PJRACER
Service Attendant
Would anybody have any info about Minneapolis/St Paul (MSP) as to: Rental Cars and how close to station. Hotel/Motel close to rail station. Thanks!!
Sadly, neither train that serves St. Paul is scheduled to arrive during normal business hours.There is a Hertz rental car counter in the train station that operates during normal business hours.
MSP is our destination for an almost two week period then leaving from MSP and heading back home. We will need a decently priced hotel/motel close by for the arrival night and night before departure. The rental car we can handle the day after arrival and also drop off the day prior to morning departure. I did see the "Days Inn" listed, and just looking at the pictures on their web site, it does not look all that desireable.The Days Inn is the closest property but from drving by and a visit to the restaurant it does not seem like a place I would want to stay. Either downtown is ~$20 by readily available taxi and rentals can be picked up downtown or at the airport. Where was your final destination?
The neighborhood around the station is a little sketchy but I would not have any second thoughts staying at the Days Inn. As I said previously, Amtrak employees use this place for their over night stays. I specifically asked a coach attendant who has stayed there in the past about the motel and he has no qualms in staying there. They also provide transportation to and from the train station.MSP is our destination for an almost two week period then leaving from MSP and heading back home. We will need a decently priced hotel/motel close by for the arrival night and night before departure. The rental car we can handle the day after arrival and also drop off the day prior to morning departure. I did see the "Days Inn" listed, and just looking at the pictures on their web site, it does not look all that desireable.The Days Inn is the closest property but from drving by and a visit to the restaurant it does not seem like a place I would want to stay. Either downtown is ~$20 by readily available taxi and rentals can be picked up downtown or at the airport. Where was your final destination?
I couldn't honestly recommend the #16 to an out-of-towner unconditionally. It tends to have a memorable ridership, especially late at night, when the westbound Empire Builder would arrive. Don't get me wrong, I ride the #16 often, and I've never felt unsafe, but it is the only Twin Cities bus I've ever been on where a) the bus made a detour to the emergency room for the convenience of a stabbing victim on board, or b) St. Paul police took passengers off in handcuffs. Sure, that's only two trips in a decade of travel, but incidents like that stick in your mind.This may or may not help you, but the number 16 bus stops 0.2 miles south of the station, on University Ave. Catch the 16 on the north side of University and you will be quickly taken to downtown Minneapolis where there are lots of nice hotels, or catch it on the south side of University and you will be quickly taken to downtown St Paul. (I have no knowledge of the hotels in downtown St Paul.) The 16 runs every 10 to 15 minutes.
I can't provide as colorful review as Ispolkom but I can concur the evening trip is an experience everytime. Mornings might be OK, I opt for the taxi then for the additional hour of sleep.I couldn't honestly recommend the #16 to an out-of-towner unconditionally. It tends to have a memorable ridership, especially late at night, when the westbound Empire Builder would arrive.
There are always cabs waiting when the train arrives. I'd use them.
What sense does it make (Hertz Mgmt.) to have an un-manned rental car counter when the bulk of the prospective customers are there at 10 thirty something at night and 7 something in the morning. Probably nobody in the station during their business hours.There is a Days Inn three blocks from the train station. Overnight Amtrak employees stay there. There is a Hertz rental car counter in the train station that operates during normal business hours.
You are correct, sir. I always ride a roomette or bedroom.Why are you glad you had a roomette.....oh, I get it....because of the long delay???
Could be good advice, but I have heard that there are additional taxes on rental cars at airport locations than in town??? Cars can become quite pricey in that case. I think I have come up with a solution...we will have a brother-in-law meet us at the train station and take us to the Days Inn where many AMTRAK employees stay the night...and another brother-in-law in St Paul who happens to work as a courier for Enterprise can get us 50% off on their rental cars, so we will have the rental car company pick us up at the Days Inn....get the car and be on our merry way for the week we plan on being in the area. Then we will do everything kind of in reverse come departure morning from St. Paul to Chicago to Washington to Orlando to St. Petersburg. Kind of complicated to follow....believe me this trip is getting more complicated as we go along. Maybe I am being over caution> Thanks for all your help.I was just in the MSP area a few months ago in September. I arrived on the westbound Empire Builder, around 10:30 PM. Plenty of taxis waiting outside the train station. I took a cab to the airport (about $25) and rented a car there. (Plenty of rental car agencies at the airport and the cost was cheaper than an in-town location).
Would anybody have any info about Minneapolis/St Paul (MSP) as to: Rental Cars and how close to station. Hotel/Motel close to rail station. Thanks!!
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