Tess
DIS Veteran - 1997
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
- Messages
- 5,598
My husband and I killed a Saturday not too long ago doing a recon mission to Romulus. We personally viewed hotels and hotel rooms, obtained rates, etc. We've stayed in the area many times, but things change and after a fiasco hotel choice last year, we wanted to be confident in our choice for this year's pre-flight stay.
I thought others might be able to use the information since I have seen inquiries relative to Detroit Metro hotels in the recent past. The following is in no way comprehensive but does provide a good listing of the Merriman area hotels. Obviously, the following is just our opinion and/or perception when we popped in.
* = Previously stayed
Best Western International Gateway*, park & fly package includes one night accommodations and seven nights free parking at Airlines parking; 734-728-2800; $97 p/night + tax. The property is somewhat older in appearance, but clean. The rooms are small, yet well maintained. It is a larger property with indoor courtyard or holidome type area central to the rooms. The courtyard area includes a fitness area, pool, spa, sauna, tanning bed room, video games, and poolample seating in the area for relaxation. There is a lounge that opens at 5:00 p.m., banquet facilities, a restaurant that appeared to serve a buffet-type breakfast (perhaps dinner, unsure because there was no obvious information). For a single night before flight it appears adequate with lots of outdoor space (including a covered pavilion, poolside) to relax if the weather is nice. A bit tired, but the staff was friendly and helpful.
Doubletree Hotel, park & fly package includes one-night accommodations and eight nights parking at parking lot across the street; 734-467-8000; $159 p/night + tax. Sumptuous surroundings and bedding in a nice sized room. The pool area was comfortable and well maintained although the sauna was not operational when we visited. The pool is an indoor/outdoor pool that allows for sunbathing outside weather permitting. The hotel obviously caters to a seminar/convention crowd and is quite sprawling. There was a nice internet area just off the lobby as well as a restaurant and lounge. Adjacent to the lounge there is a room containing a very nice pool table. Very attractive property and the beds looked great!
Four Points Sheraton, park & fly package includes one night accommodations and eight nights parking at Qwik Park, $109 p/night + tax; 734-729-9000. The Sheraton was undergoing a major renovation of all rooms and common areasnew carpeting, wallpaper, drapes, spreads, etc. We were not able to see an actual room, but did get to see a mock-up of the new interiorsquite attractive. The pool area was on the small side and looked a bit worn. The spa was large and there was a smallish outdoor, fenced area for sunbathing or relaxing. The fitness room had many apparatus and appeared well maintained. The lounge area was quite nice with a tropical type theme and there appeared to be a restaurant of sortsunsure if it serves anything more than breakfast.
Hilton Garden Inn*, park & fly package includes one night accommodations with 10 days parking (onsite or across the street at a public parking lot), $149 p/night + tax; 734-727-6000. Very nice, tasteful hotel with wonderful complimentary cookies. The rooms are of average size with full-size beds. They were comfortable when we were there and everything was clean. The pool area was nice and had access to a lovely patio area for plane watching or relaxing. The fitness center had basic equipment, but seemed to be attended to with regularity. The lounge is located just off the lobby and just adjacent to the lounge is a cafeteria-style restaurant. It seemed that you chose a menu item, placed and order, and it was cooked as you waited. Not clear on the operation of the restaurant although it was serving dinner items when we were there in 2005.
Hampton Inn, park & fly package includes one night accommodations with seven nights parking at Airlines Parking, $125 p/night + tax; 734-721-1100. This is a basic Hampton Inn with an outdoor pool and the usual breakfast service in the a.m. The rooms are clean and standard sized. Very basic hotel and for the price, Id stay elsewhere.
Crowne Plaza, park & fly package includes one night accommodations with seven nights parking; $142 p/night + tax; 734-729-2600. This property is a cant miss on Merriman. It is a tall triangular shaped building with a glass front and sits on a corner lot. The staff was a bit on the unfriendly side, although we were given access to a room. The room was nice with great bedding (same as Doubletree). The room we viewed had a balcony overlooking the expansive atrium and was a nice feature although there is no seating on the balcony so it is a bit of a waste. The atrium is lovely with many seating areas for quiet time and a pool area/fitness center off to the side. The pool is rather small, but seemed well maintained. There is a nice lounge and an Italian themed restaurant just next to it. The Crowne is a nice hotel that appears to cater to the business traveler although accommodating to families as well. There is a large conference area on the third floor and a huge screen TV in the atrium with comfortable furniture and tables for relaxing.
Courtyard by Marriott*, park & fly package includes one night accommodations with eight days parking across the street at Airlines Parking; $179 p/night + tax; (Marriott 800 # for res). The Courtyard definitely caters to the business traveler although we were comfortable there. The courtyard area was quite nice with gazebos, tables, chairs, loungers, etc. The pool is indoors and on the small side, but very nice. There is a fitness room as well. The restaurant is strictly a breakfast type and there is no lounge per se. There are self-serve coolers near the check-in desk, which offer sodas and adult beverages for sale.
Marriott Airport, park & fly package includes one night accommodations and seven days parking; $209 p/night + tax; Marriott 800# for res). This is the upscale Marriott in the area and sits just next to the Courtyard. It is quite lovely and has an indoor and outdoor pool. For the additional $$$--not my cup of tea.
Ramada Inn f/k/a Fairfield Inn*, unsure of the park & fly price at this date; billboard advertises $59 and up p/night. We stayed here when it was a Fairfield and the rooms were adequate. The drawback was the pool is an outdoor thermal. While it was quite warm, it was not comfortable because it was too early in June to swim in Detroit although our kids did it.
Northwest Inn, next to Best Western and across from Sheraton, we did not even look at this property because you could transfer the name to Northworst and you would have a clear picture of it. The motel is a box with tiny windows and no landscaping on the exterior. Looks can be deceiving, I know, but I did not even want to look at the interior.
Howard Johnsons, just down Merriman from the Crowneoh my goodnessno way Jose`--not even for free. The HoJo is a 60s style motelmany different buildings with orange doors and stuck behind a retail strip mall with the office at the end of the retail section. You literally drive past the garbage containers of the retail area to get to the buildings. It looked very rundown, outdated, and unclean! Yuck!
La Quintadid not view interior although the exterior seemed okay; park & fly with one night accommodations and 8 days parking, $100 + tax; does not appear to have a pool though.
Extended Stay Hotel, appeared to be well maintained. It is not what we were looking for in an overnight stay at the airport so we just gave it a cursory exterior gander as we passed through the Metro Marriott lot.
Clarion*--we have stayed at this property and would never do so again! It was awful and despite our complaints to corporate, we were offered nothing to make us feel better about paying $90 for a very inadequate experience! The place was gross and if it had not been nearly 1:00 a.m., we would have driven home or gone elsewhere!
Hope someone finds the information helpful! We sure had fun visiting the hotels!
I thought others might be able to use the information since I have seen inquiries relative to Detroit Metro hotels in the recent past. The following is in no way comprehensive but does provide a good listing of the Merriman area hotels. Obviously, the following is just our opinion and/or perception when we popped in.
* = Previously stayed
Best Western International Gateway*, park & fly package includes one night accommodations and seven nights free parking at Airlines parking; 734-728-2800; $97 p/night + tax. The property is somewhat older in appearance, but clean. The rooms are small, yet well maintained. It is a larger property with indoor courtyard or holidome type area central to the rooms. The courtyard area includes a fitness area, pool, spa, sauna, tanning bed room, video games, and poolample seating in the area for relaxation. There is a lounge that opens at 5:00 p.m., banquet facilities, a restaurant that appeared to serve a buffet-type breakfast (perhaps dinner, unsure because there was no obvious information). For a single night before flight it appears adequate with lots of outdoor space (including a covered pavilion, poolside) to relax if the weather is nice. A bit tired, but the staff was friendly and helpful.
Doubletree Hotel, park & fly package includes one-night accommodations and eight nights parking at parking lot across the street; 734-467-8000; $159 p/night + tax. Sumptuous surroundings and bedding in a nice sized room. The pool area was comfortable and well maintained although the sauna was not operational when we visited. The pool is an indoor/outdoor pool that allows for sunbathing outside weather permitting. The hotel obviously caters to a seminar/convention crowd and is quite sprawling. There was a nice internet area just off the lobby as well as a restaurant and lounge. Adjacent to the lounge there is a room containing a very nice pool table. Very attractive property and the beds looked great!
Four Points Sheraton, park & fly package includes one night accommodations and eight nights parking at Qwik Park, $109 p/night + tax; 734-729-9000. The Sheraton was undergoing a major renovation of all rooms and common areasnew carpeting, wallpaper, drapes, spreads, etc. We were not able to see an actual room, but did get to see a mock-up of the new interiorsquite attractive. The pool area was on the small side and looked a bit worn. The spa was large and there was a smallish outdoor, fenced area for sunbathing or relaxing. The fitness room had many apparatus and appeared well maintained. The lounge area was quite nice with a tropical type theme and there appeared to be a restaurant of sortsunsure if it serves anything more than breakfast.
Hilton Garden Inn*, park & fly package includes one night accommodations with 10 days parking (onsite or across the street at a public parking lot), $149 p/night + tax; 734-727-6000. Very nice, tasteful hotel with wonderful complimentary cookies. The rooms are of average size with full-size beds. They were comfortable when we were there and everything was clean. The pool area was nice and had access to a lovely patio area for plane watching or relaxing. The fitness center had basic equipment, but seemed to be attended to with regularity. The lounge is located just off the lobby and just adjacent to the lounge is a cafeteria-style restaurant. It seemed that you chose a menu item, placed and order, and it was cooked as you waited. Not clear on the operation of the restaurant although it was serving dinner items when we were there in 2005.
Hampton Inn, park & fly package includes one night accommodations with seven nights parking at Airlines Parking, $125 p/night + tax; 734-721-1100. This is a basic Hampton Inn with an outdoor pool and the usual breakfast service in the a.m. The rooms are clean and standard sized. Very basic hotel and for the price, Id stay elsewhere.
Crowne Plaza, park & fly package includes one night accommodations with seven nights parking; $142 p/night + tax; 734-729-2600. This property is a cant miss on Merriman. It is a tall triangular shaped building with a glass front and sits on a corner lot. The staff was a bit on the unfriendly side, although we were given access to a room. The room was nice with great bedding (same as Doubletree). The room we viewed had a balcony overlooking the expansive atrium and was a nice feature although there is no seating on the balcony so it is a bit of a waste. The atrium is lovely with many seating areas for quiet time and a pool area/fitness center off to the side. The pool is rather small, but seemed well maintained. There is a nice lounge and an Italian themed restaurant just next to it. The Crowne is a nice hotel that appears to cater to the business traveler although accommodating to families as well. There is a large conference area on the third floor and a huge screen TV in the atrium with comfortable furniture and tables for relaxing.
Courtyard by Marriott*, park & fly package includes one night accommodations with eight days parking across the street at Airlines Parking; $179 p/night + tax; (Marriott 800 # for res). The Courtyard definitely caters to the business traveler although we were comfortable there. The courtyard area was quite nice with gazebos, tables, chairs, loungers, etc. The pool is indoors and on the small side, but very nice. There is a fitness room as well. The restaurant is strictly a breakfast type and there is no lounge per se. There are self-serve coolers near the check-in desk, which offer sodas and adult beverages for sale.
Marriott Airport, park & fly package includes one night accommodations and seven days parking; $209 p/night + tax; Marriott 800# for res). This is the upscale Marriott in the area and sits just next to the Courtyard. It is quite lovely and has an indoor and outdoor pool. For the additional $$$--not my cup of tea.
Ramada Inn f/k/a Fairfield Inn*, unsure of the park & fly price at this date; billboard advertises $59 and up p/night. We stayed here when it was a Fairfield and the rooms were adequate. The drawback was the pool is an outdoor thermal. While it was quite warm, it was not comfortable because it was too early in June to swim in Detroit although our kids did it.
Northwest Inn, next to Best Western and across from Sheraton, we did not even look at this property because you could transfer the name to Northworst and you would have a clear picture of it. The motel is a box with tiny windows and no landscaping on the exterior. Looks can be deceiving, I know, but I did not even want to look at the interior.
Howard Johnsons, just down Merriman from the Crowneoh my goodnessno way Jose`--not even for free. The HoJo is a 60s style motelmany different buildings with orange doors and stuck behind a retail strip mall with the office at the end of the retail section. You literally drive past the garbage containers of the retail area to get to the buildings. It looked very rundown, outdated, and unclean! Yuck!
La Quintadid not view interior although the exterior seemed okay; park & fly with one night accommodations and 8 days parking, $100 + tax; does not appear to have a pool though.
Extended Stay Hotel, appeared to be well maintained. It is not what we were looking for in an overnight stay at the airport so we just gave it a cursory exterior gander as we passed through the Metro Marriott lot.
Clarion*--we have stayed at this property and would never do so again! It was awful and despite our complaints to corporate, we were offered nothing to make us feel better about paying $90 for a very inadequate experience! The place was gross and if it had not been nearly 1:00 a.m., we would have driven home or gone elsewhere!
Hope someone finds the information helpful! We sure had fun visiting the hotels!
