Had a 4 night stay at the Holiday Inn select in Downtown Memphis in May this year 2008, before moving on to Vegas for 7 nights. The hotel is in a great location for Beale street and the Waterfront and most Downtown sights.
If you are a non smoker make sure you book a non smoking room as the smoking floors reek of stale fags!!.
The Peabody Hotel is just across the Street and is worth a visit because it is a realy nice place and they have the Duck procession at 11.00 and 17 00 hrs -worth catching.
Booked everything over the t'internet from the UK and all went very well, all 6 flights were good and transfers on time and the only glitch was on check in at Circus Circus in Vegas but that's another story.
Had a good tour of Graceland then all the relevant sites worth seeing in Memphis.
Mud Island is free and worth a visit - be aware that there are some people who sleep rough in the park on the approach to Mud Island, we had no hassle but you gotta be aware.
Also a few "panhandlers" who ask you for cash but just blank them and you get no hassle.
It's not surprising because it is really a poor neighbourhood away from the Downtown bit.

Just returned from a trip to Memphis and Vegas and stayed at this hotel during my stay in Memphis, i found it great!

The room was spotless, ready when i got there (about 6pm, flight delayed) the location was great, a matter of 5 minutes from Beale St.

The pool is handy and convenient on a roof level 4th floor, there is complimentary internet acccess in the foyer, and drinks and Ice Machines in the corridors (atleast on the floor where i was anyway)

A great place to stay and would stay there again in a heartbeat.

After reading some of the reviews I was a little nervous about staying two nights at this hotel but I must say it was one of the best experiences of my life! Hotel staff were amazing...courteous, friendly, eager to help with whatever needs you had. The two adjoining king rooms were in excellent and clean condition, nicely appointed. Everything worked -- from the a/c to the hair dryer. The location was perfect! We walked to every place but the zoo. Surrounding restaurants were excellent also. Did not eat at the hotel but it was nice to have free coffee in the lobby as soon as you stepped off the elevator. We went into the bar for a cold, non-alcoholic drink and the service there was very poor for whatever reason. That, however, did not dim the glow of our total overall experience.

Stayed here last year , so came back again This is a great location for all , and although across fromPeabody would not say was noisy at all .

I sent an e mail to the hotel three weeks prior to my arrival and asked for a front facing room, and on my arrival was given one ,

The Htel bar does not stay open late during the week but you have Beale any way.

Great hotel will stay there again .