Hotels for Detroit Casino Visitors
by Howard Berenbon
So, you say you're planning a trip to Detroit to visit our three new casinos, but you'll need a place to stay? Well, Detroit and neighboring communities (including Windsor, Canada) offer lots of comfortable accommodations just a short drive (and a few within walking distance) to our new gambling establishments.
Since the Detroit casinos don't have hotels that connect, you'll have to plan your stay at a nearby hotel, which may be several miles away. The Greektown Casino and MGM Grand Detroit are closest to the major hotels in downtown Detroit which includes the Atheneum Suite Hotel (313-962-2323), right in Greektown, The Marriott Detroit Renaissance Center (313-568-8000), across from Greektown and Hotel Pontchartrain (313-965-0200). All three are just a short walk to the Greektown Casino, and a 5 minute drive to MGM Grand Detroit. MotorCity Casino is about a mile from MGM Grand Detroit, so expect a 10 minute drive from the Renaissance Center to MotorCity on Grand River. The Greektown Casino has one advantage over the other three because it's accessible to the People Mover, a monorail line that loops Detroit's central business district with stops at the Pontchartrain Hotel, Cobo Center and Greektown.
Other downtown Detroit hotels to consider include the River Place Omni Hotel (313-259-9500), about a mile from Greektown, Courtyard By Marriott (313-222-7700), on East Jefferson, about 5 miles from Greektown (and much farther from MGM and MotorCity) and St. Regis Hotel (313-873-3000), on West Grand Boulevard, about 2 Miles Greektown and MGM. And you may want to stay in Canada, at the Windsor Hotel and Casino (519-258-7878), which is about 4 miles from Detroit and the Greektown Casino through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel on Randolph, crossing the Detroit River.
A Quick Tour Around the People Mover Loop
The People Mover monorail takes a 2.9 mile loop around the center business district in downtown Detroit servicing businessman, visitors, shoppers and restaurant patrons since it opened in July 1987. The cost is 50 cents per ride, with children 5 years and under riding free. Our tour begins at the Renaissance Center where the People Mover moves north to Greektown with a stop near the Atheneum Suite Hotel, the Detroit Theater for the Dramatic Arts, the restaurants in Trappers Alley and the Greektown Casino. It then moves west towards Randolph street and then north with a stop at the Detroit Opera House. From there, it turns west again with a stop at Grand Circus Park, several blocks from the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park and The Second City (note: this station is closed for renovations). The Mover then loops southwest with it's next stop at Times Square and two blocks from the Ramada Hotel on Bagley. From here, it's a five or six block walk to MGM Grand Detroit Casino. Taking the Mover south again, it's a six block ride to the Cobo Center station, which is next to the Hotel Pontchartrain. The Mover continues west and then south to a stop at Joe Luis Arena. From Joe Luis it turns east following Civic Center Drive and then north past Cobo Arena, the Veteran's Memorial Building and Hart Plaza to a second stop near Hotel Pontchartrain. It then moves east, past the City-County Building, to a stop at the Courtyard By Marriott Hotel and finally southeast back to the Renaissance Center.
The Hotel List - Downtown Detroit Area
Atheneum Suite Hotel, 1000 Brush Ave, 313-962-2323
Courtyard By Marriott - Downtown Detroit, 333 E. Jefferson, 313-222-7700
Hotel Pontchartrain, 2 Washington Blvd., 313-965-0200
Marriott Detroit Renaissance Center, Renaissance Center, 313-568-8000
Ramada Hotel - Downtown Detroit, 400 Bagley, 313-962-2300
River Place Omni Hotel, 1000 River Place, 313-259-9500
St. Regis Hotel, 3701 West Grand Blvd., 313-873-3000
Windsor Hotel and Casino, 377 Riverside Drive East, Windsor, Ontario Canada, 519-258-7878.
