Looking at going to the SEC tournament this year for the first time, regardless of the baseball teams rank in the tournament. Just to experience the tournament. If y'all have any advice on hotels or food in Birmingham or Hoover. Would be greatly appreciate the advice.

I can only say that I don't recommend the Homewood Suites in Hoover. Very musty room, not the cleanest and the lobby had some cockroaches that looked like Cadillacs. Not typical for a Hilton property.

We visit Hoover several times a year. It is filled with tons of reliable chains. My favorite non-chain near the stadium is Farrelly's Southern Bar and Kitchen. To save a bit of money, we stay over by the intersection of Valleydale Road and 65, who ever has the best rates. There's a nice brewery down the street from there called Oak Mountain Brewing. Sometimes, with larger groups, we stay over off 280 and 459. The Best Western nearest Grandview is a decent value. The Embassy Suites nearest the stadium has really gone downhill in the past several years. In fact, we haven't found a hotel along that road that was worth the cost or the location, in my opinion, and I am not that picky.

I've never stayed over night, since we are close enough to drive...but I second the 280/459 area. Lots of places to eat and the Summit, etc.