Emerald Transportation

I am looking for reasonable service from airport...Best quote came from Emerald Transportation. I cannot find any Emerald Transportation in Minnesota BBB website. Has anyone used them? How are they?

Thanks

Emerald Transportation

Never heard of them -

where are you going from the Airport?

I used to use SuperShuttle routinely, but not that I%26#39;m on the Light Rail line, I use that all the time.

http://www.supershuttle.com/

Emerald Transportation

Where exactly do you need to get from the airport? What day of the week? What time of day? More information would be helpful. I would stay away from SuperShuttle. They may be okay from the airport, but going to the airport, I have been burned twice. Didn%26#39;t wait to find out what would happen a third time.

If you are going to someplace close to the light rail, that would be the easiest service.

Shuttle service to the Mystic Lake Casino

In the past when we have visited from the UK and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express ( now the Quality Inn %26amp; suites ) they have had a free shuttle service from various hotels to take you to the casino on a Saturday night.

As we last visited in 2003 does anyone know if this is still avaliable as we are booked again for December this year.

If not where can we pick a shuttle up from ?

Many thanks and so looking forward to going shopping again at the Mall !!!

Shuttle service to the Mystic Lake Casino

Shuttles are still available. I live downtown and see the busses all the time.

Here%26#39;s the Mystic Lake website section on hotel shuttles.

You may want to contact the casino, and they could probably arrange a pick up.

http://www.mysticlake.com/shuttle.html

Shuttle service to the Mystic Lake Casino

Many thanks, I will check it out before we go.

blue hair

Timberwolves/MOA ?

Planning on a quick stop over in early March to see a Timberwolves game. Flying in at 3:00 pm going to the game that night. Plan on using the light rail. We have a room downtown but now thinking it would be better to stay by MOA. Reason is that our flight does not leave till 4:00 pm the next day. If we go to the MOA that morning we would have to lug our suitcases around or go back downtown to pick them up. If we stay near the MOA, hotel can hold the luggage. Does it make better sense to stay near the MOA? Is the light rail fairly safe after the game? Thank you.

Timberwolves/MOA ?

If you are planning to spend the next day at MOA, then it would make more sense to stay down by the Mall, which is also much closer to the airport. Light rail back to your hotel should be perfectly fine after the game, as it will be full of others doing the same thing. Try to find a hotel near the Mall that will provide shuttle service back and forth to the light rail station at the Mall. Or, there are a few hotels directly across the street from the Mall; you could walk to the light rail if you were to stay at one of those.

Timberwolves/MOA ?

Yes, if you plan on visitng the mall, it makes more sense. Plus, it%26#39;s closer to the airport.

As was said, make sure you have transportation through the hotel to the Mall and back before you book. Most of them should provide such a service or I can%26#39;t imagine how they%26#39;d compete.

To get to Target Center via light rail, take it to the end of the line, which will land you between Hennepin Avenue and 1st Avenue on 5th Street. when train stops, head in the direction train is facing to 1st Ave. N. Take a left. Target Center is 2 blocks on right.

an option could be if you stay downtown, get up and head to the airport first before MOA -

check all our bags hours early, etc.

then head to the mall to shop.

the only downside, is that any of your purchases, you couldn%26#39;t put in checked luggage

Thanks for the replies!

Just checked the weather for next week looks like it is going to be cold. We had a room at the Marriott downtown but changed it to near the MOA. Now reconsidering are there any hotels attached to the Target Center? Thanks

There are skyways connecting the Target Center with most of dowtown. Directly across the street %26amp; by skyway is the Graves 601 hotel.

The Radisson %26amp; Marriott City Center another block or two away, again available on the skyway.

Doesn%26#39;t look that ';cold'; to me! Heh.

I would concur on Radisson as mentioned previously. I like that location. Skyway, yes, but even a walk is short, not likely to chill the bones too badly.

must see in 1 day

visiting from uk on hockey tour and staying holiday inn rivercentre st paul for 2 nights only and have only 1 day free to see sights. Any suggestions please.

must see in 1 day

What time of year and what are your means of transportation?

must see in 1 day

Thanks for quick reply. Arriving 3rd march and will use public transport.

Thanks fot quick response. There 3rd march and will use public transport.

Public transport is a bit limited in St. Paul. But if you visit

metrotransit.org

you can use the itinerary finder to get around on the buses.

Sticking to St. Paul (and not knowing your interests) I would say a wander down Grand Avenue (perhaps some walleye at the Tavern on Grand) and a wander down Summit Ave (Summit Hill) to see the unbelievable homes there.

You could look into a hockey game at the nearby Xcel Energy Center. Not sure the interest level in hockey for an Englishman, but it%26#39;s a beauty of an arena and a fun time even if you%26#39;re paying more attention to the surroundings than the game. The team is the Minnesota Wild and there is a nice strip of bars kiddie corner from the arena. If you%26#39;re looking for a Minnesota experience, hockey and walleye is pretty close to it.

If you decide to take the I-94 bus to Minneapolis, take a look at the Chain of Lakes, most notably Lake Harriet and Calhoun. Buses will get you to Excelsior/Lake area and you could have a wander around Harriet and see the beautiful scenery there. Scenic lakes in the middle of a large city.

If you weigh in with things you like to do/see, I can suggest more options. I%26#39;m far more knowledgeable about Minneapolis than St. Paul, but I know St. Paul fairly well. I have worked there for 12 years.

If your interested in beer and brewing, there is a Summit Brewery tour you could look into. Nice brewery and fantastic beer. It%26#39;s called Summit, and it%26#39;s the best thing brewed in the US for my money. It%26#39;s a EPA, somewhat like a bitter.

Hope you enjoy your stay

Hi.

Thanks for your tips.

Our tour is doing Mall for the day but I prefer to see a ';little'; of the area.

Only got one day so do you know of any sightseeing bus tours?

My wife and I are keen hockey fans having supported our local team The Cardiff Devils for many years. In your lock out season we had Rob Davidson from San Jose. We are on 12 day group hockey trip ariving 3rd March and seeing 7 games minnesota 1 LA Kings 3 Anaheim 1 and Phoenix 2 so a busy time ahead.

Regards

Ah, I see I mistakenly assumed you were English. My apologies. Interesting to hear of the interest in hockey in Wales.

no sightseeing buses here. Just the transit kind.

I would not worry about missing the mall. Everyone always feels they have to see it, but iin reality it%26#39;s just a larger version of a boring, sterile mall. Blah.

I would post also on the St. Paul board to see if you get any better suggestions. although it would be much easier if you rented a car.

Here%26#39;s some St. Paul attractions -

http://www.stpaulcvb.org/visitors_v2.cfm

Alphabetical list of attractions -

www.stpaulcvb.org/visitors_alphaSearch.cfm鈥?/a>

Here%26#39;s some St. Paul events -

http://www.stpaulcvb.org/events.cfm

Maybe catch the Tues March 4th MN Wild Hockey vs Chicago.

Maybe dinner @ Cossetta%26#39;s - great pizza !!

http://cossettaeventi.com/

There%26#39;s the Science Museum %26amp; MN History Museum nearby.

I checked the Fitzgerald Theatre - nothing scheduled.

It%26#39;s not my thing, but if your are into Opera, the Ordway has:

The Fortunes of King Croesus

www.mnopera.org/season/performances鈥?/a>

Here%26#39;s other restaurants in the area -

St Paul Grill

Sakura Restaurant %26amp; Sushi Bar - www.sakurastpaul.com -

Boca Chica Restaurant - www.bocachicarestaurant.com -

Kincaid%26#39;s Fish Chop %26amp; Steak - www.kincaids.com -

Pazzaluna

WA Frost %26amp; Co - www.wafrost.com

Why is this posted on the Minneapolis forum if the traveller is staying in St. Paul? Right away they assume everything is in Minneapolis!

Well, they are going to the Mall of America :( I guess you could say they aren%26#39;t interested in seeing the ';real'; sights.

My picks:

a tour on the Jonathan Padelford (riverboat)

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory (Como Park)

Downtown St. Paul (Rice Park, Landmark Center, Mickey%26#39;s Diner, Candyland) view of the Mississippi River and the docked riverboats.

Summit Avenue all the way to Mississippi River Blvd

(James J. Hill House, St. Paul Cathedral)

Minnesota History Center

Tour of the Minnesota State Capital

a pizza at Savoy%26#39;s or a Hot Dago at Yarusso%26#39;s, anything at the Little Oven or Cosetta%26#39;s

I would rather wander the skyways of downtown Minneapolis OR St. Paul before going to that glorified mall! Perhaps they%26#39;ve never heard of a skyway?

I%26#39;d vote against the Paddleford on March 3.

hand cream

Mall of America

I will be working in Minneapolis the first week of May 2008,are there any nice hotels in/around the MOA, that anyone would suggest-recommend, Are there any hotels I should avoid?

Mall of America

There%26#39;s nothing attached directly to the mall but there are many just across the street. Several more within a short walk and many also have free shuttles to/from the Mall. Since I live so close, I haven%26#39;t stayed at any of them but I can tell you there are LOTS of choices.

Mall of America

Where will you be working?

If you work in Minneapolis (which likely means downtown) you might be better served staying downtown and taking the train to see the mall. A little spendier downtown but there%26#39;s more to do and nicer hotels, and you%26#39;re not resigned to eating at Applebee%26#39;s or Friday%26#39;s for every meal.

If you do want to stay near the mall, get to TA%26#39;s Bloomington, MN page and click on hotels for the list. There are dozens of hotels near the mall, but not all on that list will be. Check their maps. The mall is about at the intersection of I-494 and I-77, in eastern Bloomington.

i have been looking at hotels for a shopping trip and the HIlton at Bloomington/MSP airport looks fine....well i am going to book it!!!!!

I too am looking for a hotel in Mpls near the Mall of America for the dates of 3/20 (check in) - 3/22 (check out). I see a 3 star hotel on Hotwire.com for $45 for these dates in Bloomington Central - Mall of America. Would anyone have a good idea as to which hotel this one would be given the amenities they show (just do a Hotwire search for these dates on Mpls)?

Or does anyone have any other suggestions, etc? Really need an indoor pool and would not like to spend more than $60/night.

thanks!

Dan - dkoch@dwx.com

Superbird5808,

I would suggest either the Airport Hilton or the Airport Embassy Suites are nice and close to the MOA as well as the light rail line.

If you don%26#39;t mind being a few minutes further away the Le Bourget Aero Suites looks really nice and is only about a year old. They do have a Mall Shuttle service.

In the same area as Le Bourget, a brand new Hilton just opened on France Ave with in the past month and I am sure it is also very nice.

A New, cheaper option for Park 'N' Fly (yes its legal)

Apparently a Ramp in downtown Minneapolis is offering Park, Rail %26#39;N%26#39; Fly for as low as $3 a day after the first day. Park up to 16 days. You go to their website, reserve a spot, park and take the light rail, down to the airport. Now you must park a minimum of 3 days and the light rail ticket isn%26#39;t included (heck you can afford it). This would be good for people who live north of the cities and are thinking of something like this when going to the airport. Here is the website:

https:/…Parking.html

And here is their FAQ%26#39;s:

https:/…RampFAQ.pdf

~JS

A New, cheaper option for Park 'N' Fly (yes its legal)

whats the light rail? sorry if this is stupid question and how far is that to the airport?

A New, cheaper option for Park 'N' Fly (yes its legal)

The light rail is, for lack of a better phrase, sort of a modern version of a street car or trolley. There is currently one line in the Twin Cities; it runs from the Warehouse District in Minneapolis to the Airport, and beyond to the Mall of America.

http://metrotransit.com/rail/index.asp

As for the parking described in the original post, I%26#39;ve used it. Very simple: you make a reservation online, providing them with your parking dates and a credit card. When you arrive at the ramp, you insert your credit card into the machine at the entrance. Then find a parking space. When you return, insert your credit card in the machine at the exit, and drive away. It couldn%26#39;t be easier.

You do need a minimum stay of three days, and there is a maximum stay of sixteen days for the reduced rate. If you stay beyond sixteen days, you pay the regular rate for any additional days.

The only ramp available for this is Ramp C in downtown Minneapolis at 4th Street and 2nd Avenue North. To get to the light rail station, you have to walk on 4th Street from 2nd Avenue North to 1st Avenue North, then on 1st Avenue North to 5th Street. It takes about six or seven minutes.

The Warehouse District station is located about thirty minutes from the airport; it stops at both the Lindbergh Terminal and the Humphrey Terminal. I don%26#39;t know the exact distance in miles.

While it is a great deal in most instances, I think it mainly depends on your timing.

For instance, we%26#39;re taking a 6:30 a.m. flight next week - which means we%26#39;d be parking around 3:30 a.m., walking down 1st Ave and taking the 40 minute train ride to the airport. Also, we%26#39;re returning at 11:15 at night, which would place us arriving at the ramp about 1.5 hours later.

I guess my point is that if you don%26#39;t want to add 40 minutes one way OR be in that area at that time, then it%26#39;s not really an option. However, if you leave/arrive during the day or work downtown, it%26#39;s a great deal.

ya i think im just gonna pay the $10 a day at the Park N fly place with free shuttle..i mean we parking there for 7 days so get 6 ppl only $10 each...we drivin 2 hours away too..but thanks for this tip tho!

lilsweetie, since you live south of the cities, it is best for you to do the park and fly lots, because you would be driving past the airport to get to it.

creason, it might work for you (unless you%26#39;re taking an international flight), because light rail starts at 4am and runs until 1 am. They have something about that in their FAQ%26#39;s. Here is a PDF of the light rail schedule on MetroTransit%26#39;s website.

www.metrotransit.org/images/routes/055.pdf

~JS

All good options, I appreciate the information. I will probably use it if my times are good. I%26#39;m a big fan of mass transit, so I try to support it all I can.

night spots for 40 year olds

We will be in town on Tues and Wed night and would appreciate help in finding any good pubs/bars that may be suitable for 40 year olds

night spots for 40 year olds

Where will you be staying?

Downtown, there are many options. Along Nicollet Mall (where many of the hotels are) are The Local (probably the best pub downtown), Brit%26#39;s (similar pub atmosphere as Local).

Closer to the Warehouse district (which is our entertainment district) you can find the Loon and the Imperial Room walking distance to each other. I would try to get into the Imperial Room, which is quite small but an interesting place. Even look up to visiting the upstairs area when open. Many locals are unaware it exists.

One place I would strongly encourage you to get to is Nye%26#39;s Polonaise (you can call it ';Nye%26#39;s';). Probably the most famous of all bars in town -- a bar with two sides, completely different atmospheres. One is a Polish/polka bar with a live polka band Friday and Saturday nights (great fun). Other side is a kitschy, %26#39;50s-style piano bar. You%26#39;ll find the stiffest drinks around on both sides. Coincidentally voted best bar in the US last year by Esquire Magazine. It%26#39;s just across the Mississippi River from downtown. Maybe a $7-8 cab ride from the center of downtown.

Make sure to try the local brew. Summit EPA. It%26#39;s the best we can do to stack up to a good English bitter. On draught at all bars mentioned above.

night spots for 40 year olds

Thanks a lot for the info. We%26#39;re not sure yet where we are staying, but I presume downtown Minneapolis.

-- I second Nye%26#39;s -- you%26#39;ll like it -

however Tues %26amp; Weds are pretty slow nights.

Inside Block E on Hennepin Ave (maybe 9 blocks south of Nyes) is the Shout House -- Dueling Piano bar. That could be a riot.

www.theshouthouse.com/Minneapolis/mnhome.asp

Here%26#39;s Happy Hour info:

Tuesdays -

$3 Captain Morgan and Captain Morgan Tattoo cocktails

$3 Miller Lite Drafts

No Cover All Night

Wednesdays - 80%26#39;s Night

$2 featured shots, including Capri Sun and Pop Rocks Drop Shot

$1 Vodka Red Bulls

$1 80%26#39;s Draft Beer

$4 Cover Starting at 9pm

No cover with 80’s costume!

Otherwise, one the other side of Block E, across the street to the south from the Target Center, is O%26#39;Donovan%26#39;s Irish Bar - always a fun time.

http://www.odonovans.com/

As you are wrapping up, you can get free passes to the Seville Gentlmen%26#39;s Club next door - best club in the state. I think the passes are good til mid-night.

ah, i neglected to notice we were talking about a Wed and Thurs -- Nye%26#39;s would not be featuring the polka band those nights.

If you like jazz music, you could also check out the Dakota and they will frequently have performers even on weeknights.

but I do also recommend Nyes.

thanks for all the info. We ended up staying at the Hyatt Regency and visited Brits, Spikes, The Local, The News Room,, and the King and I. The airport restaurant, I thi nk it was ikes, was also great. It was a nice and clean city, but pretty cold, so we only walked a few blocks and the closest bars. We hope to get back in the summer.

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