Unbelievable Duluth Getaway: Hampton Inn & Suites North/Mall Area!
Unbelievable Duluth Getaway: Hampton Inn & Suites - Did Luxury REALLY Await?! (My Honest, Rambling Review)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the tea on my recent stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Duluth. "Luxury Awaits!" they declared. Did it? Well, let's just say it was more of a "Luxury…Maybe?" situation. Prepare for a review that’s less corporate drone and more… me.
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- Keywords: Duluth Hotels, Hampton Inn & Suites Duluth, Accessible Hotels Duluth, Spa Hotels Duluth, Free Wi-Fi Duluth, Pet Friendly Hotels Duluth, Luxury Duluth Hotel, Outdoor Pool Duluth, Fitness Center Duluth, Restaurant Duluth.
- Description: A brutally honest review of the Hampton Inn & Suites in Duluth, MN. Covering everything from accessibility and cleanliness to the food, amenities, and… well, everything! Get ready for laughter, a few complaints, and some actual helpful info.
- Keywords (Extended): wheelchair accessible, swimming pool, spa, sauna, fitness center, free wifi, breakfast, restaurants, accessibility, Duluth, Minnesota, hotel review, family friendly, non-smoking, pet friendly, airport transfer, on-site parking
First Impressions & Getting There (The Prologue to My Pain… or Pleasure!)
So, Duluth. Pretty city, right? Nestled on the shores of Lake Superior, it's got that rugged, outdoorsy vibe. Getting to the Hampton Inn was easy enough. Finding the hotel wasn't an issue, but the initial curb appeal? Well, let's just say it didn’t scream "LUXURY." More like "Pleasantly Adequate." I mean, the exterior wasn’t bad, but it didn't exactly set the stage for the promised opulence. Parking was a breeze though, which is always a win. They've got car park [free of charge] and an onsite car park so you're good. Plus, kudos, they have a car power charging station! Nice touch!
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (Mostly Good!)
This is important, folks, so I'll be serious for a moment. The Hampton Inn & Suites seemed to be making a genuine effort in this department. They offer facilities for disabled guests, which I appreciated. I noticed elevator access, and they had non-smoking rooms (essential!). The wheelchair accessibility looked pretty decent overall. I didn’t need those features myself, but I observed enough to be confident in saying they are making an effort to be inclusive.
Check-in/Out (The Front Desk Follies)
Check-in/out [express] and Check-in/out [private] options! This is good, I did the express check-in, and it was fast, even if it was a bit… roboty. I'm all for efficiency, but a warm smile wouldn't kill ya, front desk person! The doorman was MIA (that’s not very luxurious!)
Rooms: The Good, the Bad, and the Carpet (Oh, the Carpet!)
Okay, let's talk rooms! They brag about "Luxury Awaits!" Well, I wouldn't say it's quite the Ritz, but okay. The room itself was clean-ish – definitely rooms sanitized between stays. They have Air conditioning (thank goodness!), wake-up service, a desk, and free wi-fi that actually worked (thank you, free Wi-Fi in all rooms!). We're talking Internet access – wireless, so no Internet [LAN] needed, which is a solid move.
Now, for the more painful part: the carpet. Oh, the carpet. It felt… well-trodden. Like it had witnessed years of spilled coffee and questionable decisions. I didn't find myself wanting to walk barefoot on that carpet, I'm just saying. Otherwise, the non-smoking rooms were perfect. I was also a really big fan of the blackout curtains, they were AMAZING. They had a seating area, it was a little cramped but it did the job. The bathrobes, are a MUST! Additional toilet was also nice.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa Dreams & Gym Realities
Alright, let's talk about the fun stuff! This is where the "Luxury Awaits!" tagline almost delivers.
- The Spa: I was REALLY excited for the Spa, they have a Spa/sauna! I was picturing a blissful massage followed by a soak in a jacuzzi. Nope. Apparently it closed. I was so gutted I sulked for an hour. Major disappointment.
- Pool with a View, Sauna, and Fitness Center: They do have a Swimming pool [outdoor]! (though it was closed) and Gym/fitness, seemed OK, but I'm not a gym rat, more of a couch potato, so take that with a grain of salt. It does have a Sauna. So they had the bones of a great spa setup, but the execution needed some work.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Food, Glorious Food… or Not?
The food situation was a mixed bag.
- Breakfast: They advertised the Buffet in restaurant, or Breakfast [buffet] which promised a hearty start to the day. It was… fine. Pretty standard hotel breakfast fare. Cereal, some sad-looking fruit, scrambled eggs that had seen better days. It was edible, but not exactly memorable. I do appreciate the Asian breakfast option and variety.
- Restaurants: They had restaurants. No complaints, but nothing that blew my mind. Plus, it was all closed earlier than I liked. They provided bottle of water, which I always appreciate too. They provided a Breakfast takeaway service which was kinda nice.
- Bars: The Poolside bar sounded lovely, but, as I said, the pool was closed :(
- Room Service: Room service [24-hour]. I'm a sucker for 24-hour room service. This was a definite perk. The food was decent, and the convenience was perfect for a late-night snack attack.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Sanitization Situation
Honestly, I felt pretty safe. They made a good effort with Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, and Professional-grade sanitizing services. They also had Hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere, which is a must these days. I saw very little evidence that anyone was taking the Room sanitization opt-out available. The doctor/nurse on call thing is always reassuring, though thankfully I didn't need it!
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter… or Don't?
- Essentials: They have a Convenience store for when you're desperate for snacks, which is always a plus.
- Other Services: I didn’t use the dry cleaning, or the ironing service, but they're there, just in case. Laundry service is a bonus. Daily housekeeping was efficient and kept things tidy.
For the Kids: Family-Friendly?
I didn't have any kids with me, but it seemed relatively Family/child friendly. The pool, if it were open, would have been a winner! I didn't see any Kids facilities advertised, though.
Overall Vibe & Emotional Gut Reactions:
Look, the Hampton Inn & Suites in Duluth is a solid hotel. It's clean enough, the staff is generally friendly, and it has some decent amenities. But, "Luxury Awaits!"? That's pushing it. I found it to be perfectly acceptable for a standard hotel stay. I wouldn't say it was unbelievable, but nor did I find it awful. If you need a place to crash in Duluth, it's a reasonable choice. The lack of a working Spa dampened my spirits and the slightly tired feel of the place was a letdown. It's not the most exciting hotel, but it's a dependable one. Final rating: An enthusiastic 3.5 out of 5 Stars. It's a good option, just don't go expecting the red carpet treatment. Pack your own spa day essentials!
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly-penciled itinerary. This is the real, sweaty, caffeine-fueled, and probably slightly hungover chronicle of my trip to the Hampton Inn & Suites Duluth North / Mall Area. Prepare for a wild ride.
Hampton Inn & Suites Duluth North / Mall Area: A Saga in (Rough) Stages
Day 1: Arrival and the Glorious, Calming Promise of Beige
1:00 PM: Flight Delay and Existential Dread (Minneapolis to Duluth)
Okay, let's just rip the band-aid off. My flight was late. Again. What is it with me and delayed flights? I swear, if I had a dollar for every hour I've spent staring at a flickering departure screen, I could buy… well, a really nice coffee pot. And let's be honest, after that airport experience I needed it. The airport itself was a whole other level of stress. Packed. Loud. Smelly. But the smell was the worst, this time. Probably a combination of pre-flight anxiety and a kid who’d had an accident. Arriving in Duluth, the city was covered in a thick, almost magical, coastal fog. It gave the whole thing a kind of 'Northwoods Mystery' vibe. At least, until I realized I was going to be wandering around in it, completely lost, with a rapidly dwindling phone battery.
3:30 PM: Finding the Hampton (And My Sanity)
Finally! Made it to the Hampton Inn. Let me tell you, after the airport drama, walking into that lobby was like emerging from a desert oasis. Not because it was particularly grand. Actually, it was mostly beige. Beige walls, beige carpet, beige furniture… But it was calm. And clean. Oh, so very clean. The sheer lack of chaos was a balm to my frazzled nerves. The front desk lady, bless her heart, was a total gem. Sweet as pie, she gave me a warm welcome and a key card that, miraculously, worked on the first try. Score!
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Unpacking and the Sheer Joy of a King-Size Bed
My room! My sanctuary! I practically skipped to the door. Truthfully though, it wasn't a skip, but a shuffle. All that airport stress had taken its toll, I was tired; I wanted to sit. The room was… well, it fit the Hampton mold. Functional. Clean. And, crucially, possessing of a king-size bed. I'm pretty sure I actually squealed when I saw it. I swear, that bed could swallow a small army. After unpacking, I did what any sane person would: I threw myself on that bed and just… existed. Just laid there, staring at the ceiling, doing absolutely nothing. It was glorious.
6:00 PM: The Mall. Oh, the Mall.
Okay, so the whole “Mall Area” thing? Yeah, it's a mall area. And… it’s a mall! Of course, I had to. I had to see what it was about. It had everything you’d expect: a food court filled with the aroma of vaguely unsettling fried things, stores I couldn’t afford, but spent way too much time looking at, and the constant, relentless hum of… stuff. I’m not sure what I expected. Maybe dragons?
7:30 PM: Dinner at the (Name Redacted) – A Meat Mountain of a Meal
I decided to go for it, for the burger. I’d heard it was legendary. And it was… a burger. A huge burger. I mean, seriously, I think it could have fed a small family. It was messy. It was glorious. I’m not sure I actually finished it, because I was so exhausted, but I certainly gave it a heroic effort. I’m pretty sure I also consumed an irresponsible amount of fries. Don’t judge.
9:00 PM: Back to the Room and the Bliss of Reality TV.
Back in my beige-toned fortress of solitude. Flicked on the TV. Landed on some reality show about… well, I don't even remember. Doesn’t matter. The sheer pointlessness of it all was perfect. Comforting. I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of king-size beds and the sweet, sweet promise of a full night's rest.
Day 2: Lake Superior, and a Boatload of Regret (Mostly About That Burger, Still)
7:00 AM: Breakfast and the Dreaded Free Hotel Eggs.
Free breakfast! Yay!… Okay, let’s set expectations. The Hampton Inn breakfast bar. It has its strengths. The waffles? Surprisingly good. However, I'm convinced the scrambled eggs are made of some highly processed substance that only vaguely resembles eggs. I ate them anyway. I learned that you can get away with eating anything when you are tired and hungry. But I did not enjoy them.
8:00 AM: Lake Superior and a Moment of Awe
A quick trek down to the shore of Lake Superior this morning. And all of a sudden, I forgot everything. The slightly questionable eggs, the mall, the airport drama - it just went away. The lake, even in the morning grey, was a different world. It was big, and cold, and relentless and I spent about an hour, just staring at the waves. They were hypnotic. I had a moment of pure, almost silly, joy. I actually felt like I was going to be okay.
10:00 AM: Canal Park and the (Slightly Underwhelming) Lift Bridge.
I went to Canal Park, which is a must-see. The lift bridge – it's cool, I guess. Watching it go up and down is kind of… neat? But let’s be honest, I found myself far more captivated by the seagulls. They were like tiny, feathered bandits, eyeing up my lunch. That’s life.
12:00 PM: Lunch at (Name Redacted) – Salad and Deep, Deep Regret.
Remember that burger from last night? It was still a part of me. I tried eating healthily, ordering a salad. It was fine. I ordered a green smoothie. It was okay. I secretly wished I’d gotten another burger. Maybe three.
2:00 PM: The Duluth Zoo. I'm pretty sure the Monkeys Judged Me.
The Duluth Zoo. Okay, the wolves were amazing. The polar bears? Majestic. The monkeys, however, were intensely judging me. I swear, one of them kept staring at me with those knowing, intelligent eyes, like he was just thinking: "You, sir, need to put down the burger and go to the gym." I felt personally attacked.
4:00 PM: Back to the Room – Nap Time (Again).
Exhausted. That zoo was surprisingly tiring. The judgmental monkeys took a lot out of me. Back to the room for another nap. The king-size bed beckoned!
7:00 PM: Dinner at the (Name Redacted) – Sushi! And Hope!
Sushi! Finally, a good decision. I had come back from the brink of beef-induced madness. I was ready to redeem myself, and embrace this moment. This was going to be the best day!
8:00 PM: Evening in the room, preparing for a long trip back.
The second day's ended and I started packing. And that's it. It's over. This is the end of my journey. It was fun.
This trip was everything!
Okay, so... "Unbelievable Duluth Getaway: Hampton Inn & Suites Luxury Awaits!"...is that even *true*? Is it, like, a *lie*? Or, like, a *slightly-exaggerated-but-mostly-true* lie?
The FREE Breakfast! Tell me EVERYTHING about the free breakfast! Did it have, like, *fancy* stuff? Omelet stations? Actual fruit that wasn't bruised?
What about the *room*? Was it as glamorous as the website promised? Did you, like, *feel* luxurious?
Did you *use* the pool? Because, I'm picturing myself, like, lounging by the pool... cocktail in hand... the *life*!
Okay, but Duluth itself! What did you *do*? What's actually *cool*? Is there anything *unbelievable* about Duluth?
Would you go back? Seriously, waffles and all?
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