Residence Inn by Marriott Minneapolis St. Paul/Eagan

There are plenty of stores and good restaurants within walking distance. The rooms are very clean and work well for longer stays. Breakfast is free and includes real scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, and waffles you make fresh yourself.

The price issue was eventually explained reasonably after the manager called me back, so I’ve raised my service rating to two stars. Still, between check-in and the room’s condition when we arrived, I wouldn’t stay here again. The rooms are actually quite nice, and without that first night my review would have been five stars. At check-in I was holding my toddler and handed the desk clerk my ID. He set it on the counter just out of reach instead of handing it back, then put the room keys there too. I don’t know if he does that with everyone or didn’t want to risk touching me. The body wash was empty, a light didn’t work, and there were hairs on the bed. I called the desk and they said we could switch rooms after our evening activities. The replacement room was in much better shape. The hotel charged more than the amount on my reservation. I called two days in a row to ask why. On the first call, they said a manager would call back. The next day, the man who answered took my name and number and said he was transferring me to the manager’s voicemail, but the call ended.

The room was okay, but breakfast was blah. It felt like they were struggling while we were there: the elevator A/C was out, our room had power problems, and the front desk staff had to reboot their computers while we were checking out. One employee was just plain rude.

We needed a reset after several days on the road, and this modern, sparkling-clean hotel fit the bill. The rooms were spacious, comfortable, and finished with quality materials. It was quiet, close to everything, and reasonably priced, which can be hard to find together. It’s minutes from Mall of America, making it a handy base for our Minneapolis trip and some shopping. The staff were welcoming and kind, with friendly Midwest warmth. They answered questions about the area and chatted with us at check-in, making us feel at home. For a Twin Cities or Mall of America visit, I’d put Residence Inn in Eagan high on the list.