That is what I plan on doing as well. Ive been to STL twice, and both times Ive run into the nicest people you would ever meet and also some of the most vile human beings you would ever meet. No in between. I plan on staying at the Casino that is now open, supposed to be really nice. Casino you say..., like one of those riverboat ones with only slot machines, or a real one? Not interested in fake nice midwesterners, I have family. No it's a real one on land, hotel attached. http://www.hollywoodcasinostlouis.com/ It's technically on a river, per state law. But it's really not. That's way out in Maryland Heights though. If you want to stay at a casino, I would consider Lumiere downtown. Otherwise, there aren't really any hotels in Soulard, there's a Holiday Inn Express on Jefferson a few miles away but it's a little shady. There are a few hotels over in the Central West End that are decent and there are plenty of cool restaurants and bars to check out there. So many good restaurants. That's probably the only thing I miss about the place. Well, that and NHL hockey of course.