Crowne Plaza Suites MSP Airport – Mall of America In-Depth Hotel Review

After visiting my parents in South Dakota for a couple of days, it was time to head back home to Chicago. However, I wanted to stop in Minneapolis for at least a night, as it is one of my favorite cities in the world and a place I had not visited for a couple of years.

Since I had an IHG free night award set to expire in a week, I thought Minneapolis would be a great place to use it. I started narrowing down our options, as my wife wanted to be close to Mall of America.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), there are more than 15 IHG hotels within a 20-minute drive of the Mall of America. After narrowing down our options, we chose the Crowne Plaza Suites MSP Airport – Mall of America, thanks to its ideal location.

Read on for my full review of the property and decide whether this property is worth considering if you travel to Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Booking the Crowne Plaza Suites MSP Airport – Mall of America

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is one of my favorite credit cards in my wallet, and for good reason. It has a great earning structure (particularly when spending with IHG), provides complimentary Platinum Elite status, travel protections, and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit of up to $120.

However, the best part of the IHG Premier card is that it provides an IHG free night certificate each year. The certificate is good for hotels that cost 40,000 points or less, and these certificates can now be combined with points to book a more expensive property.

Since my free night certificate was set to expire, it was time to redeem it or lose it. I began by filtering properties that could be booked with a Chase Anniversary Night and searching for available hotels around the Mall of America. After a few minutes of looking at the various hotels, I chose the Crowne Plaza Suites MSP Airport – Mall of America for its fantastic location.

I booked a 1 King Standard Sofa Bed room, which was one of several standard rooms available.

Although I was redeeming a free night certificate for the stay, I wanted to check the cash rates for the night.

The 1-night stay was $137, including taxes and fees. This redemption alone pays for the IHG Premier card’s annual fee of $99 and doesn’t account for all the perks and benefits the card offers.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Welcome Offer

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

140,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$700

Annual Fee

$99

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you regularly visit IHG hotels throughout the year, then the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is probably a perfect card to have in your wallet.

The IHG Premier card offers a great bundle of perks and benefits, including automatic Platinum elite status, an annual free night certificate, and travel protections.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 26x points per $1 on IHG stays
• 5x points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points

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Card Highlights

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
• Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG^® hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 ($120 starting 10/1/24) every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Hot Tip:

Check out our guide on the best credit cards for IHG One Rewards loyalists who pay cash rates at IHG hotels.

Location

As its name suggests, the Crowne Plaza Suites MSP Airport – Mall of America is near both Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

The hotel shares a building with the Aire MSP Apartments. It is approximately 3 miles from the airport and a short drive to the Mall of America.

The property is also less than a 20-minute drive from the Twin Cities, Minneapolis, and St. Paul. This places it near several Minneapolis-St. Paul tourist attractions, including the Minnesota Zoo, Target Center, Target Field, and U.S. Bank Stadium.

Getting There

Hotel guests can take the complimentary airport shuttle from both Terminals 1 and 2 at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. The journey takes approximately 10 minutes.

Checking In

After arriving at the property, I parked our car near the entrance. We then headed inside to the conveniently located check-in desk near the main doors.

A front desk representative welcomed us to the property and requested my identification. However, he was visibly upset, as he had just been yelling at a coworker.

In less than a minute, he checked us into a room and asked if we had a vehicle that would be parked on the premises.

After confirming that we had a vehicle, the front desk agent provided us with a hotel parking permit. Parking at the hotel cost $10 per night with in-and-out privileges.

However, he did not mention where the parking garage was. After I asked him how to reach it, he gruffly suggested that I “follow the signs outside” (at this time, I had not seen any signs).

He also mentioned that security routinely checked the parking garage and that the parking permit had to be displayed on the dashboard.

He also asked what I would like for the welcome amenity, a perk of being an IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite member. The choices were IHG points or a drink at the restaurant bar. Since I wasn’t sure what our plans were for the evening, I opted for the points.

After receiving our room key cards, I thanked the front desk representative, despite his negative attitude, and headed back to my car so I could park in the garage.

Elite Benefits

As an IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite member, I was eligible for a few benefits, including:

• Room upgrades (subject to availability)
• Late 2 p.m. checkout (when available)
• Welcome amenity at check-in

Unfortunately, no room upgrade was offered, despite the hotel being quite empty. I also requested a late checkout of 2 p.m., but the front desk staff member said the latest he could offer was 12 p.m., as the hotel had a large group booked for the following night.

Bottom Line:

The check-in process took about 2 minutes to complete. Although the front desk representative was efficient in checking me in to the hotel, I found him to be unprofessional and rude — he seemed to have been irritated by something prior to my arrival.

The hotel was also stingy with Platinum Elite status perks. Still, I appreciated how quick the check-in process was, as I was ready to relax after a 4-hour drive to the property.

Lobby

After parking my car in the correct area of the garage, we were ready to head back into the hotel and up to our room. Fortunately, the hotel had a secondary entrance conveniently near the garage.

Although the lobby was quite spacious, there wasn’t much to explore. To the left of the check-in desks was a general seating area that was part of the hotel’s coffee shop, CupBoard (more on this in the Food and Beverages section).

A large vertical art piece acted as a divider between the front glass windows of the hotel and the coffee shop seating area. The hotel restaurant, AiRECraft Grill, was in the far left of the lobby.

There were several different seating areas, including one with identical armchairs, which looked luxurious and were also quite comfortable.

Across from the armchairs, there was a bar-height table with seating for 5 people.

The 3 hotel elevators were on the opposite side of the lobby, past the check-in desks.

1-King Bedroom

With my room key card, I took the elevators up to my room on the fifth floor. They opened up to a narrow, dimly lit hallway.

Living Room

As I entered the room, I saw a narrow foyer that opened up to a small living area, which was separated from the bedroom.

A small desk with a lamp and a Keurig coffee machine was against the right wall directly in front of the entrance.

The desk featured a small, swiveling office chair, which was surprisingly comfortable despite it not having any armrests.

The main living area was to the left of the room’s entrance and had a 2-person leather sofa that could be turned into a sofabed. A large glass coffee table was in front of the sofa, and a floor lamp was to the side of it.

Directly across the sofa was a multipurpose storage unit with a small television.

The television was quite far from the sofa, making it look even smaller than it actually was. It was also incredibly outdated, and the picture quality reflected that.

Beneath the television was a compartment that housed a microwave and an ice bucket, which was accompanied by 2 plastic cups.

I found the room’s minifridge in the far right compartment. Although it was quite small, it served our needs, as we stored our dinner leftovers here.

Bedroom

The bedroom part of the room was separated by a hallway and the bathroom.

The room’s king bed was in the far left corner of the wall. The bed looked and was incredibly comfortable — I loved the choice of bedding, as it was smooth and relaxing.

The bed featured several pillows of varying firmness and a plush, padded headboard.

A small nightstand was on both sides of the bed. The left table held a lamp and the room’s alarm clock. 

Meanwhile, the right side table held the room’s phone.

Across the bed was a large closet unit with several storage compartments. There was ample storage — I could have probably fit my entire wardrobe in this unit.

In the center of the closet storage unit was an identical television to the one in the living area. While I liked its placement, the poor picture quality rendered it quite useless.

The entire closet unit was empty except for the section on the far right, which contained hangers, an iron, and an ironing board.

Lastly, the room’s windows were directly next to the bed and stretched the length of the room. There was also a wall-mounted air conditioning unit.

The room didn’t offer any particularly interesting views. The majority of the area was a Park ‘N Fly off-airport parking lot.

However, in the distance, we could see a Delta Air Lines facility with several parked aircraft. There was another large parking lot in front of the aircraft facility.

Bottom Line:

Although the room was fairly simple, it had everything we needed for our 1-night stay. I liked that it had a separate living space.

The room felt somewhat dated because of the unfashionable furniture and old televisions. Additionally, there was peeling paint and scuffed walls, making it clear that the hotel needed renovation.

Bathroom

The bathroom was conveniently between the living room and the bedroom. The bathroom vanity contained a small sink with storage below, which held the towels and a hair dryer. 

On top of the vanity was a vanity mirror and a tissue box. The hotel also provided small bottles of shampoo and conditioner and a small bar of soap.

The shower was to the left of the vanity and featured an overhead shower head with fantastic water pressure.

The toilet was directly across from the vanity. Since the bathroom was quite small, the toilet couldn’t be accessed unless the bathroom door was completely shut.

Bottom Line:

Although I was not expecting much, the bathroom was quite smaller and more basic than I would have guessed. Similar to the room, the bathroom was outdated and in need of an update.

Amenities

The hotel offered a few amenities, including a swimming pool and a fitness center.

Indoor Swimming Pool

The property boasted a large heated indoor pool on the ground level. The pool was incredibly clean and well-maintained. The pool was open daily between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. However, I did not see a single guest in the pool despite walking by the area several times.

Although it was on the same level as the hotel lobby, the swimming pool could only be accessed from the second floor via a separate staircase or dedicated elevator near the hotel’s garage entrance.

There was ample seating on both sides of the pool, with at least 25 pool lounging chairs.

There was also a small whirlpool in the pool area.

Lastly, the pool area also offered a sauna, with enough space for up to 10 people.

Fitness Center

The hotel also featured a fully equipped 24-hour-a-day fitness center. In fact, this was one of the best fitness centers I have ever seen in a hotel. All the cardio machines and strength training equipment were from the Precor brand.

Walking in, I saw several machines, including a bicep curl machine, a seated rowing machine, and a chest press machine.

Additionally, there was a leg extension machine, a tricep extension machine, and a leg curl machine.

Along the back side of the fitness center, there was a leg press machine and a rear/deltoid pec fly machine.

The fitness center also featured several different cardio machines, including 2 different types of stationary bikes.

There were also 3 ellipticals and 3 treadmills.

Lastly, there was also a rowing machine nestled in the corner.

The fitness center also included a small corner with a bench and a rack of dumbbells, with weights ranging up to 50 pounds.

It also offered a yoga corner with mats, medicine balls, straps, and resistance bands.

Northwest Airlines History Center

The property also features the Northwest Airlines History Center museum. The museum showcases Northwest Airlines’ history and has memorabilia and historic artifacts, such as vintage uniforms, flight maps, and aircraft models. It also provides a look at the airline and its evolution and impact on the aviation industry.

Unfortunately, the museum was closed for the duration of our stay because of water damage.

Business Center

The hotel’s business center had a few desktop computers and a printer.

Meeting Rooms and Event Space

The hotel boasted more than 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space across 7 rooms.

Game Room

The lobby hallway led to a small game room with a pool table, foosball table, bubble hockey table, and curling table.

It also featured a coin-operated golf simulator, which I thought was cool (although I didn’t play, as I didn’t have any coins).

Airport Shuttle

The hotel also offered a complimentary shuttle to Terminals 1 and 2 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Sunday through Thursday, the airport shuttle departs the hotel every 20 minutes from 4 a.m. to 12 a.m. On Friday and Saturday, it runs 24 hours a day, every 20 minutes.

Parking

On-site parking was available in a garage connected to the hotel. Hotel guests could park in dedicated parking spots on the top level of the garage for $10 per night.

Food and Beverages

The property featured several on-site dining options.

AiRECraft Bar and Grill

The hotel had 1 main restaurant, AiRECraft Bar and Grill, accessible through the lobby past the check-in desk and coffee shop.

The restaurant was open daily from 7:30 to 10 a.m. for breakfast, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch, and from 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner. There was also a daily happy hour between 5 and 7 p.m.

The restaurant was quite large, with seating for more than 50 people at once. However, whenever I passed by, there were never more than 10 people at once.

The menu offered a wide range of American food, including burgers, sandwiches, chicken wings, soups, and salads.

CupBoard

CupBoard coffee shop was in the lobby near the entrance to AiRECraft Bar and Grill.

The coffee kiosk offered various beverages, including coffee and tea, and several foods, including bagels, croissants, and sandwiches.

Market

Lastly, the hotel also had a market near the check-in counters. The market offered plenty of snacks, such as chips and candy bars. You could also purchase toiletries, including shampoo and conditioner, shaving cream, and laundry detergent.

There was also a fridge with several beverages, including soda, energy drinks, water, and juice.

Service

Although I did not have many interactions with the hotel staff, the one I did have was not pleasant. The check-in process, although quite efficient, was disappointing, thanks to the visibly upset front desk representative. Whatever the reason for his behavior, I find experiences like this to be inexcusable, especially in the hospitality industry, where fostering a welcoming atmosphere should be at the forefront of the experience.

The front desk member also did not present me with any hotel information regarding the restaurant or any hotel amenities. This is something that can easily be improved, as the hotel was quite large and having that information would have made our visit much easier.

Final Thoughts

Crowne Plaza Suites MSP Airport – Mall of America is an average IHG property near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America. Although I was not expecting too much, as the property is an inexpensive airport hotel, I was disappointed as this was my first less-than-stellar Crowne Plaza experience.

The room was comfortable enough for my wife and me, but nothing was particularly interesting. The hotel was evidently outdated and was in dire need of a refresh.

Although I booked this hotel using an IHG free night certificate, I would not do so again, especially since there are significantly better IHG properties in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.