Detroit DISers...need hotel by airport recommendations

[Rock'n Robin]

We fly out early on Thurs. Dec. 6. I'd like to find a nice hotel to stay at the evening of Dec. 5 where we can leave our van and take a shuttle to DTW. We used the Ramada a LONG time ago, but what would you all recommend? If it has a shuttle and a bed, that's all we need.
Robin M.

[shelbyjosh]

We have stayed at Days Inn and HoJo on Middlebelt under their Park-n-Fly program. You cost includes up to 7 days parking at their hotel and shuttle to/from DTW. My personal preference is Days Inn. They seemed to be more accomodating. When we stayed at HoJo we needed a Pack & Play. They could not guarantee one in our room. So, just to be safe, we brought ours. When we got in the room, there was one there and the TV didn't work. Never had those problems at Days Inn. You may be able to get a AAA discount, too. Hope this helps!

[Tiger926]

We usally stay at Marriott Courtyard or Hilton Suites, but in Aug. we tried Comfort Inn (brand new hotel) because we had gift certificates. Marriott and Hilton charge approx. $99.00 which includes 7 days of free parking and shuttle to airport. The Comfort Inn was $85.00 with 7 days free parking, shuttle and breakfast. The hotels give you a voucher which you must present as you leave with your car or they will charge you for parking. Also as a tip, write down the parking space and carry it with you in your wallet. We always see people who have been away on vacation come back and they have no idea where they parked their car.

In regards to discounts, I would call around to a few places because I notice in our weekend newspaper that Metro airport hotels offer different promos, as well as they almost all honour AAA. We always stay at the airport because it is so convenient. Make sure you ask for Park and Fly packages (better savings), which are only advertised through the hotels themselves - you won't find them on hotel websites. Good luck with your choices, and have a wonderful trip.
Tiger

[CaliforniaDreaming]

The Detroit Metro Airport Marriott is located right inside DTW, and all rooms have a complimentary continental breakfast. It is a nice property.

[Rock'n Robin]

I saw the Marriot on the website, but they only want 4 in a room--since DS is 3, we usually just put him in with us--don't want to get 2 rooms. It does look gorgeous though. Thanks for all the ideas so far. Park and fly, where you leave the car right at the hotel and get a shuttle to your terminal, is definately the way we want to go.
Robin M.

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Hi Robin! actually, you can book a room for 5 on the Marriott website. You can book a room for 1-5 guests. You'll get 2 doubles and a rollaway, just make sure to check off the rollaway option when making a reservation. :) For the night of 12/27, they have rooms for $109 a night.

[vicb]

Just another thumbs up for the onsite Marriot at DTW. We had a 6 am flight to Texas last year with kids and stayed overnight at airport. It was very exciting to them to look out and see the planes taking off and landing, kind of a unique experience but not cheap. But at 5am when we had to check in it was nice to just roll out of bed and down the elevator to security check point!

[WDWBOB1]

A few weeks ago I had my travel agent look into the Marriot and she told me they don't have a true Park'n'fly facility...in other words ther is no long term parking at the hotel and we would have to park at one of the off-site lots and shuttle to the hotel which wouldn't make sense because we'd then be paying for off-site long term parking and the hotel room separately. Does anyone know if this is true or can you park long-term right at the Marriot?

[Tiger926]

Many of the Metro Airport hotels do not have their own long term parking, because they use the long-term parking lots which are part of the Park n' Fly packages. If you were to price them out separately, you do save money by using a Park n' Fly package because most lots charge $7-$9.00 per day. When you book a parking package, they give you a very small room discount, plus the parking voucher for 7 days free parking. For some people it might be cheaper to do it separately only because they may be able to get a 50% discount with a travel card (Entertainment card) so then you would add the parking yourself. The Park n' Fly lots take care of most of the long term parking at the airport for the hotels, and each hotel has a contract with a different parking lot. The best thing to do is call the hotel directly as I mentioned in an earlier post because Park n' Fly packages are only listed with the hotel directly. I've asked the Marriott 1-800 reservations number before about it, and they didn't have any information listed as it says right on their screens to advise guests to call hotels directly. There is a Detroit Metro Airport website which may also help you with this but I am getting ready for school (teacher) and will have to post it later.
Tiger:jester:

[Tiger926]

The email address for Detroit Metro Airport is: www.waynecounty.com/airport. Something I forgot to mention is the fact that with the bigger hotels such as Marriott (if I recall correctly from calling Marriott in August, I don't believe they do offer Park n' Fly packages) or Crowne Plaza is that they are large hotels; therefore, even though all parking and airport shuttles run 24 hours per day, you have more people needing to use them and so you need to allot more time. This is why we enjoy staying at the smaller hotels such as Marriott Courtyard or Hilton Suites. They are very efficient, and it only takes minutes to get to the Park n' Fly lots because they are all located next to or down the street from the hotel that you are staying at. By the way, we find the Park n' Fly packages save us loads of time and headaches because all you do is drive your car to the lot, park it (right down which spot!), hop on the airport shuttle and you are at the airport in a flash. You hand in vouchers and pay for extra days after you return from vacation. By the way, hotels do not offer AAA or other discounts with Park n' Fly packages because they are already discounted and include the parking vouchers. Here is what we paid in August: Comfort Inn (new hotel) $84.95 with 7 days free parking and breakfast. Regular rate with AAA was approx. $60.00 plus $7.00 + tax per day of parking which is $110.00. Plus we had extra days to pay for, and the parking attendant just let us go. You can also ask which Parking lot the hotel uses and call them or check on website for their per day parking charges to see if you are saving any money - you almost always do with Park n' Fly packages. Good luck!
Tiger:jester:

[vicb]

The previous posters sound more knowledgeable than I on this subject but for what it's worth when we stayed there (airport Marriot) last year we just parked in the airports long term lot. We liked the fact that when we returned our car was on site and we did not have to wait for a shuttle. Also in the winter on site long term parking is under cover, not all the park and fly off airport sites are.... are any? As I mentioned before it is not an inexpensive place but we found the convienence was well worth the $. It sounds like there are options out there.

[lovelyk68]

I just checked the Marriott website and the hotel at DTW does offer a park and fly rate. It is $124 and includes up to 8 nights of extended parking at Airlines Parking on Merriman Rd. I think we may do this option because I like the idea of being onsite for our early morning flight.

[Rock'n Robin]

I'm getting confused (which isn't too hard to do). When we went somewhere out of Detroit in 1990, we stayed at the Ramada. We left our car right there at the hotel (it wasn't covered up but we didn't care). When we came back we got the Ramada shuttle and were right back to our car. Is this service not available anymore? We really liked it. I don't want to be in the long term parking.
This is really an issue because our flight leaves at 6:40AM, so we have to be at the airport by 4:40--this includes kids ages 3,6 and 9. We flew out of DTW in 2000, but we didn't leave until 10 so we took a limo up. If we did that this time we'd have to elave at 2:30, although I'd like being picked up at 11:41 PM the following Sunday (I teach, and all 3 kids have school the next morning!0:eek: ).
So clarify this for me: If I stay at the Marriot, or Days Inn, is my car at the Hotel or at long-term airport parking for 4 days?
Robin M.

[lovelyk68]

Rock'n Robin--

If you stay at the Marriott your car is not at the hotel. It is at a lot on Merriman Road. The Marriott rate includes a voucher so you do not have to pay when you pick-up the car. The reason I think we will do the Marriott is because of its location right inside the airport. This will save a shuttle ride on the morning of our flight. I am sure that there are hotels that offer parking right at their own parking lot. Good luck and I hope you find one!

[Tiger926]

As lovelyK68 said, your car will be parked at a Park n' Fly lot outside of the airport near one of these hotels. This is different than long term airport parking (we have never liked this option ourselves) which you pay for yourselves and it is located at the terminal. I have heard that since Sept. 11th, the long term parking lots in the airport are under much stricter security measures, and so I suspect this would mean that it would take longer to get in and out. I am curious to know if the hotel Park n' Fly lots also have new security measures in place so that we know for the next time that we fly. By the way, thanks lovelyk68 for posting about Marriott's Park n' Fly package. I remember calling several different hotels in the summer just to check prices, and I know that one of the hotels did not offer a Park n' Fly package, but I guess it wasn't Marriott.
As well most of the hotels don't seem to offer long term parking in their lots anymore since they all seem to have contracts with the Park n' Fly lots now. But as I mentioned, the shuttles run on a 24 hour basis, and since you are leaving so early, chances are, you will probably be the only ones on the shuttle at the time of the morning, and like I said, they are all very efficient. Good luck with your choices - make sure you call around though because the prices do vary. Have a great trip!
Tiger:jester:

[WDWBOB1]

I'd like to thank everyone that took the time to respond to my Marriott query. There is plenty of info for me to now make an informed decision.

[Tiger926]

No problem, WDWBOB1 - I just noticed that you live in Tecumseh, and I live in Windsor! What a small world! Enjoy your trip.
Tiger:jester: