MN - DULUTH RADISSON Stayed 2010 November 12, bid through Better Bidding Priceline for US$50 + Priceline fees and taxes ($65 total). bidding History: this was the 4th bid; started 10 days before at $30; at bid of $45 got a Priceline offer to accept immediately if I would offer $60. This is an indicator that you are close, so I bid $50 the next day and was given the Radisson. My bid was for 2.5*, and the Radisson is >listed< as a 3*. The Hotel good: location close to the old downtown for walking or 1 mile to Cnal Park; also very handy for the 4-lane access road to the top of the hill, where there is a significant mall and many restaurants and services. Is directly connected at one terminus of the indoor walkway system that connects a couple of miles of stores and buildings, all the way to the waterfront and DECC. There is free outdoor parking. Friendly front desk staff; permitted and welcomed an early check-in. Newly refurbished lobby with modern decor. Revolving restaurant at top of hotel redessigned and re-opened in last 6 months as JJ Astor's; did not use but is somewhat upscale; last visit was expensive but good. Pool, sauna, and hot-tub were all working and in good shape. Room was 2 doubles; both were "sleep number" beds. Room recently partially renovated (new paint; upgraded bathroom) and newer carpet (with a stain). Bonus: along with working heat and air-conditioning (we used both) there is a window that opens manually. Good bedding; 27" TV with cable and HBO. Room is serviceable; everything worked; quiet with no neighbour noise. The Hotel bad: generally old, and feels dated; a 'faded dowager' someone once called it. Room has 80's wallpaper; elevators are not smooth or modern. On top of armoire containing TV, there was a flock of dust bunnies and a party lei (from several weeks ago by the dust). There was a cockroach at one end of the pool deck. Pool closing time of midnight is enforced. There is no free continental breakfast, or available breakfast restaurant, although there is a room service if you order by 2 a.m. Ice machine on my floor didn't work, and the next was 2 floors away. No coffee in lobby (this change was made a few months ago). I do not view this as a true 3*, which i think it gets because of the huge ballromm/meeting rooms and pool; not as nice a room as the 2.5* Fairfield. The bid represents an unfortunate flaw in Priceline: that when you bid 2.5*, you are automatically "upgraded" to include the higher star ratings; I was hopiung to avoid this hotel and stay somewhere else. Generally good value for the Priceline bid, but not a modern deluxe 3* stay.
