Flying out of Detroit

[pinkygirl]

Hi All !!! I have a few quick questions...
We are flying out of Detroit for our upcoming cruise in October and I was wondering if it's easy to find/drive to from London?
Also want to know how much the parking is for a week? Any dangers of leaving a vehicle there for so long?
Thanks for all your help!!

 

[tgropp]

When we stay and fly out of Detroit, we always stay at the Westin Detroit Metro Airport Hotel. You can stay at this hotel which is right inside the terminal for $169.00 plus tax and it includes Valet parking for 8 nights. You call the hotel direct @ 734-942-6500 and give them code "MLT" It is easy to get to the airport and when you get off I-94 and head to the terminal you just go to the door at the Sheraton and they take your car and park it in the covered parking at the airport and when you come back , call and it will be waiting for you

 

[snickerboo]

It is very easy to get to from London. Take the 402 to Sarnia. Cross over at Sarnia, it's much less confusing. As soon as you cross over you'll be on the I-94 and you basically stay on it (about an hour?) until you get to the airport. You will go through Detroit and past Dearborn. The airport area exits are very clearly marked.

We don't stay at a hotel. We park at "The Big Blue Deck" which is a little cheaper than other parking. My dh flies out of Detroit to somewhere at least once a month and has never had a problem leaving the vehicle there.

 

[pinkygirl]

When we stay and fly out of Detroit, we always stay at the Westin Detroit Metro Airport Hotel. You can stay at this hotel which is right inside the terminal for $169.00 plus tax and it includes Valet parking for 8 nights. You call the hotel direct @ 734-942-6500 and give them code "MLT" It is easy to get to the airport and when you get off I-94 and head to the terminal you just go to the door at the Sheraton and they take your car and park it in the covered parking at the airport and when you come back , call and it will be waiting for you

thank you for the info I'm not sure yet if we will sleep there the night before or leave here at 3AM but it would be nice to stay there and get a few more hours of sleep LOL

 

[pinkygirl]

It is very easy to get to from London. Take the 402 to Sarnia. Cross over at Sarnia, it's much less confusing. As soon as you cross over you'll be on the I-94 and you basically stay on it (about an hour?) until you get to the airport. You will go through Detroit and past Dearborn. The airport area exits are very clearly marked.

We don't stay at a hotel. We park at "The Big Blue Deck" which is a little cheaper than other parking. My dh flies out of Detroit to somewhere at least once a month and has never had a problem leaving the vehicle there.

thanks for letting me know about the parking!! I like knowing all the little details LOL

 

[MikeJ]

Pinky,

Did you check out the sticky thread on Flying Out of Detroit or Buffalo at the top of the board? Lots of hints about places to stay and park in Detroit. We have a trip booked for next month and are staying at the Marriott Fairfield which includes parking at the Qwik Park lot right next door. The Fairfield is the top-rated DTW-area hotel according to Trip Advisor (check the link on page 5 of the above-mentioned thread).

And I agree with Snickerboo - cross at Sarnia. We live in the west end of London and can get to the Bluewater Bridge in an hour. Once you're across, pick up I-94 and take it straight on to the airport. The only time you *might* not want to go that route is if you'll be passing through downtown Detroit during the morning rush hour.

- Mike

 

[canadianmom2three]

Good info already, but unless you are familiar with the big blue deck, I much prefer to park at one of the park n fly places. We have always used airport parking (look for the big yellow tower) and they are fast, and no problems with our vehicle. They take you right to your terminal, then pick you up again (with kids, this is a bonus for us, no trudging through the parking areas,and then thru the airport, even with the conveyor walks, it can be long). Their rates on the net are the cheapest, if you pre-book, although the AAA/CAA rate at the gate is not much more. We have tried staying overnight, but if you have an early a.m. flight, it is just as much work getting up early enough to get there anyway, so we prefer to just drive there, but we are a bit closer than you......We cross at Sarnia and once you get close (our kids watch for the huge tire) it starts to be very well signed. Just follow the signs! Have a great flight and a great trip!

 

[Luhts]

Hi Pinky! We had no trouble driving to Detroit across the Sarnia border...it was very easy to find. We parked in one of the Park n' Fly lots, which was included in our overnight hotel stay. But I would definitely NOT recommend the hotel we used (the Metropolitan), it was terrible. We left after school got out, stopped for dinner in Port Huron (Quay Street Brewing Co...it was very good!) and then drove to our hotel for the night. It made for a nice relaxing trip...no long drive, no rushing, no one overtired.

 

[pinkygirl]

Pinky,

Did you check out the sticky thread on Flying Out of Detroit or Buffalo at the top of the board? Lots of hints about places to stay and park in Detroit. We have a trip booked for next month and are staying at the Marriott Fairfield which includes parking at the Qwik Park lot right next door. The Fairfield is the top-rated DTW-area hotel according to Trip Advisor (check the link on page 5 of the above-mentioned thread).

And I agree with Snickerboo - cross at Sarnia. We live in the west end of London and can get to the Bluewater Bridge in an hour. Once you're across, pick up I-94 and take it straight on to the airport. The only time you *might* not want to go that route is if you'll be passing through downtown Detroit during the morning rush hour.

- Mike

Thanks! we were planning on leaving London at 3AM for a 8Am flight.....and not sleeping anywhere LOL are we crazy to do this? I'm guessing at 5AM there wont be too many cars on the road or crossing the border?
I'll check out the thread you mentioned Thanks!!

 

[pinkygirl]

Good info already, but unless you are familiar with the big blue deck, I much prefer to park at one of the park n fly places. We have always used airport parking (look for the big yellow tower) and they are fast, and no problems with our vehicle. They take you right to your terminal, then pick you up again (with kids, this is a bonus for us, no trudging through the parking areas,and then thru the airport, even with the conveyor walks, it can be long). Their rates on the net are the cheapest, if you pre-book, although the AAA/CAA rate at the gate is not much more. We have tried staying overnight, but if you have an early a.m. flight, it is just as much work getting up early enough to get there anyway, so we prefer to just drive there, but we are a bit closer than you......We cross at Sarnia and once you get close (our kids watch for the huge tire) it starts to be very well signed. Just follow the signs! Have a great flight and a great trip!

wow thanks for letting me know about this possibility too..I think I like this one too since we will be traveling with kids! I will check this out !!!!!

 

[pinkygirl]

Hi Pinky! We had no trouble driving to Detroit across the Sarnia border...it was very easy to find. We parked in one of the Park n' Fly lots, which was included in our overnight hotel stay. But I would definitely NOT recommend the hotel we used (the Metropolitan), it was terrible. We left after school got out, stopped for dinner in Port Huron (Quay Street Brewing Co...it was very good!) and then drove to our hotel for the night. It made for a nice relaxing trip...no long drive, no rushing, no one overtired.

how long was the wait to cross the border?

 

[jtdl]

how long was the wait to cross the border?

There will not be a wait at the Bluewater Bridge that early in the morning. Usually anymore it is just the trucks that are backed up and when they are backed up it starts around 8 - 9 am. The odd time cars are backed up but usually more on holidays and sometimes on the weekends. That being said, I would still not push it time-wise as I'm sure you've heard some of the horror stories people have had with US customs when trying to cross - you never know when they are going to pull you in just for "precaution" and that could potentially hold you up for awhile.

 

[Luhts]

how long was the wait to cross the border?

We drove straight across, no wait. We came home on a Sunday after dinner and fully expected a wait but there was none. I am thinking we just lucked out, though. With kids I really would recommend staying overnight at a hotel...their day (and yours) will be long enough! That way you avoid any potential border delays, too.

 

[pinkygirl]

There will not be a wait at the Bluewater Bridge that early in the morning. Usually anymore it is just the trucks that are backed up and when they are backed up it starts around 8 - 9 am. The odd time cars are backed up but usually more on holidays and sometimes on the weekends. That being said, I would still not push it time-wise as I'm sure you've heard some of the horror stories people have had with US customs when trying to cross - you never know when they are going to pull you in just for "precaution" and that could potentially hold you up for awhile.

that's what scares me the most......I'm getting nervous just thinking about this happening to us

 

[pinkygirl]

We drove straight across, no wait. We came home on a Sunday after dinner and fully expected a wait but there was none. I am thinking we just lucked out, though. With kids I really would recommend staying overnight at a hotel...their day (and yours) will be long enough! That way you avoid any potential border delays, too.

hmm I didn't really feel like staying overnight, but maybe we should just to be safe! still have 5 months to decide LOL

 

[jtdl]

It really is so much nicer staying in Detroit the night before when you have an early morning flight. Or last trip we left home after supper, got to the hotel about 7 pm and then relaxed until bedtime. Got up a 5am in order to be at the airport for our 7am flight. Didn't have to rush or be worried about getting held up in any way. The parked in a park 'n fly - airport parking - I believe it was called. Totally fenced - big fence - plus they are open 24 hours so there are always people there. We had absolutely no problems.

 

[pinkygirl]

now we're playing with possibly go with an airport shuttle from London to Detroit...Aboutown and Robert Q both offer this and it's pretty reasonable. Not parking fee, no hotels, no gas money needed. plus we could nap on the way there!
Any opinions on this? has anyone done this?
thanks again I really appreciate all your help

 

[LLWDW]

I have taken Robert Q from London to Detroit and it works great. I was traveling with my daughter and her family but only they fit in the car and I didn't want to drive separate by myself. It was so easy, especially crossing the border but it is possible another passenger could make this take longer. On the return I just missed my bus and had to wait quite a while for another one (praying there was room on it) I would do this again if I was alone but I did not find it economical for a larger party. Whatever you decide, have a great trip!

 

[SherylWrites]

We used them to go to Detroit Metro and it was AWFUL.
We made three stops before we even got out of the city.
Three or four stops to pick up people on the way to the border PLUS a stop at their head office.
On the way home they stopped twice.
They can fit up to 14 people in those vans and they do no matter how scrunched up you are.
Awful awful awful and never again will I take it.
My co-worker took Abouttown and thought it was just fine. Direct service all the way there.
Do note that when you take them home, you will be automatically pulled in to customs. And you have to send them proof of ID before you go.
And forget about napping on the Robert Q vans. There are no headrests. The seats end just below your shoulders. lol Sorry, I'm not usually so negative about things but that was just a terrible ride there and back.
We stayed at the Baymont the last time for the night and 9 days of parking. Total was $82. It's a very bare bones hotel but you do get a free breakfast and a super speedy shuttle to and from the airport.

 

[pinkygirl]

We used them to go to Detroit Metro and it was AWFUL.
We made three stops before we even got out of the city.
Three or four stops to pick up people on the way to the border PLUS a stop at their head office.
On the way home they stopped twice.
They can fit up to 14 people in those vans and they do no matter how scrunched up you are.
Awful awful awful and never again will I take it.
My co-worker took Abouttown and thought it was just fine. Direct service all the way there.
Do note that when you take them home, you will be automatically pulled in to customs. And you have to send them proof of ID before you go.
And forget about napping on the Robert Q vans. There are no headrests. The seats end just below your shoulders. lol Sorry, I'm not usually so negative about things but that was just a terrible ride there and back.
We stayed at the Baymont the last time for the night and 9 days of parking. Total was $82. It's a very bare bones hotel but you do get a free breakfast and a super speedy shuttle to and from the airport.

thanks for letting me know about this!! I would prefer to go direct and not have to stop very often.