Suggestions? Employee rates, nearby food, etc.

 

There are a lot of hotels around the Mall of America. Obviously plenty of food at the mall. I believe the Comfort Inn is the cheapest but a longer walk to the mall. There is a train from the mall to the airport as well as uber and hotel shuttles.

 

Be VERY careful with hotels near MOA - especially to the west; they are housing homeless in some of them, bit of a war zone. Avoid La Quinta at all costs

 

Important safety tip! Like "Don't cross the streams."

Scoop

 

Ive been commuting to MSP for over a year and needed 6 hotels since. I had heard about La Quinta so have avoided that. I started out using Priceline. I got the Sheraton 4 points the first two times. I did name your own price at $60. It cam back and said for $11 more we can get you a room, so I agreed and ended up with 4 points at $71, plus fees, it was closer to $85. Then, both times, the hotel shuttle was going to take a while because they were sharing their van with 2 other hotels so they told me 30-45 minutes, so I Ubered to hotel for $16 with tip. Before it was all said and done, I paid over $100 each time.

The third time I Pricelined, I got some hotel that didn’t even have an airport shuttle, and the hotel wasn’t as nice as the Sheraton, and again paid around $100 after Uber trips. The last three times I needed a hotel, I have just walked over to the Intercontinental. They charge us $107. With tax and without Priceline fees, it is less than $120 out the door.

there is a flyer on the board in the MSP pilot lounge (the one by F5, not the CPO, that advertises a crew rate of $59.99 I think, but their shuttle only runs from 6 am to 10pm. I had a 2am short call one of the days, so that wouldn’t work for me. That was the day I stayed at the intercontinental and liked the convenience. I figure, as long as I need 2 or less hotels a month, which I have so far, it is still cheaper than a crash pad in NYC.

 

Thanks guys! I’ve heard the intercontinental is a pretty good deal.

 

When did the LQ go sketchy? Used it while MSP based a few years back and it was standard LQ, nothing more nothing less, but a great deal for crew.

 

Most of us used to use the LQ, it still works in a pinch but it's at my bare minimum for a hotel. The Courtyard in Mendota Heights is probably the most popular. It's about 74 out the door. In the past it has been a problem getting rooms because they only sell the block of "delta rates" and that's it. But nowdays, they love us. If you use the Courtyard grab some food at the airport because there is nothing around there for restaurants. Although you can order in too. There's a great running trail along the side of the river there. Look down on approach to 30 L/R and you'll see it.

Also, I've heard the Hilton Garden inn airport is giving us a rate, but I've yet to use it.

 

It is. Cheaper options are available, for sure, but if it’s only once in a while, it’s a very comfortable room, they’re very friendly to us, and it’s right there. I’m on reserve next month, and if it looks like I’ll need to stay at a hotel a lot, I’ll probably look for something cheaper, especially if I’m expecting multiple SC’s in a row. But for the occasional night to be in town for an early show time, it’s a great option.

 

Can you just walk to the Intercontinental or do you need to take a shuttle?

Thanks Scoop