athenium in Greektown (downtown). Despite one of the above comments, the Detroit Institute of Art is certainly worth a visit if you enjoy the arts, as is Henry Ford's Greenfield Village if you enjoy history. Also, downtown, is Comerica Park, home of the unbeaten Detroit Tigers, with the best record in the major leagues (as I am writing this post). Oh, and Windsor Ontario is just a tunnel (or bridge) drive from downtown Detroit (although the Windsor Casino is currently on strike, but not the three casinos in downtown Detroit: the MGM, the Motor City, and the Greektown).

I highly recommend the Novi Sheraton. i have stayed there several times. They just renovated the property (formerly a Hilton) a year or so ago. Very comfortable rooms. The Westin in Southfield is not very convenient if you have a car. The parking is valet unless you want to park in the deck behind the hotel and try to find your way back to the hotel. It is co-located with and office building.

It all depends on whether or not you need to stay downtown for your trip. Novi is a good 30 minutes from Downtown Detroit. Southfield is pretty similar. For downtown stays, there is a BRAND NEW Hilton Garden Inn. I know nothing about it other than it is near the stadiums and is new construction. As another poster stated, another decent property downtown is the Marriott RenCen.

Despite one of the above comments, the Detroit Institute of Art is certainly worth a visit if you enjoy the arts, as is Henry Ford's Greenfield Village if you enjoy history. Also, downtown, is Comerica Park, home of the unbeaten Detroit Tigers, with the best record in the major leagues (as I am writing this post).

As the guilty party responsible for "one of the above comments," I actually agree that if you like the arts, you should visit the DIA. I enjoy art, and even though I said I was disappointed, I was glad I went. If nothing else, I can say "I've been there."

As for the Tigers, well, since I have all but given up on my Jays (dreams of renewed glory notwithstanding), good luck Tigers! :)

The local paper reported that the long-closed grand old Book Cadillac Hotel downtown may be granted a new life as a Westin. Won't help you now, but they are trying to get the deal done so the hotel will open by the 2006 Super Bowl.

Just wanted to add that parking at the Westin Southfield is not difficult at all. The nice thing is it is covered parking and is a very short walk to get into the hotel. Also, there are a large number of restaurants a short drive away. The hotel has a map with a full listing.

As the guilty party responsible for "one of the above comments," I actually agree that if you like the arts, you should visit the DIA. I enjoy art, and even though I said I was disappointed, I was glad I went. If nothing else, I can say "I've been there."


One of the world's most famous paintings, "Whistler's Mother", is now at the DIA. This is one of the few times in 50 years that the painting has visited the USA, from its home in Paris at the Musee d'Orsay. http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/03/16/whistlers.mother.ap/

Just wanted to add that parking at the Westin Southfield is not difficult at all. The nice thing is it is covered parking and is a very short walk to get into the hotel. Also, there are a large number of restaurants a short drive away. The hotel has a map with a full listing.

A really neat place to eat near the Westin Southfield is Beans and Cornbread, http://www.beanscornbread.com/ Went there the last couple of times we were in town. Great food. Good service. And quite near the hotel. ^ ^

What is the upgrade rate at the Sheraton Novi? I have stayed here several times this year and have never been updated to a suite as a Platinum? Do they not have many suites? I have found very poor SPG recognition at this property? Is there a lounge that I am not receiving access to? Sometimes I forget to ask, and I have found they are reluctant to tell me about my SPG benefits.

Thanks!

Four Points.

older property

FYI

My only upgrade experience at the Novi Sheraton is to the 6th floor. No club room, but you do get the upgraded amenities (bath robe and bottled water). It is a very nice property. Next they need to upgrade the shower curtain rods with the bowed rods.

Hello !

I will fly (on short notice) to Detroit tomorrow (actually today here in Europe). For a 24 hour stop in Detroit arriving arpound 2000 Saturday.

Me and my friend have never been in Detroit and would really like so see the best of the town, some nightlife, eating, and a comfortable hotel. I am a SPG member as well as Hilton and Hyatt, only status with SPG, Only decent hotel recommended seem to be Marriott at Renaissance Center or maybe the New Hilton Inn, which I however can´t find any info about here on FT. I would appreciate any recommendations for one night, price is ot important, we would rahter have the best. For Sunday we leave at 1900. So would like to be able to maybe do some return hoome shopping on Suunday.

If any one has any suggestions, primary about hotel, pls share your knowledge.

Have a nice weekend ererybody.

If you want to stay in downtown Detroit, the Marriott is a good choice. It is a 73 story landmark hotel and is near nightlife in Greektown, the Fox Theatre district, and various clubs. You will need to seek out the pockets of nightlife in the downtown area; much of downtown is quiet on the weekends.

I recommend dinner at Coach Insignia, the recently reopened restaurant at the top of the Marriott Hotel. Great food and a beautiful view of Windsor, Canada across the Detroit River.

The superior hotels are out in the suburbs: There is a Hyatt and a Ritz Carlton in Dearborn, fairly isolated. The top hotel in town is the Townsend in downtown Birmingham, which has a bustling nightlife typical of wealthier suburbs in the U.S.

We are going to Detroit this summer to visit, we'll be there for a week or so... Which Starwood is the Best? There is none downtown...
The Marriott at the Ren-Cen was a Westin a while back and the old Cadillac-Book Hotel might be a Westin one day... but none right now... Nothing.
Anyway which one is the best and which one should we avoid?
Warren 4 points, Sheraton Novi, 4 Points Airport, Westin Airport, Westin Southfield??? Westin Detroit Airport sounds great but parking is a problem right?...no allowed in and out access in a same day??? no?
It is strange that there are few Starwoods in Detroit and so many Marriott, especially downtown... I know Detroit downtown is well... ''Downtown Detroit'' but still...

Thanks for ur imput!

None of the Starwoods in Michigan are particularly nice, even the airport Westin is just OK with room for improvement (it does have a good gym though, but being stuck in the airport terminal building is useless for anything but taking a flight). The Westin Southfield is maybe the best of the bunch, and happens to be in the same office building complex as one of the best Japanese restaurants in the US (Musashi). Location is reasonable and parking is free, rooms are OK but don't expect too much. If you want a nicer hotel pick the RC or even the Hyatt by Ford HQ. The Ann Arbor Four Points is probably the best place to stay (used to be a Sheraton but got defrocked, with good reason). The final choice is the Sheraton Novi which used to be a Hilton and again is just OK. Pretty grim *wood operations in this area, a dozen hotels and they are all clunkers. Maybe something to do with being in MI.

There isn't much to selection for *woods in the Detroit area. I was there earlier this month for business, and stayed at both Westins (Airport & Southfield).

I thought that the Westin at the new terminal was very good. For being an airport location, it was surprisingly quiet, but offered great views of the Northwest terminal. The staff there was helpful (1:30am arrival), and the entire room was spotless.

The Southfield was pretty average. I had heard it used to be a different property, Westin took over and re-imaged. It is in a very "office" type setting, with Musashi next door, kinda made up for it. I would recommend a trip to the office building. Very cool indoor atrium, odd to see palm trees in the dead of winter. Staff here was exceptional. Housekeeping offered me lots of extra "Panna" to take home. :D :D :D

I've never stayed at any Westin yet, only Sheraton and 4 Points. Maybe the Detroit area Westins are not a good choice for my first Westin ''experience'' right?
I'll also be staying at the Sheraton Center Toronto which is nice other than the rude front desk, I would try the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto but it looks old and not very
''Westin-ish''.... Alot of Westin Hotels need to be redone all over North America because they are not up the same level...

Everyone say that the Westin in Southfield is just ok or average, what is strange to me is that on the *Wood website the pictures looks great and everything looks new... On the Trip Advisor Website they say its a dump!?! Does anyone have an opinion on the 4Points at the Airport and the 4 Points in Warren, how about the Sheraton Novi it looks modern and new... How about it???

Did anyone stay at the Four Points Detroit Airport in Romulus Michigan.
We'll be staying there for a week or so...

Thanks!

I personally like the 4 points @ the airport - some people here hate it - but all my experiences have been good.. They always upgrade me to a jacuzzi room (although I would never use an in room jacuzzi at a hotel - but that's just me).. I usually get a snack and some water on arrival as well..

Well, I am glad to see someone satisfied by a Four Points, some people sometimes go to a 4Points and expect the St. Regis in NYC... you pay for you get and what you get at 4 Points is a nice hotel with a good deal most of the time...
People compare 4 Points to Westins & Sheratons, wake up people those places are twice or 3 time the price sometimes...

If you can get over the springtime ladybug infestation in the rooms, indifferent staff, and subpar food in the restaurant, it's a great place to stay. (Things might have improved since the last time I stayed there, but I've decided to write it off.)

I think the Westin Southfield is a pretty "tired' feeling property. Musashi definitely compensates, but there is something a little depressing about eating dinner in an office building.

I was pleased with the room renovations and Platinum recognition the one time I stayed at the Sheraton Novi.

I haven't stayed at the Four Points Warren, but the Filipino restaurant in the hotel is fun, and is a nice break from the usual Four Points fare.

The best of the lot is probably the Westin at the airport -- in my opinion, it's probably the 3rd or 4th nicest place to stay in the Metro Area.



Did anyone stay at the Four Points Detroit Airport in Romulus Michigan.
We'll be staying there for a week or so...

Thanks!

I did not mind Sheraton Novi at all.

Nice Platinum recognition, comfy bed, larger room, free booze at the Club Lounge, free wireless connection... Not to mention, my corp rate is only $99.

I travel to Detroit 2-3 times per month on business. I usually split my stays for each trip between the Westins at the Airport and Southfield. Here's my take on both:

Airport:
I don't spend much time at the Airport location and never use it as a base, only stay there when flying in at night or out early the next morning. It's a nice place, but avoid getting a room on 2 or 3 directly above the bar. Due to the open atrium, the noise can be quite loud since the bar is just below your door. Otherwise, rooms are nice, clean, quiet. Have occasionally been upgraded to a two-room suite, which is nice and has a pretty cool bathroom. While I like the upgrades, I don't mind not getting them at this location because I typically spend less that 12 hours at the hotel. The food is good which is nice since unless you plan to drive away from the airport or have a boarding pass to get into the terminal, there are no other choices. The staff is always nice and I've never had an service related issue staying there. There is a club lounge on 8 and it has good snacks in the evening and basic breakfast food in the morning (except Mondays - I guess they don't get a lot of Sunday night guests?). The club has an honor bar for beer/liquor in the evening but soft drinks, water, food, etc. are all free.

Southfield:
I typically use this as my Detroit base. My company's office is in the adjacent building, so walking through the skyway to work in the morning is nice and convenient. This (and my *wood loyalty) is the primary reason I choose this hotel in Southfield. Otherwise, there are probably nicer places to stay. The hotel common areas are OK, but nothing fancy. This is a heavily used hotel and the rooms are worn. As Plat for 2 years and more than 40 stays at this hotel, I've only been "upgraded" once (last year). The upgraded room was just a larger room with nothing to cheer about. It was on a lower floor which didn't have high-speed, yet. I found this quite curious for an "upgrade" room, so I promptly requested to be moved to the Executive Floor where I usually stay. I'm told they really don't have great suites or anything anyway, although one coworker told me they have a suite with a jacuzzi. I have yet to confirm this (or care). The restaurant/bar has average food (and room service is pricey), but there are plenty of restaurants around and the bellman is very helpful giving driving directions or offereing a shuttle. Someone mentioned the Japanese restaurant next door. I've eaten there on several occasions and I recommend it, although service can be slow. There is no club lounge at this hotel, which is disappointing. I have had several service related incidents at this hotel, such as:
-- electricity has gone out (and stayed out for long periods) on a few occasions and in different areas (sometimes in the rooms, sometimes the halls, sometimes just the elevators). Note: When this happened, there was no water to the upper floors which made it even more problematic since one time it happened from about 6am-9am.
-- workers have come to the door offering candles when "anticipating" a power outage (hey, at least they're trying now - but I wish they'd focus on the larger problem and fix whatever electrical issues they have in the building.)
-- phones have gone out
-- high-speed internet has gone out while I was working online
-- was given a room that had just been shampooed and carpet was still wet. Of course, I didn't notice this until kicking off my shoes.
-- intermittent turndown service on Exec Floors
-- Usual TV problems, HVAC problems, etc.

Bottom line: I like the Westin Airport and have had no real issues there. The Westin Southfield is worn and may not be worth the gamble due to service issues. I don't think it would be a good choice for a vacation hotel (but then I'd question anyone that goes to Detroit for vacation - unless you have family there). There's nothing within walking distance and absolutely nothing for kids. It's strictly a road warriors hotel and I only stay there due to the proximity to my office and for the points/stay credits since I spend so much time in Detroit. I'm back in Detroit next week and will make platinum for 2006 after that trip, so I guess my loyalty in Detroit is paying off.

(edited to add club info)

The Novi Sheraton, formerly a Hilton, is a nice property in a decent suburban location. As a tourist, the Airport Westin would be a mistake as it is not convenient to much. The Southfield Westin is immediately located in a business/office area, but is the closest to the liveliest suburbs, shopping, and restaurants (Royal Oak, Birmingham, Troy, Ferndale). The non-Starwood Townsend in Birmingham is pricey, but is probably Detroit's premier hotel.

There are some nice hotels in the Detroit metro area, but Starwood does not lead the parade. If you want to stay downtown, you might consider the independent Atheneum. For your tourist thing, don't forget: Greenfield Village (in Dearborn), the great college town of Ann Arbor, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Ford Rouge plant, the Detroit Sympony and other concerts at the Max Fisher Center, the improving Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, the nightlife in Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Birmingham, and in pockets of downtown Detroit, the Detroit Opera Theatre, the stunning view of downtown Detroit from either Windsor or Belle Isle, the world champion Detroit Pistons at the Palace in Auburn Hills (forget the legendary Detroit Red Wings for this season and maybe next), and the many beautiful lakes and parks that surround the city, particularly in Oakland County.

I just spent a short two night stay at the 4P in Warren. As stated above, if you are expecting the St Regis, pass. But, if you want a reasonably priced, clean, comfortable hotel, then this 4P should not disappoint.

As a Plat, I was pre-blocked into a suite for my stay. This was a full two-bedroom suite with a work desk, couch, chair, dining table, refrigerator and microwave. I was given one bottle of water which was replenished by housekeeping. The hotel offers complimentary wireless HSIA, and offers loaner wireless cards if you need. The network was down for a couple of hours on Friday night, but was nothing horrible.

I was offered free breakfast each morning of my stay via coupon at the in house restaurant. For weeknight stays, the restaurant also offers hotel guests a free cocktail and appetizers. There are a few local eating establishments nearby, as well, including a sports bar about 1/2 miles up the road where the food was pretty good. They also have a White Castle (something I can't get in Florida!) nearby.

The hotel is not in the most convenient location, unless you want to be in the suburbs. But, if you will have a car, then you are no more than a 30 minute to drive to most of the places listed in the above post. I know I made Comerica and Greektown in less than 30 minutes each.

All this for a weeknight AAA rate of $89 -- which is significantly less than what you would pay at the Westin.

Stevekoe

The Westin at the Airport is the newest and nicest by far. Beautiful and well designed. However, the city of Romulus (where the airport is) is a dump. You are better off going to Dearborn in terms of doing stuff in that area (Greenfield Village is a lot of fun.)

It depends on what you want to do. My favorite hotel is downtown Detroit is the RenCen Marriott, and I have also heard nice things about the Hilton Garden Inn. There are no Starwood properties downtown. I think the city of Detroit is actually quite fun. Hitsville USA, Belle Isle, Greektown, and the mansions in Indian Village are all worth seeing (and staying downtown for.)

Taking the kids to Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. The 4Pts Airport seems closest, but my past experience there was not the best. There are some good comments about Sheraton Novi on FT, but it's 20 miles away and I just wonder if 275 and 96 might get very bad during the week. From various posts (and considering prices), I am narrowing things down to Novi and the 4Pts. Any comments/suggestions? Thanks! :)

Wizzy,

The closet to GRR is Lansing. And its a very nice Sheraton at that

chopliva, I use Novi as much as I can, however if you'll be staying B4 6/30 keep in mind that every 3 4pts Stays gets you a bonus of 4000 Pts if U register for the promo, Open to All. So a 3night stay for me would be 4P DTW- 4P Warren- 4P DTW. If you cant do that or wont be doing 3 4ps by 6/30 Id go with Novi

Wizzy,

The closet to GRR is Lansing. And its a very nice Sheraton at that

chopliva, I use Novi as much as I can, however if you'll be staying B4 6/30 keep in mind that every 3 4pts Stays gets you a bonus of 4000 Pts if U register for the promo, Open to All. So a 3night stay for me would be 4P DTW- 4P Warren- 4P DTW. If you cant do that or wont be doing 3 4ps by 6/30 Id go with Novi

craz,
Thanks for the info. And also for the 4000 pts promo. Don't think that will be a factor. I think we'll do Novi, especially since there's a $50 credit per stay promo, which actually brings the Novi's rate below that of the 4 pts. :)
Thanks again!
chop

Originally booked my stay at Novi. A few days ago saw an $80 rate for the Westin on westin.com, so decided to give that a try. Have been at this prop now for three days, departing this morning. Thought I'd give a quick report here.

My reason to come to the area is to take my family (Mrs chop and two little chops) to see Henry Ford museum, Greenfield, etc.

The Westin (at the airport) is not far from Dearborn, our real destination, so it's convenient for us. A very nice looking hotel, not surprising considering how new it is. And taking into account our low rate, it's very nicely laid out and furnished in the new look Westin style. Heavenly this and that. Elevators looking out onto the atrium, very cool. Little chops happy, and Mrs chop loves the room.

For an airport hotel, the soundproofing is first rate! Hardly ever heard planes taking off or landing. And corridor noise is minimal.

Pool is on the small side, but ok.

Gift shop closes pretty early. Stopped by at 9 last night and it was already closed. And there's nothing else around.

Directions to the hotel and to parking are not well thought-out, IMO. But once we found out where everything is, not a problem. Selfpark is $15 with in and out, charged to the room, and located right across the road (walk above ground right across to the hotel, or take the scenic route and walk underground in a big loop). Stopped in front of hotel for valet park, but no one came :rolleyes: . Just as well, saved chop a few bucks.

Check in was very slow. Courteous but not particularly friendly. It's ok. I've seen worse (and better). But it was slow. It took 15 minutes before I got my keys (there was only ONE party ahead of me!). No offer of 4 pm checkout, no upgrade of any discernible kind (I'm actually almost directly across from elevator), not even a gold-colored key envelop (yes, chop is only gold). But at $80 a night, it's fine, and I don't need a late checkout anyway.

Housekeeping is fine. Seems to do a nice job. The white bed cover, though, obviously did not look like it's freshly laundered prior to our check-in. Could see dark stain around the edges.

Had dinner at the DEMA, the hotel restaurant. Not impressed. Service level is more akin to a one-star joint. Food is subpar. Very disappointed. Should have diven somewhere for dinner.

All in all, a nice property conveniently located for what we want to do. Would stay here again even at a higher rate, but definitely won't eat here again.

Service level is more akin to a one-star joint. Food is subpar. Very disappointed. Should have diven somewhere for dinner.
Would stay here again even at a higher rate, but definitely won't eat here again.

Nothing to drive to that is particularly close by. You'd have to drive to either Dearborn, Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor, or downtown Detroit. As you could guess, the Novi Sheraton, and particularly the Southfield Westin provide a plethora of nearby excellent dining choices. How was your Detroit visit?

Nothing to drive to that is particularly close by. You'd have to drive to either Dearborn, Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor, or downtown Detroit. As you could guess, the Novi Sheraton, and particularly the Southfield Westin provide a plethora of nearby excellent dining choices. How was your Detroit visit?

Visit was good, thanks ohmark. Had dinner at Bean and Cornbread on Friday. Great stuff. Henry Ford Museum is always great for the kids, and this weekend there was a classic car exhibition thing at Greenfield Village. Don't know how many, but must be hundreds. Brings back memories when I saw a 67 Fairlane almost identical to the one I had :) . Oh well...

Agreed totally with you that there would not be much to drive to from the airport... would have to go rather far. :)

Chopt, If you like classic cars, you might want to plan a visit for the Woodward Dream Cruise, a rather spectacular affair that takes place in the summer along Woodward Avenue, all the way from the near north suburb of Ferndale to the northern suburb of Pontiac.

I performed a search for recent info on the Four Points in Romulus (across the interstate from DTW) and this is all I came up with.

Obviously the info in this thread is dated but I was wondering if someone could give me some current info on this property. I checked the *Wood site and it appears the hotel was recently renovated which would make it a great value for a 2K pt redemption for a weekend night.

Anyone with recent experiences, I'd love to get some feedback. Thanks.

I performed a search for recent info on the Four Points in Romulus (across the interstate from DTW) and this is all I came up with.

Obviously the info in this thread is dated but I was wondering if someone could give me some current info on this property. I checked the *Wood site and it appears the hotel was recently renovated which would make it a great value for a 2K pt redemption for a weekend night.

Anyone with recent experiences, I'd love to get some feedback. Thanks.

Id 1st check especially for a weekend night what their rtaes are and others in the area, I'd hate to use 2k when I can get in to a place for under $100

Id 1st check especially for a weekend night what their rtaes are and others in the area, I'd hate to use 2k when I can get in to a place for under $100

Thanks for the idea but I have quite a few *Wood pts from the AmEx and if the rate is..say, $80, I would consider the 2K redemption to be worth 4%...a very good value for me.

Anyone having current info on the property, thanks in advance.

I just spent a week in the Sheraton Novi. The hotel was in good condition and the rooms were OK, but there was no hot water for a shower (I could get a trickle of warm water, but that's about it).

The first time I contacted the front desk, they said they'd take care of it - and ignored it.
The second time, they told me that the hotel was full and the boiler couldn't keep up (like it's my problem that they didn't put in a boiler big enough for the hotel).
The third time (this time I talked directly with the manager), they finally sent a maintenance person up to 'fix' it. He replaced the shower nozzle and it got a bit better, but not much.

When I returned, I sent a complaint to SPG and they sent a form letter saying they're sorry I was unhappy and would forward the complaint to the hotel general manager. So far, I haven't heard from him.

If you like hot water for your shower, this isn't the place to go. Also, if you like responsive management, it's not a good choice, either.

...Anyone having current info on the property, thanks in advance.The WN crews overnight there (which usually means it is the best hotel around the airport). Don't expect luxury, and the location needs a car (but then that is a given in Detroit), but the hotel is fine and the renovated rooms make it a lot nicer. Plus parking is free (unlike the Westin inside the airport, which is nicer but 4x the price).

I just spent a week in the Sheraton Novi. The hotel was in good condition and the rooms were OK, but there was no hot water for a shower (I could get a trickle of warm water, but that's about it).

The first time I contacted the front desk, they said they'd take care of it - and ignored it.
The second time, they told me that the hotel was full and the boiler couldn't keep up (like it's my problem that they didn't put in a boiler big enough for the hotel).
The third time (this time I talked directly with the manager), they finally sent a maintenance person up to 'fix' it. He replaced the shower nozzle and it got a bit better, but not much.

When I returned, I sent a complaint to SPG and they sent a form letter saying they're sorry I was unhappy and would forward the complaint to the hotel general manager. So far, I haven't heard from him.

If you like hot water for your shower, this isn't the place to go. Also, if you like responsive management, it's not a good choice, either.

Well, they finally got back to me. I was told about a week ago that I would get some points for the inconvenience, but they never showed up. The manager contacted me on Friday to ask if I got the points and I told him they hadn't showed up. He promised to look into it.

I received the points today. 3,000 points for lack of hot water.

I stayed at the Airport Westin.

very nice. restaurant is pretty good. lounge above average, not great

lobby / decor makes you forget you are in an airport and certainly that you are in detroit

I stay at the Westin DTW in the airport. I love it, mostly because of connections I know you were looking fo rsomething more downtown, but the airport is pretty good.

I stayed in Southfield Westin twice, got upgraded both times. Decent rooms staff was very friendly in my experience. The restaurant was just ok, no club level but they did have the work out rooms which would have been nice had they not been booked.

also stayed in Southfield. Very generic. Not bad, just bland.

DTW is much nicer.

I traveled to Detroit on a weekly basis between 2002-2005. There were a number of us who started off staying at the Ritz Carlton but moved into the DTW Westin as soon as it opened. The rooms, gym, and management are all far better than the Southfield Westin. It hardly warrants a comparison - stay at the airport.

Hi all -

Headed to Detroit for a sports weekend - Toledo Football Saturday and a Lions game on Sunday, trying to sort out where to stay.

Would prefer SPG (hence the start in this forum) however not seeing many non-airport options from a search.

Preferably walking to some food, bars, etc as will be with 7 others..

let me know your thoughts... other option is the Windsor side of the stream, but no SPG to be found from what I can see.

Thanks all,

T.

there are a few props but none really will fulfill what you are looking for. The Westin or 4P at DTW are plain airport Hotels with no food or watering hole around.

The Westin Southfield is in an office park and again nothing to walk to

The Sheraton Novi is close to some malls that have aplaces to eat but no great Watering Holes either.

The 4P Ann Arbour I never stayed at but will probably be the closest youd get to what you are looking for, but its a bit West of DTW so that will add some driving time to both TOL and The Lions game.

Youd probably be best finding something in TOL for that game and then something close to DT Detroit for the Lions game, but SPG is not agood idea, except for Ann Arbour, then again depending on the weekend you plan to do this there might be a Home game being palyed in Ann Arbour, but Ann arbour is a College town so it will Definitely fulfill having enough Watering Holes and places to eat

I just recently stayed at Ritz Carlton Dearborn through FHR. I posted an update here:http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=718448&page=27 and see post #404

I hope it helps. If you can get a Club level, then five food presentations are included and in the evening you can have complimentary drinks.


I know the RC , theres a Hyatt at the southern end of the corp park that it is in and a Double Tree just North.

BUT I dont know any place where 8 football people are gonna be able to get Food and a Watering Hole within walking distance or even driving distance of tehse Hotels

I know the RC , theres a Hyatt at the southern end of the corp park that it is in and a Double Tree just North.

BUT I dont know any place where 8 football people are gonna be able to get Food and a Watering Hole within walking distance or even driving distance of tehse Hotels

I would consider Ritz Club Level, but it is just me :)

Both Westins are pretty nice, but avoid the 4 Points- it's not a great place.

Hi all -

Headed to Detroit for a sports weekend - Toledo Football Saturday and a Lions game on Sunday, trying to sort out where to stay.

Would prefer SPG (hence the start in this forum) however not seeing many non-airport options from a search.

Preferably walking to some food, bars, etc as will be with 7 others..

let me know your thoughts... other option is the Windsor side of the stream, but no SPG to be found from what I can see.

Thanks all,

T.

Have you reviewed this thread?
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=414109&highlight=detroit

I've stayed at the Marriott Dearborn numerous times. Its next door to Greenfield Village, Henry Ford's museum. Its on the site of the old Ford airport where they launched the Ford Tri Motor. Its a cool hotel.

I've stayed at the Marriott Dearborn numerous times. Its next door to Greenfield Village, Henry Ford's museum. Its on the site of the old Ford airport where they launched the Ford Tri Motor. Its a cool hotel.

Better known as The Dearborn Inn.

There are alot of nice suggestions being made but keep in mind the OP wants a Hotel near to Watering Holes and Places to go Eat. I took that to mean the OP wasnt looking for a Hotel that has a bar and restaurant, but rather is near or even walking distance to a reg bar/s and restaurants. Most of the suggestions do NOT fulfill either of those as ther isnt anything near to them except what they may have in House.

Better known as The Dearborn Inn.

There are alot of nice suggestions being made but keep in mind the OP wants a Hotel near to Watering Holes and Places to go Eat. I took that to mean the OP wasnt looking for a Hotel that has a bar and restaurant, but rather is near or even walking distance to a reg bar/s and restaurants. Most of the suggestions do NOT fulfill either of those as ther isnt anything near to them except what they may have in House.

You got a point. We just got carried away :)

Embassy Suites in Livonia or Southfield. They have the Manager's reception w/ free drinks (beer, wine, mixed drinks) from 5-7 or 8p. They have snacks, etc. Also, not too far away from food, etc.

Having stayed at all of the *wood props in the D, I would say that the Westin Southfield will come closest to meeting your expectations. There is a Musashi (Japanese) Restaurant attached to the hotel, and the hotel has a nice lounge. The Westin at the airport is very nice by hotel airport standards, and you are allowed to enter the airport as a registered guest of the hotel and go to the restaurants/bars (ESPN sports bar, for example).

If you are not too excited by those options, and you really want pedestrian nightlife, you should consider either going across the ditch and staying at the Windsor Hilton (nightlife there is good, from watering holes to strip joints) or stay in Royal Oak or Birmingham (search hotels on orbitz.com).

Keep in mind that Southfield is only about a $20 cab ride from Royal Oak, which will have all the nightlife you need. I would assume that if you are able to afford to go to 2 games on a weekend, 2 x $20 cab rides won't break your banks.

Have fun, and make sure you check for weekend construction shutdowns on www.mi.gov/mdot

Have you reviewed this thread?
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=414109&highlight=detroit


I did, but a lot of old and airport info... thanks.


Sounds like the Windsor Hilton or the new Sheraton Riverwalk might do the job, will look into rates and write a review when I get back... thanks again for the info.

T.

I went to Musashi last night for dinner with some friends. It is within the Westin Southfield, and the sushi was fantastic. It was $67 for myself, and I forget what my friends paid. I highly recommend staying at the Westin Southfield, but only because of Musashi.

Cannot find any info under a search so posting my question;
I need some help picking a SPG property in Detroit - I will be flying into DTW for meetings at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti; 2 night stay; should I just stay at the Westin Detroit Airport or is there another choice. I am not at all familiar with the Detroit area. Thanks for your help!

I think there are four properties within a reasonable driving distance of where you're going:

1) Westin DTW - Seems like probably the best hotel but maybe the most expensive. I've never stayed here.

2) Sheraton Novi - I stay here all the time - decent Sheraton, nothing special. Probably cheaper than the Westin, but probably a further drive too.

3) Four Points DTW - I've never stayed here, but my co-worker has and gives it a decent review for a Four Points, but I think if you search on this hotel you will get varying opinions.

4) Four Points Ann Arbor - I've never stayed here, but my co-workers have and give it not as good reviews (Smoky rooms?), but I think if you search on this hotel you will get varying opinions.

If you're not paying for it yourself, I'd probably stay at the Westin DTW.

-cwillyg

I stay at the Airport Westin about ~10 nights per year. I think it is a great property. Very convenient to the airport. Rooms are all new with Flat Screen TV's. The restaurant there is good in general, very good for a hotel restaurant.

I've never been upgraded to a suite there (I've always been a platinum during my stays), but always get the club level. I travel solo, so the suite upgrade is not a big deal. The club is one of the nicer ones out there with continental breakfast weekday mornings and cocktails and snacks in the evening. It's well appointed, clean, and comfortable.

I've also used their banquet facilities successfully in the past for business meetings and they do a very good job with that. I've never had a service issue there either - front desk has always been competent.

I can't compare it to other Detroit Hotels, but you will be very happy with this property

I think there are four properties within a reasonable driving distance of where you're going:

1) Westin DTW - Seems like probably the best hotel but maybe the most expensive. I've never stayed here.

2) Sheraton Novi - I stay here all the time - decent Sheraton, nothing special. Probably cheaper than the Westin, but probably a further drive too.

3) Four Points DTW - I've never stayed here, but my co-worker has and gives it a decent review for a Four Points, but I think if you search on this hotel you will get varying opinions.

4) Four Points Ann Arbor - I've never stayed here, but my co-workers have and give it not as good reviews (Smoky rooms?), but I think if you search on this hotel you will get varying opinions.

If you're not paying for it yourself, I'd probably stay at the Westin DTW.

-cwillyg

I agree with this ranking. Westin DTW is the nicest.

I've stayed at both Westins and they are both quite nice. I'm more familiar with the DTW location as I stay there before early morning flights. They have a club lounge and the rooms are comfy. I've been lucky to get the Plat upgrade to suite many times (I always ask if it is available) and though they have a limited number of suites, if you get one you won't be disappointed. The suites have amazing bathrooms for an airport hotel, and I love the jacuzzi bathtub and walk-in shower.

I had the misfortune of staying at the 4 Points DTW and wasn't impressed. Of course it was the only 4 points I've ever stayed at so maybe they're all like that. No suite upgrades there and pretty old furnishings and carpet.

The other Westin was nice, though it's been awhile since I stayed there. The DTW Westin is located near Romulus, MI and is IN the airport. It's great for early or late flights. I think they're building another Starwood in the Detroit area but I'm not sure....

The airport location isn't that far from Ypsilanti- it's close to I94 and easy to navigate. I'd stay away from Novi simply because it is a bit further out. If your business is in Ypsilanti, you'd do fine with the airport location. The Detroit area is pretty spread out so be sure to print yourself a map before you go, no matter where you stay. Good Luck and welcome to my neck of the woods!

Cannot find any info under a search....
Really?

I used "Search this forum," "Advanced," entered "Detroit" in the keyword box, selected "Titles-only," and found 20 threads with "Detroit" in the title in this (SPG) forum -- OK, that's including this one, so 19 existing threads. @:-)

Really?

I used "Search this forum," "Advanced," entered "Detroit" in the keyword box, selected "Titles-only," and found 20 threads with "Detroit" in the title in this (SPG) forum -- OK, that's including this one, so 19 existing threads. @:-)

Really !!
Thank you to the others for their responses, it helps a lot. As you can see I'm not a regular and my question was about picking a hotel location - like helping someone new to the bay area - i.e. mtg in Danville - stay in Plesanton or San Rafael!!! I DID read the threads... obviously you've more experienced than me !!

I've just organized some threads on the Detroit properties in hopes of being helpful:

Detroit: Which Starwood property? (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=414109)
Detroit Westin Metropolitan Airport (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=579974)
Detroit Westin Southfield (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=502429)
Detroit Sheraton Novi (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175116)

Really !!
Thank you to the others for their responses, it helps a lot. As you can see I'm not a regular and my question was about picking a hotel location - like helping someone new to the bay area - i.e. mtg in Danville - stay in Plesanton or San Rafael!!! I DID read the threads... obviously you've more experienced than me !!
Sorry, I misunderstood your original statement to mean that you couldn't find the other threads on Detroit. My apologies for being too literal-minded. :o

Anyhow, I gave specific instructions on the search, thinking that might be helpful.

I had the misfortune of staying at the 4 Points DTW and wasn't impressed. Of course it was the only 4 points I've ever stayed at so maybe they're all like that. No suite upgrades there and pretty old furnishings and carpet.

It isn't impressive, and pretty much just as you describe. I stayed there last month for one night on points. It is a Cat 1 (3K for a weekday, or 2K for a weekend). If I was paying for it I would be disappointed, but for one night and 3K points it is decent if you just want a bed and nothing special. ;)

seems like the sheraton riverside is leaving the starwood program as of august 7th, 2008. anyone have any info as to why? also, does that mean that detroit proper (aside from the 'burbs and the airport) has no starwoods until the westin opens in october?

I stayed at the Sheraton Novi earlier this month. The area the property is in is fine, and access to the highway is very convenient. This is a suburban property, so if you don't plan on driving, look elsewhere. Parking is free.

Some observations:

The lobby was nothing spectacular, but was decent for a suburban Sheraton. I arrived relatively late, but was asked for my bed preference and got a standard room on the club floor. Access to the Club floor via elevator is restricted and requires a keycard to be swiped. My room was spotless, and 2 complimentary bottles of Aquafina bottled water were sitting on a table in the room. The LCD TV was nice and big, and I had been given an instruction sheet for complimentary wireless internet access. Finishes in the washroom were of good quality and the amenities seem to have been upgraded (loofah, extra creams, etc).

Platinum amenity was not offered.

I decided to sit in bed and try to do some work before going to sleep. This is when I discovered the hotel's big downfall. The walls are paper thin. :( In the neighbouring room was an amorous couple and I had the misfortune of being able to hear everything (they weren't being especially noisy). Next morning I woke up and shortly after heard more of the same from my neighbours. Hurried myself to the shower to drown out the noise :p

Breakfast in the club lounge included hot foods (I didn't really look at what though), a decent spread of cheeses, cold cuts, pastries, cereals, etc. There were bottled juices, canned soft drinks, bottled water, coffee/tea and even an espresso machine available for use. The one thing absent from the lounge was bowls!! They had cereal, milk, spoons and yet no bowl! Thankfully there were grande Starbucks cups for the coffee, which did the trick.

The Sheraton Novi is perfectly decent aside from the thin walls, but for that reason and that reason alone, I would look elsewhere if I happen to be in the area again.

Has anybody stayed rcently at Westin Southfiled and can report? Might be going there in 2 weeks.