MN Duluth Radisson

Stayed July 1 2009 booked thru the betterbidding link for Priceline - $52.00

The good:

The hotel is easy to find - just look for the tall round building in the center of town. It is only 2-3 minutes from the waterfront and all the places you could want to see. Staff was really nice and gave us a king bed (select comfort) when we asked. We also got a 2-4-1 coupon to the bar on the main level to use that night. Parking is easy to use and free. We did not check out the pool even though it has one. The bed was nice - never slept on a select comfort bed before and while I woke up refreshed - glad to say that I don't own one because I would play with it every night.

The bad:

This hotel for better use of words is old. You can tell that it was built before fire sprinklers were the norm as you can see that "housing" that hides the water pipes in the room/hallway. The elevator is old and slams shut making you think is it even safe. There was water damage around the window in our room - the wall paper was pulling off the wall. The windows are old and need to be replaced. The bathroom tile needs to be redone and some basic upkeep needs to be done around the fixtures. They have a revolving resturant on the top floor which has 10 things to choose from and are all way over priced (Salad $12, Fish Sandwich $23 - There was a $5 coupon that we found on the "Harbor News" sheet that tells you when the ships come into port). The food that you could get in the bar is the same as this resturant which again was all over priced. There was no popcorn in the bar which made you wonder why they weren't staying open past 10pm that night - but yet they had 4 TV's with different things on all of them! The bowling alley across the street was a much better place to eat and cost way less!

Overall this place is very close to being a dump - it may have been a nice place in 1975 but it isn't any more. I really hope that if I ever go to Duluth MN and Priceline hotels again that I never get this place. 2 stars at best for all that is wrong with this place.

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.