Can you stand another post about our weekend in Minneapolis, lol? Here's the thing: Walker really wants me to write more reviews, mostly because I rely so heavily on others' reviews when I do my trip planning. He's always bugging me to pay it forward with reviews of our own. So here we go:
We've stayed at the Doubletree several times, so I feel like we have a well rounded experience to draw from. I would recommend the hotel without reservation - no pun intended. The staff is great, the rooms are nice, the beds are comfy, and the shower has good water pressure. The rooms are all suites, with a small fridge, microwave, and coffee maker on a granite topped counter between the living area and the bedroom. These rooms have also have red and white wine ready and waiting, though the charge per bottle is around $30 each and will be added to your bill if you open them. Walker and I aren't wine drinkers, but I know lots of people who would appreciate that touch, especially when traveling.
Walker and I paid $94 a night with a AAA discount. Parking is $17 a night with in and out privileges in their private ramp. We like to park at the top of the ramp, but when we're expecting snow it's nice to have the option of parking under the cover of one of the lower levels. My mom paid $89 using her AARP discount. She had an upgraded room, too. They opted to give her one of the PURE suites, which is a certified allergy free suite. You could smell the freshness from the air purifier in her living room. She doesn't have allergies, and these rooms would rent for $155 if you requested a PURE suite, but my mom was upgraded for no additional charge.
The lobby and guest rooms are recently renovated. Diva and I picked up the theme right away, but Walker didn't figure it out until we offered some hints. Everything is decorated with.....
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| The art over our work desk. |
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| Our wall paper. The wall paper in the halls had the same patten but was pearly gray. |
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| The chair in our room |
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| This is the elevator landing area |
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| The curtains in the public areas were all done in this fabric |
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| One of the two beds |
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| The elevator landing in the lobby |
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Circles! I have to admit, the old decor was heavy and dark but I kind of missed it, even though I really like the new style. There was something very cozy about the old decor, especially after coming in from the cold and wind. It was inviting and made me feel like curling up with a lap blanket and a good book. The new decor is very sleek and contemporary, and while I can see the beauty in it, it's not a style I would have chosen myself.
The Doubletree also offers guests their famous warm chocolate chip cookies upon check in. A nice touch, I think. This particular hotel has inside access to the Starbucks next door, and they have a decent restaurant on site. There is no pool. They do have a fitness center and a guest laundry.
I think it bears mentioning that I researched about a dozen downtown hotels before our first trip years ago (when we chose the Millennium down the street) and again a couple years later when we got tired of the rudeness at the Millennium and decided to make a switch. The Doubletree and the Millennium are the only two along Nicollet Mall that offered rooms in the $100 range. Technically, the Doubletree is a block off Nicollet but it's pretty much right there. Anyway: the bottom line is, I have no complaints, and the next time we visit downtown Minneapolis we'll be checking into the Doubletree once again.
