Downtown Hotels

We will be In Indianapolis for a weekend this August and need suggestions for a nice hotel....we previously stayed at the Crowne Plaza (but we would prefer a place that has a better lounge/restuarant in the lobby.) Also, we need to be as close as possible to the convention center...

Thanks in advance!

Downtown Hotels

Westin or the Conrad. Conrad is the nicest hotel downtown. They have a restaurant, Capital Grille is excellent.

Downtown Hotels

Agree (as usual) with Gabby.

I%26#39;ll throw one more option out there, but it%26#39;s not as close to the Convention Center as the Westin or Conrad: The Columbia Club.

It%26#39;s considered a private club, but they do rent rooms to travelers. It%26#39;s right on Monument Circle - so a 3 block walk to the Convention Center - but you%26#39;ll be staying in August, so that can be a very nice morning and/or evening stroll.

The reason I mention the Columbia Club is it is a fairly unique place to stay - with plenty of old-world elegance mixed with enough modern features to make it a delightful place to stay for a couple of nights. The CC has a great bar downstairs - cozy and elegant without being too elegant - perfect for an evening cocktail before or after heading to dinner. The dining room is very good too, but I%26#39;d always recommend walking to one of Indy%26#39;s free-standing, independent restaurants anyways. Should you look into the Columbia Club - make sure to ask for one of the remodeled rooms facing the Circle.

Just another option (if I had to stay in a chain hotel, and if I had to eat at a chain restaurant - I%26#39;d gladly choose the Capital Grille, outstanding food and service connected to the Conrad - Indy%26#39;s best hotel).

The others sound good, and I will check them out next time I%26#39;m there. FWIW, we stayed at the cowntown Marriott last summer and it was really nice. I think it is across the street from the convention center? We parked on the street at the suggestion of the staff to avoid the overnight parking charge.

downtown! Not a slip for cowtown.... I%26#39;m from cowtown country and Indianapolis is not one!

Hey Ainwa!

How weird is this. A recommendation from the U.K., and two from Seattle/Western Washington

LOL Dave, but Indianapolis will always be home to me! I%26#39;ll be back again in 2 wks time for a nice visit.

Big Basketball weekends coming up the women%26#39;s Big 10 championship and the men%26#39;s Big 10 basketball championship and NCAA regional round. Downtown will be busy. It is Indiana and we love basketball.

Callil: I second Dave, Gabby, and Ainwa%26#39;s recommendations. Columbia Club is pretty cool, right on Monument Circle. Neat old place. It%26#39;s mostly a private club but anyone can stay there. Marriott right across from convention center, as is Westin. Conrad close by too, but I have heard while nice it is a little overrated as a 5 star hotel. I think you can get some pretty great rates there. You can%26#39;t beat a Westin, really. That%26#39;s probably where I would end up if I were in your shoes. I have not stayed at the Hyatt Rgency for years, so don%26#39;t know what kind of shape it%26#39;s in but it is also close to the convention center. There is also a Hilton downtown that gets forgotten a lot of times. Never stayed there and I really don%26#39;t like Hiltons but I can vouch for the meeting facilities anyway.

Dave: Is your avatar a pic of one of the momument circle statues? Looks a little spooky for the monument but I think I recognize it.

It%26#39;s from kind of a monument - a rainspout on the Duomo in Florence, Italy (Indy%26#39;s sister city).