La Quinta Inn Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport North

I spent five days in this property which is located about 6 miles from the airport. There is nothing special about this particular LaQuinta. The rooms although they were non-smoking reeked of something upon check-in and was mostly offset by running the a/c constantly.

There was the standard free breakfast consisting of a variety of food. The muffins were individually wrapped Otis Spunkmeyer. They probably bought those from Sam's Club or Costco.

All the rooms face to the outside for the most part though mine was in a corridor of sorts even though there was no secured door for guests.

There was supposed to be wireless internet but I could only get it to work in the lobby and breakfast area and not in my room. I did report it but it was never resolved so I used my Verizon card for internet access.

The only redeeming quality of this property if you can call it that was that it was cheap. I paid about $50 a night including taxes so I figured it wasn't worth complaining about the smell or internet. Plus it is conveniently located just a few blocks from a shopping center that has a Target and some casual dining establishments.

My next trip to the Phoenix area will not include this property as a possibility.

Minneapolis Marriott City Center

I was in Minneapolis for a couple of days before the 2008 Republican National Convention and wound up at this great property. The meeting I was attending was at the Radisson across the street but for less money. As a silver elite member they upgraded me to a bigger room and it was very nice. On a corner it had two window lines a couch, easy chair and work table with what I estimate was a 32" flat screen television.

Convenient to dining and shopping this property is a great choice when in Minneapolis though the neighborhood is one that I would avoid walking alone in after dark.

Minneapolis has a light rail that is just a few short blocks away and provides an inexpenisve and convenient way to get to the airport as long as you are traveling during operating hours.

With the rates tripling for the convention I felt that paying $127 a night was a bargain.