For years and years we have brought a large group of multiple families and stayed at the Days Inn across from the Mall of America. I know the place was a little run down, but the pool area was the main attraction...the reason is the poolside rooms.
we usually booked about 20-25 of the poolside rooms that surrounded the pool area. What made this great was the fact that we were able to raom from room to room and visit with other friends. This pool area not only had the pool, but a large ';dry'; carpeted area that kids could play and run in. Basically it was a large atrium where we all could comingle and visit, whick=h is why we all went.
Too make a long story longer, we just found out the hotel is closing and being demolished. We need help finding a new destination with a similar pool/dry area that would have poolside rooms where we all can go and continue our tradition.
Any idea out there? We need help!!
HELP! Looking for a new hotel
I%26#39;m not sure if you%26#39;re going to find a place with 20-25 rooms surrounding the pool area - so good luck.
You may want to share what other things you are looking for? For example, do you also plan to hit the MOA? What about the waterpark (in the Radission)? Do you want to be close to the lightrail? What about budget (since DaysInn is a budget offering)?
I%26#39;ve stayed at the Marriott and they have a bank of rooms, maybe 5-10 that are near their pool atrium. Embassy Suites also usually uses a big atrium layout in their hotels, too.
HELP! Looking for a new hotel
Maybe try the Bloominton chamber of commerce -
they may know the layouts of the hotels close to the mall, or would be able to do some leg-work.
Bloomington Chamber-Commerce
www.bloomingtonchamber.org
9633 Lyndale Ave S # 200
Bloomington, MN 55420
(952) 888-8818
I%26#39;m thinking the number of rooms around the pool area is more important than being by the MOA. That being said, if there are any idea elsewhere in the state, we%26#39;ll take them....
I%26#39;ve been to the Holiday Inn Duluth -
they have TWO pools - both have hotel rooms around the pools.
You might like it there.
Not sure if the dry areas in the atrium are carpeted but the Holiday Inn Bloomington-Airport south of I-494 on I-35W may fit the bill. Not sure too how many rooms have doors out to the pool area but the atrium looks nice in the pics on their web site:
www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/mspso
We stayed with a large group at the Canterbury Inn in Shakopee onceand they had lots of rooms on the atrium area and if I recall correctly some was indoor/outdoor carpeted. Check the TA reviews. We had good rooms and experience but I think I have seen bad reviews before. If not horse racing season or Valley Fair season they might cut a deal for a large group.
From Blooming Prairie have you considered also Rochester and Mankato?
Ooops. was going to include...
http://www.canterburyinnshakopee.com/
I would contact Meet Minneapolis, the greater Minneapolis CVB too. Being a former hotel salesperson, I know what they can do for you. Tell them what you are looking for (number of rooms, need to have them poolside) and they have a computer system that can basically do the shopping for you. The system puts out a request to all the hotel members detailing what you%26#39;re looking for and those who wish to respond can do so. You should be able to request that hotels contact you directly or possibly to contact Meet Minneapolis. You can also request that hotels NOT respond if they can%26#39;t meet your requests (though if you say the rooms around the pool is a deal-breaker, you%26#39;ll probably weed out hotels upfront).
Website is minneapolis.org/page/… to go directly to the group hotel booking page.
Sorry, try this: www.minneapolis.org. Click on ';Groups'; on the top of the homepage, then ';accommodations'; along the left side.
Some quick additions SCSO,
Meet Minneapolis is a free service to you, the group planner. The costs MM incurs to run the operation are paid by membership fees all the hotels pay to Meet Minneapolis to be included (which hotels figure into their yearly budget, so the sales department is less likely to raise rates to make up for the cost to the hotel, see below). Almost all hotels (though not every) in the Minneapolis area are members, so you should get good representation.
Also, there are hotel group planner websites. These are generally free to you upfront and you can put into those sites what you want out of a hotel. However, be sure to note that hotels have to know about a particular website and sign up with that site, so you may not get as ';good a shop'; as through the official visitors association. It would depend on the savvy of the hotel sales department. You will also likely be quoted a higher group rate than through MM. This is because the hotel will have to pay the website a commission for being connected to you, and thus they will likely add the commission to the rate they quote you.
Finally, I can%26#39;t recommend the hotel I worked at as it does not have pool side rooms (there are rooms on the same floor, but not poolside) and, frankly, if you need 20-25 rooms you%26#39;re probably bringing about 40-100 people depending on the number of people per room. The pool at the hotel I worked at is small, would only accommodate about 10-15 people according to the max capacity sign in the pool. Also, none of my competitor hotels either had a pool or one with poolside rooms.
If your main attraction is the Mall of America, this hotel may be too far away (11 miles), but it has a great indoor pool area surrounded by rooms...plus it%26#39;s in an old train depot, which makes it fun and unique!
It%26#39;s the Best Western Bandana Square in St. Paul.
bestwesternminnesota.com/hotels/…
My parents stay here when they come to town and they think it%26#39;s fun and laid back and reasonably priced for St. Paul. The historic building is great, but it%26#39;s in the middle of an office park, so there isn%26#39;t much to do within walking distance except a neat model train museum and a so-so Chinese restaurant.
But if you%26#39;re looking for a hotel to hang out in with kids, I love this place. And I think they have good availability on weekends because they mostly cater to business travelers...though I don%26#39;t know that for sure.
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