  Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 1320 Registered: 11-2003 |
I didn't know anything about this. http://www.milner-hotels.com/d etroit/index.html I'm looking for a nice, clean (doesn't have to be fancy, just neat and clean) hotel for some family members over the July 6-7 weekend as my cousin is getting married. Reception is at the DAC. Anyway, Milner I found for $90 a night online. Looks close to most of the action. But I don't know anything about it. Of course I've been looking at the HI Express, Hilton garden, Inn on Ferry, the Marriotts, Omni, and Anatheum. But they're all well into the $100's range. If the Milner is a nice place, maybe we'll just go with that. Or I look like a fool and it is some transient place or something  Oh, and besides Orbitz, Kayak, hotels.com, etc., do any of you have a recommended "go to" website for the best hotel prices? I almost never stay in hotels so I don't really know the places to check. Any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated. Where can I find the best price most of the time? | ||
Lghart Member Username: Lghart Post Number: 111 Registered: 03-2004 |
Maybe the inn's in the historic houses offer wedding party specials, it's worth giving them a call for something a bit different. http://www.theinnat97winder.co m/index.php http://innonferrystreet.com/05 /index.php http://www.woodbridgestar.com/ Dobson House Bed & Breakfast 1439 Bagley Avenue Detroit, MI 48216 Phone: (313) 965-1887 Fax: (313) 965-2722 | ||
Docmo Member Username: Docmo Post Number: 247 Registered: 10-2005 |
Jerome81, The Milner is directly across the street from the DAC. Excellent location. I've never stayed there so I have no direct experience as a guest. I do live across the street. The Milner is in an old building with an exterior fire escape. This lends to the impression that it is somewhat of a flophouse. The lobby seems reasonable enough. The rooms on the website appear small, which is very common in old hotel buildings. If your friends are somewhat used to more modern facilities, the Hilton Garden Inn would seem to be an acceptable alternative. Good luck. | ||
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 1321 Registered: 11-2003 |
Yeah, those inns look great. I found the Inn on Ferry for $119/night. However, I think most of the family is wanting to stay within walking distance of the DAC. Finding cabs to get up to New Center could be kinda a problem. They look so nice. Beyond the Milner, I'm probably going to try to put them in either the Ren Cen, Millender, or Hilton Garden. Holiday Inn Express is OK, but not super close and I don't want them walking late at night from DAC over to Washington. Ponch is still a no-no, right? | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1040 Registered: 04-2006 |
Just wondering why does a fire escape conjure up the picture of a flophouse? I could see it bringing up the picture of a historic building (pre fire codes) but flophouse? | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 750 Registered: 10-2003 |
Try the Omni if you can handle the distance from Riverplace. Great hotel. Very good rates | ||
Farrer Member Username: Farrer Post Number: 597 Registered: 12-2003 |
Absolutely no, non, nein, nyet, etc. Single hipster bohos attending events, exploring city, shooting "ruins" and sleeping it off, fine.. maybe. Great location but bedding family, significant others and/or possibly thyself and you may never be forgiven. A very thin veneer of paint, caulk, cheap paneling, extreme oddity of scale, bad bedding, furniture and appliances barely conceals this former flop. Sorry. Pay the extra money for decent accommodations or risk ruining what should be a great, positive and mainstream summer wedding weekend. You've been warned. | ||
Kathinozarks Member Username: Kathinozarks Post Number: 231 Registered: 11-2006 |
Go with the Milner. If your family wants a place to shower, get ready for the event, come back to to sleep then who cares how fancy it is. Also, you can't put a price on the step outside to the DAC factor. How swell to stay in an old hotel in Detroit and WALK across the street with the whole family to the wedding. I want to go with you!! Conjuring up all kinds of 1940's fun evenings in Detroit scenarios in my mind! And, if you need an extra room or two, you could stay at Docmo's across the street! I love the exterior of the Milner. I want you to stay there, ok? | ||
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger Post Number: 213 Registered: 05-2006 |
Priceline.com is showing a rate of $89.00 at The Inn on Ferry Street for that weekend, much better than the Hilton Garden Inn ($159.00), The Marriott RenCen ($179.00), The Marriott Courtyard ($219.00), The Omni River Place ($174.00) or the Holiday Inn Express ($139.00). If your family wouldn't mind a short bus ride and the hassle at the border you could try Windsor, ON. The rate at the Radisson Riverfront is $119.00 US and $127.00 US at the Windsor Hilton. One more thought; is someone in the wedding party a member of the DAC? I know they offer overnight rooms for members so if you know a member maybe they could fix you up. (Message edited by Ramcharger on March 03, 2007) | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 1075 Registered: 11-2004 |
The Milner has been going through some serious renovations over the last couple of years. I have read that they have been renovating the rooms a little at a time. I have watched them clean the exterior brick (big difference) and put a big new sign out front. However, I have never stayed there and I don't know anyone who has. Here are some reviews on it, which are mixed. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hot el_Review-g42139-d89995-Review s-Milner_Hotel-Detroit_Michiga n.html AOLSVC_37439_0%2C00.html,http: //leisure.travelocity.com/Vaca tions/Reviews/Hotel/Read/0,,AO LSVC_37439_0,00.html http://travela.priceline.com/h otel/overview-United_States_Mi chigan_Detroit_The_Milner_Hote l_Detroit-3066103.html You can't beat it on location though. It's in a great spot. I would suggest you seriously look at the three places Lghart suggests. Those are great places I would gladly send family to. Also, check out the Millender Center Marriot. That is just a short people mover ride (it has its own station in the building) to the DAC (Broadway stop). | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 8451 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jerome - I agree to stay within waling distance but if you are sending out info for friends and family you may want to include numbers for a couple cabs in case they want to go to a museum, restaurant a little out of the way, etc. You can get cabs in the city but you have to call them. Waiting to flag down a cab won't always leave you happy. Let me know if you need some recommendations on good cab companies. | ||
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger Post Number: 214 Registered: 05-2006 |
Jerome, if you do decide to go with the Milner, Priceline.com is showing a rate of $69.00 a night. (Message edited by Ramcharger on March 03, 2007) | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 609 Registered: 10-2006 |
What about the hotel at Bagley and Cass (I forget the name)? I never hear that one mentioned when someone is seeking a hotel downtown... | ||
Cheddar_bob Member Username: Cheddar_bob Post Number: 864 Registered: 10-2003 |
I stay at the Milner a couple times a year, but I'm a single guy that couldn't possibly care less where I sleep. The price and location make up for any shortcomings, for me. For your family, maybe not. Some rooms are better than others, but remember, the building is about 80 years old. I recommend room 1008 (or is it 1007?). The views are fantastic. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 880 Registered: 11-2003 |
The hotel at Bagley and Cass...originally the Detroit Leland, later a Ramada, and now the Leland again. A scary dump, judging from online reviews. | ||
Blort Member Username: Blort Post Number: 34 Registered: 02-2007 |
Stay at the Hotel Statler. I heard that place is pretty nice. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3733 Registered: 08-2004 |
Yes the hotel at Bagley & Cass is a wonderful 1 star hotel!! Just how good is a 1 star hotel you might ask? Well let's put it this way... there is no such thing as a "no star" hotel!  | ||
Blort Member Username: Blort Post Number: 35 Registered: 02-2007 |
Check out the Leeland. Just reading the reviews is hilarious. Higgins owns that, so it's bound to be shitty. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3734 Registered: 08-2004 |
Blort, the Leland is at Bagley & Cass (the one I was talking about). Those reviews are a hoot! Even though the hotel is a dive, at least it is not empty and being scavenged. The Leland was built by C.A. & George L. Rapp (known as Rapp & Rapp). The Rapp brothers were most famous as one of the big 4 Movie Palace architects of the 1920s (the other 3 being our own C. Howard Crane, Thomas Lamb and John Eberson). Rapp & Rapp designed the Leland in a very elegant Italian Renaissance style. They of course also designed the Michigan Building and former Michigan Theatre across the street from there. | ||
Blort Member Username: Blort Post Number: 36 Registered: 02-2007 |
Ahh, I should have recognized the location. We ran into Higgins when the bar in the Broderick opened briefly during the MLB playoffs. Didn't say anything to him of course, but the phrase "slum lord" was on my mind. I have heard many horror stories about the Leland. I kind of want to stay there for the night just to experience it for myself. | ||
Dpd_blue Member Username: Dpd_blue Post Number: 178 Registered: 05-2005 |
For my wedding, people stayed at the Hilton Gardens. If you call them they will give a special rate for people attending the wedding. I think it was $109 or $119.00. The hotel is only four years old, the Milner has aways seem like a flop house to me. | ||
Docmo Member Username: Docmo Post Number: 248 Registered: 10-2005 |
The Milner is an old building with an exterior fire escape which gives the impression of old, cheap hotel to many patrons. A couple of my friends from Ann Arbor recently commented on the Milner looking like a flophouse. Their comment comes from a biased perception against Detroit and small old buildings. It is the first thing that comes into many peoples heads when they see the Milner. | ||
Tomoh Member Username: Tomoh Post Number: 290 Registered: 11-2004 |
I've stayed at the Milner. Don't get your hopes up and realize you will get what you pay for here, maybe less. More than likely your room will not have been renovated. It will be fairly shabby with odd dimensions (remember, the building is a wedge). Elevator may/may not work. It will probably smell like smoke. The location is awesome but don't book thinking it's going to be anything near the quality of the newer nearby hotels like the Hilton Garden Inn. If you do stay here, set your expectations very, very low. Isn't the Milner Arms apts up in the Corridor an actual flophouse? |
