a hotel and nightlife

5 couples are planning a weekend at the end of Jan. We have tickets to a wolves game and are also looking for nightlife. We are looking at staying at the embassy suites in St. Paul. How much is a taxi to the target center and any nightlife near the hotel we are looking at?

a hotel and nightlife

Taxi will be outrageously spendy, IMO. Getting from downtown St. Paul to downtown Minneapolis via cab would be nearing the $60, by my best estimate.

Nightlife is most concentrated on West Seventh in downtown St. Paul (Liffey, McGovern%26#39;s etc) as far as places in walking distance to the hotel.

If a Wolves game is in the plans, have you considered eliminating the taxi quandary and staying in Minneapolis? More nightlife options and you could walk or take a cab to the game that would only cost in the single digits.

a hotel and nightlife

Unless there is some other compelling reason to stay in St. Paul definitely switch to hotel plan in Minneapolis. Not that there isn%26#39;t ';nightlife'; in St. Paul but there is more choice in Minneapolis. Five couple...10 people...would take at least three cabs. If you must stay in St. Paul the per person cost of hiring a limo service may be a lot less.

I%26#39;d agree

get on over to Minneapolis for any nightlife in the evenings.

Thanks for the input. Any suggestions on where to stay in Minneapolis? None of us are real familiar with the area, we%26#39;re all from out of town. Thanks!

4girlsmom,

Yes, I agree with others that staying in Minneapolis would likely be the better option - especially if you%26#39;re going to see the Wolves play.

There are many options for hotels, all within walking distance to Target Center for the game, and also within walking distance to other nightlife. Graves 601 is connected to Target Center by Skyway (in downtown Minneapolis, most buildings are connected by enclosed bridges over the streets). That said, Graves 601 is not a cheap hotel by any means, though it appears they have deals on weekends in Jan. Fridays and Saturdays seem to start at $149. Otherwise, you%26#39;re looking at rates starting at $239/night. You may check out the Marriott on 7th Street or Radisson across the street. Both are close to Hennepin Avenue and First Avenue North for the game and nightlife (2-3 blocks).

Less expensive options that are a few more blocks away, but still either within walking distance or cheap cab fare would include: Crowne Plaza (nice rooms and often gives deals on weekends as much of their business is business people so the hotel is much more empty on weekends, rates on weekends starting as low as $79/night) or Best Western Normandy (also at $79/night). BW is an older building but I hear they have put a fair amount of money into the building. Holiday Inn Express would be relatively less expensive too, about 1 mile from Target Center. HI Express is close to Nicollet Avenue for some of that avenues nightlife would be near.

The majority of nightlife (but by no means all) in downtown Minneapolis is concentrated in the Warehouse District, which is where Target Center is (where the Wolves play).

I would stay around there. If the Graves could be had for $149 a night as our resident hotel expert (nice to have someone with your insider knowledge, wouldbeworldtraveler!) posted, then that%26#39;s a no-brainer in my opinion. It%26#39;s a gorgeous hotel and the location is perfect for the Wolves game and dining options within walking distance or a minimum-fare cab ride ($5).

Other hotels will walking distance access to Target Center are the Radisson and the Mariott City Center (I like the Radisson better, but to each his own), which are across the street from each other on 7th Street, short walk to the arena.

The best budget options have been mentioned. I have had friends stay at both. Neither were wowed but neither were disappointed in anything either. Which is what a budget hotel is sposed to do, right? Clean, good location, good rate. And $79 a night downtown Mpls. is about as good as you%26#39;ll find.

Hope all that helps. Here is a map so you can get your bearings a bit. Hotels and restaurants listed for you, although make sure to ask us before you decide on something. A handful of restaurants are no longer open but still appear.

Click on the downtown map:

minneapolis.org/page/1/area-maps-minneapolis…

Riverfront map is also helpful to show you the river separating downtown from Northeast (where Nye%26#39;s is -- a good spot for some nightlife the old-fashioned way -- piano par and polka! A Minneapolis institution)

Thanks for all the advice!! I love MN. Friendly people=) I%26#39;ll talk to my friends and maybe ask for more advice before the decision. Thanks to all!!!

Again I want to thank all of you. We have decided to stay at Graves 601 and we actually founds rooms at $104.30 a night.(I hope they aren%26#39;t storage spaces in the basement!)

That is incredible.

Plus, given the quality I have witnessed there (haven%26#39;t stayed but have visited friends staying there to see their room) even the storage rooms would end up being pretty nice.

I think you scored big time. Great location. Schmancy hotel for CHEAP. Have a great time.

4girls...$104/night? Wow...that is an incredible price. I have not had the opportunity to be in the hotel, but assuming it is any room I%26#39;ve heard of, that%26#39;s a complete steal. No doubt great deals due to your staying 1) in Jan in MN, not quite a peak time, 2) staying during a not great economic time, and 3) staying on a weekend - not a peak time for a hotel more focused on M-F businesspeople. To be honest, it almost seems like ';rate suicide'; for a hotel of that presumed quality to sell rooms at $104/night.

At $104, even if you get a slightly ';substandard'; room (and I can%26#39;t imagine there%26#39;s many, if any) you%26#39;re right in the thick of things for nightlife. You should save cab fare, and that will be money you can use for nice meals or other spending.

Have a great time in cold Minneapolis in January. If nothing else, you can travel to locations by skyway and stay more or less inside!