I agree with all the posts! DTW is BY FAR my favorite airport in the U.S.! I would much rather go through DTW or even MSP than ATL, CVG, SLC or MEM.

Have fun!!

Bring a Book
 

Not to rain on your parade, but bring a book (or hit the gym at the Westin). DTW is a good airport, but I think people are overplaying the amenities. Sora has good sushi and the lounge is pretty nice, but you are still looking at 4 hours in an airport.

Objectively, it won't be terribly different from spending 4 hours at ATL. You wander the shops for a bit, before realizing there aren't that many and that you aren't going to buy that sweater at Brooks Brothers for the same reason you didn't buy it at the Brooks Brothers at the mall last weekend. After that, you grab a bite to eat, maybe substituting Sora for Paschal's or One Flew South. Then you head for the SkyClub, which is nice, but not fundamentally different from the Terminal E SkyClub at ATL. Then you realize you have a couple more hours to kill...

Don't get me wrong, DTW is a good airport, but a huge part of what makes it so good is that it is efficient and doesn't force me to spend much time there. It is not a SIN or HKG or even an LHR T5 that will keep you moderately amused during a long layover.

Throw coins in the fountain or sit and laugh at the people who sit on it thinking it is a great place to have a picture taken.

If You Like to Play the Ponies
 

there is a relatively new race track just south of the airport property called Pinnacle Race Course.

4 hours at DTW is nothing to dread. I try to get there really early before a flight so every trip is like a 4 hour layover!!

The A concourse is almost a mile from one end to the other. There are 4 skyclubs, all of which are modern and nice.

The fountain is amusing for 5 minutes or so, the tunnel is amusing for 5 minutes or so, depending on the time of day you can watch some 747's... Ride the tram back and fourth a few times...

A few hours will be up in no time.

And yes, it is an airport, but I don't see the reason to sit her and tell you all the reasons another airport is just as good to layover in, when you asked specifically about DTW.

Enjoy your time. (And if drinking is your thing, feel free to pour yourself one however strong you like and grab a piece of real cheese.)

IF you must connect DTW is the place. Yes it has mostly the same same shops and just a few unique resteraunts but it is extremely clean, orderly, and almost quiet. The Westin is a great place to eat (Osso Bucco is the best), sit, and surf the web sometimes I spend my time there rather than the Skyclub. Don't be put off by the TSA checkpoint since it usually near empty most of the time. I will ditto there other places mentioned previously plus add Gayle's Chocolates.

I would think the point is to offer a useful point of comparison. I could compare it to walking along a deserted beach with a supermodel on my arm, but the reality is that it is much more like spending 4 hours at ATL.

But there was no comparison asked for... The OP didn't say "If I had 4 hours to stroll down a beach with a supermodel, should I stroll down the beach with Heidi Klum or Christie Brinkley?"...

Either way you know you are with a supermodel, and in this case you know you have a committed date with a specific one. So, you learn the interests of the one you know you are going to be with. I am SURE Christie Brinkley is interesting, but I want to know everything I can about Heidi Klum.

If you like PBJ sandwiches, don't miss PBJs near A1. Simple, good and cheap.

You guys are absolutely awesome! I knew I asked the right people. Ok, so I'm not dreading it anymore. I think I'll hit the gym at the Westin, soak in the hot tub for a bit, head to Vino Volo (I think I've been to one before at SMF) have a tasty bite and a fleet of wine, then spend whatever time is left at the SkyClub. I didn't realize you could use the facilities at the Westin. That's a great idea. I do love the look of the terminal compared to all the other DL hubs, just haven't spent more than 45 min there before. Anyway, thanks everyone!

There's a Border's bookstore if you need to stock up

You can always try some "Detroit Sushi" aka Coneys @ National Coney Island.

And if you are up for adventure and your layover is long enough, you could leave the airport and sample some of the local bars which could really leave your world spinning. :eek:

aka Gut Grenades

:D

Eight years ago this discussion would have yielded a completely different response. Kudos to the airport commission and Northwest for having the foresight and strategy to build and (now the airport commission and Delta) effectively manage such a complex.

Now if we could only have the City of Detroit be as nice as our airport... We'll save that discussion for another day.

+1,000,000

If you never had the privilege of the old DTW, fly into MEM and imagine worse than that. MEM needs some serious help soon.

or parts of MSP -- particularly the F concourse.

Bob H

Martini Bar :D