1 Nite Event at HSBC - Need Guidance

Flying in on Sat 9/8 for a concert @ HSBC. Fly out next a.m.

Hotel: Looking for decent / reasonable hotel along the BUF/HSBC route (Motel 6 works if clean, but will $$$ as needed). Considering staying at/near BUF for morning covenience, but it seems desolate between the two places. Meeting a mate as well, so we could split an Embassy-type room, or grab two rms. at a cheaper place. Whatever it takes. Problem with the airport location is that there%26#39;s

rarely anything decent by airport hotels for after concert kickback, and rarely any decent food--or any at all that late. Transportation: the distance between BUF and HSBC seems about 20 minutes, yes? Can I get away with cab, etc. if staying @ BUF? Any idea of cost one-way BUF %26amp; HSBC?

How about from HSBC to any local bars / food. Is it easy to get around on foot to someplace, or plan more cab fare? Can rent a car if needed, but seems a waste for 18 hrs.

Local Bars near HSBC: Anything good, or how far away? Just looking for good beer / burger / music type places.

All help truly appreciated. Thank you.

1 Nite Event at HSBC - Need Guidance

Almost any hotel downtown will meet your needs... just stay away from the hotels near the ';medical corridor'; or hospital area - they are total dives. According to TA here, people seem to like the Hampton Inn (on Delaware Ave. and Chippewa Street) the best.

I would definitely stay downtown and NOT near the airport - it%26#39;s not bad out there in the %26#39;burbs, it%26#39;s just like any other suburb anywhere in the country: not much charm, history or ';local color.';

Once you%26#39;re in downtown, you shouldn%26#39;t need a taxi. You can travel by foot, or take the train on Main Street - it%26#39;s *free* as long as you stay above ground. One popular place that%26#39;s not far from HSBC is the Pearl Street Grill - a bar and restaurant with huge outdoor porches, etc. There%26#39;s plenty of other places to eat and drink downtown... for the latter, try Chippewa Street at night. Lots of bars and lots of people on the weekend. Or, for live music try the Mohawk Place (on Mohawk Place) or try Nietszches on Allen Street. Buffalo bars are open until 4:00am, and then people pour out onto the street looking for a late night/early morning breakfast.

I highly recommend a trip to the Visitors Center if you get in during business hours. They have maps, etc. and will recommend places you might like to try. The center is located at 617 Main Street near Chippewa in a historic building with a Buffalo head over the entrance.

Enjoy!

1 Nite Event at HSBC - Need Guidance

I agree about the Hampton Inn on Delaware. Or you can stay at Comfort Suites at 601 Main, on the corner of Main %26amp; Chippewa. There%26#39;s a TGI Friday%26#39;s on the first floor.

Another option downtown is the Hyatt in Fountain Plaza.

A little farther away, but very close to downtown are the Holiday Inn and the Best Western, both on Delaware.

Besides the bars on Chippewa, there%26#39;s the Blu Mirage on Main St.

For meals you can also check out Flappy%26#39;s, on Delaware near Chippewa.

Thank you. I arrive late Sat. afternoon and depart Sunday a.m. Time only to get checked in, find food and a beer, attend the show, wind down, get some sleep, and back to the airport. Distance and getting where I need to quickly is important. How about the transportation and distance questions I asked. Any help there?

There%26#39;s an expressway, route 33, that goes directly from the airport into downtown Bflo. It shouldn%26#39;t take you more than 20-25 minutes by taxi. Traiffic is generally not an issue in Buffalo, especially on the weekend. Not sure of the fee, maybe someone else here knows that. I have taken a taxi from the airport to a location slightly closer than downtown and it cost around $25 + tip.

Okay, that helps quite a bit. Most of the dwntwn. hotels (middle-rate) are coming up as No Vacancy for that night, so I%26#39;m booking near the airport. I guess I%26#39;ll rent a car with all the running I%26#39;ll be doing. Costs will be about the same and I%26#39;ll have freedom.

How is downtown parking on a Satuday if I get near HSBC around 4 in the afternoon? Trying to figure out if I%26#39;m better parking somewhere downtown for a beer %26amp; burger, then walking to HSBC, or if I should park by HSBC and walk downtown. What do you suggest for good middle-ground parking?

Parking is easy and cheap. about $10.

The airport area is fine, especially because a Buffalo commute from Cheektowaga will take you a whopping 10 minutes on the 33.

Enjoy the show.

Thanks, Buffalonian - I did book by the airport and get a car. This is probably splitting hairs, but if it were you driving in, and you wanted to have a few beers and a burger before the show, and maybe a beer after, where would you recommend I try to park for the evening?

There%26#39;s no need to pay for parking - especially if you are arriving downtown so early! Also, some of the parking lots are so FAR from the arena, you might as well look for street parking. There are plenty of parking meters on the streets, after 5:00pm they are free. If you arrive before 5:00pm, you might need some quarters to plug into the meter (50 cents at most).

HSBC Arena is located at the foot of Washington Street, if you park on Washington you can see it in the distance... You CANNOT *park* or *drive* on Main Street, which runs parallel next to Washington - it is reserved for the train and pedestrians. On the other side of Main Street is Pearl Street - a ONE WAY street, and another good place to look for parking. Or, any of the cross streets conecting these streets would be good for parking. [Be careful, there are a lot of one way streets in downtown Buffalo, and sometimes two-way streets become one ways, and you could be heading the wrong direction.]

It might not be the closest place to park, but you will see lots of people after the concert lets out walking to these locations. Also, on Pearl Street is the PEARL STREET GRILL, (or Bar %26amp; Grill), and that is a great place for pub grub, burgers, and a large selection of beer.

Also, did I mention that the train on Main Street is free as long as you%26#39;re above ground? You can take it to a block away from the arena, to Scott Street/Erie Canal Harbor station if you want to save time and walking... Here is a map of the train route if interested:

http://www.nfta.com/metro/route_rail.asp

Thank you all, and Mz. Dee for the extra tidbits. Sure does help...

Be well.... Ranyart