This hotel is not bad. Rooms could use an update, but not dirty. My complaint was with the shuttle. I had read on here where they would take you to the train to go to the Mall of America. They did just that and it worked well going. They gave me a card and told me to call when I returned. I called several stops prior so they would be there shortly after I got off. I got off and no shuttle. It is not a very good neighborhood at all. In fact I had one person ask me if I wanted to buy drugs and another ask me if I had any. I was getting very nervous. I called back after a half an hour only to find out that they do not always use the same site. They were waiting for me at another train station. I guess drivers changed and it depends on the driver. They REALLY need to get their drivers to use the same station. I did not realize there was more than one.

The Inn was clean, neat and well-staffed by polite and helpful people. It is located in the heart of the West Campus of the University of Minnesota (which is not the main old campus) and has a good selection of College style pubs, bars and restaurants in easy walking distance.

However, I am becoming cranky on the subject of internet access when I travel and shared the following with Holiday Inn:

Dear Holiday Inn,

You provided a single computer in your Minneapolis Metrodome “Business Center” which allowed internet and e-mail access for $.65 per minute.

Your staff said you had free wifi and internet connections in the room—but only if I had brought my lap top.

In these days of troubling business travel, when lap tops are not only clumsy and heavy, but inspected, put through machines, mistaken for one another and stolen in airport security, I, for one, have ceased carrying them unless absolutely necessary.

Which gets me back to my point. All respectable and responsible hotels should be providing guests free internet access—at least in a business center. The less expensive ones are. I expect that the Ritz and Four Seasons will never get there.

I don’t want a gym, swimming pool or other add-on amenities. I just want free internet access. Now that I know that I cannot count on it at Holiday Inn, I will carefully check before booking and, if at all possible, I will not book at one of your hotels that does not provide it.

Sincerely,

A Recent Business Guest

The style of the hotel is that of a typical Holiday Inn: Large rooms, basic amenities (shampoo, soap, hair dryer, iron/board, cable TV). The rooms also have high-speed Internet via dataport, or wireless in the lobby, all free.

There's a restaurant/bar in the lobby, and lots of great pubs within a one-block radius. The hotel is also one block from the law school and 3 blocks from the business school. A hotel shuttle provides short rides, including to the light-rail station, with trains leaving every 10 minutes to the airport, Mall of America, and downtown.

The workout room is tiny with about 6 cardio machines, but there is a TV and great views of the city. Across the hall is a small pool.

Overall, I'd recommend the Metrodome if you're looking simple, clean, functional rooms. It's not luxurious, but offers just about everything one needs from a hotel.

We arrived 3/8/06 and left 3/12. We did not rent a car as we took the train to the hotel and used the hotel shuttle to get to the aquatic center and around town. The hotel is very nice and well kept with very good housekeeping. Staff are very helpful and pleasant. We had a suite on the 12th floor with a very nice view. Stainless steel pool and hot tub on 14th floor. (hottub needed de-foamer). There's a little exercise room with 3 treadmills, one bike and a cybex machine, no weights but a beatiful view of the city. The bartenders at the hotel lobby bar are great. Jim has a great wealth of information on sports and history/tidbits of the city and a gift of gab. nice guy!!!! We took a half hour tour of the city with the shuttle bus driver (Nolan) and he was very informative. They work on tips. The ONLY problem with the hotel was the dining room for breakfast. They are understaffed and the waiters are also seating people and trying to pick up tables all at the same time. After the second day we skipped the hotel and got coffee at a little coffee shop down the street. We did not bother for dinner. For places to eat try "The Old Spagetti Factory".(just down the street) The inside of the place is something to see and food is good. "The Town Hall Bar" right outside of the hotel has good food and old time decor as like "Grandma's Restaurant and Saloon" which is just across the street. We took the train to the Mall of America for 1.50$ each way. Easiest way to get there and avoid traffic and looking for a parking place. Get on at the Metrodome or the Cedar St. station. A very pleasant stay, would go back again.