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Whether you want to be close to the airport, downtown, or near a relative's house, you are sure to be able to find a suitable place to stay. The Twin Cities is packed with over 300 hotels, motels and inns to accommodate every taste and budget range.
Most hotels are situated in well-traveled areas, ringed around the interstate loop that circles both cities, in the downtown areas, or near the airport. You shouldn't have much trouble finding a nice place to stay nearby if you are in town visiting friends or family. Look for something in the neighborhood before you head to the freeway, such as the Best Western American Inn in Minneapolis or the Best Western Maplewood Inn in northern St. Paul, or maybe one of the cozy bed and breakfasts. If it's business that brings you to town, many of the most populated business park areas have a hotel or two in the vicinity. The Northland Inn Brooklyn Park, a favorite with conventions, is close to malls and has easy freeway access.
Downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul
If it's downtown that attracts you, the choices are many and you are not likely to have trouble finding a room. The spots near the event venues are likely to be booked first. Many hotels near the Minneapolis Convention Center on the south end of downtown link directly to the event center. Through this portal, visitors can gain skyway access to the rest of downtown. Many of the hotels on that end of downtown also offer elegant dining in first rate restaurants, such as Manny's Steakhouse in the Hyatt Regency, so you needn't roam far. You probably won't even have to go outside if you don't want to! The Hyatt Whitney is where Mick Jagger stayed when he was in town; it's on the river amidst the old flour mills, in an area that is seeing a lot of revitalization.
The largest venue in downtown St. Paul, RiverCentre, is near several hotels, amid a bustling center of activity. The Radisson Hotel St. Paul (formerly the Hilton) has been a cornerstone of downtown accommodations since the 1970s. Also near the arena are the St. Paul Hotel and the Days Inn Civic Center. If your business is on the other side of I-94, on the north end of downtown, you might try Embassy Suites, a local favorite, that offers a restaurant and complimentary drinks in the atrium each evening. Many other hotels dot this area around the capital and various government buildings. These include the Radisson Inn St. Paul and the Best Western Kelly Inn.
University Lodgings
The University of Minnesota encompasses a vast area, straddling the city limits and the Mississippi River. The Minneapolis campus is the largest section, covering parts of both sides of the river, known as the West Bank and Main. In this part of town, and especially along University Avenue, you will find many accommodations, most of them easy on the wallet. The University Hospital has made great advances in medical technology and techniques; this attracts many thousands of people to this area for treatment each year, not to mention the students and families. The Best Western University Inn offers a free shuttle to local hospitals and the University campus. The Days Inn University is a little larger with 131 rooms. The Econo Lodge offers kitchenettes for the truly thrifty traveler.
As you cross Highway 280 on University Avenue, you enter St. Paul. There are many hotels and motels in this area, such as the Twins Motor Inn, near the Amtrak Station. Of course, budget travelers don't have to stay in the University area to avoid spending too much. Many of these same economy chains are spread out along the main traffic routes.
Airport/Mall of America
You will find no dearth of rooms in the area along 494, known as the Bloomington Strip. From I35E to Highway 55 on the West end, these hotels cater to travelers, business people, and tourists. The Minneapolis/St.Paul International Airport and the Mall of America are nearly across the highway from one another, and most hotels in the area offer shuttle services to either one. On occasion, if you purchase an airline ticket with an early morning departure, you will have the option to stay at one of these nearby hotels, spend the evening at the Mall and take a complimentary shuttle to the airport in the morning. Several of the hotels along the Strip are residence types, such as the Residence Inn-Mall of America, Amerisuites Minneapolis/Mall of America, and Homewood Suites Hotel—your homes away from home.
For an upscale option near the airport or Mall of America, try the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport, where each room is wired for Internet access. This is the closest full-service hotel to the airport. Hotel Sofitel, a little further down the strip, is the place for international travelers—the staff speaks 20 different languages.
Bed and Breakfasts
Many stately Victorian-era homes grace the neighborhoods of the Twin Cities. The area was home to railroad magnates, flour fortunes, and lumber barons in the 19th century and the first part of the 20th. These families built grand homes, and many are still standing. Altogether, over 30 bed and breakfast-type establishments operate in the greater Twin Cities.
In St. Paul, you will find the grandest homes clustered along and around Summit Avenue, including the Governor's Mansion and the James J. Hill House. A few of these privately-owned homes have opened their doors to guests and offer opulent and nostalgic lodgings. If turn-of-century splendor is what you're after, you are sure to find it here. Try the 1902 Chatsworth Bed and Breakfast complete with business center. The 1905 McCracken House is perfect for a romantic getaway. It features antique furnishings, rooms with whirlpool baths and beautiful architectural detail. Most of these rooms can be had for less than the price of a downtown hotel. The Summit Avenue and Grand Avenue area is also known for its nightlife and unique shopping.
Minneapolis has its share of old-world charm, too. While there isn't a broad, sweeping parkway lined with mansions such as Summit Avenue, there are many little neighborhoods in which you will find various treasures tucked away. Directly south of downtown you will find homes in various stages of renovation or use. Among these are the 1900 Dupont Guest House, complete with library and solarium. Many of the suburbs of Minneapolis host a B&B type mansion or inn like The Meadows Bed & Breakfast, Inn on the Farm, or the Bluff Creek Inn. You can relax with old-fashioned country comforts just 20 minutes from downtown!
If you venture outward a little further, you could stay at any one of a number of guest houses, inns, or historic farms. Stillwater, just 19 miles east of St. Paul on the St. Croix River, offers a large variety of this type of accommodation. The William Sauntry Mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is an 1890 bed and breakfast that doesn't take the breakfast part lightly—they offer a four-course gourmet meal in the morning. On the other side of town, the James H. Clark House Bed and Breakfast is nestled in the charming village of Excelsior, near Lake Minnetonka. From antique shops to boat cruises, each of these historic towns offers plenty to see and do.
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