# $300 cash or a week in Detroit? (Please read OP before answering) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 25, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165 "2011-05-25T15:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/61 "2011-05-26T04:43:50Z")
I’d take the week in Detroit. I’ve been there, and wasn’t impressed, but if I get to pick the hotel, etc., it could be a fun week. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/62 "2011-05-26T12:54:17Z")
> [@Bumbazine](#): > > Driving in Detroit sucks. Just out of curiosity, what makes you say that? It’s one of my favorite cities to drive in because it’s so drivable compared to cities like Chicago, Mexico City, San Diego, Oklahoma City, Austin, Orlando, Dallas, and other places that driving sucks in. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/63 "2011-05-26T13:32:06Z")
I’m not a big fan of big cities, and I’m not in any condition to take the surprised that would come with it. But I’m pretty sure I could sell the trip for more if given the opportunity, so I will accept. I can’t imagine Detroit being so bad it isn’t worth $300. Go up by an order of magnitude, and then maybe there’s a debate. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/64 "2011-05-26T15:29:09Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Just out of curiosity, what makes you say that? It’s one of my favorite cities to drive in because it’s so drivable compared to cities like Chicago, Mexico City, San Diego, Oklahoma City, Austin, Orlando, Dallas, and other places that driving sucks in. Turning left in Detroit is very confusing to some people. It’s not like a roundabout, where you’ve seen something similar before - it’s just completely alien to them. For those with no idea what I’m talking about: [Michigan Left Turns](http://www.michiganhighways.org/indepth/michigan_left.html) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/65 "2011-05-26T16:17:46Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > Downtown baseball stadium - check > All expences paid - check > Week long Tigers home stand - check > > I’m there. I figure field level seats behind home for a week alone will be worth it. Unfortunatly the Dodgers are only playing the Tigers in LA the rest of the season. I guess I’ll take something in late September so I can also watch the Lions. Tiger Stadium is fantastic. Ford Field is pretty awesome too. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/66 "2011-05-26T16:18:48Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Turning left in Detroit is very confusing to some people. It’s not like a roundabout, where you’ve seen something similar before - it’s just completely alien to them. > > For those with no idea what I’m talking about: [Michigan Left Turns](http://www.michiganhighways.org/indepth/michigan_left.html) Shhhh, don’t give them a heads up on the greatest thing we have in this state. It is always awesome to see out of towners completely mystified how to use the Michigan Left. It works, biatches. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/67 "2011-05-26T16:40:43Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Dude, I would take a vacation in my current city, which is not at all exciting or worthy of being vacationed in, rather than work for a week. I’d even go to Flint, hell. I might take the money over Flint. tough one. Probably depends on whether the hotel has an indoor swimming pool. Don’t mean to be rude, I just don’t know anything about flint, or what entertainment might eb available. And I’ve read too much about people going into rabbit starvation from eating what they could grow int heir back yards. . . ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/68 "2011-05-26T16:41:07Z")
Never been to Detroit, and I’d take the cash. Not because “dude, it’s DETROIT. ICK”, but because unlike some other cities, there’s not that much that I’ve heard of there, that makes me eager to go there. Like many other cities, there’s doubtless plenty to do there, but I’d keep the 300 bucks, go out for a nice meal or two here, and relax at home. The same could be said for any number of other cities in the US. Just picking some at complete random because they popped into my head: Kansas City Des Moines Miami Albuquerque Sacramento Portland (OR or ME) Albany Buffalo The Erie Canal 😉 Louisville Saint Louis Fargo San Antonio and hundreds of others If I had friends or family in Detroit (or any of the above), obviously my answer changes. ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/69 "2011-05-26T17:09:39Z")
I take the holiday. I like transatlantic flights (free films, free wine) and I love luxury hotels. I’d also be interested to discover more about Detroit’s social history and the current activism that I’ve heard about. (I’d be one of THOSE obnoxious middle class lefties, hanging out with the proles. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/70 "2011-05-26T17:14:36Z")
Editing my own answer: I put Erie Canal as a joke because of the cities just above it… but I might actually get a kick out of a jaunt down that (is there still any boat traffic???). ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/71 "2011-05-26T17:21:05Z")
I’d go to Detroit. There must be some decent restaurants and bars, and there’s the chance to see major-league sports. And the Michigan Left Turn doesn’t faze me. I recall encountering them while driving through Michigan before; and even though our roads here are not set up for them, some people do them anyway. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/72 "2011-05-26T19:46:10Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I’d go to Detroit. There must be some decent restaurants and bars, and there’s the chance to see major-league sports. > > And the Michigan Left Turn doesn’t faze me. I recall encountering them while driving through Michigan before; and even though our roads here are not set up for them, some people do them anyway. Most American cities go to great lengths to purge any tendency to u-turn from the populace. It’s very difficult for most of us the accept it as a preferred alternative. ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/73 "2011-05-26T22:44:47Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Vacations are very rare for me due to timing and financial constraints. A vacation valued at over well over $1,000 is going to be worth more than $300 cash to me, regardless of the destination. My choice of hotel, restaurants, and activities? I’m gonna rack up way, way, way, way, way more than $1000, in just about any city in the world I’m willing to bet. With the responsibility clause in the OP, I don’t see how this is even a question … unless you _really_ needed the $300 … ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/74 "2011-05-27T02:13:42Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Never been to Detroit, and I’d take the cash. Not because “dude, it’s DETROIT. ICK”, but because unlike some other cities, there’s not that much that I’ve heard of there, that makes me eager to go there. Like many other cities, there’s doubtless plenty to do there, but I’d keep the 300 bucks, go out for a nice meal or two here, and relax at home. I mean, really, you’d spend the $300 at home, eating out a couple of times and chilling. You could at least do the same in someplace new! Of course when you say it that way, I guess that explains why I never spend the night in the city and always just go home. :smack: > [@Spoons](#): > > And the Michigan Left Turn doesn’t faze me. I recall encountering them while driving through Michigan before; and even though our roads here are not set up for them, some people do them anyway. Since the conditions of the offer are that you stay within the city limits, I’m not even certain that you’d see a Michigan left. They’re mostly confined to the suburbs. I suppose there’s Eight Mile, but if you’re heading westbound you’re on the suburb side, and thus breaking the deal. Maybe on Dix in SW Detroit if you’re leaving Mexicantown and getting into the Middle Eastern part of town… (FWIW, Michigan lefts should be everywhere. They make things so much faster, that driving outside of the metro area often infuriates me.) > [@TruCelt](#): > > Most American cities go to great lengths to purge any tendency to u-turn from the populace. It’s very difficult for most of us the accept it as a preferred alternative. The law here (and I think it’s UVC) is that unless marked, U-turns are fine. What’s wrong with them? They’re perfectly handy. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/75 "2011-05-27T02:43:50Z")
I could have a lot of fun in Memphis with 300 bucks and still snuggle up in my own bed every night. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/76 "2011-05-27T02:51:26Z")
The week in Detroit, once my bar tab was covered I could “earn” the $300 in a couple of nights. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/77 "2011-05-27T23:31:53Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nope. Haven’t been there in decades, in fact. But I don’t like the area (Northeast USA) anyway, and Cash is King. Everything I’ve read about Detroit lately leads me to think that $300 will entertain me in Vegas a lot more than spending a week in Detroit would, even if all expenses were paid. I’m with **Silenus**. I can go to Vegas and turn that $300 to $3000 in 24 hours or drink with Sil on our last $20. Win-Win. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/78 "2011-06-12T13:16:09Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > I’m with **Silenus**. I can go to Vegas and turn that $300 to $3000 in 24 hours or drink with Sil on our last $20. Win-Win. Detroit has casinos, if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/79 "2011-06-12T13:56:40Z")
Shit son, I’ve spent 300$ plenty a times before on just one night out with me and my beaux. A whole week, all expenses paid? Fuck, I don’t care if it’s bumfuck, nowheresville. Shit is gonna go DOWN! ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165/80 "2011-06-13T17:10:24Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Detroit has casinos, if that helps. Hmmm…170 miles to Vegas or 2200 miles to Detroit (while driving through Vegas). The $300 just might cover for gas to Detroit. Hope the drinks are free there… One second thought, I think I will save the money on gas and stay in Vegas…and tip those hawt waitresses at the M resort. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-cash-or-a-week-in-detroit-please-read-op-before-answering/583165.md?page=5)