I would suggest taking a train to CHicago and hanging out in the near North area...you can walk along Rush street and Lincoln park area and never have too few clubs.
or maybe you could try grand rapids, too.
http://www.lelandcityclub.com/about.php
great place to _people watch_, dance and its open to 4a
It_s also a lot safer over in Windsor than in Detroit. There_s just not that much to do in Detroit. Stay in Windsor, and if you want, then you can visit Detroit for an evening if you want. You can find some pretty good prices for motels in Windsor, just remember, the Canadian exchange rate is going to make it appear MORE expensive than it really is. And save your hotel receipts and stop at the Customs office when you return. They_ll refund your hotel room taxes if you have the receipt.
Why you want to come to detroit in the winter is beyond me....it_s pretty cold here usually. Be aware of that.
If you INSIST on staying in the US, then stay in the NORTHERN suburbs around Detroit. Like Birmingham, West Bloomfield, and yes, Waterford is a good place, and quite a bit cheaper than the first two, and has some nice bars and clubs. Just ask around. $72 per night in Waterford. That_s about as cheap as you_re going to get for a decent hotel. Much higher in Birmingham. Try the Best Western Concorde Inn in Waterford, and the Shark_s Club across the street--pretty nice nightclub, esp on weekends.
But I still say your best bet is Windsor; because you_re only 18. In Detroit, the bars, clubs, casino_s, NONE of the places are going to let you in, because you are underage. But in Windsor, all you have to be is 18 (not 21 like in Detroit). Consider it. And it_s a lot SAFER over there. There_s just not much to do in Detroit, unless you enjoy getting car jacked and dodging bullets....