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January 25, 2008

Hotel Comments: Nice hotel with great van service. Not too much within a short walk, but the van is more than willing to take you anywhere. Free beer at the bar on Wednesday nights from 5-7!

Dining Comments: Coffee house and Quiznos.

Entertainment Comments: If there is a Bobcats game on the night you are there, ask the manager on duty as early as possible if there are any extra tickets. Apparently they sell package deals with rooms and tickets, and when no one books the package they give away the tickets. Wish I would have known this because we watched the manager give away two tickets, each with a $110 face value for free about an hour before tipoff.

February 21, 2009

Hotel Comments: Comfortable rooms, staff was friendly and the van was on time at the airport. The hotel is 15 mins. from the airport and they can be there on time while the short hotel is 5 minutes and it takes them 30 to show up.

Dining Comments: Have the van driver take you to Mac's. The full name is Mac's Beer Bikes and BBQ. Cheap beer, good food, fun atmosphere! They have a selection of over 250 beers and the BBQ is pretty good.

Entertainment Comments: See above.

May 3, 2008

Hotel Comments: The hotel is a nice hotel overall. We no longer use the transportation company but rather the hotel van will pick you up from at the airport at Zone B, about a 15-20 minute van ride from the airport. The hotel is located near the stadiums so if there's a game going on, go out and catch a game. Ask the front desk, they might be able to hook you up with some tickets if they have any left. There is wired and wireless internet in the hotel, as well as a business center. There's also an outdoor pool. Hotel has a sports bar and a restaurant on property. There's also a gym. Not much going around the hotel, but ask the van driver, they'll take you almost anywhere.

Dining Comments: There are few places to walk to but not too much. Within walking distance is Quizno's, Art's BBQ, and Dillworth's Grill. Art's BBQ has good BBQ and good prices. Dillworth's Grill is very good as well, more of a sports bar type of place. Also a coffee shope down the street from the hotel. Otherwise, have the van take you to Tryon Street, only a few mins from the hotel but has many restaurants, bars, etc. The van will also take you to Home Depot, Target, Walmart, Subway, McDonald's, Wendy's, etc.

Entertainment Comments: Not much around the hotel but tons to do on Tryon Street. Bars, clubs, lounges, restaurants, etc. Catch a game if the season is right. Maybe free tickets from the front desk.

December 4, 2007

Hotel Comments: Nice hotel is a good area. Close to the stadium where the Panthers play. The transport company that XJT uses is very good. The drivers are there waiting for you in the garage in CLT and the SUV's are brand new. Free internet as well as a good business center. Outdoor pool only. Nice bar and restaurant on premises.

Dining Comments: Ask the van driver to take you to Tryon Street. Only a few mins from the hotel but has many restaurants, bars, Discovery Place, aquarium, The Bodies Exhibit. Theres a Quizno's and a coffee shop around the corner from the hotel. The van will also take you to Home Depot, Target, Walmart, Subway, McDonald's, Wendy's... all within a few mins from the hotel.

Entertainment Comments: Catch a game, visit Tryon Street, and take a ride to the mall.

October 10, 2007

Hotel Comments: The best part about this hotel is that they contract with a car service to transport the crews to the hotel (Pearl Transportation 704-393-8444). The driver was waiting for us when we arrived and both vehicles and drivers were very professional in appearance. The free wireless worked great in the room.

Dining Comments: The entertainment district along Tryon Street is only a few blocks up. Plenty of restaurants and bars within a 15 minute walk.

Entertainment Comments: Ask the hotel. They give out a guidebook.

September 14, 2008

Hotel Comments: The hotel itself is nice. The rooms are clean and the staff is friendly.

Dining Comments: As stated before, Kokomo's Coffee and Quizno's are adjacent to the building. Be advised, however, that they are closed on the weekends. Art's BBQ is considered so-so by the locals, but is passable. The closest restaurants otherwise are in Bobcats Stadium (Dunkin' Donuts and Bellacino's) and across the street from the Stadium in the mass transit hub (BK, Subway, Bojangle's). See below for more ideas.

Entertainment Comments: Some ideas that don't require the hotel van: (1) Exit hotel to the right, left of 4th Street (or any parallel street), right on Tryon or College. That's where all of the action is in Uptown. Every genre of pub/grill/restaurant/pizza place/sandwich shop is represented. (2) Exit hotel left, left on 3rd Street, right on Kings St. A couple of blocks down are Arby's, Subway, Domino's, Target, Best Buy, Marshall's, and Trader Joe's. (3) If you want to explore the greater area, go the to CATS transport hub across from Bobcats Stadium and use the light rail. Cost is $2.60 for a round trip or $4.00 for a day pass, although rates are set to increase 10/06/08. There is an additional station on 3rd Street (exit hotel left, right on 3rd Street, a few blocks down. It makes many stops throughout Uptown as well as the south land.

May 13, 2008

Hotel Comments: This hotel is nice enough, but not quite a Crowne Plaza-more like a Holiday Inn in a previous life. Staff is very nice, and are flexible with the van times. There really isn't much to do around the hotel.

Dining Comments: Hotel has a restaurant, there is a Quizno's nearby but that's about it.

Entertainment Comments: There are many things to do in Charlotte but they require either a ride or a car. No rental car company on site or nearby.