DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St. Paul Downtown

The hotel itself was nice enough, with nothing dirty, and the pool and fitness center were adequate. There was some rust on the bathroom fixtures. The best part was the friendly, accommodating staff. I asked for extra towels, and they arrived within minutes. Breakfast was the real disappointment. We went for Mother's Day, and both the food and service were poor. The bill was painful too. We chose breakfast because of the food and beverage credit, but it didn't cover the whole meal. Even free, it wouldn't have been worth it. At one point, someone dropped a weight in the fitness center above the seating area, making a crash so loud I thought the hotel might collapse. Don't pay for breakfast.

We stayed for a concert at the Palace Theater, which is an easy walk from the hotel. The garage is right next door, and its elevator leads directly into the hotel. The entrance can be easy to miss if you're not watching for it, but parking was convenient and we had no problems, despite what others have said. The room was clean, comfortable and quiet, with no noise from other guests all night. Staff were friendly from check-in through checkout. We also had a delicious dinner at the hotel restaurant, with plenty of choices for different tastes, including great burgers and fish. The restaurant staff were friendly and helpful too. No complaints at all. I'd stay here again and hope to see the same friendly faces. Definitely recommend!

The bed was comfortable, and I liked the pillows. The rest of the hotel felt dark and dingy, from the rooms and hallways to the pool, restaurant and common areas. The corridors smelled like a nursing home, and the in-room bathroom badly needed updating. Breakfast wasn't included. We charged a meal from the attached restaurant to our room, and it was mediocre, costing $40 with tip. Connecting to the WiFi was confusing, and parking cost extra. I wasn't impressed and won't return if I can help it.

The parking was the one real plus. The room felt dated and had a strange vibe, and the bedding was a problem: cheap pillows, sheets layered on top of each other, and visible stains on the mattress sheet. Pretty gross and frustrating. I booked a king room and Hilton Honors called the extra chair an upgrade. It didn't feel like much of one. The stay was underwhelming. It wasn't the worst hotel ever, but I'd choose somewhere else in downtown St. Paul.