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Would you travel to Louisville, Kentucky, nonstop on Southwest in January for $118? When I booked the flight to the home of Bourbon, I did not know I would participate in Sober January. In addition, I could not decide on making a reservation at Embassy Suites or Hilton Garden Inn. Yes, I booked at both hotels.
After reading the reviews about Embassy Suites, we were concerned about the noise level from Fourth Street Live Entertainment District. However, there are perks associated with a stay at most Embassy Suites. The first perk is the evening reception. You enjoy beer, wine, and some complimentary spirits. In a separate line, mixed drinks were available for purchase. In addition, you can snack on chips and dips or Rice Krispy Treats. The bartender created a mocktail for me. The second perk is complimentary breakfast. I enjoyed an egg white omelet with spinach, cheese, bacon, and jalapeños. If you want to save money on alcohol and breakfast, Embassy Suites is the better choice. The guest room was spacious and included a separate living room area, but the view was awful; no exterior windows.
We left the evening reception and walked to Fourth Street Live. Do not stop at the first restaurant you see. Walk around and check out the menus displayed outside each restaurant. We stopped at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant. If you are looking to watch sports, there are televisions galore. The chicken wings are baked and then fried. Delicious. I would not order the deviled eggs or calamari again, but the creme brûlée cheesecake satisfied my sweet tooth. After dinner, we sat at the bar before returning to the hotel.
After our complimentary breakfast, we took an Uber to the Muhammad Ali Center. Even though I visited the center a few years ago, I was glad to return. I missed an entire section. Do not skip the movie at the beginning of the self-guided tour or forget to patronize the store at the end. Our Uber driver suggested we stop by Mussel & Burger for lunch. My lamb burger was so good I wanted to order another one. The sweet potato fries were crispy and seasoned well. I also enjoyed a mocktail. Because we were in Louisville during Wild Card weekend, we did not dine anywhere we could not watch the games. Our final stop in the area was the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. We did not take a tour but visited the store. We walked back to the hotel. Oh, invest in a good pair of walking shoes.
Hilton Garden Inn is about two blocks from Fourth Street Live. When I checked in, I asked about an upgrade. I forgot I booked a corner room, but in my mind, I thought it was a corner view. Because the room faced the ice machine, I asked the Front Desk Clerk for another room. Although the room was clean, it seemed outdated. We also had a view of the parking garage. One benefit of staying at Hilton Garden Inn as a Diamond Member is the Daily Food & Beverage Credit for myself and a registered guest.
Ei8ht UpStop by Ei8ht Up. The restaurant is on the top floor of the Hilton Garden Inn. It is beautiful. We caught a partial glimpse of the sunrise at breakfast. Our server, KaNayah, was personable and provided service with a smile throughout the meal. I enjoyed cheesy scrambled eggs, potatoes, and turkey link sausages. If you order a meal from the regular menu, you can enjoy items from the continental breakfast. Do not leave without trying the biscuits. Charge the breakfast to your room to receive the Food & Beverage Credit. I paid $15 for breakfast with the tip. Even if I reserve a room at Embassy Suites on my next visit, I will walk to Ei8ht Up for appetizers, cocktails, or breakfast. Do not forget to bring your loyalty credit card or make sure it is on file. I earned 12X points for my reservation.
If you are in Louisville, Kentucky, you must stop by the Landmark Brown Hotel. Because I participated in Dry January, I did not order a cocktail. We ordered Hummus and Roasted Cauliflower Arancini in the Lobby Bar Grill. Although the bartender was watching the NFL Wild Card game, we listened to live music. The pianist played music from all genres, and we sang along for almost two hours. Yes, we put $10 in his tip jar.
Because Louisville airport is a lounge desert, we stopped by Bourbon Academy Tasting Room before going to the gate. Visit my website to learn more about how I use loyalty programs to travel more. As always, the budget is below.
