OverviewLocated about a 9-minute drive from
Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), just off Interstate 35W, the Holiday Inn Bloomington - Airport Mall of America is geared towards air and car travellers who prefer a hotel with on-site dining, a free airport shuttle and easy highway access.
This non-smoking hotel has 171 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, each offering free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffeemaker, a desk, a hair dryer and an iron and ironing board. Rooms with a jetted tub, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a dining table, a separate bedroom and/or a living room with a sofabed are also available, as are wheelchair-accessible rooms.
Hotel amenities include an indoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness centre, meeting/banquet facilities, a business centre, guest laundry, vending machines and free parking. Green Mill Restaurant and Lounge is located on the premises and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. A free round-trip, 24-hour airport shuttle is offered, as is a daily shuttle to the Mall of America (please contact the hotel for details). This hotel is not pet friendly.
The Mall of America and Water Park of America are both about an 8-minute drive northeastward, while Bloomington Ice Garden can be found a 5-minute trip away by car. The Minnesota Zoo is roughly an 18-minute drive southeast and Minneapolis' city centre is an 18-minute drive north of the hotel. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets not permitted, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: July 31, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with praise going to the hotel's staff, location and rooms.
Numerous guests were pleased with the level of customer service they received during their stay, and characterized the staff as accommodating, welcoming, helpful with recommendations and friendly.
The hotel's location was praised by many reviewers, who found it to be close to highway access, the airport, the Mall of America, restaurants and shopping. One guest remarked, "We like the hotel for its central location to most anything in the downtown, airport, mall, or south Minneapolis areas". A few guests did mention there was very little within walking distance of the hotel, however.
Several lodgers complimented their accommodations at the hotel. They described their rooms as well equipped, clean, quiet and modern, with comfortable beds.
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the pool area and the Wi-Fi.
Some reviewers were disappointed with the pool. They described it as being much smaller than the hotel's website photos indicated, and also mentioned the hot tub was in a separate area from the pool, making it difficult for adults to supervise their children when they were in the hot tub. Those in rooms located near the pool also complained of noise transfer and chlorine smells.
A few guests had complaints about the Wi-Fi, which they described as painfully slow and an inconvenience.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #20 of 38 Bloomington hotels with a 3.5 out of 5 average rating from 130 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.1 out of 5 with an 89% recommendation rate from 71 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8.1 out of 10 from 13 reviews.
The author called the hotel on July 31, 2013 to verify some information.