Planning a visit to Richmond... please help! :)

ballofstress1

Hi!
A couple girlfriends & i are planning a getaway to richmond.  Just for a quick weekend.
We need a really cheap hotel...
I was wondering if anyone could help direct me to the right places as well.
We want to be near lots of shopping, spas, and good restaraunts.   Hotel must have a pool.

If you can tell me about any "Must stay" places, or "have to eat at....".... Or "the best spa is...."...   ya dont wanna miss type-a thing.....
etc, etc... that would be great!

Thanks!!!        

Prufrockswife

I don't necessarily know of any cheap hotels, but I can point you to some great shopping areas.

Carytown (which has a website: http://www.carytownrva.org/) has a lot of great stores and restaurants, including Baker's Crust and Coppola's Deli, which are two of my favorites. It's a great place to spend an afternoon shopping, and definitely check out For the Love of Chocolate -- Best. Chocolate. Store. Ever.

Short Pump Town Center (http://www.shortpumpmall.com/) is also fun; it's bigger and has a more upscale vibe than Carytown. Stony Point Fashion Park is another nice mall, but I've only been there once (http://www.shopstonypoint.com/). I hope this helps!  Good luck!

luv2smile06uva

Short Pump is your typical suburb shoppping mecca. Lots of higher end stores, several spas, etc. A lot of chains though. There are some really nice hotels that have opened recently (one actually at the mall), but if you are looking for cheap, they may be out of your range. You could stay in the hotels around Innsbrook which is 5 minutes from Short Pump and would likely be cheaper...they are geared more toward corporate travelers. You'd be near a Capital Ale location in Innsbrook which is a famous chain of Richmond bars.

As mentioned, Carrytown is more of a "Richmond" tradition of local shops and really good food. Your best location for a hotel near Carrytown would probably be the downtown area which would allow you to experience some really good restaraunts downtown, in the Fan Area, etc.

I would caution you to be careful on "really cheap hotels". Richmond is a really nice area, but like many places there are some bad parts that you want to stay away from.

Hope you have a great trip!

abHokie

If your going out...

Tobacco Company is really cool

Starlite

and Three Monkey's are popular

For food...Tarrants Cafe is cool and yummy also Sticky Rice and The Hard Shell

If it's not to hot grab a beer on the porch at Legend

Maymont park is a neat place to check out during the day

Cary Town is a really cool place to walk around/shop  

there is also a lot of historical places if you interested in that kind of stuff 

I recommend a Segway tour they are a lot of fun! 

 

ballofstress1

Thanks Ladies!

All these sound awesome.  I'm excited. 

 As of right now, we're trying to decide between a Marriott & A Hampton... Both in Glen Allen... which from what i can see is about 5 minutes from the short pump mall.   ?!?!?!

 I did read about the martini kitchen online.  Is that place as fun as it sounds???

 thanks & dont be afraid to keep the reccomendations comin!!!