Best Western Plus Bloomington Hotel

From the outside, the Best Western Plus Bloomington is a cement-block building housing a standard chain hotel, but the lobby is surprisingly bright and large, with brown leather sofas, brown patterned carpets, chandeliers, and walls of large windows. Vending machines and newspapers attract guests to lounge a bit and wait for their groups. The interior courtyard pool complex is lively throughout the day, attracting families with young children. At night, the RedRossa Italian Grille and Bar transforms into a rather romantic restaurant, yet isn’t too upscale for guests to feel underdressed. The breakfast room, in which the free continental breakfast is served each morning, can get a bit crowded with both families and business travelers.

The Best Western Plus Bloomington is conveniently located directly across the street from the famous Mall of America, and less than three miles from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport; there’s a free shuttle for guests to and from both of these landmarks. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in and around the Mall of America, and the scenic Wrights Lake Park -- a popular tourist spot for families -- is just across Cedar Avenue. Downtown Minneapolis is about a 15-minute drive away. There's free parking at the hotel.

All 211 of the Best Western Plus Bloomington’s rooms and suites are spacious, with standard chain-style decor and a focus on function over fashion. Decor is consistent, if a bit boring to the design-savvy traveler, but Simmons Ultra Plush pillow-top mattresses, 400-count sheets, and down comforters make for a comfortable sleep. Brown and navy are the colors of choice, as seen in the leather chairs and sofas, pattern carpets and duvet covers, and wooden furniture. Bathrooms are similarly standard, with combination shower-tubs and granite vanities. Rooms have 42-inch flat-screen TVs, iPhone/iPod docks, microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers. Many rooms have interior, pool-facing private balconies, which can get noise from the lively pool area, and some suites have fireplaces and large, separate sitting areas.

Compared to many other hotels in the area, the Best Western Plus Bloomington offers good bang for your buck. Free perks like the daily continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, shuttles to and from the airport and Mall of America, and parking make it popular with both business travelers and families. The fitness center and business center are both free for guests to use. The extensive interior pool complex is especially popular with families, with a kids' pool, regular pool, jacuzzi, and deck chairs and tables. The family-friendly RedRossa Italian Grille and Bar serves lunch and dinner daily, as well as room service.