Downtown Nashville has a vibrant city core, and the Sheraton Grand Nashville allowed us to take advantage of being downtown, without the oftentimes worrisome concerns of staying in the inner city. Our recent stay at the Sheraton Grand Nashville put us steps from the action and excitement of the city, close to all the sights we wanted to see, and provided business luxury for our weekend home away from home.
We arrived at the hotel too early to check in, so drop off our bags with the valet and headed out for some sightseeing. When we were finished and returned to the hotel, we opted for valet parking so we wouldn’t have to deal with self-parking. Call us lazy. We were booking with points and were willing to cover this expense, plus self-park was going to be that much less.
The lobby is impressive, a soaring ceiling gives a feeling of airiness, while a white art installation is used as part of the decor as well as to break up the sprawling lobby into intimate seating areas. To the right is the Library Bar and to the left is the check-in area.
Check in went smoothly and we were given a room on the club level, floors 23-25, although we didn’t know it at the time. I’m guessing this was because of our loyalty status, however, the front desk neglected to inform us of the club level hospitality room. Several hours later when we realized we were on a club floor and there was a lounge available, we had to the front desk to get our access cards re-keyed. While this was quickly and cheerfully resolved, it is a service failure not only for repeat guests with loyalty status but also for guests who paid for an upgraded room.
Rooms have been recently remodeled with Sheraton Signature beds added, and we enjoyed the slightly larger Club room and its extra amenities like complimentary internet access, complimentary local calls, and bottled water freshened daily. Workspace was convenient and plug-ins were plentiful, two things that should never be lacking after a remodel.
The club lounge has water and beverages stocked all day long, and complimentary breakfast and evening hors-d’oeuvres. It wasn’t staffed round-the-clock, so there were limited times to purchase a cocktail, but these extra features are a good way to stretch your travel budget.
After a busy day of sightseeing, we enjoyed relaxing in the Library Bar off the lobby where they boast of over 55 varieties of bourbon. Hockey was on the televisions in the bar – the Predators were in the playoffs – and the bar had a lively vibe without being sports bar rowdy, making it a pleasant spot to unwind at the end of the day.
The hotel has a fitness center that is open 24/7, you may need it after indulging in all the food and drink that Nashville offers, and an indoor pool. There is a complimentary shuttle service available to take you to nearby attractions and restaurants, however, we found in unreliable at best, so we chose to walk in the downtown area and took a cab to locations a little farther out. If you’re not on a time schedule, the shuttle may work, but when the clock is ticking on your dinner reservations, you can’t keep waiting another 10 minutes, and another 10 minutes, and another 10 minutes.
For us, the best thing about the hotel was its location. Grab a map at the front desk, wander in the neighborhood, and stop in to grab a bite to eat, get something to drink, or listen to some music. You’re walking distance to the Johnny Cash Museum, the Country Music Hall of Fame, more venues for live music that you can imagine. The Grand Ole Opry is less than an hour’s drive away. Everywhere we turned, and it seemed the time of day didn’t matter, we could hear live music. Yep, downtown in Music City is the place to be.
The Sheraton Grand Nashville is located at 623 Union Street, in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Rates start around $250 per night, plus a $15 per night facility fee. You can also compare rates and book through Expedia or other booking sites.
If you’re looking for something more boutique, you might like the Germantown Inn, just a short ways from downtown Nashville.
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