But there are plenty of nice places in the suburban areas like Madison Heights, Livonia, Southfield, etc.
I'd guess that if you use Orbitz or such, anyplace that has a four star or better rating would be geat. And you're unlikely to find a bad location anywhere with that rating!
I want to help the next provider who is trying to get information about where to stay in Detroit. I got this information from a provider on the providers only board. I haven't stayed anywhere yet. Troy was also mentioned by another provider in a thread on this page. I also had a client from P411 ask if I was staying in Novi because that would be convenient for him if I was. It made it sound like no he is a common place to stay maybe.
If we have to get our travel information from the travel board instead of the regional boards I will try to add what I know to help other people because it's so important to know where to stay and it's so easy to stay in the wrong place if you've never been somewhere before.
If you were to stay NORTH of 696 and WEST of 75, you should do okay.
Novi is a good area because you have 696 and Orchard Lake intersecting. This area has a mall and a lot of activity.
If you are race specific in who you want to spend time with, screen the nationality. You are going to get a lot of many different nationalities. AA, Russians, Middle Easterners. It's a diverse area and they expect you to know their cultures. DON'T TOUCH A MIDDLE EASTERNERS BEARD FOR GODS SAKE (or Allah's)!
If you stayed near Toledo on the other hand, you would get that market, you would also get the Brighton area, some Ann Arbor that isn't college and south Detroit (which is generally blue collar).
The new money is on the West side. Old money on the East side. 75 divides East and West.
Another good location that is relatively neutral is 75 and 696. That is Madison Heights.
Troy, stay near the Somerset Mall on Big Beaver. Exit 69 no less. lol...
A local review board was just shut down in Mich, so be aware that peeps may be a bit nervous.
Good luck.