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shailynn

They never tell you what you need to know.

To give a little background on me, I am in my mid 30s and have been an avid strip club fan for over 10 years. I may not make many trips to the clubs but when I do I go "all out." If I run into a city on my business travels that has great clubs I will go back multiple times specifically for clubbing. On the other hand if I know the clubs in the city I'm in aren't good, I won't even bother going out. My favorite cities to club in are Phoenix, Toronto and Montreal. New to that group is Detroit. If you’re an extras guy I’d have to say Detroit is the best city to club in within North America.

I will attempt to give a guide on Detroit clubs which may be helpful to someone wanting to visit the area. I know there are a lot of guys on this board from Detroit which know much more about these clubs than I ever will, but this is a perspective from an out-of-towner, which may help someone visiting a little more.

For many years when I was in the strip club mood and had a free weekend I would either drive or fly to Toronto, sometimes Montreal. My home airport had several non-stop flights and last minute trips had me driving. Those trips were always an easy drive, with the exception of crossing back into the USA which sometimes could be a pain.

I had a good friend (also a club enthusiast) who always told me about Detroit. He said it would be perfect for me since I like strip clubs and poker.

Eventually I took him up on his suggestion and traveled to Detroit instead of Toronto on a free weekend around this time last year. Sadly my home airport does not offer a direct flight to Detroit so I drove it, which was a long but easy 5 hour drive. In the last year I have visited Detroit 7 weekends and usually clubbing 2 nights per visit. I have only clubbed in Detroit on a Friday and Saturday night. I still have a lot of exploring to do but I have a pretty good hand on the metro area and have stuck to four clubs (Flight Club, Penthouse, Coliseum and BTs) a combined 30 times in the past year.

On my first trip my friend had recommended the Flight Club. That's the place I went after settling into my hotel which was the Hyatt attached to the airport. I took a cab as I wanted to drink that night. $550 later I was sitting in my hotel room completely satisfied with an excellent release and a good buzz! What shocked me most about the night was I paid $220 for VIP (including bouncer tip) and was allowed to do anything I wanted with a solid "8." Let me reiterate, ANYTHING!!! With that price and the services I received, combined with the club atmosphere and safety I felt inside the club, I was immediately sold on Detroit as a strip club destination. Of course the girls aren't as hot as you'll find in other cities (I was lucky to find an “8” that night), but they make up for that in the services offered. Just so you know I'd rather go all the way with a 6 than get an air dance from 10.

The clubs that I am going to, rival any other club in any city you can think of in terms of decor and cleanliness, and I am usually treated very well by the staff. I have always had good waitresses, shot girls aren't too pushy, the floor and VIP staff have always been nice, and I am sure to always tip. Bartenders can be a little hit or miss but I have found the nicest at Coliseum and BTs. Combine that with the casinos nearby and I have found a new home for my hobby. To me it's like going to Vegas when all I want to do is gamble and go to strip clubs and it's a fraction of the price. Of course you're not getting the experience of Vegas but I also can't pull off what I can do in the VIP rooms of Detroit so easily in Vegas.

Below I will break down hotels, cabs, and restaurants to make your trip easier.

1. Stick to the best. If you're traveling this far stick the best clubs and they are (at the moment): Penthouse, Coliseum, Flight Club and BTs. There are other good clubs in these areas but I have found a comfort zone in 3 of these clubs and am to the point where some dancers and staff actually recognize me on return visits. Because of my mostly positive experiences, at this time I have no need to explore other clubs. FYI if you're wondering what club I can't get established in, it's Coliseum - more on that later.

2. Decide which clubs you want to visit. Flight club and BTs are close to each other, and Coliseum is about a 15 minute drive from Penthouse. Usually I will divide my nights, Flight Club and BTs one night (airport) and Coliseum and Penthouse on the other night (8 mile). If you're clubbing in the evening it is too far to travel from the airport area to 8 mile. You will burn too much time especially since the clubs close at 2am. I don't start before 10pm so that doesn't leave me a great deal of time to travel between the two areas. Other notable clubs I haven't experienced are Silver Criket, Trumps, Scores, Hustler Club and Landing Strip. These are all ones that I have been told may be in the ballpark of the four I first mentioned.

3. Are you going to have a car? If you're flying in and won't have a rental, stick to the airport area. 8 mile is too far of a cab fare, and there aren't any decent hotels near penthouse and coliseum.

4. Hotels (these are hotels I would recommend and have stayed in):

* I have put the typical price including fees and taxes I have paid per night booking on Hotwire and priceline.

Airport/Dearborn:
(Good location for flight club and BTs. Penthouse and coliseum are a 30+ minute drive from here).

Hyatt airport 4* $95 - beautiful hotel attached to the airport but bad location if you don't have a car or rental. Valet is $25 a day which is standard, they do not offer self-parking. Even if you have a car you will often wait several minutes for valet, and you'll have to drive a few minutes before you get off the airport property to hit restaurants. You can park in the airport but after doing the math you might as well take the valet.

Adoba 4* $77 - great location and good hotel to stay at if you don't have a car. Short cab ride to BTs and Flight Club and there's a large mall with plenty of dining options in walking distance (1/3 mile walk through a parking lot). Rooms are lackluster for a 4* hotel but clean. Not uncommon to see large groups here (cheerleading, hockey tournaments) the lobby can be crowded and noisy at times. Still if you can overlook the room quality this is my favorite place to stay in the Dearborn/airport location due to its proximity to everything and the interior of the hotel is pretty cool.

Doubletree Dearborn 3.5* $77 - one exit north of Michigan Ave (road BTs and Flight Club are on) which puts you a little closer to 8 mile, but not much. In an office complex/residential area with no restaurants in walking distance. Dated hotel but clean, rooms nicer than Adoba but they had 24hr security at the hotel which I didn't see anywhere else. Always quiet here unless a wedding is going on.

Embassy suites 3.5* $65 - the least impressive of all the hotels I have stayed at in this area. Only positives are you get a free breakfast and I've had the free shuttle take me to the strip clubs (even though I still tipped). Rooms are not 3.5* quality but are clean. Fast food restaurants within walking distance but no good restaurants.

Southfield:
(The area between the airport and 8 mile as there aren't any nice hotels in the 8 mile area). Would highly recommend staying here if you want to hit the airport clubs AND 8 mile.

Hyatt Southfield 4* $100 - the nicest of all the hotels I've stayed at, but it's in a residential/office complex area with no restaurants nearby. You will need a car.

Henry autograph collection 4* N/A - have not stayed here yet but have heard good things.

** to note, all hotels listed above have an indoor pool and exercise facilities if that's your thing **

Downtown Detroit:
(If you're planning on clubbing do not stay downtown. It's too far of a drive and you can get snarled in traffic. Stick to the suburbs I mentioned above).


Cabs:

Flight Club and BTs: cab ride to/from any of the hotels I mentioned in the airport area will not be more than $25 each way. Flight club has a car service (someone they use to drive patrons home in their own car - not a fancy limo) and it's usually around $16 + tip. The first time I did this I was alarmed getting into the back of a beat up car with no cab meter but you'll be fine, they are more professional than the usual cab driver.

Penthouse and Coliseum: I have never taken a cab to these clubs but if you're staying in Southfield I'd imagine it would be at least a $25 if not more cab ride. I don't even want to think of the fare from these clubs to an airport hotel.

Gambling:

If you like to gamble and are staying at either place look up this website:

http://www.umichiganpoker.com/poker-room…

These are charity casinos closer to your hotel than downtown. I have gone to Momos which is close to Adoba hotel. I didn't like the atmosphere but it was decent enough I'd return. I really like Queen of Hearts which is in a bowling alley about 20 minutes south of the airport. I will usually stop here on Friday evening to play in their 7:30 tournament before checking into my hotel and hitting the clubs. I will also stop at Hollywood Casino in Toledo on the way up to Detroit as well.

Staying at the airport or Southfield is about a 20-40 minute drive to the casinos downtown. Easiest casino one to get to is Greektown, their parking garage is immediately off the interstate exit. I like the poker room at Greektown the best because there is a lot of people that don't know much about what they're doing, and it has a laid back atmosphere.

If you also need something to do there's a nice outlet mall (all indoors) near the Palace at Auburn Hills. This is about a 40 minute drive from the airport and 30 minutes from Southfield. I've gone here to kill some time on a Saturday afternoon.


Club fees:
(Keep in mind I have only attended these clubs at night and have never arrived before 9pm).

Typically you're going to pay a $10-15 cover, $10 for a drink and around $7 for a beer. $7-8 plus tip of you valet a car. $15-20 if you want a booth. I have never gotten a booth, have always been able to find a seat at the bar with the exception of a really crowded night at penthouse which I stood on the 2nd floor at the rail, overlooking the stage. Yes you're going to be out of $30-50 walking right in, but if you're not drinking you can keep your expenses down. The VIP rates are fairly consistent at these clubs. I have typically paid $200 for full service in all of these clubs. It can swing a $100 either way. On only two occasions have I paid more than $200 although I have tipped several times over the $200 without being asked. VIP at BTs and Coliseum are typically cheaper compared to Penthouse and Flight Club. That's not to say I have been quoted astronomical VIP rates but I have been patient and had to do little negotiating to find the right girl at the rate I wanted.

Clubs - short description and my ratings (1 best - 4 worst)

Flight Club: (club decor 2 / atmosphere 1 / dancers 3)

I love the flight club, I have never had issues with the dancers here, staff is personable and I feel fine coming in alone. Mostly older men (over 50) with the occasional group of Asian businessmen. I typically tip $10-20 each time I go to the VIP. Smoking is only allowed on the 2nd floor.


BTs (club decor 4 / atmosphere 3 / dancers 4)

BTs reminds me of a mini version of Flight Club, all on one floor smoking is allowed anywhere. Your VIP rates will be the cheapest here or Coliseum but here, you have to pay a mandatory $20 every time you go into VIP. Mixture of customers but I mostly see small groups (2 to 4) of younger guys (late 20s) hanging out with a few older gents here and there.

Coliseum (club decor 3 / atmosphere 4 / dancers 1)

To me, easily the hottest dancers of all the clubs but they're all young and want to party and not make money. It's always been a challenge for me to find a young girl to go to VIP. This place gets bombarded by young guys wearing sneakers and baseball caps Friday and Saturday night and the girls want to "party" with their friends instead of making money. Still, I recommend experiencing it at least once as it's the largest club and the girls are hot. If you go to VIP go to the VIP in the front of the club versus the one in the back. I have always paid $10 for my VIP trips and the bouncers have always acted shocked when I have tipped them going into VIP. I honestly have felt out of place here everyone since I was always by myself.

Penthouse club (club decor 1 / atmosphere 2 / dancers 2)

Most posh club of the 4, hot dancers but more MILF than the youth you see at Coliseum. Can get a party atmosphere here similar to Coliseum, but here the patrons are all older men which appear to be big spenders. Luckily during the party the girls will still pay attention to you unlike Coliseum. It's not uncommon to see guys with suits on here. I have seen Alan Markovitz here at the bar several times. I have always tipped $10 to enter VIP. The VIP rooms here are the small, I have had the guy next to me step on my feet under the curtain before. I have been offered full service the least at this club, but almost always offered French services.