Downtown, there are three major hotels: the Clarion, the Days Inn and the Sheraton.

 • Clarion Hotel, 320 Hillsborough St., (919) 832-0501. The 20-story hotel is undergoing its first major renovation since the 1960s. Try to get a room on the lower floors, which are being fixed up first.

 • Days Inn, 300 North Dawson St., (919) 828-9081. Closest to Glenwood South, where many bars and restaurants are located.

 • Sheraton Hotel, 421 South Salisbury St., (919) 834-9900. Another 20-story hotel, a touch fancier, but located on the mostly uninteresting Fayetteville Street Mall.