Visiting St. Louis (Creve Coeur, Clayton, Union: how much, hotels, price)

[Chris19]

I have been and through St. Louis a couple of times before and plan to see the following: a Cardinals game, Anheuser Busch Brewery, Grant's Farm, Gateway Arch, and possibly Forest Park.

I have a good idea of where each is relative to one another. I drove in St. Louis once before but have been with others on the other occasions when passing through or stopping. I did not not have any major problems except hitting a sudden downpour during the evening rush hour, but that was manageable.

I am looking for a decent hotel to stay at but have come across two choices and undecided between the two:
Stay at a hotel in the suburbs (most likely due west) and save approx $30 a night but drive to downtown and pay for parking (approx. $15 to $20) at the game and have to drive practically everywhere else; or
Stay downtown and pay $30 more but be within walking distance to Union Station and a hop skip and a jump to the stadium using the light rail. I still would have to use the car to get to Grant's Farm, Forest Park, and the brewery.

The hotels I am comparing are comparable in options. Free breakfast, Pool/hot tub, free internet, and clean. More of the middle of the road types of places such as Hampton Inns or Drury Inns.

I am looking for suggestions or insights.

[flynavyj]

My thoughts would be to stay close to the majority of your activities or to a metrolink station. Did a quick google earth search, and if staying a tad further out but still pretty close was a priority i'd look at several of the hotels in Brentwood, or in Clayton (the clayton ones seem a little more high end i.e. ritz carlton, sheraton). So you might stay a couple dollars cheaper a night in Brentwood. My thoughts have always been that i don't enjoy the idea of having to drive everywhere if i don't have to, especially if i'm planning on enjoying a baseball game and don't want to think about putting down that beer as we close in on the 7th inning. All the hotels in Brentwood would put you less than a half mile from a metrolink station, and that would provide you with access to downtown, union station, forest park, and busch stadium with ease, and be significantly cheaper/easier than parking downtown at game time. Hope that helps!

[billiken]

You can get to Forest Park via the MetroLink. The DeBaliviere station drops you off just north of the park near the History museum. I prefer staying downtown, but you could also stay elsewhere (there's a Hampton Inn off 44 not too far from downtown) and then just park at Brentwood's huge parking lot (it's free) and take the MetroLink downtown for baseball.

[aragx6]

It depends how much night life you're after. I always like staying downtown so you can hit the bars after a Cardinals game, and Wash Ave on a Saturday night shouldn't be missed. The Sheraton downtown is a bit less walkable, but right next to a metro station and they often have very good weekend rates.

[Chris19]

I am leaning towards staying downtown or in a suburban area near the metro link. I am wanting to do so to be a centralized location and greater ease of getting around and not having to fuss too much with the traffic.

If I stay downtown, I am considering the Pear Tree Inn or Drury Inn due to being in a price range I am willing to pay and being handy to the metro to get to other key links. I am wondering if the Pear Tree Inn area is safe at 10ish after a Cards game.

I know that there are some areas along I-70 north of downtown that seemed seedy and wonder if there are other seedy areas to avoid.

[Chris19]

Originally Posted by billiken

You can get to Forest Park via the MetroLink. The DeBaliviere station drops you off just north of the park near the History museum. I prefer staying downtown, but you could also stay elsewhere (there's a Hampton Inn off 44 not too far from downtown) and then just park at Brentwood's huge parking lot (it's free) and take the MetroLink downtown for baseball.

Is that parking lot pretty safe in the evenings? If so, I may consider that idea.

I thought about staying in Creve Coeur area and finding a nearby metro link. Would some of the other stations have an abundance of parking or not and relatively safe to leave the car?

[billiken]

The lot I'm referring to (Brentwood) is actually like a 10 floor garage that is shared with BJC Healthcare. It's in a safe suburban area surrounded by shopping (Best Buy, grocery store, Target, etc). It's very safe--I have left my car there for extended periods of time and never worried. This lot is also convenient because it's right off the highway.

[stlcitygirl]

Stay downtown for sure, worth the extra money to be in the middle of everything.

[Book Lover 21]

Isn't Grants Farm closed right now?

[moorlander]

If you're a younger active guy it seems silly not to stay downtown where you can walk to Metro, Busch 3, and dozens a places to grab a pint.