Yep, got some good news on the parking front from the point of contact at the downtown Tacoma Holiday Inn Express:

Hi Dave,

Thank you for your email.

Parking for our guests - we have garage parking at our property and it's complimentary. Parking is on the 2nd and 3rd floors. For those driving their classic vehicles parking should be just fine. Those that may come with a trailer may have a little more difficult time in our parking garage. We do have a vacant lot next to the hotel that guests can utilize for their trailers if they wish. It's not paved or anything - it's literally a lot with gravel that our owners own and have not decided what to do with the space just yet. We have in the past have had schools park their buses and travel vans there. We have had guests with a semi park there; just the semi not with a trailer. We have had tour buses park there as well. As for security - we do have a night person that walks our property each evening during our audit shift. Thank you and please let me know if you have any other questions or comments. Also let us know when you make your final decision for your guest sleeping rooms. Have a great day and week.

 

1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

daveo76 said:

I have no problem parking my trailer on gravel. Hell, my trailer spent most of its time in the muddy clay natural gas well fields of PA. hauling muddy backhoes. 

'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


Lifetime Member #26

Thanks for the research and planning!

 

Adam Wartell said: I vote for #6.

Of the Hampton Inns I ever seen. this one has to be the nicest !! Nice and big with some great interior space and amenities including very nice workout area and an indoor saltwater pool. 

It is however, right next to the e-way and there is a set of train tracks on the same side that supply the base on occasion. The front desk advised if we stay here, request rooms on the Starbucks side of the building.

Parking was outdoors and open but looked decent. The lot is shared with several adjacent buildings including retail and healthcare. Trailer parking is again my main concern. I have the managers card and will call to discuss any opportunity for a better rate and what trailer options might be. Girl at the front desk said DuPont police patrol the area regularly and if we contact them they may keep an extra eye peeled our way. 

Full disclosure - DuPont is a very nice area. It is right across the e-way from Joint Base Lewis-McCord which I think statistically the third largest city in WA. state. If they're playing with their big guns a day or two while we're there you will know it. Stella and I hear booming from our house and we're 16 miles from the base. Take a look at Google maps or G Earth to see what I mean. The base also brings its own traffic issues (sometimes very ugly) to the e-way during the daylight hours. There are some back ways in and out we may have to consider on our journeys depending on the time of the day.

We will be in Tacoma on Monday and I plan to check out the Holiday Inn Express - #7. Last time we didn't have a lot of time to spare and it was a simple drive by, this time we'll drop in and check it out in from the inside.

I think we're getting very, very close.    

valkman57@sbcglobal.net

NCRS Member 61302

NW NCRS Chapter Member

Duct tape is the new Black !!

 

1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

Great place, 2 1/2 years old. Secure parking on the second and third levels, some open, some covered. They are checking if they could block off an area for our cars while we are there. Convenient trailer parking next door in a vacant lot that they own, no charge. There is a small chain link fence that they offered to lock up for us a night, but it's not going to stop anyone who is serious about nasty intent. Don't think anything would be stolen, but I do see evidence of some spray paint tags in the surrounding area. They might be new, they might be very old.

So again, great hotel with an urban vibe. No outdoor space, downtown Tacoma location. No Adjustment on price $134 per night, std. King or Queen. They did however offer another option of $154 for their King Suite. Larger room (not a two room suite) with larger sitting area and fridge/microwave.

So after returning home I followed up via phone with the manager at the Hampton Inn DuPont (#6). Very interested in having us stay there and proved it by lowering his prices from $149 King, $139 Queen to $129 for either standard room. He also added $139 per night as their upgrade to either room as a Suite - Sweet !!!

He is making some phone calls regarding trailer parking options. There is a grass/gravel lot nearby that is owned by the same property management company and may be available, so more to come on that when he calls me back.

Have a safe and happy T-Day wherever you may be.    

valkman57@sbcglobal.net

NCRS Member 61302

NW NCRS Chapter Member

Duct tape is the new Black !!

cinor said: Sounds like #6 is going to be a winner,  always a good sign when the manager goes out of his way to get us there.  The prices are more than reasonable even for a foreigner like me.  I'll just tell the kids there won't  be any xmas gifts so i can save up to go next summer   Now I can concentrate on the real issue like if I still have the 76 should I haul it down and drive it or take my ever faithful 92 and drive as usual.

valkman57@sbcglobal.net

NCRS Member 61302

NW NCRS Chapter Member

Duct tape is the new Black !!

So now its time to vote for your choice, the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Tacoma and the Hampton Inn in DuPont WA. .......................................DON'T VOTE HERE !!

I just sent Adam a PM asking him to put together a post where we can officially vote for and tabulate results the same way we picked Seattle/Tacoma from the possible NW sites.

Look for Adam's post. We have a date and shortly a place to stay, now let's talk about stuff to do !!!

See my descriptions above and let me know if you have any questions before making your pick !!!

valkman57@sbcglobal.net

NCRS Member 61302

NW NCRS Chapter Member

Duct tape is the new Black !!

Vman73 said: