Saint Paul 2008

If you’re coming to Saint Paul for the 2008 Figure Skating Championships, the Republican National Convention, or any other event held at Rivercentre or the Xcel Energy Center, you probably need somewhere to stay. Here’s our little bit of guidance on your lodging options.

Note that many events, including the Figure Skating Championships and the RNC Convention, most likely have, or will have, negotiated special group rates for members and attendees. You would do well to check with the organizers of any event you might happen to be in town for to see what, if any, specials are available, and where. When all else fails, call around and ask.

The St Paul Hotel

The four-star Saint Paul Hotel is the city’s premiere luxury hotel. It’s played host to U.S. Presidents, Fortune-500 CEOs, world leaders, and a host of other people who appreciate, and are willing to pay for, the finest service possible. It’s conveniently located a half-block from the rear entrance of the convention center, in the heart of downtown, and has about 250 rooms and suites.

Room rates run from around $200 per night for a single, to around $500 per night for an “Ambassador Suite”, but lower rates may be available. The attached St Paul Grill restaurant is one of the best fine-dining experiences in the city.

The Rivercentre Holiday Inn

Located kitty-corner from the Xcel Energy Center, the Rivercentre Holiday Inn is perhaps even more convenient for visitors to the X and RiverCentre than the St Paul Hotel, above. The Holiday Inn is, well, a Holiday Inn; if you’ve stayed at one before, you’ll know what to expect. It’s not a bad place to stay, by any means, it’s just not in the same class as the St Paul. It’s also the smallest hotel in downtown Saint Paul, offering just 195 rooms. Room rates start around $125 per night.

Crowne Plaza Hotel

Formerly a Radisson, and something of a landmark, the Crowne Plaza is on Kellogg, about four blocks from the Rivercentre. It’s one of Saint Paul’s older hotels, but has been recently renovated and is quite charming. It’s also the closest hotel to the Rivercentre complex that is directly connected to Saint Paul’s skyway maze of elevated, enclosed walkways. One of it’s most notable attractions is the Carousel Restaurant, a revolving eatery on the top floor, which overlooks the river valley and offers an amazing view of the Saint Paul area. The Crowne’s almost 500 rooms start around $150 per night.

City Center Hotel

Also formerly a Radisson, the City Center Hotel is located right in the heart of downtown, perhaps ten blocks from the Xcel Energy Center, and connects to the Saint Paul skyway system and City Center, a miniature shopping mall of sorts that offers, among other things, a variety of dining options. Though it’s not terribly close to the Xcel Energy Center, it’s a nice, freshly-renovated hotel, and is right in front of one of the busiest bus stops in the city; Metro Transit buses go from essentially the front door, to a number of places, including MSP airport, the Mall of America, and offer frequent service to the Xcel Energy Center for just fifty cents. If you’re in town and don’t want to rent a car, the City Center Hotel is probably the most useful, in terms of proximity to bus routes. Their 250 rooms start around $150 per night.

Downtown Embassy Suites

The furthest downtown Saint Paul hotel from Rivercentre is the Downtown Embassy Suites. It’s a surprisingly nice place to stay, with much more character than, for example, the Rivercentre Holiday Inn, above. It is located close to most of the major highways, if that’s important, and is in a very quiet, slightly artsy part of downtown. If beautiful surroundings trump convenience for you, the Embassy Suites just edge out the City Center Hotel for second place among Saint Paul hotels, after the St. Paul Hotel. Their roughly 200 rooms start around $150 per night.

There are other hotels in Saint Paul, and elsewhere in the Twin Cities area, of course, but that’s it for downtown St Paul. If proximity to Rivercentre and the X are less important to you than price, we encourage you to make use of your favorite search engine or travel website, and suggest you consider one of the many, many hotels in Bloomington, near the airport and Mall of America, who generally offer excellent service and prices in the face of fierce competition.