St Paul, Sports Acro competition

Looks like my daughter will be going to St Paul, Minn for a acrobatics competition next year %26amp; off course the whole family will go 2 adults 3 kids from Aust. Can anyone tell me of cheap accomm. or great value for money %26amp; how do we get there - from Australia we would fly into LA, is it far to drive from there or can we pick up a cheap return air fare. We will try %26amp; make it a 3 week holiday. Thanks for helping.

St Paul, Sports Acro competition

You could certainly drive but allow for at least three full days one way, and that is if you drive straight through.

If you do drive I would allow for much more time so you can explore the natural wonders between here and LA - Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, the NP%26#39;s in Utah %26amp; CO, Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, etc, etc. It%26#39;s a wonderful drive if you have the time and patience. :)

A flight from LAX to MSP should not be overly expensive, especially if you%26#39;re willing to fly during off-hours or an all night flight.

As for staying in St. Paul I would ask what you%26#39;re looking for in a hotel. Will you have a car while here? Where is the competition? What else do you want to do while here? What do you consider cheap/reasonable? The twin cities is a large area (geographically) with a myriad of choices and opportunities so it will help to narrow exactly what you need.

St Paul, Sports Acro competition

Many thanks for the info. I think we will fly to Saint Paul then drive back for all the sites as what you%26#39;ve mentioned is just what we would like to visit. While in St Paul we will be going to the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, W Kellogg Blvd for the gymnastics so accom.near there. Probably a budget of $150/night or cheaper would be ideal, or apartment? Thanks again.

I think your plan is excellent!

The Roy Wilken%26#39;s Auditorium is connected to the main arena in St. Paul, the Excel Energy Center. Just an FYI as you search, the complex (the X, Roy, St. Paul Convention Center) is called River Center so any hotel that is near the River Center would be near Roy Wilken%26#39;s.

http://www.stpaulcvb.org/

Any of these hotels would be an easy walk to the River Center:

- There is a Holiday Inn Express directly across the street from the main entrance to the X that should be near your price point.

- On the other side of the X (east side, look for Rice Park on a map) the closest hotels would be The St. Paul Hotel, Crowne Plaze, %26amp; Hilton Garden Inn. I would suspect any of these would be a little more than the Holiday Inn.

Good luck

Just a quick mild correction. The hotel across the street is actually a full service Holiday Inn Hotel. Holiday Inn Express would be the limited service version of the chain. I know it%26#39;s being picky, and it%26#39;s not my intent to be picky for ';picky%26#39;s sake';, but more to make sure you look for the correct hotel. Everything I have heard of Holiday Inn at this location is good. You will probably be able to obtain a rate around $150US/night, though depends on exactly when you go, how far ahead you reserve, and if you pick a prepay rate or refundable rate. I agree the other hotels would probably be more.

The suggestions Sully offered for the drive are all great ones. I agree to have a fair amount of patience. Bring interesting music, especially for the driving though some areas. Not always much to see or listen to!

Thanks for the correction wwwt!