jentrav

My DH and I will be staying at the Loews hotel in downtown Minneapolis for three days in the summer. I'd like to avoid the expensive hotel parking fees, and am wondering if anyone knows of somewhere more reasonable we can park the car for those days. We don't plan to use the car while we're in Minneapolis. We appreciate any advice! Thank you.

tomfuller

Where are you coming from? If you wanted to park at the Red Wing MN Amtrak lot (10 spaces) and take the Empire Builder for 1 hour to Saint Paul it might work out. You would have to take a taxi to your Minneapolis hotel. There is a nice hotel right next to the MSP station.
The fare each way is $12 per person (coach) from RDW-MSP if you buy at least 30 days in advance.

JBass1

You are driving to Minneapolis? You don't want your car downtown and are looking for an off-site ramp or parking lot. I think taking a train from Red Wing + taxi and the inconvenience involved would lead me to parking at the hotel. How much is the hotel?

NewbE

The train idea seems nutty. I have resisted commenting because I can't actually answer the OP's question, but only a train enthusiast would take tomfuller's option.

WhereAreWe

It looks like valet parking at Loews is $35/day.

Here is a link to city ramps and lots. I would call them to verify the rates and that you are allowed to park for 3 days without exiting. I've parked overnight in a few but never for that many days at a time so I can't comment on whether it is allowed or not.

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/parking/ramps/index.htm
The Hennepin and 10th ramp would be the closest one that shows a 24 hour rate. Vineland Place seems the absolute cheapest with a 12 hour rate of $4 but I don't know how the handle overnight/multiple days.

If those don't work out you could park at the airport in long-term parking. The Humphrey has the cheaper rates. You would need to take light rail from there to your hotel (there is a stop very close to your hotel so it is fairly convenient).
http://www.mspairport.com/parking/ms...e-parking.aspx

The AMTRAK idea is not completely awful if parking rates would be exorbitant, but since there are several reasonably priced ramps within downtown Minneapolis, AMTRAK just doesn't add up.

FYI (future reference) for tomfuller: the light rail Green Line has a stop at Union Depot in Saint Paul, and taxis in Minneapolis/St. Paul are a bit pricey. OP would want to take light rail and not a taxi as the taxi fare would negate any savings in parking ramp fares (and then some). That taxi ride would be about $40 one-way.

BigRuss

>

tomfuller is the foremost (if not lone) shill for Amtrak around here.

ziggypop

I would find a parking garage near the hotel and leave the car there. Loews rates must be for valet. Last winter I paid $20 or $22 per day. For $60 I would not be schleping my luggage from the car to the light rail to the long walk to the hotel and back again.

taitai

The train idea doesn't make sense. $35 seems steep. I would double check that. Also, are you sure that you don't want a car for three days? How are you planning on getting around? What activities do you have organized?