Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown St. Paul

I wasn't staying at the Hampton, but I was there to visit friends while we were in town for hockey. Since I learned the Hampton uses the same valet company as the Intercontinental, I wanted to share how great the valets at the Intercontinental had been. We drove over from the Intercontinental on Friday afternoon. Before I'd even put the car in park, the valets greeted me and asked if I was checking in. I said I was just meeting friends for 30 minutes. They left me right at the entrance and showed me where to go. I think the man was named Chace, and he was fantastic. A black-haired guy, who I think was the manager, was super nice too. Hospitality is a tough business these days, and those young men restored my faith in customer service.

Everything else was fantastic, and I've stayed here several times without any real problems. The location is great, valet parking is handy, and the amenities are all there. I couldn't give it five stars, though, because the water pressure was low and there were hairs in the shower. Big thanks to Michelle at the front desk for checking us in. Her customer service was the best I've had in a long time.

I was here for four work nights and brought my family along because my wife has family nearby. A friendly staff member greeted us, chatted with my son, and made us feel welcome. The room was clean and nice, and I had four of the best nights of sleep I've ever had in a hotel. Wi-Fi was free and worked well for everything I needed. My son liked the pool, and the fitness center was nice. Breakfast came with the stay, with lots of variety and something different each day. One of my best hotel stays, and I'd gladly come back.

The hot breakfast was part of the price, with scrambled eggs, sausage, waffles, cereal, yogurt, and more. Our room was very clean, and the location worked great for an event at Grand Casino Arena. Valet service was excellent, and the front desk staff were pleasant, helpful, and accommodating. They let me check out late so I could stay a bit longer before heading to the airport for my flight home. I don't understand why this hotel is rated two stars online. To me, it's a four-star place. I'd recommend it and stay again.