The Kentucky Derby is one of the most famous horse-racing events in the U.S. The next one will be from May 3 to 7 this year (2023), attracting hundreds of thousands of punters across the country.
There’s just one problem: where to stay? Fortunately, this page is here to help. We list the top five hotels nearby and then discuss why you should choose a luxury motorcoach rental to drop you off and pick you up from the venue.
1. The Seelbach Hilton Louisville
Five minutes from the Kentucky International Convention Center, the Seelbach Hilton Louisville offers everything the luxury traveler needs. The five-star establishment furnishes guests with a 24-hour front desk, private parking, fitness center, restaurant, bars, and some of the finest interior décor available anywhere in the state. It’s also just a 12-minute drive to Churchill Downs.
The Seelbach Hilton offers Derby packages, helping you get the most out of the three-day event. All rooms are prepaid, and prices do not include tickets.
Guests can choose from various rooms and suites to enhance their experience. Deluxe rooms offer either king, queen, or two double beds and additional complementary items, such as bathing items and ironing boards. The hotel furnishes them with high-speed internet access and an in-room safe.
Suites are the next level up. These offer bedroom and living accommodations with plush surroundings and separate junior bedrooms.
Specialty suites are the most luxurious. These provide all the amenities you need plus surround you with a unique heritage, history, and mystery – a Seelbach signature.
2. 21c Museum Hotel Louisville
21c Museum Hotel is located in downtown Louisville, just a 10 to 15 minutes’ drive from Churchill Down, making it an ideal place to stay for the Kentucky Derby. Nestled on West Main Street close to Museum Row, it is a multi-venue contemporary art museum with an adjoining five-star boutique hotel.
Suites are re-purposed rooms constructed inside nineteenth-century warehouses. Hence, the entire hotel oozes historical significance and architectural flourishes.
Rooms offer large windows, high ceilings, and impeccable Georgian décor. Many have original features designers kept during the hotel refitting, including bare brick walls, fireplaces, and custom designer furniture.
For luxury guests, the 21c Museum Hotel offers various suites with individualized features. For instance, the Atrium Suite is a 540-square-foot living space with Malin & Goetz bath amenities, a 55-inch high-definition TV, and views of the atrium below. Likewise, the rooftop apartment offers a giant 1,314 square feet of living space, plus a 2,197 square-foot garden terrace opening out to views of the city. Guests have access to a 24-hour fitness center, laundry room, pet-friendly rooms, free Wi-Fi, and on-site saunas and steam rooms.
3. The Brown Hotel
Located on West Broadway, The Brown Hotel is less than a ten-minute drive from Churchill Downs, providing fabulous access to the Kentucky Derby site. Constructed in 1923, the hospitality establishment is in the middle of Louisville’s Theatre District, offering concierge staff, restaurants, and access to the KFC Yum! Center, less than a mile away.
The Brown is a veritable Mecca for guests who love Georgian-revival architecture, elegance, and interior décor. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and provides prime access to all of Louisville’s top attractions. Recent renovations combine traditional features with contemporary flourishes, making it an attractive location for sophisticated travelers. Granite bathrooms, spectacular crystal chandeliers, and enormous banqueting halls make you feel you have come somewhere special.
The Brown has more than 294 guest rooms and suites. Therefore, it is not the most boutique hotel on this list. However, it retains its sanctuary-like feel, owing to its impeccable attention to detail and excellent management.
4. Omni Louisville Hotel
The Omni Louisville Hotel is another luxury hotel close to downtown, offering excellent access to the racecourse, KFC Yum! Center, and other famous landmarks. Aside from racing, guests stay at the establishment to enjoy local bourbon culture, distillery tours, and historic surroundings.
Omni Louisville offers packages depending on your reasons for visiting. For example, “winter warm-ups” give guests a chance to experience cozy bedrooms and nourishing fine dining, while “romance packages” include sparkling wines and chocolates brought to your room. There’s also a “baseball and bourbon package” for sports fans.
All guests benefit from free Wi-Fi access and a 24-hour fitness center. There are more than six restaurants to choose from in the evening, plus a luxury spa and salon offering a range of treatments. You can bring your pet, too, so that’s a bonus.
5. Hotel Distil, Autograph Collection
Lastly, consider staying at Hotel Distil, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, right in the heart of Louisville, just minutes from the race course. This Marriott-run establishment offers a truly modern space behind a historical frontage. The building’s facade is a former J.T.S. Brown & Sons barreling warehouse dating from 1933, now fully restored inside with modern amenities.
Hotel Distil’s location is excellent. It is just three minutes from the KFC Yum! Center and only a short walk from the city’s theater district, science center, and Slugger Museum Factory
The hotel serves continental and American breakfast items daily, plus full English and Irish options. Travel here if you are looking for a pet-friendly location in the heart of town.
Hire A Motorcoach for The Kentucky Derby
However, you don’t have to stay in a hotel to enjoy the Kentucky Derby. At LiTRV, we believe motorcoach rental is an even better option. But why?
First, you get your own private driver, meaning you don’t need to ride share or hail taxis to get to your destinations.
Second, we chauffeur you to and from the Kentucky Derby venue. We drop you off at the site and collect you when ready. We can also wait at the event location for you, working around your schedule.
Lastly, you can travel with your luxury accommodation. It goes wherever you go, letting you explore local sites and attractions in comfort.
There are plenty of luxury coach campgrounds to choose from that are conveniently located close to the Kentucky Derby.
Book your luxury motorcoach rental from LiTRV today and experience the difference for yourself!
Recent Comments