Driving to Detroit for a Game from Toronto

[BigNumbers]

Hi all,

I am looking at driving down to Detroit from Toronto next weekend for a Leafs / Red Wings game with some friends.

I've been to Toronto a few times, but never to Detroit. My only experience with Detroit is the things you see in the news - things like 'murder capital of the world'. I expect this is just typical media-hyperbole, but I was hoping some folks have made a similar trek.

Notable questions

1) Where did you stay? downtown DET, near the Jo Louis?

2) How is the area around the arena?

[J epworth]

When I did that back in undergrad at UWO, some friends and I booked a room at Caesars Windsor Hotel, we were able to take a bus to the game and back, stopping at Caesars Hotel. Was so easy, fun hotel as well, and you don't have to worry about staying downtown Detroit.

We were really only around the area of the arena pre/post game, so it was pretty packed with hockey fans so I had no fears about being in a "bad" part of town or anything. Saying that, I would probably feel uncomfortable going down some of the streets not too far from the Joe.

[bluejays]

Detroit is a dump! If you thought Edmonton was bad, it makes Edmonton look like Paris. Seriously it's a pretty bleak place, so avoid loitering around at all costs. Friends who did med school there, and other things even said that sometimes police will encourage people not to stop at particular red lights at night in fear they'll get robbed (just slow to check and drive through). I don't have advice on a particular place to stay, but if you can, watch the game in Detroit and drive a couple hours and stay in London, ON. Safer and fun time (especially with UWO - homecoming this year was a blast). Good luck.

[ExiledFlamesFan]

Haven't been to Detroit in about 10 years but I imagine not much has changed, other than the city declaring bankruptcy. Downtown is like apocalyptic movie set, abandoned buildings everywhere.

Stay in the suburbs, rent a car and drive it to the game. The less amount of time you spend walking around the city the better.

The urban decay is astounding, bring a good camera and you'll get some great photos.

[FlamesAddiction]

Detroit has some really nice architecture, but when I was there to see the Flames, it was like a ghost town downtown except for right around the arena. I did have one really nice cocaine dealer offer to sell me some. Seriously, he was very polite and asked if we were from Canada and he said he loved Canada.

I also saw someone driving downtown with a dead deer tied on to their little car. It looked like road kill.

When you look at Detroit, you can really see what nice city it used to be.

We stayed somewhere outside of downtown. I cannot recall what hotel, but was one of those typical hotel areas you find in most cities. There was a Big Boy right next to it.

[nik-]

Of all the cities I have been to in the US, in all the neighbourhoods I felt I probably shouldn't be in, Detroit inner city around downtown was the only one that I was legitimately uncomfortable in. And no, I didn't stop for red lights

[burn_this_city]

Downtown Detroit is pretty cool, but I would stay in Windsor. Crossing the border doesn't usually take long after games. Its safe when there's hockey and baseball games going and its crowded.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Downtown Detroit is pretty cool, but I would stay in Windsor. Crossing the border doesn't usually take long after games. Its safe when there's hockey and baseball games going and its crowded.

This. The Joe is just on the other side of the bridge so you don't have to go far to get there or get back across. I go there whenever the Flames are in town and have never had a problem, lots of sketchy people though but hey, it's Detroit.

[BigNumbers]

Thanks everyone! That seals it, we'll drive down to Windsor, take the tunnel bus (any advice there) and then stay in Windsor. Any recommendations on hotels?

[4X4]

My buddy went to Detroit for the Eminem concert in August.

I think the best description was "Back to the Future II, when Hill Valley was run by Biff".

[burn_this_city]

Stay on Riverside Drive, its got a cool view of Detroit and the Renaissance Centre and the Casino is down the street.

[bigtmac19]

Caesars Windsor is on Riverside Drive. It's really the only decent hotel downtown. Definitely take the tunnel bus. I always do when I go to Joe Louis. You can walk to the bus station from the casino.

Tunnel bus lets you off at Cobo Hall and you walk through to the Joe. When the game lets out you catch the bus at the same spot. They always have 5 or 6 buses waiting. It moves really quickly. Lots of panhandling outside the arena and where the buses queue.

[StoneCole]

-1 for staying in Windsor.

The tunnel bus and the event shuttle for games can be pretty stuffy through the tunnel under the river and can take a fair bit of time. Easier and much more comfortable to drive across yourself.

The entire downtown is safe imo. Everything between the two highways (10 and 375) and south of 75. Outside that area it gets pretty rough, but the downtown is nice.

I've been to Detroit four times, twice in the last year. The latest was in June following a conference in Kitchener - Jays were playing a series and I caught two games at the tail end by myself. Walked everywhere with no trouble at all.

Go on priceline or hotwire and see if any of the 4 stars are cheap (maybe around $120) the night you're there. I think you get either Renaissance, Book Cadillac, Greektown Casino Hotel, or MGM. Those are all pretty nice.

Stay Greektown if you can...the area around the hotel is cool and it is actually one of the few busy spots in the City.

...or stand shoulder to shoulder on the hot sweaty bus for 45 minutes and show up in time for the anthems.

Oh...lastly I will add...when we went in 2009 we stayed in Windsor out of fear as well. We went out in Detroit after the game anyways and all five guys later agreed they wished we had just gotten the hotel in Detroit. i.e. staying in Windsor was the wrong choice and we would all do it differently next time. So take that for what it's worth.

[verda13]

Stay in Detroit, I prefer it to Windsor, tbh.

My wife and I went a few times. We stayed at the Weston DT and walked to the Joe from there. After the game we wondered dt with no issues, at all. You have nothing to worry about especially if you are going with friends! DT Detroit is beautiful and there is plenty to keep you guys busy after the game (Bazookas, Greektown, etc)

[Locke]

Originally Posted by verda13

Stay in Detroit, I prefer it to Windsor, tbh.

My wife and I went a few times. We stayed at the Weston DT and walked to the Joe from there. After the game we wondered dt with no issues, at all. You have nothing to worry about especially if you are going with friends! DT Detroit is beautiful and there is plenty to keep you guys busy after the game (Bazookas, Greektown, etc)

Hmmmm.....I dont think that means what you think it means.

[verda13]

Originally Posted by Locke

Hmmmm.....I dont think that means what you think it means.

Well the architecture is very extravagant. I wouldn't call downtown Detroit ugly. Much nicer then Windsor, imo.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by verda13

Well the architecture is very extravagant. I wouldn't call downtown Detroit ugly. Much nicer then Windsor, imo.

Well those two cities are hardly comparable. The highlight of Windsor is a casino.

[verda13]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well those two cities are hardly comparable. The highlight of Windsor is a casino.

you are correct, but since the choice of where to stay is between Detroit and Windsor, I would choose Detroit by a (n 8) mile!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by verda13

you are correct, but since the choice of where to stay is between Detroit and Windsor, I would choose Detroit by a (n 8) mile!

Are you insinuating that he should stay in a trailer park for the authentic Detroit experience?

[dubc80]

I went to Sarnia for work a few years ago and stayed a few extra days and did a solo mission to Detriot to catch a hockey game and baseball game.

I stayed here. Hilton Garden Inn Detroit.
http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/e...HGI/index.html

It's right downtown, about 5 mins walking to Comerica Park and Ford Field. Really close to Greektown too.

I took the people mover (their train) to/from the games and it worked out great. I didn't feel unsafe as the crowd for the games was pretty big.