Dave@Moon Posted June 30, 2003 Share Posted June 30, 2003 I just made reserations for the National at the Flint, Michigan Best Inn--932 S. Center Rd. It's about 3 miles from the convention center. The price was very reasonable, so I'm a little concerned about the neighborhood, facility, etc. I'm not into pillow mints, so the room only has to be clean. But I'll be driving my Buick and parking it there overnight. Could one of the Flint people please post what their impressions are of this place, and if you'd trust your car in their lot (properly locked/secured of course)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 30, 2003 Share Posted June 30, 2003 we when over this topic already.... where to stay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted June 30, 2003 Author Share Posted June 30, 2003 Tommy,As you can guess, all of the hotels in the areas mentioned in that thread are full (although with careful use of the dot.coms you can still find a place in town, as you can see). The Best Inn (formerly a Budget Host Inn) is almost due east 3 miles from the convention center, and is apparrently the only motel in that particular area. By the way, according to the internet searches I did last night, the Holiday Inn still has a room available, @ $395.00 a night! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted June 30, 2003 Share Posted June 30, 2003 Dave, I think this BEST INN was a Howard Johnson's way back in the day. it's sort of across the street from one of the malls and very close the expressway. It should be fine. See you soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted June 30, 2003 Share Posted June 30, 2003 Just last week I got a room at the Character Inn for $85/night, no problem. It's about 3 miles from the main show area, though I don't know what kind of neighborhood it is. I don't really mind, though, since I'll be driving modern iron this time around. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />I called the visitor's center listed on the application and they hooked me right up. I received my confirmation letter on Saturday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted June 30, 2003 Share Posted June 30, 2003 Matt, the Character Inn, is right in downtown Flint, no drinking, smoking and only their tv programs, but was a Radisson, and Hyatt before that. Across the street from the UofM student union, formerly Waterstreet Pavillion. This was the host hotel in 1988 Nationals and 1993 90th Anniversary Great Lake Regional. You will have a parking deck to park in and no problems there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted June 30, 2003 Author Share Posted June 30, 2003 Thanks Roberta! If anyone else is looking for a room still, I paid $41/night plus tax, and that was an extra $4 over their base rate because they were out of non-smoking rooms at $37. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted July 1, 2003 Share Posted July 1, 2003 Good to know. Thanks, Roberta! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted July 1, 2003 Share Posted July 1, 2003 Thanks for mentioning that deal about it being the host hotel in '88, Roberta. I'd been trying to figure out where all of that stuff was back then. In '88, that was one really fancy hotel! Waterstreet Pavillion had some nice restaurants in it too, back then, plus a while Regal convertible hiding on one of the stair landings back then too (I later saw one like it in a picture of the GS Nationals coverage in a magazine). That location really worked out well back then! Also, it was only a few blocks from the central point on the city bus lines.One curious point, Roberta, will there be shuttle bus service as there was in '88?Thanks,NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted July 1, 2003 Share Posted July 1, 2003 I believe there will be from the bigger hotels that have shuttle service as part of their usual service, there may be other plans that I'm not clued in on, maybe Joe T or Bob Leets can post the alternatives, there is general parking available at Mott Community College, it's a little jaunt to the showfield, though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raleets Posted July 1, 2003 Share Posted July 1, 2003 Hi everyone,Some of the "major" hotels are offering shuttle service, some are not.Best bet is to contact your hotel direct and ask them what, if any, services they are planning to provide. Typically, the lower the price, the fewer the perks! Some are offering wash facilities, including towels, and some are not.All of the hotel/motel reservations for this Meet have been handled through the Flint Convention and Visitors Bureau. They can be reached at 1-888-230-2587.The Best Inn, for example, is in a decent area and not very far from the Cultural Center show field (about 3 miles). Just down the street is a nice car wash, both full service and "do it yourself". There is a nice shopping mall straight across the street. Flint has all the fast foods, plus 16,000 "Coney Island" family restaurants. DO NOT leave Flint without sampling at least one official Flint Coney Island!!As Roberta mentioned, there is a nice area map within the booklet in your goodie bag that you'll receive at registration. If you want a map in advance, jump on your PC and go to any of the many travel services that are available.Hope this has helped,Bob Leets <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted July 1, 2003 Share Posted July 1, 2003 I'll be staying at the Wingate Inn in Grand Blanc, and the hotel says that its shuttle will be available to transport guests between the hotel and the Flint Cultural Center. This will not be a regularly-scheduled shuttle operation, however, and the hotel is unlikely to make a shuttle run for only one or two passengers. If there are several passengers wanting to travel to and from the show field at the same time, the hotel is happy to make the shuttle available.I figure we'll just have to see how workable the shuttle service is, and we may find that it is more convenient to utilize the old Buick for travel to and from our hotel.It's great that the Sloan Museum and other buildings at the Flint Cultural Center are air-conditioned. This should help minimize the need for frequent trips to and from the hotel. My wife can probably find a cool spot to relax and read a book while I'm outside, wandering through endless rows of great old Buicks and checking and re-checking every item offered at the swap meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted July 1, 2003 Author Share Posted July 1, 2003 Bob, Are you <span style="font-style: italic">sure</span> that there are <span style="font-weight: bold">16.000</span> Coney Island restraunts in Flint? That's a little more than one for every 8 people in the city! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raleets Posted July 2, 2003 Share Posted July 2, 2003 Dave,OK, so I'm busted, and exaggerate just a teenie little bit! I've lived in Flint since 1965, and have probably chowed down on 16,000 Coneys!!!The bloomin' things are totally addictive and positively injurious to your health, but sometimes common sense has to go out the exhaust pipe, right?If you're into good eating (damned the grease) you MUST fill yourself up with at least one meal of Flint Coney Islands while at the Centennial. Remember, you'll have 100 years to feel better before we do it again!See ya' in Flint,Bob Leets <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raleets Posted July 2, 2003 Share Posted July 2, 2003 Brian,You, and everyone else, will love the Flint Cultural Center for our Show Field.It is 65%, or better, in the SHADE........Wow! What a concept!! The last time Buicktown Chapter invited you folks to a National Meet we placed you on a freshly completed black top parking lot in 104+ degree sunshine. The cars became customized as they "lowered" themselves into the asphalt for three days.The National Guard water trailer was called out, and most sane people headed for the A/C hospitality room at the host hotel down the street.This time around you'll be able to find a nice tree and place to rest the dogs while meandering around 1600+ of the BEST automobiles ever built.See ya' in Flint,Bob Leets <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Guy Posted July 2, 2003 Share Posted July 2, 2003 There will be buses supplied by BMD running routes between all the hotels that were recommended by the tourist and Convention people. There will be bus schedules in the program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted July 2, 2003 Share Posted July 2, 2003 Thanks for that information, Joe!Enjoy!NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted July 2, 2003 Share Posted July 2, 2003 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There will be bus schedules in the program.</div></div> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />And indeed they are! Including the Best Inn!Also shuttles from the Airport to Sloan, every hour on Friday from 9-6, Saturday from 9-4 to go see the WWII display. And shuttles from the Mott Community College parking for spectators to Sloan, every 1/2 hour on Saturday from 7:30AM to 4:30 PMMore Details in the program what time departures are and what bus # goes to your hotel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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