Where to stay?

Coming to Indy for the first time and don%26#39;t know where to stay. Wanting to go to Lucas Oil Field and Zoo. If staying downtown, is it difficult to find your way around. Is traffic bad? Already checked out Holiday Inn Express - booked up. Fairly reasonable, but nice, hotels in the Carmel area. What%26#39;s your suggestion?

Where to stay?

Downtown is very easy to get around and traffic is not bad. I would try to stay downtown if you can. If you stay in Carmel, you%26#39;d have to drive quite a ways to get ot the downtown attractions. By staying donwtown, you can pretty much walk everywhere.

Where to stay?

I definately agree that downtown is the best place to stay while visiting. The hotels, restaurants, and shopping is all within a few blocks of each other. Check out indy.org for some more information. The homewood suites and hampton inn downtown get good reviews and at reasonable prices. Of course there are the more expensive hotels also that offer more ammenities. My family are members of the zoo and we love it. Check out the Koala exhibit on loan for the summer and the oceans exhibit with a shark touch tank, don%26#39;t miss the dolpin show. This is most peoples favorite also indoors and air conditioned. It costs $5 to park and around $12 for adults. Next door is a butterfly house and beautiful gardens to walk through. When are you planning on visiting?

Definitely stay downtown! It%26#39;s safe and very walkable. Carmel is a nice suburb, but a half hour drive (at least) to downtown attractions.

Now where downtown...A lot depends on when you want to come to town. If it%26#39;s during a Colts home game, then yes, most hotels downtown will be booked now. (Although check last minute, and you will find something.)

My suggestion is if you are flexible with dates, check Priceline (set your own price.) My brother booked a 4 star hotel in downtown Indy on July 4 for under $60. I use Priceline for other cities about 2-3 days before I want to travel. I%26#39;ve had great luck! Usually I get a 3-4 star hotel for $50-$99/nt.

Thanks to all!!! I will stay downtown - that%26#39;s what I really wanted to do. I appreciate all the advise, and will definitely take in the zoo - my 4 year old will love it!!!! Can%26#39;t wait to get there.

Can I ask one more question? Can you take a tour or get inside Lucas Oil Field? Trying to find Peyton - lol!!

You just missed it - they gave out Lucas Stadium tour tickets today, and according to the Indianapolis Star they were gone in 90 minutes! Of course, this is for tours of the stadium before it opens. I don%26#39;t know if they will offer regular tours once it opens or not. So, to answer your question, it probably depends on when you are coming.

Another ';tour'; for the new Lucas Oil Field has been set. It is Thursday 8/16 at 6:30 p.m. You can get tickets (FREE) at the Conseco Fieldhouse box office or Ticketmaster. A cheap way to see the new dome would be to go to one of the upcomming high school football games.

My kids and I just got back from Indy and stayed in the Hilton Garden Inn...1/2 block East of the Circle Monument. They have a kids package. Ask them if you call. They have a nice breakfast buffet and the staff is friendly and professional. The inn is clean and cozy. The zoo is close as is the Kid%26#39;s Museum. Lot%26#39;s to see in the area if you have time.

Carmel is a great place to stay also if you don%26#39;t mind driving 1/2 hour to get to the zoo vs 5 minutes from the circle.

Conner%26#39;s Prairie is near Carmel and would be great for a young child. My kids loved it.

Hilton Garden Inn should be good. Rates run from $129.00. I%26#39;m always happy at Hilton properties.

The downtown Courtyard Marriott is very nice also. You can walk everywhere. Definitely check out White River State Park, the canal walk, the zoo, monument circle and the Children%26#39;s Museum. You would have to drive to the museum, but it is really nice!

Downtown is the place to be. Carmel is too far if you want to enjoy the downtown amenities and the cost to stay there versus downtown is the same. Downtown Indy traffic isn%26#39;t bad at all. You won%26#39;t regret it!