Which Marriott Bonvoy hotel, including Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, and Westin, is the best in Detroit and the rest of Michigan? Which is best, downtown and at the airport? We have already reviewed which hotel has the best club lounge in Detroit, now we look at the best Marriott Bonvoy hotel in the city.
Ritz-Carlton hotels are often some of the best Marriott Bonvoy hotels in an area, but there is no Ritz-Carlton in Detroit, so the best luxury hotels in Detroit actually mainly fall within the Marriott brand, including the under their Autograph Collection and Westin collections. The Henry Autograph Collection is probably the best luxury and best Marriott hotel in Detroit. It also has an executive club lounge.
Downtown Detroit is a lively, happening place. It is also the largest city in the midwestern state of Michigan. Thrillist named Detroit “One of America’s Most Fun Cities.” The city’s finest attractions include the Michigan Science Center, Automotive Hall of Fame, City Tour Detroit, and the Hendry Ford Piquette.
1. The Henry, Autograph Collection
The Henry, a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel in Dearborn, Michigan, is a great choice for the luxury traveler. There are several decent Marriott options in the Detroit area, and this is one of your best options. It used to be a Ritz-Carlton and was rebranded into the Autograph Collection.
It’s a stylish hotel with a magnificent lobby adorned with vibrant contemporary art. There is free parking, and you are just twenty minutes outside of Detroit, but there’s not a lot to do in the immediate area.
The rooms are good with large bathrooms. The executive club lounge is very decent and on the 10th floor. It is closed on weekends, but you can usually still get sodas or water from the fridges. Breakfast in the lounge is good, and the food in the evening is mostly nibbles, but this is a nice space and one of the best club lounges in Detroit.
2. Aloft David Whitney
Located in a breathtaking building with an amazing foyer, the Aloft David Whitney is ideally located in Downtown Detroit and is well connected to People Mover. Arguably the most beautiful hotel in the city, this hotel has renovated its rooms to fit with the Aloft brand with brightly colored cushions, and expect the standard Aloft amenities and breakfast here.
But the beautifully restored historic building makes this place rather special and unlike any other Alofts branded hotel that we’ve seen. During downtime, head to their excellent 24-hour fitness center to work out and meet friends or colleagues at W XYZ® bar to mingle over cocktails.
3. The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit
The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit is another great hotel choice and your best choice in Downtown Detroit. The hotel is located in a restored historic building with a good club lounge, indoor pool and spa, and decent restaurant (Roast).
Expect the usual Heavenly® Bed and Heavenly® Bath in nicely decorated large rooms with large bathrooms, along with modern technology and ergonomic workspaces. The steakhouse is a highlight, and they have the only Starbucks® Reserve Store in downtown Detroit.
The executive club lounge has very good views to the Detroit River and into Windsor, Canada. Breakfast includes bagels, cereal, white bread, scrambled eggs, sliced fruit, and yogurt. In the evening, light bites are served. Drinks and snacks are available throughout the day.
4. Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center is set downtown along the RiverWalk, near the Cobo Center, Ford Field, and other attractions. This is a very large hotel with circa 1,200 rooms. The best thing about this Marriott is the incredible views from the high floors (50-70).
Rooms featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable bedding, high-speed Wi-Fi, and 24-hour room service. There’s also a fitness center, a popular hotel restaurant, a Starbucks®, and the 24-hour Motor City Pantry. Unfortunately, there’s no free parking at the Marriott Renaissance Center. For that, you have to stay at one of the Marriotts further out of town.
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center offers one of the largest event venues in Michigan, the stunning Renaissance Ballroom, which can seat up to 1,800 banquet guests. Other updated venues include 42 Degrees North, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Detroit River and our charming outdoor patio.
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center also has an executive club lounge. This concierge lounge is on the 56th floor but is not usually open on the weekend. The Marriott Renaissance Center lounge isn’t great. They haven’t made this an M Club, even though it was renovated about two years ago. The food is typical of a concierge lounge.
If you don’t mind driving, the Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac, which has a brand new and better M Club lounge and is 20 minutes from downtown Detroit and offers free parking as well as giving very good treatment to Gold and Platinum Marriott Bonvoy guests.
5. Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac
As mentioned above, the Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac has a brand new and better M Club lounge than the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, but we could not list it in position one as it is not actually in Detroit itself. This definitely has one of the best club lounges in the area.
The hotel is also a bargain as it is only a Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Category 3 hotel. The Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac is located off I-75. With stylish guest rooms featuring pillowtop mattresses, 50-inch flat-screen TVs, and spacious workstations with ergonomic seating, you will enjoy a decent night’s sleep.
Savor a return to roots at Woodward’s, the onsite restaurant. Enjoy comfort food and craft cocktails in the warmly lit indoor dining space, or pair your meal with a breath of fresh air and a scenic view of Pontiac on the outdoor patio. There is also a fitness center equipped with treadmills and Peloton® bikes.
Auburn Hills itself has plenty of local spots for shopping, dining, and entertainment just a short drive away, including Bloomfield Hills, Somerset Mall, and the Oakland University campus.
6. The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel
The Dearborn Inn is a Marriott hotel 20 minutes drive from downtown Detroit with a club lounge that is open weekdays but not weekends.
Built in 1931 on the former grounds of the Ford Motor Company, The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel, is a historic destination. Surrounded by 23 lush landscaped acres, this is a stately hotel with two restaurants, Edison’s and Ten Eyck Tavern. You can also host meetings and weddings under their stunning chandeliers, swim in the pool, or work out in the modern fitness center.
The club or concierge lounge is small with table seating, but a better variety of food, cold cuts, salad, etc., than the typical Marriott concierge, and all was excellent.
7. Westin Detroit Airport
The Westin Detroit Airport is your best airport hotel choice in Detroit. It’s convenient and is actually within the McNamara terminal of DTW Airport.
There’s a free shuttle between the airport’s terminals, along with valet parking and a Park and Fly Package. Bypass the long wait with direct access from the lobby to a private airport security line. There’s also a gym and an indoor pool, and rooms feature plush bedding, free Wi-Fi, and views of DTW Airport or our airy atrium.
The club lounge is on the 8th floor and serves breakfast and evening snacks but is closed on weekends.
8. Element Detroit at the Metropolitan
Element Detroit at the Metropolitan is a typical Element hotel located in a beautifully restored old building. This is one of the best locations in Detroit for the surrounding shops and restaurants, and the hotel offers amazing views from the rooftop bar.
The rooms don’t tend to have great city views, but they have kitchenettes, which makes this hotel ideal for a long stay.
9. Sheraton Detroit Metro Airport
Sheraton Detroit Metro Airport is a standard Sheraton with a club lounge that is open 7 days a week, so it’s worth considering if you are staying on the weekend. There are hot and cold breakfasts and hot and cold evening appetizers with soft drinks but no alcohol.
10. The Baronette Renaissance, Novi
At The Baronette Renaissance, rooms are spacious, and the beds are reportedly very comfortable. You also get Keurig coffeemakers and one bathrobe in each room, but no slippers.
There’s a small pantry off the lobby, and almost everything, including coffee, granola bars, candy, and soft drinks, is complimentary for elites who would otherwise have lounge access. The hotel also gives you a breakfast voucher that can be used for anything on the brunch menu. The restaurant here is popular, but there is no club lounge.
In the suburbs of Detroit, you will find Detroit Marriott Livonia, which has a club lounge (which isn’t open on weekends), The Baronette Renaissance Detroit-Novi Hotel (without a club lounge), and the Detroit Marriott Southfield and Detroit Marriott Troy, which both have club lounges (which aren’t open on weekends).
One and a half hours drive from Detroit. You will find the East Lansing Marriott at University Place, which has a club lounge that is closed on weekends. Even further from Detroit (over 2 hours) but still in Michigan is the W Marriott Grand Rapids, which also has a club lounge and is probably your best hotel choice in the area.
Photo above from the JW Marriott in London.
Copyright Luxury Travel Diary 2014 - 2024. Duplication outside of luxurytraveldiary.com is forbidden.
Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.
