Good service, beautiful interior.
By JonathanL, 03/04/09
I was a bit apprehensive about my anniversary stay at the Embassy Suites St. Paul after reading a few harsh reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised by the experience.
First of all, while there is a parking fee of $10, it does seem in place due to the location in downtown and to deter people from parking there to go elsewhere.
The neighborhood is clean and well-lit and while the exterior of the hotel isn't anything special, the atrium inside is gorgeous. The duck ponds are nice, the lounge and gazebo are actually fun to be in, and the elevators give a great view of the interior as well. The rooms aren't your standard nondescript door/wall experience, either, instead opting for a glass front with two layers of curtain that makes for a much more inviting atmosphere.
The rooms themselves aren't terribly large (the bathroom especially is rather tiny for a suite), but the two TV's (one in the living space and one in the bedroom) is a nice touch for families that may not want to watch the same thing, and they were both modern LCD TVs as well. There was also a basin in the bedroom to wash your face with.
The Manager's Reception and complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast are both touted heavily as bonuses, and they certainly should be. Free drinks in the evening and a delicious breakfast (my wife's omelette looked fantastic!) in the morning actually gets people out of their rooms and interacting with others. The hotel shuttle also gives free rides in the downtown area.
The staff was kind and courteous if not overly so (though the bartender and concierge were extremely kind and helpful), the hotel is obviously older but clean (though the bar in our room needed a refinishing) and comforting, and the atrium itself is just beautiful to look at from start to finish. It wasn't the best hotel I've ever stayed at, but it was a quality experience through and through, and I would certainly stay again if I ever return to downtown St. Paul. I can't say anything bad about my stay except for the parking fee, and for a downtown stay it wasn't terribly expensive. Add to that its proximity to the freeway, the Capitol Building, and other cultural highlights and it was a picturesque, enjoyable stay.
