Any suggestions on an upscale hotel in the southern part of the Twin Cities (Bloomington area)? Looking for the usual amenities, but my guide books aren't giving me much help.

You could try the Sofitel along 494 (the nicest hotels will be downtown Minneapolis), or even better the St. Paul Hotel in downtown St.Paul, yet only 10-15 minutes from Mall of America/Bloomington.

MPLS-STP is sorely lacking for "upscale" hotels, regardless of whta part of town you're in.
The best this area has to offer is generic business hotels like the Hilton, Radisson, and Marquette downtown...and they're just decent run of the mill places.
Out toward Bloomington there are a couple Embassy Suites, but both are aging and the one closer to Edina is not good at all. The airport location, not far from the MOA is OK.
Sofitel is OK. The Radisson in Bloomington is OK.
On a scale of 1-10 they're about 6.5's, if a Courtyard is a 5 and a Four Seasons is a 10.
Why does this town not have a single top end luxury hotel???? (The St.Paul has plenty of old world charm but rooms are tiny, bathrooms old, and it's just in major need of a refurb. The Whitney has become tired and worn).

I agree with Carol--the Whitney was a hot place 10 years ago. On my last stay there last fall, I checked out early. Try the Marriott in Bloomington. It has just finished a multi-year remodeling. Had a suite there this summer that was wonderful. Great location to the Mall and quick drive from there to the airport. IF you go downtown instead, the Hilton and the Hyatt are the best choices IMHO. I am in the Twin Cities all the time and have stayed almost everywhere. The downtown Radisson has too many rooms with windows looking out to the atrium (i.e. no window to the outside).

I live close to the Bloomington area and I have seen almost ever hotel in that area along with the southern metro area hotels. Some of the hotels you might want to look at would be as follows:

-Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport South at 34th Street.

-Hilton Minneapolis Airport

-Country Inn (Within walking distance to Mall of America)

-Homewood Suites Mall of America (also within walking distance)

Regarding hotels in the southern metro you might want to look at the Holiday Inn Select on Pilot Knob Road in Eagan.

I personally would stay at the Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport South. I have stayed there numerous times and have been very satisfied with everything.

If you have ANY questions please feel free to post them.

We stayed at the Marriott at Mall of America in Bloomington recently and I do not have the same glowing opinion as the previous poster. Our room was very middle of the road and everyone was running around trying to find the vending machines and the front desk people didn't know where they were either. We frequently stay at Hotel Sofitel (in Bloomington) and we like that very much. The staff is very nice and the rooms are very comfortable. We also like the Radisson South Towers (also in Bloomington) or the Radisson Plaza Downtown. If you are going to shop and spend time downtown it is a great location for the skyway system.

Cali-my guess is that you were not on the concierge floor. The rest of the hotel was finished this summer....

Call off the whole conversation---this posting is from 1997!!!!!