Looking at staying at the comfort inn in utica on 59 and 53. Read reviews for hotels right by the launch and there were not good at all. This one seemed good with good reviews.
Anyone have any information on this hotel??
That ones probably fine, you're maybe 12 miles from the launch. Stay away from anything on gratiot south of 59 or it will probably be a dump.
There is a Hampton Inn right by the launch near Selfridge Air Base. That's about as close as you'll get to the launch for something decent.
Don't think I've stayed at that one.
In the past 3 or 4 years I've stayed at:
THE CONCORDE INN
44315 GRATIOT AVE 586-493-7300 www.concordeinn.com
close to the ramp, has lanes along the side of the building specifically for boats on trailers that need to be plugged in - not sure how the price compares to other places (I didn't pay the last couple times :) )
MICROTEL INN & SUITES BY WYNDHAM
20313 13 MILE ROAD ROSEVILLE 586-415-1000 www.microtelinn.com
fairly close, convenient to highway, places to eat, stayed there during last August's Bassmaster, clean, fairly new, decent price but a little tight for bass boats though half a dozen or more pros stayed there during the Bassmaster
HAMPTON INN
36400 VAN DYKE AVE (M-53) STERLING HEIGHTS
586-276-0600 hampton.hilton.com/Sterling_Heights
Can't remember for sure when I stayed here but it is just S of 16 Mile Rd/Metro Pkwy on M-53. I think it was decent but not as convenient for boats as the Concorde. Not sure if I can say it was definitely nice, clean and decent but I normally note the more deficient places to stay that I record.
HAMPTON INN
33680 GRATIOT AVE CLINTON TOWNSHIP
586-792-1500 hampton.hilton.com/Clinton_Township
Decent place just N of 14 Mile Rd, closest to Clinton River Cutoff BAS but not as convenient for boats as Concorde
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS
31900 LITTLE MACK AVE ROSEVILLE
586-285-5800 888-HOLIDAY (465-4329) http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/roseville/rvlmi/hoteldetail
Stayed there in July 2012, don't know about price again (because I wasn't paying :) ), seemed decent, clean, quick to get on highway and places to eat nearby, cramped for bass boats but we got 5 or 6 of them in the back by jockeying around each day and able to get them plugged in, always a few bass boats staying here.
I've stayed at some of the cheaper places too but usually with a group and we didn't have problems. It can change quick over there with new owners or even closing on some of the older, cheaper places. There are problems at just about any of the hotels over there once in awhile but practice due diligence with security and the odds are mostly in your favor considering how many times I've stayed at even the less 'reputable' places (Baymont on Little Mac, A Victory Inn in Mt. Clemens - seedy, but cheap, etc.) than those above without an incident over all these years.
The Concorde is probably the best of the group. It is a little more than the others, but when I stayed there, they extended their weeknight rate for me ($79.00 - I think) into the weekend since I checked in on Thursday night (since they really didn't have a "fisherman special" rate, but you can ask). Really, nicer than most hotels that fishermen are used to, and the boat lane parking (with power) are a plus.
One place anglers used to stay in the old days to save money was the Lodge Keeper Inn on 23 Mile (M-29) just off (NE) I-94. It didn't have the best reputation even back then but I didn't have any problems there. But remember I'm talking the 'old days' like the mid-1980s and I haven't stayed there probably since ~1990 or so. The last time I stayed there I'm pretty sure they had a Sumo wrestlers match in the room next door to me.
I'm not recommending the place. You'd want to hear from someone else about any modern experience with it. It was always kind of crowded for boats. But... if you were looking for a little extra excitement... it could still be the place for that...
The only more exciting hotel-related incident I can remember at the moment near St. Clair was probably in the early to mid-1990s staying at one of the smaller places North of I-94 on Little Mac. Not sure which one - the names have changed around over the years... but we pulled back into the cramped, tricky parking lot to jockey our trucks and boats only to find a big crowd of onlookers. Apparently, Mr. Type A black belt karate showed up shortly before us to challenge every male with any level of testosterone to a test of his martial arts prowess. He had beat 15 or 16 males (slow learners?) before the cops showed up to call the bout off. We missed most of the excitement. But sometimes history repeats itself they say... ;D
I seem to remember something about a 'fisherman' rate at the Concorde...?? But some of the people I've stayed there with are way smoother operators than me.
I recommend the Holiday Inn express on M59 and I 94 ...It is a little pricey but it is close and safe .
The Comfort Inn you are talking about is right by my work and should be fine also..