It looks like the Westin DTW and the Sheraton Novi are the only hotels with availability for the Final Four weekend. All the downtown hotels (every chain, not just Starwood) are sold out. There are a couple of non-Starwood hotels with availability across the river in Windsor (Travelodge looked best).
I still want to be able to "feel" like I'm a part of the final four crowds and am wondering if I can experience that why staying at the Westin DTW, due to its unique in-airport status. (I've never stayed at an in-airport hotel, and walking by this one in the terminal makes it feel like an airport lounge, instead of a hotel in a city.)
I imagine we'll want to party downtown. Is it easy enough to get back and forth to downtown from DTW?
Also, should I consider the Novi? It looked even further from dowtown than the Westin DTW.
If the DTW/Novi are too remote from downtown, I'll probably stay in Windsor. That's what I really need to know. Thanks in advance.
I imagine we'll want to party downtown. Is it easy enough to get back and forth to downtown from DTW?
Also, should I consider the Novi? It looked even further from dowtown than the Westin DTW.
If the DTW/Novi are too remote from downtown, I'll probably stay in Windsor. That's what I really need to know. Thanks in advance.
DTW is about a 25 minute drive from downtown. While downtown Windsor might seem like it's 5 minutes away, count on a 60 minute wait in either the tunnel or bridge, crossing either way, due to current customs practices on both sides of the border.
I imagine we'll want to party downtown. Is it easy enough to get back and forth to downtown from DTW?
Also, should I consider the Novi? It looked even further from dowtown than the Westin DTW.
If the DTW/Novi are too remote from downtown, I'll probably stay in Windsor. That's what I really need to know. Thanks in advance.
If you're looking for available public transportation from downtown to the airport or Novi you can stop right now. Welcome to Detroit - pick up your rental car.
If you have a passport and no convictions (the Canadians have been known to refuse those convicted of DUI), Windsor is a good choice. Apart from summer weekends I have never needed more than 20 minutes to cross the border, and median time is perhaps 10 minutes.
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off topic but
how does a country know if you have convictions?
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3Cforme
If you're looking for available public transportation from downtown to the airport or Novi you can stop right now. Welcome to Detroit - pick up your rental car.
If you have a passport and no convictions (the Canadians have been known to refuse those convicted of DUI), Windsor is a good choice. Apart from summer weekends I have never needed more than 20 minutes to cross the border, and median time is perhaps 10 minutes.
Thanks for the help. I've got a passport and a clean record, but with the possibility of large crowds in front of me without those things, I think I'll try to skip the whole border crossing routine. (I'm sure I'll get over there once during the weekend, but I don't want to stay over there.)
Thanks for the tip on public transportation. I assume parking will pricey/difficult downtown, so I think I'll just cab it back and forth from DTW and try to reduce the number of trips I take. I assume there is plenty of cab service.
I noticed there is a Doubletree in Dearborn with availability, but other than Windsor, that's the closest I could find. I decided the DTW Westin could make an easy rendevous point for arriving friends, so I booked the room there.
I have to wonder if there aren't a lot of speculative bookings right now. Folks have booked for all the teams that remain, and will be canceling their reservations as their team loses. I'd book something/anything now, and would be checking availability several times a day to see if places open up more centrally located.
I have to wonder if there aren't a lot of speculative bookings right now. Folks have booked for all the teams that remain, and will be canceling their reservations as their team loses. I'd book something/anything now, and would be checking availability several times a day to see if places open up more centrally located.
What a bunch of losers!
Good point, SanDiego1K! Some hotels might be offering a waitlist, too. You'd probably need to call the hotels directly to ask.
if you have extra starpoints you might want to consider bidding for the suite that spg has for auction. Comes with game tickets, transportation and hotel room.
I see availability for cash or for traditional award rooms at the Westin Book Cadillac and the Westin Southfield Detroit for 4/3 - 4/7. But NOT for 4/4 - 4/7 nor for 4/4 - 4/8.
So it looks as if they have something like a minimum stay requirement with no check-ins on 4/4 - 4/6.
Sure enough, here's the rate description:
Special Event. FINAL FOUR SPECIAL EVENT RATE- Rate is fully prepaid at the time of booking. Deposit is NON REFUNDABLE and reservation is Non-Changeable. Arrivals only accepted on 4/3 with minimum 4 night stay.. Identification required.
If your team loses in the semifinals, it doesn't sound as if you can check out early. (Well, you can, but you don't get any money back for your unused nights.)
Using points would definitely be the way to go here.
For those who like to plan ahead, I just checked on dates for the Final Four in 2010.
Final Four: April 3 and 5, 2010
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana
Host: Butler University/Horizon League
Then I checked on Starwood. There are three Starwood hotels in Indianapolis. 2 of the 3 show no availability. The third, Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel, shows rates of $399 or award nights at 3K/4K per night.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SanDiego1K
For those who like to plan ahead, I just checked on dates for the Final Four in 2010.
Final Four: April 3 and 5, 2010
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana
Host: Butler University/Horizon League
Then I checked on Starwood. There are three Starwood hotels in Indianapolis. 2 of the 3 show no availability. The third, Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel, shows rates of $399 or award nights at 3K/4K per night.
Thanks for the heads up. It's worth 12k for a speculative booking right now.
Programs: Delta PM & Million Miler, NW SE, US GP, Hilton Diamond, Starwood Plat, Marriott Gold
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sc flier
I see availability for cash or for traditional award rooms at the Westin Book Cadillac and the Westin Southfield Detroit for 4/3 - 4/7. But NOT for 4/4 - 4/7 nor for 4/4 - 4/8.
So it looks as if they have something like a minimum stay requirement with no check-ins on 4/4 - 4/6.
Sure enough, here's the rate description:
Special Event. FINAL FOUR SPECIAL EVENT RATE- Rate is fully prepaid at the time of booking. Deposit is NON REFUNDABLE and reservation is Non-Changeable. Arrivals only accepted on 4/3 with minimum 4 night stay.. Identification required.
If your team loses in the semifinals, it doesn't sound as if you can check out early. (Well, you can, but you don't get any money back for your unused nights.)
Using points would definitely be the way to go here.
If all deposits are nonrefundable it looks like this hotel will not be opening up any rooms until day of arrival as it has no idea how many no-shows they will have. Im trying to book a couple of rooms at the Westin Cadillac and nothing...even if I do 4/3-4/8!
None of the big chains have availability. I wonder if the Westin Southfield is really that far out of the way from Ford Field.
For those who like to plan ahead, I just checked on dates for the Final Four in 2010.
Final Four: April 3 and 5, 2010
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana
Host: Butler University/Horizon League
Then I checked on Starwood. There are three Starwood hotels in Indianapolis. 2 of the 3 show no availability. The third, Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel, shows rates of $399 or award nights at 3K/4K per night.
The ticket application process has started, and will end at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time May 31, 2009. For the Men’s Final Four ticket application only, the process will end at the aforementioned time or when 20,000 applications have been received (whichever comes first).
