Mall of America Radisson Blu Welcomes Families

November 3, 2016 Margalit Sturm Francus

Any family looking for unique locations around the United States should stop by the Mall of America in Minneapolis. For those looking for a place to stay while touring this famous Mall, the Radisson Blu Hotel is a great option featuring innovative design. Travelers will find this hotel, boasting 500 rooms, on 2100 Killebrew Drive in Bloomington, Minnesota.

What Makes it Family Worthy?

The hotel was not only a short drive away from the nearby airport, but close to the light rail station. Families will enjoy its proximity to the world-famous Mall of America with all its attractions including the Nickelodeon theme park.

Fellow Travelers

Families and business people make up the largest percentage of those staying here, but there are also plenty of couples that select this hotel as their accommodation of choice.

Decor

This particular Radisson Blu had a sleek, modern appearance that we found attractive. We noted various shades of blues, reds, and blacks commonly used as accent colors throughout the hotel. These hues provided a refreshing contrast to the more traditional neutral colors that one would expect to find in a top hotel.

Something our family, particularly our son with autism, loved and wanted to take home were the hanging cocoon-like seats in the lobby. These comfortable wicker style seats “suspended” from the ceiling were very inviting and kids often lined up to get to sit in them.

Our Room

We stayed in room 1234, a number we found easy to remember. Our suite had bright orange and red accent pieces as well as framed artwork and a white carpet that was patterned with dark squares. The room’s other furnishings included black metal and lightly colored wood. Meanwhile, our personal bathroom area was decorated primarily in white with silver gleaming fixtures along dark wooden accents.

We noted the two sizable closets located near the entry door, the perfect place to store our various belongings. These spaces contained an ironing board, iron, robes, slippers, and wooden hangers for travelers to use. There were also plenty of pull-out shelving units in the closet, which proved to be quite beneficial in helping us keep everything organized. We likewise saw a full sized mirror included near the entryway that helped us quickly check our outfits before departing the room.

Upon entering the main area of the room, there was a small area that contained a safe, coffee percolator and a mini fridge. It made for a good stopping point to sip hot drinks before departing for the day’s events.

Our incredibly comfortable beds faced a 40-inch flat screen TV. There were also four nightlights provided, one for each side of the double occupancy beds. Meanwhile, the desk and sitting areas contained the usual accouterments such as a chair, and a lamp. The room had several outlets so that travelers would have no trouble charging their electronic devices. A comfortable chair and an accompanying small table rounded out the furnishings of the room.

A feature that we would have loved to have copied for our own home was the luggage rack tucked under the TV that guests could pull out when necessary. This rack was yet another example of the intelligent design the hotel designers had thought of!

Our Bathroom

The bathroom contained relatively standard features that included a commode and combination bath/shower with a rain shower head. The standard bath products were provided along with extras such as mouthwash, lotion, and a vanity kit. We also saw two racks, both filled with fluffy towels.

Dining

Guests seeking fine dining later in the day could head over to Firelake Grill House where they could dine on farm-to-table Midwestern meals created by Chef Jim Kyndberg. We had a delectable dinner and enjoyed watching the cooks prepare the dinner in the open kitchen area.

Executive Lounge

The hotel graciously upgraded us to the Executive Lounge which we found a calming space to relax after a day of touring. The lounge offered a filling breakfast with the typical American fare. This breakfast included eggs, sausages, and pancakes, along with cut up fruit and oatmeal. For the Happy Hour, the lounge offered a choice of local wines and sodas along with a selection of cheeses and dips. Two hot appetizers completed the evening selection.

Amenities

Guests could only access the floor that their room was on, as they had to swipe their room key in the elevator slot. We saw this as an excellent security feature.
Active travelers would be delighted to know that the hotel featured an Olympic sized indoor pool along with a well-stocked gym open all day every day.

Complimentary parking was available at this hotel. However, the property also offered a free airport shuttle service for those who needed it.
Of course, all the rooms at the Radisson Blu featured complimentary Wi-Fi, a much-appreciated amenity.
Families with picky eaters could venture via a connecting corridor to the nearby mall and dine in the plethora of restaurants and food venues available.

Autism Travel Tips:

There is a safety handle in the tub area. This handle makes it easy for those with mobility issues to enter and exit the bath.
No bath mat was provided in the bathrooms, so travelers will need to bring their own along with them.
Kids interested in culinary arts would most likely have a keen interest in watching their dinner being cooked in Firelake Grill House.
We thought that the option to order food from the Firelake Grill House via room service for guests that didn’t want to deal with the noises or crowds was an excellent idea.

Disclosure: We were accommodated by the Radisson Blu Mall of America for the purpose of providing this review. However, our views are and always will be our own and cannot be influenced in any way.