<p>My son and I are heading to Ann Arbor in a few weeks to sit in on classes/rehearsal and meet with the department before he makes his final decision about acceptance. </p>
<p>If you happen to have a few minutes I’d love to know when you’ve visited, if you’ve stayed in hotels and/or the rooms that are rent from the University; Inn at the Michigan League, and if so which you might recommend. It looks like there are a lot of similarly priced motel type places in the area, but I know that the quality can vary widely from motel to motel. </p>
<p>I’m also unfamiliar with the city and don’t know which might be more convenient to the campus than others.</p>
<p>The Inn at the Michigan League is very convenient in that it is right on Central Campus and you can easily catch a bus right outside to take you to North Campus and the Moore Building. Know that it is located in the student union building (on an upper floor) and it is very basic, but clean and nice. One other great thing about the League is that it is very close to State Street, so you can walk to go out to eat, shop and so on.</p>
<p>One thought for your son - some places will hook kids up to stay in dorm rooms with current students, so they get an idea of dorm life. You would still need a hotel, and I have no suggestions for you there.</p>
<p>There are two really nice hotels ON campus - Campus Inn (stayed there/nice) and Bell Tower (?) - you can walk everywhere (& there is a campus bus as well) campus theatres, restaurants, shops etc. - no need to rent a car.</p>
<p>We got a great rate at Hotwire on the Holiday Inn just off the freeway and close to the North Campus. It was more convenient to visiting Music and Theatre schools on the North Campus than the main campus but that was why we were there and the bus connections to downtown campus were easy and free. Friends stayed at the Michigan league for the auditions and had a good experience.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, I'll look into these as well. And yes, my son is planning on staying at least one of the two nights we'll be there in a dorm if it can be arranged.</p>
<p>It almost sounds from the posts here that we won't need a car while visiting, does that sound correct? I was taken aback by the price of a rental car compared to elsewhere, and wonder if we're better off taking a shuttle or taxi from the airport and then using public transportation and/or feet while visiting. Any thoughts on that?</p>
<p>SeniorMom08, there is a wonderful outfit called 4 Stars Transport that will have a driver meet you at the Detroit Airport at baggage claim (or wherever you arrange) and will drive you directly to wherever you want to go in Ann Arbor for $50 from the airport to the campus and then $40 for the trip back. Yes, it's expensive, but we found it to be worth it. The gentleman who runs the service runs a very tight ship and is VERY prompt: both times we used 4 Stars, they were calling my cell to see where we were before we even were off the plane! I can PM you with the phone # if you wish. (Yes, the Holiday Inn on -- I think -- Plymouth Road is also very close to campus, reasonable and runs a shuttle to and from. No need for a car.)</p>
<p>In addition to the Holiday Inn that people have mentioned, depending on your budget there is also a Hampton Inn near North Campus as well as a Microtel. Several miles south of the Main Campus is a new Holiday Inn Express that is very nice, and a bit cheaper than the Hampton, as I recall.</p>
<p>You probably don't need a car once you get to Ann Arbor; most of the hotels have free shuttles. But, for the price of transportation to and from the airport, it seems to me you could rent a car for a couple of days- but maybe my memory is failing me on the price of rental cars.</p>
<p>If you hotwire a 3 star hotel in ann arbor, you almost alway get the Holiday in on Phymouth Rd. near north campus - you can get it for 59 a night. You can use the hotel shuttle to get to main campus - you cannot walk - it is at least 4 miles away. The campus bus system from north campus to main runs frequently. We have never traveled without a car, so I can't tell you how reliable the hotel shuttle is. Again, along Plymouth road there is also a Microtel - fairly new (2-3yrs old) - small but clean, a Hampton Inn and the Holiday Inn Express. On Washtenaw Rd. which runs into campus, there is a great guest house and a few hotel chains. Toward south campus, right off of 94 there is a Comfort in, Hampton Inn South, and about 3 or 4 more in a very close area. We've stayed at the Michigan League - so convenient - the audition day starts right in the basement! It is an old women's dorm converted to 22 guest rooms. Internet hook up is not great - but there are community computers down in the main lobby and on the floor. Don't stay out late though, they lock the building and you have to buzz and hope the night cleaning staff lets you in!</p>
<p>The hotel shuttle is very reliable, or at least was when we stayed there in April 2007. Re: Internet at the Inn at the Michigan League. We used the computer in the common area (near the concierge desk) to print out boarding passes and to check email.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Shoremom, I took a chance with Hotwire and sure enough, got the Holiday Inn on Plymouth for $58 per night. It takes the sting out of the cost of the car rental a bit. Thank you for suggesting it!</p>
<p>Breathe Easy, you are right. The cost of the two of us taking a shuttle to and from the airport is about the same as the car rental, so we're going with the car.</p>
<p>With the money saved on lodging make sure to make a pilgrimidge to Zingermans one of the countries greatest deli's and food emporiums, and an Ann Arbor institution.</p>
<p>SeniorMom, good for you. I loathe having to figure out where stuff is in a strange city and in a strange car, so the $$ is worth it to me not to have to deal with that. Enjoy your visit and remember: it ain't spring there yet. Last year, my D and I went in April expecting bulbs to be bursting from the ground and some daffodils to be up. Not.</p>
<p>Thanks Ken, I'm filing Zingerman's away for sure. </p>
<p>Mama Rose....I agree about the rental car. When we travel my husband does all the driving. I figure I can suck it up this one trip and my son tends to be a pretty good navigator :) and I totally hear you about the weather. We were in Chicago last April, towards the end of the month and totally froze. UGH.</p>
<p>We just got back from Ann Arbor (brrr!) and stayed at the Red Roof Inn on Plymouth Road because the other places around there were all booked. I would rcommend Holiday Inn over Red Roof Inn. </p>
<p>Last April we went to investigate the school, and did rent a car. However, because parking is SO scarce, we took the hotel shuttle to the Music School or Wahlgreen Building several times. It was very convenient and you could just call them and they would come and get you.</p>
<p>I don't know if Hampton Inn or Microtel have shuttles, Red Roof Inn did not.</p>