Hi golfer1, Here is what I suggest.If you want to get by with as little walking as possiably than i recommend this.Stay at the Hampton INN on 200 Cresent Ave. in Covington.The Hampton Inn is right by Willie's Sports Bar.They have a free shuttle to the stadium.The bar is awesome it has tons of Cincinnati sports stuff and 43 t.v's.The food is not that bad either.The bar is open to 2:30 am for you guys.The hotel is also close to many liquor stores and fast food.Here is a website to look at www.cinweekly.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article… If you have any other questions let me know I would be happy to help.Have a great trip.

I've never been, but I've heard Willie's is loads of fun.

Thank you for the input. Ive been doing some researching into the area hotels and Im sure Ill find a good deal. Also, does Cincinnati have any local food traditions? For example, Pittsburgh is famous for its Primantis sandwiches.

Golfer, what's in a Primanti? I've heard about them, and my husband can't remember what's in them. Isn't that the sandwich where the fries and slaw are on the sandwich?

Anyway, Cinci food is very german, but we have our own special BBQ as well. Montgomery Inn and Burbanks are famous for ribs and pulled pork (I prefer Burbanks). Also, goetta, which is a german meat blend that just about anything can be made out of, there was just a Goetta Festival a couple of weekends ago, and that's the only time of year i eat it, I'm not real sure what restaurants offer it year around.

German restaurants, BBQ, Graeters ice cream, Skyline Chili and LaRosa's pizza are all Cincinnati favorites.

Irish-

Primantis is the name of the restaurant but the sandwiches are made on italian bread with fries and sandwich cole slaw (not mayo based) You can have any type of meat on it. Here is a link to thier website. Granted it may not look good but it is an outstanding sandwich. I usually get the cheesesteak.

http://www.primantibros.com/

I'm not sure of your definition of best. There are many nice hotels within a 15 minutes walk. In Cincinnati, the Hyatt and the Westin. In Kentucky, the Marriott and Radisson and others. Standard hotels like you've seen before. If you want a very nice hotel with lots of historic flavor, your best bet is the Hilton Netherlands. http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=Z2UIMK3NQKAOWCSGBIW222QKIYFCVUUC?ctyhocn=CVGNPHF A very elegant grand hotel in the old posh, ornate tradition. Another unique and elegant one a little further away is the 4 star, 4-diamond Cincinnatian Hotel http://www.cincinnatianhotel.com.

Local food traditions are mostly German with Brats and Metts a big one but mostly available during the numerous food festivals. Others are Montgomery Inn (ribs, steak, seafood), Mike Fink (riverboat with nice view of downtown), Graeters Ice Cream, La Rosa's pizza, Skyline (Cincinnati style chili), etc. The revolving restaurant at the top of the Radisson in Covington is very nice.

I stayed at the Hyatt, don't stay there, it's a dump. There's an Embassy Suites in Covington, KY, that place looks alot newer.

don't mean to start a food fight, but as a former Cincinnatian (born and raised type),but great as Graeter's is, I love Aglamesis Brothers on Madison Road. It's the most overlooked "cincinnati food" in town.

And for Cincinnati chili, Skyline is simply king!

For great corned beef - it's Izzy's in downtown

For barbeque it's the Montgomery Inn

and for fine dining the winner is still The Maisonette

Go Bengals!

Hate to tell you this but the Maisonette is closed and is in the process of moving to Kenwood.