Stayed at the Millennium St. Louis for 3-nights in mid-April. Writing this review as I prepare to check out. For value and location – the facility is tolerable. However, I always feel a little disappointed. There is much more potential here than Millennium is realizing. Keeping in mind they have sold some of their best properties off to Hilton, leaving Millennium Hotels that are not capable of earning a Hilton name on the building.

Pluses:

* Location. It is a very good location. 5 to 10 min walk to The Landing, directly across the street from the Arch, and the new baseball stadium is across the street.

* Staff. As other reviews have said, the staff has always been friendly and responsive.

* Price, given other hotels – the price is good. I meant to check the Drury Inn down the street. I would check there before I rebook here next time.

* Free internet. A lot of hotels in this category charge for Internet. Weak Wi-Fi and wired hi-speed available at no charge.

* The view. If you get an Arch and rive facing room, you have one of the best views in St. Louis. I wouldn’t mind seeing a room that faces the stadium. That may have potential too.

* The newly remodeled Martini Lounge. Last year, I would have said this was a minus – with the sunken bar and smoking. Over the last year it received a major face lift and new bar. It is much more modern in the big open lobby. It has nicer furnishings and no smoking. Many Martini’s enjoyed there this week.

Minuses:

* Old tubs. Slow to drain and small. I hate standing water when taking a shower.

* Modern and uncomfortable beds. Beds were like something you would find out of an Idea catalog. No box spring, flat pillows – overall not the best 3-nights sleep I have had.

* Work area. I do a lot of work. My desk the last two times has been a long glass top desk that shares a lamp, coffee pot, only phone, television. Does not leave much room for working.


Neutral:

* It would be nice if the hotel had closer access to the light rail system. Not much they can do about it. But it is about 4 blocks away. Something to consider if you are using the rail system from the airport and hauling luggage.

* Convention and conference facilities. Functional but dark and certainly not the most modern.

* 4th Street Café and Roof Top restaurants. The food is OK, nothing to write home about. I immediately mark down restaurants that serve iceberg lettuce. Walk 1 block North and there is a great steak house. Go down to the Landing, there are some nice options down there. Better yet, take a take to the Hill – some very good choices there.

I participated in Midwest Anesthesiology Residents Conference April 13-15, 2007 and spent a lot of time of these three days and one night in Millenium. That was the "main" hotel resommended for us by sponsors. Well, now it's almost over and I'm literally happy to be alive - here's why.

First, if you come for anythong but a baseball game, there's actually nothing to do around. It's situated in business district right across the Arch (though it doesn't really mean you're going to have terrific view - my second floor room had "nice" panorama of permanent traffic jam). There are several restaurants around - either expensive chop houses or sport bars where actually no true "smoke free" sitting available and fare is typical burgers/pizzas. Othervise there's nothing around - no shopping areas, no parks, no theaters. Rooms are very small - two bed room barely had enough place to put bags. No fridge, coffee makers, fans, microvawe, ets. - old rusty iron and only two towels per guest, together with several almost tearful messages about how bad towel washing is for nature and everything and everybody around. Old and lousy heating system - basically you have to choose between Arctic cold or a sauna with nothing in between. There is business center (for good cash), sport center (in order to use you have to parade in your sweatpants and wet T-shirt right across simptous main lobby), small (indeed, VERY small) and very noisy pool barely enough for, say 10-12 kids without adults. No complimentary breakfast, and price for availabe one is nothing but ridiculous.

The main problem of this hotel is the staff is poorly trained and has little idea what they're doing. We were told about free shuttle for those who stays in other hotels. These poor guys had constant trouble as bell clerks had quite a different opinion who should provide this shuttle - Millenium or "the other" side? Half of clerks just called and shuttles were ready in minutes. Another half just answered "we don't do it" and refused to help or provide any information. Consierges also varied from knowledgeable and polite one (ONE!) to several who were rude, slow and had little idea how to solve problems.

One word to fellows who, like me, suffering form severe food allergies and/or have such a folks, little ones or grownups, into family. Please, PLEASE avoid this place like a plague for your dear life !!! Before reception (given by sponsors, but served by hotel staff) I proptly informed waiter that I'm severely allergic to mushrooms and must not have them on my plate. They brought the right salad, and then an entry with mushroom sause which I tasted (supposing it's something I could eat, as staff members were informed about my allergy). I immediately got a severe reaction and spent several hours in nearby ER. The hotel security staff seemed to just run meaninglessly around, for they couldn't immediately locate an elevator big enough to fit stretcher and EMS team spent 10 + minutes just trying to figure out how to reach ground floors - in the situation where seconds count. After this "incident" I moved to another hotel.

Briefly summary: if you ready to pay THAT amount of bucks for comfort of Super8 and don't need many communication with staff, then go ahead, though there're Hilton, Drury and several other decent names around and just as close to stadium. Otherwise, stay away.

I just got back from a delightful stay at the Millennium in St. Louis. I was there from March 8 - 14, 2007. First off, I believe the tower that you’re placed in makes a difference. I stayed on the 13th Floor of the North Tower (and yes, there is a 13th floor in the Millennium). From those in my party who stayed in the other tower, I learned that it was not as nice. I lucked out on that one. The North Tower has a lovely view of the Arch and the city. However, if you open the windows (you can open little window slits), the highway below can be noisy.

I Loved
- The view of the Arch and the cathedral below.

- The wonderful staff at Martini’s (the bar) and the Grill downstairs.

- The responsiveness of my maid – one of my bedside lamps had a blown light bulb and with a simple note it was fixed.

- Every staff member I encountered was pleasant and helpful especially the bell staff out front.

- Free WI FI access in my room – I was able to use my lap top without problems from day one. I believe people in the South tower had problems and they could be seen in the lounge area with their laptops.

- The fabulous weather – no coats necessary for my entire stay. Fifty, 60 and 70 degree weather was the norm. Fabulous!


I Hated
- The fact that you could not use your debit card at check in. My room was on a master account, but it was a hassle to have to pay separately for meals. There is an ATM in the lobby though – it charges $3.25 per transaction. Ouch!

- The area we drove past on our way from the airport. Very run down and depressing. It was a major difference from the beauty downtown. The tourism department really needs to take a look at that. Driving through the run down areas creates a horrible first impression.

Layout
My room was contemporary in style with black furniture. My room was in the flatter part of the circle, so I didn’t get a weird room shape. My queen bed was very comfortable. My room had the usual – TV with cable, large lounge chair, desk, desk chair, tiny bathroom and separate closet. Everything was clean when I arrived and was kept spotless throughout my stay.

Food
Martini’s was our nightly hangout and I had quite a few dinners and drinks there. Loved the hamburgers (had mine with blue cheese), enjoyed the quesadillas (either chicken or beef) and the fried raviolis. Very responsive bar staff.

I had breakfast every day at the 4th Street Grill downstairs. Loved, loved the pork sausage. After almost a week, I had been served by most of the breakfast staff so they knew what I wanted every day. Had the breakfast buffet one day. It must have been the time I went down because I found most items to be cold. I went a la carte after that – tea, toast and pork sausage and never had a problem with how hot my food was. Ate dinner at the Grill a couple nights. The restaurant has a very nice “after 5” menu. On my visits I had the beef soup, pot roast with garlic mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables and the bowtie pasta. They were all good and came as large portions.

If you’re going to The America’s Center for a conference, about 1 block away is Pasta Pronto. I had lunch there 2 days. Really enjoyed the meatball sandwich on garlic bread. Across from the Millennium is a Starbucks with all the basics. There are several snack bars inside the convention center though.


Gift Shop
Cute, affordable items at the Millennium gift show. Weird hours though. The staffers would disappear at times when you’d think they would be open.

Accessibility
I went back and forth to the America’s Center via a shuttle, so I never had to wait or walk too far. The Millennium is several blocks from the convention center (The America’s Center). I wouldn’t walk it because of the distance and because of (perceived) safety issues. I cabbed to the convention center a couple times. By cab it was about $5 + tip -- way affordable IMHO. There were always at least 2 cabs outside the convention center to go back to the hotel.

Staff
Wonderful staff that were extremely helpful.

Sightseeing
I was there to work, so only had a little fun time.

I had hoped to be able to do an around the city tour that hit the major sites, but most companies begin their tours in April.
I had dinner one night at Giovanni’s on the Hill. The striped bass was divine. There were 5 of us at dinner and we each spent about $70 for an appetizer, salad, entrée.

Managed to visit the Arch. What a treasure! The view from the Arch is just wonderful. Lovely, helpful staff. Superb gift shop. Spent a bit $ in that shop.

Spent several hours at the St. Louis zoo. I bought the one day pass for the free attractions – although the zoo itself is free to enter. Was able to see my first polar bear and my first naked chimp! You can take the train to the zoo but then you have to walk – as a female alone, I chose not to do it. Instead, I caught a cab from the Millennium ($20+tip one way) and since my driver offered to pick me up when I was ready to leave, I called his cell and he was there in less than 5 minutes when it was time to leave. Had a nice visit on a day with 70+ degree weather. I arrived about 10 but by 2 when I was leaving, it had gotten a bit crowded.

Visited one casino – Laclede’s Landing, it’s on the water. The casino shuttle picked us up at the Millennium and brought us back. We really appreciate the Millennium bell man who recommended it. We both won so he got a nice tip when we got back.

Overall Comments
Really enjoyed my visit to St. Louis and my stay at the Millennium. Hope to visit again. If there on business again at the convention center I will likely stay at the Renaissance because of its accessibility -- it’s across the street from the convention center.

Have a great visit. Feel free to contact me if you have more detailed questions.

I stayed at the Millenium on a Wednesday night due to attending a meeting being held there. I was given a room in the South tower. It was small and dated but adequate. Cleanliness could have been better. It was a bit eerie, though, as I never saw another person in the South tower the entire time I was there. If the hotel was so empty, it would have been nice if they would have put me in the North tower even though I had a AAA rate. My main concern, however, was the bathtub/shower. Apparently it had been relined with some sort of plastic liner, but the liner was not fitted to the tub. Therefore, standing in the shower was like standing on one of those suspended bridges on a playground. It could be hazardous to someone with impaired balance. Now that I know the area better I'll stay elsewhere. The meeting facilities, however, were very nice.