Bice4

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.

choptliva

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.

minnie

*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.

NWILGuy

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.

ohmark

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).

lesleylane

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.

choptliva

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!

AlexB

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.

acnev

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.

ohmark

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/DESTI...ers.mother.ap/

choptliva

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. ^ ^

SkyTeam777

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!

gpapadop

Four Points.

older property

FYI

lesleylane

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.

A-340 GOT

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.