If you want to visit good ole Music City USA but don't want to break the bank, here are some tips for an affordable and enjoyable trip.
In addition to getting here, the hotel is your most expensive decision. Hotels in Nashville, when comparing quality, are far more expensive than their counterparts in most other cities. The most expensive hotels are downtown, followed by Midtown, then Franklin/Brentwood, then Airport. Opryland area hotels and Antioch are less expensive. If you plan on drinking and relying on cabs, you may want to consider staying closer in, like Midtown. There is a hostel on First Avenue in downtown Nashville. The area is great and it's one of the best hostels around. The cost is $25 a night. This would only be suitable for young singles traveling to Music City.
I recommend using Priceline's “Name your own Price” to save big. If you've never used the booking site before, you may be a little intimidated the first time you do, but it's quite easy. You first set up an account, loading your credit/debit card info. One thing about Priceline is that when you bid on a hotel, using your criteria, if there is a match, you automatically buy it.
The parameters you set at Priceline's “Name your Own Price” will insure you get a hotel you will like. For Nashville, put in “Downtown” for the area and then put in a star level. This crucial step (star rating) will be your most important decision. Two stars will get you a tired Ramada or Days Inn near Titans Stadium. You would never bid more than $50 on these two-stars. If you bid on a 2 ½ star you will most like get the Millenium Maxwell House hotel. It's not a bad hotel, and they have a free shuttle. Its only downfall is the area it's in. it isn't a dangerous area; it's just more of an office park setting with very little food options and no bars.
Depending on the time of year, you can usually win a three star (or better) on Priceline for under $75. If it's a wild weekend in Nashville you may have to bid $90. But these nicer hotels list for three times that on all discounted hotel sites.
When you arrive in Nashville, if your hotel doesn't have an airport shuttle (most don't) consider taking the Nashville city bus. There is an Express bus that leaves every hour to downtown. If you aren't staying downtown you can take a transfer bus to your hotel. The bus costs $1.70 per transfer, but a lot better than a $30 cab ride.
The next step is deciding what to do. The best thing about Nashville is all the free entertainment. Almost no bars have over charges. Stroll down Broadway and let your ear be your guide. You will hear some of the best music anywhere coming out of these honky-tonks. The most amazing thing is that he musicians all play for tips only. They receive nothing from the bar, except maybe a beer or two. Since the music if free, be sure to get a wad of ones to thrown in all the buckets. The artists will be appreciative and willing to play any requests you have.
Beer can get kind of pricey so look for happy hour specials. Paradise Park Trailer Resort has pitcher specials for $6. Most bars' happy hours are 4-7 PM so plan to drink your heaviest around those hours. A lot of the bars have specials on Yazoo beers, which are brewed locally.
You will surely build up an appetite walking around; Nashville has some great restaurants, and some inexpensive eateries. However, there are very few inexpensive, great eateries with character. Downtown suggestions are Past Perfect on 3rd, or Puckett's Grocery on Church at 5th. The chicken tender appetizer at Swingin' Doors Saloon on 4th, is enough for two people. For a late night greasy burger, the cafe at Paradise Park stays open until 4 AM.
While the music is fantastic, most visitors like to incorporate 1-2 activities or tours into their stay. These can get a little pricey. Some of the 90-minute bus tours cost $40. Tickets to the Grand Ole Opry can set you back $50. You can usually grab cheap seats at a Titans or Predators game for $20, especially if you wait until after he game starts. The Music City Pub Crawl is only $15 and offers drink specials, as well as a funny history lesson. A few companies offer walking ghost tours that are budget-friendly, as well. On Thursday nights, there is a free concert on the Riverfront May through September (Dancin' in the District), and a free concert at the Courthouse lawn on Thursday nights in the Fall (Live on the Green)
If are into outdoor activities, you can go hiking at Percy Warner Park, walk around Shelby Bottoms Park, or rent a bike at the multiple B Cycle places around town (Nashville.bcycle.com)
Martin Wynn
