Hilton Garden Inn City Center

The employees made this place feel so welcoming. They were really informed and helpful, and two of the sweetest ladies I've met in a long time in Minnesota. My room was clean to perfection. I walked in and could smell disinfectant, and the sheets smelled freshly washed, not just like regular hotel clean. They were actually softener-fresh and so soft. Everything about the place was amazing.

We picked the DoubleTree Downtown St. Paul for a concert because we could walk to the venue. The staff were polite and helpful, but the surrounding area felt sketchy. There were lots of people on the street, and at a nearby store I saw people stealing things right in front of security. Security tried to stop them but couldn't. It was sad to see. We got there about an hour before check-in and our room wasn't ready, which was fair since we were early. Still, the next morning housekeeping came by several times starting almost two hours before checkout to ask if we were leaving soon. That felt ironic after we'd had to wait the day before. When I first arrived, I asked to use a restroom and was told there wasn't one for public use. After I explained I needed to change my pants, they pointed me to one I could use. The shared areas were okay, but the rooms felt old, dingy, and not very clean. They badly need updating. The location and staff were fine, but the room was a letdown, so I wouldn't stay again.

Sandra was the main staff member throughout our stay, and she was fantastic. So polite and accommodating, and she made everyone feel welcome. The room was very clean, the beds were comfortable, and the whole facility was wonderful. We'll definitely be back!

We were there Thursday through Sunday, and the same problems kept coming up. For the price, the place feels like nobody is paying attention. There was only one person at the front desk on a busy Friday night. That person was wonderful, given the circumstances, but the hotel seemed badly understaffed. The room situation was rough from the start. We arrived late Thursday, paid $22 to park in a cramped, poorly maintained garage with even worse elevators, then got to the lobby. The person on duty said they had validated our parking ticket, but hadn't, as we found out the next day. We also had to return to the desk because our keys stopped working. Our first room was stuffy, filthy, and poorly maintained. There was some unknown stuff splattered on the lampshade, stains on the bed, a broken mirror, a stained shower curtain, dinged-up walls, and rust on the bathroom metal. The carpet was grimy, and the fridge was half out of its cabinet, showing years of buildup. It felt like a time capsule from 2005. I texted the front desk and eventually we were moved and given breakfast vouchers. Breakfast cost $20 per person, and calling it a “buffet” is generous. The second room was only marginally cleaner. Its mirror was still broken, the sconces were still rusty, and the curtains were still stained. At least the lampshade was clean and the bedding looked better. The second-floor bar said it was open until 10 p.m. We arrived at 8:45 and found it empty. We waited ten minutes, but nobody came. Someone ran up as we were leaving, too late. Maybe they were needed elsewhere, but that still points to the staffing problem. A few other things: the hallway carpet is lifting in places, so watch your step. We weren't offered a welcome cookie. Internet costs extra if you need a good connection. The queen bed felt somewhere between a full and a twin. For late checkout, we were told to wait until 8 a.m., find someone from housekeeping, and ask them about fees. And the property seems to have very little self-awareness, or maybe it just doesn't care. There's an apathetic feeling to the whole stay. I've been at some rough hotels, but this one stands out for what it charges.