Water Street Inn

The location is great, but the room's basic cleanliness and upkeep were disappointing. There was dust in the corners and a film on the bathroom counter. Hard-water marks covered the shower door and shower head, and the buildup stopped the head from spraying properly. The remote didn't work, and the hair dryer plug wouldn't stay in the wall. Our hallway also smelled of cigarette smoke, which concerned me. There's plenty that could easily be fixed.

We held a meeting for our team and customers at The Water Street Inn in Stillwater, and the location right on the river was ideal. The meeting space had river views, and it was close enough to MSP for people traveling from farther away. The team was attentive and made sure the event ran smoothly for our guests. The rooms and meeting area were a bit more dated than they looked in the photos.

The location on the river is stellar, and the hotel has charming nooks and crannies. All the staff were great, and we went to Charlies for drinks Saturday night and had breakfast Sunday morning. But the rooms need updating, with stained carpet and odd layouts that don't feel worth $300 a night. The common areas were chilly, probably because of the hotel's age, so layer up if you're there in winter. The bar seemed to have overserved a guest on Friday, and I was charged a $1.50 surcharge for decaf coffee. Food was average, so I can't imagine the special-event food being any better. First visit, and I wouldn't repeat it. Too bad, given that location.

The room was in disrepair when we stayed in April, though the visit itself was generally fine. A month later, the hotel charged us again for the stay and breakfast. They reversed the charges after we called, and said their accounting and auditing process had caused the double billing. That makes NO sense. I don't want to have to keep an eye out for extra charges long after a stay.