During a 15-week deployment with the Federal disaster relief effort, I spent seven weeks (!) at this TownePlace Suites and got to know it quite well.
It’s a good choice for both business and leisure travelers, and is well-equipped for extended stays. As a road warrior, I appreciate the ability to work comfortably from my room when needed. I also love that they have two gas barbecues with seating areas where guests can cook for themselves (and maybe even host colleagues or have a family cookout) rather than eat every meal at a restaurant.
Rooms aren’t huge, but they’re more than adequate. The door opens into the 6x8 kitchen, which has a full-size fridge, dishwasher, and microwave; a two-burner cook top; dishware; and pots and pans. There is also a coat closet off the kitchen with an iron and ironing board.
The main area of my room was 15’ by 14’3”. In that approximately 213 square feet, there was a King bed with two night stands, a work station, a hide-a-bed sofa, a foot rest, a side table and a flat-screen TV. The 8’8” ceiling made it seem a bit roomier. Larger rooms are also available.
The 5’ by 8’ bathroom had a tub/shower combination and a decent-sized closet with a laundry basket, which was very convenient when it came time to use the on-site guest laundry.
Breakfast is included, though it becomes predictable very quickly. That probably matters less for those who aren’t staying more than a few nights. However, the breakfast room is fairly small and gets crowded on the weekends when the guests include more families with kids than during the week. There is also a pantry next to the front desk with a variety of snacks, microwave items, and sundries.
Staff is friendly and helpful, welcoming guests back when they return from their day, greeting them when they pass in the hall, and accommodating special requests quickly.
There is a shared computer and printer off the lobby (not really a “business center”), a 24-hour fitness room and an indoor swimming pool, but no Jacuzzi or hot tub which I would have appreciated as hours behind the wheel leave me stiff and sometimes sore.
The hotel is right across the street from the Mall of America and close to several restaurants, so there are some options within walking distance and even more a short drive away. The furniture store IKEA, about a kilometer to the west, has a cafeteria which serves a great Swedish meatball meal for a very reasonable price as well as Swedish breakfasts if you want a change from the hotel’s offering.
The property is undergoing a “refresh” through December 2024, but the work only goes on between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., so it’s barely noticeable.
Though the hotel is directly under the flight path from MSP, don’t let that put you off. The sound insulation is good and keeps the roar of the planes to a minimum inside the building. Using the outside barbecue and picnic areas is a different story, as you’d expect.
Parking is free in an open lot, which is fine for most of the year.
If you plan to be in the area and want a hotel convenient to the airport, the Mall of America, and several highways and freeways, check out the TownePlace Suites Mall of America.
It’s a good choice for both business and leisure travelers, and is well-equipped for extended stays. As a road warrior, I appreciate the ability to work comfortably from my room when needed. I also love that they have two gas barbecues with seating areas where guests can cook for themselves (and maybe even host colleagues or have a family cookout) rather than eat every meal at a restaurant.
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| Exterior of the hotel |
Rooms aren’t huge, but they’re more than adequate. The door opens into the 6x8 kitchen, which has a full-size fridge, dishwasher, and microwave; a two-burner cook top; dishware; and pots and pans. There is also a coat closet off the kitchen with an iron and ironing board.
The main area of my room was 15’ by 14’3”. In that approximately 213 square feet, there was a King bed with two night stands, a work station, a hide-a-bed sofa, a foot rest, a side table and a flat-screen TV. The 8’8” ceiling made it seem a bit roomier. Larger rooms are also available.
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| Comfy King bed |
The 5’ by 8’ bathroom had a tub/shower combination and a decent-sized closet with a laundry basket, which was very convenient when it came time to use the on-site guest laundry.
Breakfast is included, though it becomes predictable very quickly. That probably matters less for those who aren’t staying more than a few nights. However, the breakfast room is fairly small and gets crowded on the weekends when the guests include more families with kids than during the week. There is also a pantry next to the front desk with a variety of snacks, microwave items, and sundries.
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| Sitting area with hide-a-bed sofa |
Staff is friendly and helpful, welcoming guests back when they return from their day, greeting them when they pass in the hall, and accommodating special requests quickly.
There is a shared computer and printer off the lobby (not really a “business center”), a 24-hour fitness room and an indoor swimming pool, but no Jacuzzi or hot tub which I would have appreciated as hours behind the wheel leave me stiff and sometimes sore.
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| In-room workspace |
There are also meeting rooms for rent, either by the hour or the day for those who want more privacy than the common areas provide.
My only criticism is the cost of certain “incidentals.”
Experienced travelers understand that hotels add a bit of a “convenience premium” for not having to go off-property, either for a meal or other goods or services you might need. That said, I feel this hotel rather dramatically overcharges for pantry items and the guest laundry.
One Hormel “Compleats” Turkey and Dressing meal, which sells at the nearby WalMart for $2.28, was $7.25 while an individual portion of Kraft Mac ‘n’ Cheese was $4. At WalMart? $1.50.
The guest laundry, while well-equipped, will set a guest back $6 for a load of laundry: $3 for wash, $3 for dry – and that’s before the soap, fabric softener and/or bleach.
My only criticism is the cost of certain “incidentals.”
Experienced travelers understand that hotels add a bit of a “convenience premium” for not having to go off-property, either for a meal or other goods or services you might need. That said, I feel this hotel rather dramatically overcharges for pantry items and the guest laundry.
One Hormel “Compleats” Turkey and Dressing meal, which sells at the nearby WalMart for $2.28, was $7.25 while an individual portion of Kraft Mac ‘n’ Cheese was $4. At WalMart? $1.50.
The guest laundry, while well-equipped, will set a guest back $6 for a load of laundry: $3 for wash, $3 for dry – and that’s before the soap, fabric softener and/or bleach.
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| Easy walking distance to the Mall of America |
The hotel is right across the street from the Mall of America and close to several restaurants, so there are some options within walking distance and even more a short drive away. The furniture store IKEA, about a kilometer to the west, has a cafeteria which serves a great Swedish meatball meal for a very reasonable price as well as Swedish breakfasts if you want a change from the hotel’s offering.
The property is undergoing a “refresh” through December 2024, but the work only goes on between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., so it’s barely noticeable.
Though the hotel is directly under the flight path from MSP, don’t let that put you off. The sound insulation is good and keeps the roar of the planes to a minimum inside the building. Using the outside barbecue and picnic areas is a different story, as you’d expect.
Parking is free in an open lot, which is fine for most of the year.
If you plan to be in the area and want a hotel convenient to the airport, the Mall of America, and several highways and freeways, check out the TownePlace Suites Mall of America.
More on the locations I visited during my deployment in upcoming posts. Check back often!
Photos by Carl Dombek
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Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger image
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