Mall of America Hotel: Unbeatable Deals at Fairfield Inn & Suites!
Mall of America Hotel: Fairfield Inn & Suites - Unbeatable Deals…Or Are They? A Deep Dive (and a Few Gripes)
Okay, so you're planning a trip to the Mall of America. Good choice. That place is a beast. And staying right there, inside the belly of the retail behemoth? Tempting, right? The Fairfield Inn & Suites promises "unbeatable deals." Let's unpack that, shall we? I'm going to get real here. This isn't a polished travel brochure; it's what actually happens when you're sleep-deprived, lugging shopping bags, and praying for a decent cup of coffee.
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First Impressions & The Accessibility Reality (Let's Get Real – This Isn't Always a Smooth Ride)
The promise of being *right there* is HUGE. Roll out of bed, BAM, you're at the LEGO store. But "unbeatable deals" often come with… compromises.
Accessibility: They say they're accessible. And technically, yes, the ramps are there, the elevators work (usually), and there's often a room specifically designed for accessibility. BUT. The "accessibility" often feels like an afterthought. Wide doors are great, but are the automatic doors always working flawlessly? No. Trust me. Sometimes you're banging your head against a stubborn door, and sometimes you're just really tired and hungry and the door is NOT your friend. Then there’s the hallways, those long corridors can feel so long. And if you're relying on a wheelchair, distance is a real factor, especially when you're dragging shopping bags!
Wheelchair accessible: Yep, they got it. I always check. Seems they provide this, and that's one up for them.
The Food Fiasco (Oh, That Breakfast…)
Dining, drinking, and snacking: This is where things get… interesting.
- Breakfast [Buffet]: The cornerstone of the "free breakfast" experience. Let me tell ya, this is where the "unbeatable deals" starts to feel a little…beat-up. It exists. It's there. But it's a buffet, inevitably, meaning, well…let's just say I've seen fresher eggs. And those little pre-packaged pastries? Dry as the Sahara. (I once tried one that felt like plywood. No joke.) Now, I'm not going to lie, I load up. I'm hungry. I'm trying to survive a shopping trip. It's a strategic act of self-preservation. I make coffee in my room.
- Asian breakfast: I have never had an Asian breakfast here.
- Western breakfast: Same thing, I have never seen this option.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant & Coffee shop: The coffee situation is… acceptable. I'm a coffee snob, so that's saying something. The in-room coffee maker is decent, too.
Cleanliness and Safety - The Modern Worry
Cleanliness and safety: Let's be honest, we're all a little germaphobic these days, right?
Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: They say they’re doing it all. And, I'd say they're doing a decent job.
My room looked clean. And they did give those little individually wrapped muffins. But I have to admit for whatever reason…I brought my own wipes. I don’t know why. Probably a trauma response to a particularly nasty public restroom incident from my college days.
(Important Aside: Room Sanitization Opt-Out Available? Seriously? Who does that? Why would you choose to NOT have your room sanitized? Maybe they’re trying to save water or something? I just… don’t get it.)
The Room Itself - A Mixed Bag
Available in all rooms:
- Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
Look, the rooms are… fine. They're clean enough. Functional, definitely. Comfortable? Well, the beds are usually okay, and the blackout curtains are a godsend when you're trying to recover from a shopping spree that lasted until 3 a.m.. The Wi-Fi? It works, which is a MAJOR point in their favor.
My particular annoyance? The outlets. There are never enough. I'm always having to play a charging-cable Tetris game with my phone, my laptop, the kids' tablets… It's a modern tragedy.
I always check for a window that opens.
Internet Access - Always Appreciated
Internet access: Wi-Fi? Yes. It's free. It works. Hooray!
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! This is a massive plus. Crucial for late-night online shopping, research… or just binge-watching your favorite shows after collapsing on the bed.
Things to do, ways to relax - More Than Just Shopping (Maybe)
Things to do: Let's be honest, the "things to do" at this hotel are mostly about the MOA itself. That's the point!
Ways to relax: Okay, so the "pool with a view" doesn't exist. This is all about getting back to the mall!
Fitness center: A gym. Didn't go. Looked like your standard hotel gym.
The Staff Experience - Generally Pleasant, Sometimes Strained
The staff? Generally, nice. They’re probably exhausted, dealing with endless requests, but they're usually polite and helpful. I once had a small issue with my room, and they dealt with it quickly. The service is decent!
Services and Conveniences - The Little Things That Matter
Services and conveniences:
- Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center.
The convenience store is a lifesaver for forgotten essentials.
"Contactless" check-in/out is a blessing when you're dragging your kids through the lobby.
For the Kids - The Smallest People in the Hotel
For the kids: I don't have kids, but, yes, I have seen kids here. It’s ok. It's family friendly!
Final Verdict - The "Unbeatable Deal" Assessment
So, is the Fairfield Inn & Suites at the Mall of America an "unbeatable deal"? It depends.
Pros:
- Location, location, location! Being right there is huge.
- Free Wi-Fi. And it works.
- Generally clean.
- Decent staff.
Cons:
- "Unbeatable deals" can mean cutting corners on breakfast, etc.
- Accessibility is… good, but not always perfect.
- The rooms are functional, not luxurious.
My Verdict: If you're prioritizing proximity to the Mall of America above all else, and you're willing to make a few compromises, then yes, the Fairfield Inn & Suites is a solid choice. Just lower your expectations a bit. And bring your own pastries.
Luxury Getaway: Birmingham's Best-Kept Secret (Marriott Courtyard Trussville)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's meticulously color-coded itinerary. We're going to Bloomington, Minnesota, and we're gonna experience things…or at least attempt to. I just booked myself in the Fairfield Inn & Suites near the Mall of America. (Yeah, I know, how original, right? But hey, it's convenient. And I'm tired.)
Day 1: Arrival and Existential Dread (Bloomington, MN)
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at MSP. Oh, the joy! The airport hustle, the slightly stale air, the symphony of rolling luggage wheels. I swear, airports are designed to be mildly stressful. Found my ride - a slightly beat-up, but functional, Uber. Thank heavens for modern technology.
- 2:00 PM: Check into the Fairfield. It's… fine. Clean, standard issue. The kind of place that smells faintly of chlorine and ambition (seriously, is that a thing?). The room's a little too beige, a little too devoid of personality, but I'm not looking for soul-searching here. I'm looking for a place to dump my stuff and strategize my assault on retail therapy.
- 2:30 PM: The unpacking ritual. You know the one. The strategic placement of toiletries, the mental assessment of closet space, the eternal debate: "Should I unpack everything?". I decided no. I'm going for peak minimalist chaos. Clothes tossed haphazardly, phone charger precariously perched on the nightstand, and the vague feeling that I've forgotten something crucial. Probably socks. Definitely socks.
- 3:00 PM: Attempt to conquer the Mall of America. This is where the fun (and potentially, the complete sensory overload) begins. First impressions? Gigantic. Utterly, monstrously, vast. Seriously, the sheer scale of this place is intimidating. I wander around in a daze, taking in the sights: the screaming kids, the over-enthusiastic sales people, the sheer volume of merchandise. My initial thought? "This place is a black hole for wallets." The second? "I need coffee. Desperately."
- 3:45 PM: Coffee acquired! (Phew.) Found a Starbucks. The line was long, the barista looked like she'd seen it all (probably had), but the caffeine hit was glorious. I'm now fortified. Ready to face… the Lego store.
- 4:30 PM: The Lego Store. Oh. My. God. This place is… an assault on the senses. It's like stepping into a childhood fever dream, but with the price tag of adulting. I spent far too much time ogling the Millennium Falcon (dreaming, always dreaming), and then quickly retreated to avoid bankrupting myself. But the sheer creativity on display is amazing. I actually saw a miniature replica of the Mall itself, made entirely of Legos. The level of detail! It was truly inspiring… and a little bit depressing, because I know I can’t even build a decent Duplo tower.
- 5:30 PM: Dinner at a generic food court. Sigh. The food court is the heart of the mall. It has everything, but nothing feels authentic. It’s cheap, it's fast, and it's the perfect embodiment of my current emotional state: slightly hollow, and craving something real. A mediocre burger and fries later, and I'm ready for… more mall.
- 6:30 PM: Shopping. Impulse buys were made. A scarf I don't need. A t-shirt I might wear once. The siren call of consumerism is strong. I'm starting to feel that familiar mix of excitement and guilt that only retail therapy can provide.
- 8:00 PM: Complete sensory overload achieved. Time to retreat to the sanctuary of my bland hotel room. I'm not sure if I even like shopping. I’m not sure of anything any more. I'm mentally exhausted. My feet hurt. I collapsed onto the bed, fully clothed, and watched some mind-numbing TV.
- 9:00 PM: Realise I'm probably missing my socks. Wonder where all the socks go. Maybe they have their own secret sock dimension and I’m actually living inside one.
- 9:30 PM: Attempt online shopping but chicken out. Because, again: black hole for wallet.
- 10:00 PM: Sleep. Hopefully.
Day 2: Rollercoasters to Retail Redemption (Bloomington, MN)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. Briefly consider staying in bed. Reject that notion. I have a schedule to (sort of) adhere to.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Standard continental. It is what it is. Ate a sad-looking, artificially-flavored, orange-colored juice…
- 10:00 AM: The moment of truth: Nickelodeon Universe. Yes. I'm going to an amusement park… inside the mall. My inner child simultaneously squealed with joy and screamed in terror.
- 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Rollercoasters, rides, and general chaos in Nickelodeon Universe. The thrill. The screaming. The questionable safety protocols (just kidding… mostly). Rode the coasters, got mildly nauseous. Watched children lose their absolute minds with glee. The sheer volume of noise in there is incredible. My ears are still ringing a little. I’m pretty sure someone threw up near a ride, but I pretended not to notice. It was glorious.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch: More food court. This time, a sad excuse for a pizza. Starting to regret the lack of planning. I need to eat real food.
- 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Mall Round 2 – the aftermath of roller coasters. The real purpose of the mall, of course: shopping! This time, I have a mission.
- 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM: I went into a store. I did research. Not the fun kind, the kind you have to do when you want something. I needed a specific thing because, if I get that thing I will be happier. I will. I’ll be more complete.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Another shopping spree. This time, with more focus. This time, I bought a pair of running shoes, and I was SO happy.
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: More mall.
- 4:00 PM: Coffee.
- 5:00 PM: Dinner.
- 6:00 PM: Hotel.
- 7:00 PM: Attempt to re-pack. Fail. Resign myself to a suitcase full of chaos. Decide the socks have probably escaped to a parallel dimension.
- 8:00 PM: Watch bad TV.
- 9:00 PM: Sleep.
Day 3: Departure and lingering mall thoughts (Bloomington, MN)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. Feel oddly refreshed. Maybe it was the rollercoasters. Maybe it was sheer exhaustion.
- 9:00 AM: One last sad bite of hotel breakfast.
- 9:30 AM: Check out.
- 12:00 PM: Depart MSP. Headed home. I get on the plane… and I think: I need to go back to the mall. I’ll miss the noise, the sensory overload, the people. The general mayhem. I'll think about this trip for the next week. Or, maybe, I’ll forget everything in a week.
- 5:00 PM: Arrive Home.
Post-Trip Ramblings:
So, was it a good trip? Honestly? I'm not sure. It was… an experience. The Mall of America is a beast. But hey, I survived. I had roller coaster thrills, ate pizza, and made some questionable shopping choices. I’ll carry a faint ache in my feet for days, but I have a running shoe. I'm better than I was two days ago. And isn't that the real point of travel? Or something? Whatever. I’m going to crawl back into my real life now and recover. And start planning my next insane adventure…eventually. Now, where did I put those socks?
Lake Charles Casino Getaway: Wyndham Wingate's Unbeatable Luxury!
Okay, but seriously, is Fairfield Inn & Suites at Mall of America ACTUALLY a good deal? I'm a broke traveler.
Alright, let's get real. "Good deal" is relative, right? For me, it *felt* like a steal, especially after I saw the prices of some of those luxury behemoths practically *inside* the mall. Listen, my philosophy is, if I'm gonna spend the majority of my time eating a pretzel the size of my head and riding a rollercoaster, I'm not dropping a mortgage payment on a room. The Fairfield? It's... manageable. The free breakfast alone saved my bacon (and my budget) a few times. Think of it this way: you're paying for location, location, location. Being that close to MoA is pure gold, especially when you've got two kids who are *convinced* they're going to die if they have to walk an extra block.
The website says "free breakfast." Is it just sad, stale bagels, or is there something worth getting excited about?
Okay, confession time: I'm a breakfast enthusiast. I *dream* of perfect scrambled eggs. The Fairfield breakfast isn't going to win any culinary awards. But, and this is a big but, it's perfectly *adequate*. They had the usual suspects: waffles (which my kids deemed "the BEST waffles EVER," which I took with a grain of salt...or a whole shaker), scrambled eggs (okay-ish), sausage (better than the other hotel's), yogurt, fruit, cereal. The coffee? Well, let's just say it performed its primary function: keeping me from completely losing it before noon. Honestly, after a day of mall madness, anything warm and free is a victory. Plus, there's this woman... I *think* she was the attendant, she was just SO cheerful! Always refilling things, smiling, even when my kids spilled juice everywhere. She deserves a medal.
How close is "close" to Mall of America, really? Can I just stumble out of the hotel and *be* there?
Yes! That's the best part! You could literally *stumble* out of the hotel and *almost* be there. We took the skyway, which is the cleanest, easiest way to go. It's like a five-minute walk, tops. Seriously. Pack light, though; our suitcases were a nightmare. I swear, I saw a squirrel carrying a bag of chips bigger than itself once when coming over to the hotel. Being that close, especially with kids, is a lifesaver. No more whiny "Are we there yets?" No more battling traffic after a long day. Just the sweet, sweet promise of easy access to a pizza place and a well-earned beer.
What about parking? Is it a nightmare? Are you going to get ripped off, or is it something like, "free parking"?
Okay, parking at the Mall of America is always a slight anxiety-inducing event. I mean, it’s a *mall*. It’s a monster of cars and people! Fairfield Inn's parking situation is...decent. It wasn't free, but it wasn't highway robbery either. I think it was like, $20 a day? It was a lot less than the hotel *inside* the mall, that's for sure! And it was attached, so no walking through a blizzard like I’ve done before! I did find that the parking lot was crowded (duh). My advice? Arrive early. And maybe pack a little patience. I remember one time, waiting to leave, and I was seriously contemplating just turning into a pretzel myself! But seriously, it's the price you pay for prime location.
Did they have a pool? And if so, was it crowded with screaming children? Because let's be honest, this is a hotel by a *mall*...
Yes, they had a pool. And yes, it was... lively. Let's just say it wasn't a zen retreat. It was a pool filled with screaming children (including, to be fair, one or two of my own). But, hey, that's part of the adventure, right? They had a small pool area, which was great for cooling off after all the shopping and roller coaster rides. They had pool toys, which were a godsend. Even *I* took a dip after the first day, which was a mistake. My skin started to itch afterward. But, hey, for kids, it’s paradise. Basically, lowered expectations and packing some earplugs are your friends.
What about the rooms, were they clean? Were the beds comfy, or did you spend the whole night staring at the ceiling?
Okay, so the rooms weren’t exactly a 5-star hotel. But they were CLEAN, thank goodness! That is the most important thing to be. I am so paranoid for bed bugs. The beds were... comfortable enough. Not the best sleep of my life, but better than some of the rock-hard mattresses I've encountered. I managed to get some shut-eye, which is a win. The bathroom was clean, the towels were fluffy, and the air conditioning worked (thank heavens, Minnesota can get hot!). The room was decently sized, considering it was a "budget-friendly" hotel. I will say, the decor was a little...meh. Think beige, beige, and more beige. But who cares? You're there to shop (or hide from the shopping, depending on your perspective). Honestly, after a day of running around the mall, all I needed was a clean place to crash. And the Fairfield delivered on that.
Would you stay there again? Be honest!
Honestly? Yes. In a heartbeat. I’m not going to lie – it’s not the Four Seasons. But for the convenience, the price, and the overall experience, it's a solid choice. Especially if you're traveling with kids. Or if you're like me, and you just want to be *close* to everything at Mall of America. It made life so much easier. I mean, I'd spent a fortune at the mall. And the convenience of stumbling back to my room after a long day of shopping – it saved my sanity (probably). Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just don't expect perfection. Expect a clean, convenient, and relatively affordable base camp for your Mall of America adventure. And maybe pack your own pillow, just in case. And maybe earplugs. And definitely a sense of humor. You'll need it.
Okay, so you said your kids loved the waffles...What did you do *all* day long?
Oh, man, the things we did! Okay, so first morning, we all split up...and I spent an hour just *lost* in the Lego store. I am NOT kidding. I’m a grown adult, and I was mesmerized. My kids went to Nickelodeon Universe. ThenBook For Rest
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