Does anyone live in/near MEMPHIS?

[DisneyFan32WI]

I booked a Fri-Sat. getaway for my mom who is a HUGE Elvis fan. We are staying in Southaven at the Hilton Garden Inn. We are there ONLY to go to Graceland. Here is my question that I really need to figure out:

1. We have no car. Which is the easiest way to get from the hotel to Graceland? Would it be taxi? I also saw a tour/shuttle called Blue City Tours. I've seen some negative reviews though....

I just need something that will drive us to Graceland and back. 8:00am-5:00 p.m. on a Saturday.
It's really one of those "I need to get from POINT A to POINT B" type of things with the least amount of hassle. My mom has trouble walking due to her diabetes. I don't want to make this difficult.

If you have any recommendations, please let me know! I am starting to get a little stressed because the trip is in just over 2 weeks.

TIA

 

[southern_redhead]

The Graceland area is rough. I would not ride any sort of bus or tour bus. Definately try to get a private taxi ride right to Graceland.

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

The Graceland area is rough. I would not ride any sort of bus or tour bus. Definately try to get a private taxi ride right to Graceland.

I used to live there. I definitely agree with this.

 

[Angelhalo]

I was going to say the same thing. This is a really rough area. At the LEAST I'd get a taxi....but I'd probably get a rental car or see if the hotel has a private shuttle. I wouldn't take public transit.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Thanks...anyone else?

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

bump

 

[sbell111]

I was going to say the same thing. This is a really rough area. At the LEAST I'd get a taxi....but I'd probably get a rental car or see if the hotel has a private shuttle. I wouldn't take public transit.

Agreed. We would definitely get a rental. Barring that, I guess a taxi is the best choice. (I'm pretty certain that the referenced hotel does not offer shuttle service to Graceland).

 

[Pamlur]

The hotel that is across the street from Graceland (Heartbreak Hotel, I think) looks very nice, and has major security. But you would be stuck right there, because no way would I venture out in that area on foot. Cab fare from Southaven would be majorly expensive, and you would have find out about shuttle service from airport to hotel.

 

[Micca]

Never been there, but the tour buses aren't safe? Wow

 

[NotUrsula]

You realize that Southaven is very suburban and essentially consists of 2 highway interchanges, right? (It is in Mississippi, which should tell you that you are going a ways out into the burbs.) I don't think it has a substantial crime problem like the area near Graceland, but it's one big strip mall after another, and you won't want to walk near there because of all the traffic.

You will be MUCH happier with this trip if you can rent a car, honestly. If you really can't, you might want to try to go with an airport hotel instead, which will at least cut out the round-trip cost down to Southaven.

PS: The location is another one of those anachronistic things about Graceland. I'm sure that if Presley had lived even a couple of years longer, he would have put it on the market and moved out to the eastern end of the city. Even in the 70's, the area around Graceland was on a fast downhill slide.

 

[jackemail]

Never been there, but the tour buses aren't safe? Wow

Well, I live here and the tour buses and shuttles would be perfectly safe, as would walking around the Graceland area during the day....give me a break. (Okay, so I wouldn't walk around there at night, but neither would I walk around much at night in any major urban area.)

If you do rent a car, it would not involve much walking for your mother. The car parking area is across the street from Graceland, and you pay for the tour and get on the shuttle bus to Graceland there.

The entire Graceland area is in line for a major renovation soon.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Well I called a taxi service (Care Carriers) and it is $36 round trip from the hotel to Graceland.
Hopefully the taxi will drop us off right at the doors to Graceland....???? or do tour busses get you closer? (crossing fingers)

Renting a car is out.

At least the hotel has FREE shuttle service to/from the airport.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

I agree with the others. Cab's really the only option.

I'd look at staying actually in Memphis or at least one of the closer suburbs. (Southaven is pretty much on the outskirts). Some of the hotel's in the city usually have Graceland packages that include tickets and transportation.

 

[Pamlur]

When I said I wouldn't walk in the area, I'm so sorry; I left out "at night". I have walked around in that area recently in daylight, with out of town friends who wanted to see Graceland. It's clean, and very well taken care of.

Nobody can deliver you directly to the door of Graceland, except the shuttle buses that run from the staging area across the street. It's very well done from what I can see, we didn't go to the house itself.