Is it safe to stay in downtown Detroit for the 2008 Auto Show?

Question

I'm planning to take my 14-year old son to the show, but we are flying in. I'm wondering if staying close to the COBO Center would be a good idea. What areas we should avoid. etc. Please suggest us a couple of places and how we can get back and forth.

Thanks

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

There are a few better hotels in the area. As long as you are close to COBO or the Convention Center and you don't go wandering around in the middle of the night or let him go alone, you should be fine. However, these hotels are going to be VERY pricey, especially auto show weekend.

You're better bet is to stay around Canton, Novi or one of the other smaller but fairly close cities in the area. It will be about a 20 minute drive to COBO, but they will be as safe if not safer and much less expensive. Most of the popular hotel chains are in that area, pick your favorite and do a search for them online. Try to stay at at hotel (rooms are all interior, do not open onto the street) verses a motel, where the rooms are entered and exited from the exterior of the building. Hotels are considered much safer.

Source(s):

Lived in Michigan for 25 years, near Detroit for 10.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks for your input. I really appreaciate your help and comments. It will help me to plan a better trip for me and my son.

I also want to thank to the other persons who responded to my question.

Answer 2

Yes, as long as you stay in the downtown area. Detroit is trying to become like Chicago, although it's not quite there yet, and may never be, but good things are happening here. We have a people mover that will get you around the downtown area. They have a website www.thepeoplemover.com that gives you a map of the downtown area and what shopping, restaurants and casinos are to be found at each stop including COBO.

Source(s):

and I know this because I'v e lived here all my life and enjoy downtown immensley. I live in the suburbs, but go there a couple times a month and I am young grandmother.

Answer 3

If you stay at a major hotel like Hilton, MGM Grand, and the Marriot, you should be safe but my advice to you is to stay in the suburbs in Dearborn and drive to the Auto Show.

Answer 4

Rick, wow, what a great idea. 14 is a cool age for the autoshow and to stay downtown during the show is a huge idea.

The show is a super busy time, so your choices downtown might be limited, so book your room NOW. The Antheum is fabulous but the cool place for a 14 year old is the Ren Cen. It is like an escher print in real life.

Staying in the suburbs and driving in will assure your son of a lame time, whereas ridding the People Mover to the show will be cool.

Safety is not an issue downtown, and certainly not during the Autoshow. One it is cold so petty criminals stay inside, and two, there are more cops down there than pigeons on a statue. Those folks that are warning you to stay in the 'burbs might not venture downtown as offen as I do - especially during the Auto Show. Downtown is very safe.

Oh, make sure you bring your passports, or at least birth certs, etc. becaue you must take a day trip across the River to Canada. If your son has never been out of the country, this is the perfect opportunity.

So, in conclusion, stay at the Ren Cen if you can get a room, ride the People Mover around downtown and take the shuttle buss to Canada.

Your son will be telling all his pals about the cool things he saw and did while in The D. He might be blase with you, but with his pals he is going to be the coolest, baddest kid in school if you stay downtown.

email me if you need additional info.

Answer 5

Stay in the outskirts of detriot like some nice hotel but cheap in like birmingham or Bloomfield. really, detriot isn't that safe to take hotel in. Well, maybe some places? That's a good idea for the auto show, since Detroit is the motor city, as we say.

Answer 6

JUst stay somewhere in Downtown or Midtown and you'll be fine. The Atheneum, Hilton Garden Inn, Mariott Reinassance, Holiday Inn Express and MGM Grand is just down the street from Cobo Hall.

Answer 7

Nooooooooo! Im from Detroit

Answer 8

yes there are hotels in the downtown area

Answer 9

I'd suggest staying in Windsor, Ontario. It's right across the border from Detroit and using Transit Windsor (the bus system) you can take a shuttle bus from downtown Windsor right to COBO Center and go back again when you're done. I'd say a one-way trip from Windsor to the COBO Center takes 20-30 minutes (of course that varies depending on traffic).
Many people do this, and I think it's an option worth considering. There are a bunch of hotels to choose from (Hilton, Holiday Inn, Radisson, etc.) and this way you don't have to worry about staying in downtown Detroit at all.

Answer 10

DETROIT AINT SAFE PEROID....18 YRS OF EXPIRENCE! TRY WINDSOR!!!

Answer 11

Try either Trenton or Woodhaven at the Holiday Inn Express. I lived in South Rockwood, MI (about 40min. from downtown) and my parents always stayed there when they came to visit. Its nice there-no crime, etc. just a smallish town, but it has every store you could think of. And its only about 30 min. from downtown-just take I-75. Also another really nice area out there would be Canton-just west of the city. Flying in, you would be close to Westland and Canton. Canton's much nicer. Where to avoid: anywhere that isn't the main downtown streets-not joking-Detroit isn't the best place to wander around in. The surrouding cities I've mentioned are safe though. Have fun!

Source(s):

I lived in Michigan-Detroit area-for 2 years.

Answer 12

mgm grand hotel , motor city hotel, holiday inn express

Answer 13

Staying downtown is a great idea. Its usually cold during the auto show so walking is difficult.

Mariott Ren Center - People mover trip takes 10 minutes to cobo. You wont even have to step outside.

Atheneaum- People mover 5 minute trip to cobo.

Book now because it does get very busy.

Answer 14

I know everyone has their favourite hotels and stay places,
but let me say that if you stay 1 half a mile away just across the Detroit river at the lovely city of Windsor Canada you surely wont be disappointed. the city is clean and has the best police force in the entire country, they dont stand for foolishness and love vacationers from the US.
the dollar is a little concern but the stay wont cost as as staying in Detroit, I must say anyplace in the Detroit centre is safe because of the fine coverage the police have during the Auto show. just a little secret many many Hollywood and famous people stay in Canada because of its pure warmth you wont be sorry. PS. you don't need a car they have great service during the Auto show, bring your family its a great little town. Check out Windsor Casino.com377 Riverside Drive East
Windsor, ON N9A 7H7
Telephone: [phone]
or Toll-free: 1-800-991-7777
E-mail: [e-mail]
www.casinowindsor.com

Answer 15

People are really scary. You're talking about DOWNTOWN detroit, not 8 Mile.

Cobo Area is pretty safe. Look, if black people scare you, then I just suggest not going at all. There WILL be black people around, but in Downtown Detroit, it's as safe as Downtown Chicago, New York or any other metropolitan city.

My picks would be the Marriot in the Renaissance Center or the Courtyard Marriot across the street. Those are both in the Cobo Center area (walking distance).

And for the Auto Show, there will be people from all over the world there so security and police will be on maximum. They are NOT going to let knuckleheads THE most important events in Michigan that brings in much needed money to our suffering economy.

Go early in the day to be supersafe. Before Seven would be the best. After that, different crowds show up. Earlier is for families.

Good luck and have a good time.