Hi! I'm considering a girls trip for 2 teens and 2 moms to the Mall of America over winter break in February. A while back I used to hear of travel packages that had airfare, motel, with transportatio
Hi! I'm considering a girls trip for 2 teens and 2 moms to the Mall of America over winter break in February. A while back I used to hear of travel packages that had airfare, motel, with transportation to and from the airport. Are there any such things around any more? Any clues to how much time we should plan on spending there? Any motels better than others? Any other help?? Thanx!
The Mall of American is very near to the MSP airport. I'm not familiar with any packages (we used to live in the area) but do know you can get to the Mall by rapid transit from the airport, and there are numerous hotels and motels in the area with pick-ups at the airport and I believe to the Mall. How much time to spend depends on how much time you want to shop and look around. There are many things to do at the Mall besides shopping, and so much to do in the Twin Cities. A great place for a winter break.
Did a one day trip to the Mall a few years ago and one day was definitely enough. You do know that Minneapolis can have temperatures so far below zero in February that they stop measuring? Go to New York, or better yet, head south. There's lots to do in Atlanta.
The Holiday Inn Express near the MOA offers FREE shuttle to/from the MOA and to/from the airport. They have very reasonable rates including an extremely generous continental breakfast with a wide array of items. There is also an indoor pool and whirlpool. Your local travel agency would know of any packages that include airfare. The only packages that I know of are for downtown Minneapolis as they are trying to entice more shoppers. (Most go to the malls for their free parking.)
And yes, although the temperatures can go well below zero, you're hardly outside for more than a few minutes during transfers....unless you decide to 'play' in the snow. As for time spent at the mall, two days should do it depending on how much and how quickly you want to shop and 'look around'. Personaly, I get tired of all the walking and after you've seen it once, you've just about had your fill.
BTW, most airport/MOA hotels offer the free shuttle service.
You might be interested in skiing at Mankato, it is not too far from the Mall. Rent a car and spend a day there. While the others mentioned cold, be prepared for a LOT of snow. MN does an excellent job on keeping the interstates clear, though. Most of the area hotels offer a free shuttle to the Mall, as that is the main reason for many of their visitors. Do try to get one with the indoor pool. Nothing better than watching winter rage on outside while sitting in hot bubbles! Minneapolis has some great museums you might want to check out. Try www.bloomington.org for area hotels, other things to see, etc. Have fun!
I live within 5 miles of MOA....unless you're from Iowa or North Dakota it sure doesn't seem like it's worth the trip especially that time of winter when everyone else is doing everything they can to get out of town. MOA is just a big mall!!! Mostly stores you can find in any city. Checkout their website http://www.mallofamerica.com/ There is an amusement park, The Park at MOA (formerly known as Camp Snoopy). Unless your girls are very young, they won't find this too much fun. Best thing about shopping in Minnesota is NO SALES TAX on clothing. If you still think that you'd like to visit, try the Embassy Suites-Airport. They offer a great full breakfast "free" every day and free Manager's Reception ( all alcoholic drinks). You can sit in a nice courtyard and enjoy a few drinks while your girls swim at the pool just steps away. Also, if you'd like a bit larger room select an Executive Corner Suite. They also offer free shuttle service. We like to spend a winter Saturday night here with the kids. I have not heard of airfare packages to MOA, but check out www.nwa.com (Northwest Airlines)as they are headquartered here and might offer something. Have fun!
I work at the MOA [Mall of America] and find some of the previous responses a bit misleading. Yes, it does get cold in Minnesota during the winter - and it does snow - BUT that what makes Minnesota appealing in the winter! Last January we had the warmest average temps since 1886 and not much snow! And there are many fine skiing area within 15-40 minutes drive from the Mall -- Mankato is over an hour away.
The MOA offers a lot of shopping opportunities, but many are the same stores you would find in any major mall. BUT they do have manmy specialty store [like an Apple Store] which aren't found everywhere. They also have a large amusement park in the center of the MOA which is most enjoyable for kid and a little known underwater adventure aquarium which is outstaning.
There are now new transit trains that run from the airport [5 minutes away] to downlown Minneapolis which open up that city to your exploration also without the need for a car.
There is also a new motel very near the MOA which offers a hugh indoor waterpark and many others with good package deals. Don't miss a chance to visit the MOA - but remember that there are many wonderful things to do and see in St. Paul and Minneapolis - so plan on a 2-3 day stay for a great time for both kids and adults.
Besides the Mall of America, there is an Ikea store across the street. You also might want to check out The Lodge --it has a big waterpark inside of it and is within walking distance to MOA
I've been to MOA many times since it opened. I've never flown there but drove the 4-5 hrs from Milwaukee, which you wouldn't do in winter. Most of the hotels/motels have shuttles if you stay in Bloomington, but I would check before booking. As far as how much time to spend it depends...The first year my girls were young 2nd & 4th grade, we spent about a week there. When they were teens and early twenties we spent three or four nights there. You know how long it takes your teens to shop and try on clothes. So plan accordingly. Also if on vacation you'll want to spend time relaxing or doing other things.
If you have regular access to a "modern" indoor mall, you won't need more that a day and a half at the Mall of America. If you are from an area where shopping opportunities are scarce, and if you have real shopping to do - two days max. I visited for a long afternoon, and it was fine. Stayed at a nice Radisson nearby (I was at a conference). Check hotels.com or tripadvisor for hotel ideas, or check the MOA site.
Good idea for a long weekend with the girls - and the Twin Cities have many attractions for you as well.
I didn't note where you live, but I know that close to the holidays, Northwest Airlines used to have them from here, as a friend of mine would do one every now and again.
I suggest checking Northwest's site for vacation packages, assuming they fly into your area of the country, as Minneapolis is one of their hubs.
Yes, the MOA has most of the shops you've seen in other malls but they are all under one roof and in winter you really can't beat that. It does get cold in MN during the winter but if you are inside most of the time who cares? Why drive all the way to Mankato to ski? There is Buck Hill in Burnsville. Not talking the Rockies here but they make snow all winter and it isn't dreadfully far away. For veteran shoppers I think a few days at MOA would be a fun ladies get-away. There are lots of hotels within a mile or two of the mall and there is shuttle service from most of them. Welcome to the Northland and come to Minnesota!!!!!
The mall has much more to offer other than the stores - try a wedding chapel, Underwater world, a flight simulation place and a NASCAR speedway.... and yes there are stores there that you can't find anywhere else.....have you tried H & M???? If you were looking for skiing - and I didn't see that mentioned in your post - nothing beats Afton Alps for variety and hills [for southern MN] and it would be about 40 min from the MOA. We have an annual average of 1/2 the snow of Grand Rapids Mich, so don't let that stop you....of course, there is the cold, but then life shouldn't stop for the weather. Enjoy!!!!
If this is your first trip to the mall, I would plan for at least 3 days. There are many more things than just shopping that you will want to allow time to do. There is the amusement park, which even if your teens are too old for, you will want to take some time to walk through. And you never know, not all of the rides are for little kids. There's also the aquariam which you should do.
Someone earlier recommended the Embasy Suites airport. I haven't stayed there, but I have stayed at the Embassy Blommington several times and quite enjoyed it. They are next a Target (I'm from Canada - no Targets, so this is a big deal) and have a shuttle to the aiport and mall. I did find the last time I stayed there that it was getting a bit run-down, but the full breakfast and reception (drinks+snacks) in the evening were great.
Another place you might want to try is the Marriot - either the Residence or Courtyard. The Residence includes a continental breakfast (with a few hot things like eggs and sausages) and a mini dinner, which depending on how much your teens eat, might be enough to fill them up. I found there shuttle to the mall to be always on time.
If you are looking for a hotel with a shuttle to the mall, check with the hotel that they operate their own shuttle. And check the times, some don't run over lunch and evening rush hour. I stayed at a hotel that had a shuttle that was operated by another company and it was extremely disorganized and the hotel took no responsibility. We waited at the mall one time for more than an hour for it to come. The worst part was that this was when the mall was renovating the usual shuttle spot, so you had to stand outside as you couldn't see the shuttles from inside the mall like you can at the regular shuttle spot.
As someone else mentioned there is an IKEA across the street and with the subway system now connected to the mall you can get downtown without driving.
Also, I know that other people have said it has mostly the same stores that you will have a home. It doesn't if you are from Canada. And even if the store are the same as they have elsewhere they might carry a larger selection at the mall. My favourite store there, has their second largest location at the mall. So while there is one of their stores that is closer, the selection makes it worth going to the mall.
Be prepared for crowds, and you'll have a great time!
Hell. I went for 2 1/2 days in 2005 and that wasn't enough. I had 5 in my group. We spent one day shopping the whole day, one shopping and doing the rides and the 1/2 day just shopping. I would go longer--it does depend on what you are doing while there. We were trying to buy clothes and tried on alot of them. We stayed at the Holiday Inn right by it. It was a nice hotel and I would go back again. My next goal is the West Edmonton Mall in Canada though and as it is bigger I am thinking about a week--a different thread though. I sure wish there were hotels hooked to the mall like up there with the theme rooms. I found that there wasn't much choice of rooms outside of the standard rooms in MN. Have fun.
Does someone know the name of the hotel near the Mall that has an indoor waterpark? I noticed one of the posts mentioned it, and that is something I would like to do. My husband wants to visit, but I cannot see flying to visit a mall. Make the visit acouple of days, the museum there is sooo cool.
I took my grandchildren (ages 8,12,14) to MOA last summer for a 4 day visit and we had a ball. Most hotels in the area have a free shuttle to and from the mall throughout the day. We stayed at Embassy suites.Go online and check hotels with shuttle service near the MOA.In addition to shopping, we visited the aquarium (an excellent facility) where we took the private tour and fed the stingrays, drove the mock NASCAR's, flew the virtual reality airforce jets, rode every ride in Camp Snoopy and enjoyed movie and eating at neat restaurants. The younger one enjoyed LEGO land too. The weather outside shouldn't matter that much. We flew in from Atlanta and the hotel shuttle picked us up and we didn't need to rent a car. If you are going just for shopping, one full day would do but we spent 2 1/2 days inside the mall and enjoyed it all!
February is a great time to shop MOA, winter clearance will still be going on. Yes, Minnesota is cold and snowy in the winter but when you are indoors who cares? The name of the hotel with the huge waterpark is The Grand Lodge. When you stay at the hotel you get free access to the water park, which is a good deal in itself. Your girls can burn off energy and you and your friend can burn off calories you consumed at one of the Malls great restaurants. If you like Italian food Tucci Benuch (sp?) it is great and affordable. Their Minestrone soup and baked sspaghetti are to die for. The mall also has a theater with many movies to choose from. Come see us and have a great trip.
