Hotel Highlight: Radisson Blu Mall of America Review

Hotel Highlight: Radisson Blu Mall of America Review

By Janet Cantrell Mar 26, 2020 in Minnesota

If you’re looking for a convenient stay, look no further than Radisson Blu Mall of America.

The Radisson Blu provides free shuttle service to/from the airport, a skyway connection to the Mall of America allowing guests an easy mid day reprieve along with connection to the Mall of America transit station.

The Radisson Blu provides free shuttle service to/from the airport, a skyway connection to the Mall of America allowing guests an easy mid day reprieve along with connection to the Mall of America transit station. The hotel even offers a selection of pet friendly rooms for those traveling with furry friends.

When We Went

Late January - The snow was flying, but we had a temperature controlled ride from the airport to the hotel and utilized the skyway connection to the Mall of America allowing us to leave our coats in the hotel room for the duration of our stay.

How We Got There

We flew into Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport (MSP) and boarded the free Radisson Blu shuttle from the terminal direct to the hotel. (remember to tip your driver - $1 per bag)

Radisson Blu Mall of America - Shuttle Van, Welcome, and Room

What We Loved

Convenience

The main draw of this hotel is transportation convenience. One of the biggest expenses and frustrations in travel is transportation and the Radisson Blu Mall of America removed that stress entirely. Upon landing at the Minneapolis Airport we placed a simple call to the hotel, exited the terminal to the covered meeting place, boarded the free shuttle, and exited into the hotel lobby. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. Throughout our stay we loved the convenience of the skywalk connecting the hotel to the Mall of America allowing us to drop our bags, rest our feet for a bit, and split up if some wanted to sleep in while others hit the stores.

One of the biggest expenses and frustrations in travel is transportation and the Radisson Blu Mall of America removed that stress entirely.

Many area hotels offer free shuttle service to and from the Mall of America, however having utilized both, the skyway was the clear winner. Shuttle service didn’t allow the flexibility that the skyway did. I wouldn’t hop on a shuttle to go drop bags or take a 30 minute rest midday. But, with the skyway, we often went back to the room for a forgotten item or to leave heavy purchases. I vastly underestimated how much I would appreciate this convenience.

Radisson Blu Mall of America - Lobby

Lobby

Radisson Blu Mall of America has one of the best hotel lobbies, featuring a welcoming fireplace surrounded with hanging chairs luring adults and kids alike to linger a while. Snag a pod and read a book, plan your shopping experience, or surf the web on your phone utilizing the hotel’s free wifi.

Radisson Blu Mall of America - Lobby - A great place to check out the coupon book for Mall of America!

Amenities

Guests will enjoy the many amenities offered by the Radisson Blu. Early risers will appreciate the 24-hour key card access to the fitness room and tired shoppers will relish soaking sore muscles in the temperature controlled indoor saline pool. Full private bathrooms are also provided next to the pool and fitness center for guests to shower off or change. Luggage storage and in-room safes are provided free of charge and dry cleaning is available for an additional cost.

Additionally, Radisson Blu Mall of America has a kids club featuring adventures of Marty the moose and #BluRoute walking/running trails that begin and end at the hotel.

Additionally, Radisson Blu Mall of America has a kids club featuring adventures of Marty the moose and #BluRoute walking/running trails that begin and end at the hotel. Radisson Blu also boasts two ballrooms providing meeting spaces for groups as small as 10 up to 1,400 guests, on-site catering, audiovisual technology, video conferencing, and more.

Radisson Blu Mall of America - Pool and Workout Room Area

Restaurant

FireLake Grill House and Cocktail Bar will tantalize your taste buds with fresh locally sourced ingredients and drink options that will keep you coming back for more. The restaurant also has a private dining room for parties of 6-60 people and offers 24 hour room service for hotel guests.

FireLake Grill also provides a complimentary grab and run breakfast from 5:00-6:30 am.

FireLake Grill also provides a complimentary grab and run breakfast from 5:00-6:30 am perfect for grabbing a granola bar and coffee before heading to the airport to catch the early flight.

Radisson Blu Mall of America - FireLake Grill House

What We Disliked

Noise Level Between Rooms

This would be my biggest complaint at Radisson Blu. I don’t know if the problem is a lack of insulation or just a louder guest population than most hotels, maybe a combination of the two, but noise from the other rooms and hallway came through much louder here than most hotels I’ve visited.

No Bathtub

After a long day on my feet I love a good bath. It would be amazing if they had dual tub/showers however, I realize I’m probably a minority on this one.

Radisson Blu Mall of America - Bathroom

Bathroom Door

The bathroom door was a more modern design with wood and frosted glass. It was beautiful, but not practical if sharing a room with someone that wakes early and wants to get ready with a light but not disturb others sleeping.

Would We Stay Again?

Absolutely. The many benefits of this hotel far outweighed the few negatives we found. We loved the convenience of the hotel shuttle and skywalk to the mall. The food at FireLake Grill House was top notch (my cocktail was on point as well), the staff was friendly, the Caribou Coffee nearby didn’t hurt, and the welcoming and fun lobby and meeting spaces made it a memorable experience all around!