A fantastic fortnight in Bhutan organised by Windhorse Tours…read more We were a group of four friends who were recommended to use Windhorse by a travelling friend. Initially I liased with Windhorse director Jambay with whom we finalised the trip itinerary ( top tip: we went in November high season; accom sells out quickly so try to book at least 6 months in advance), and flights in/out of Bhutan and of course visa which includes Sustainable Development Fee. All was done in a helpful, focussed and professional way. We arrived on two different flights; in each case we were meet & greeted on arrival by our guide, Sonam Loday and our driver, Chorten. On small group tours such as this, the Windhorse team are crucial to the enjoyment of the holiday, and we were extremely happy with ours! Sonam was very experienced, so his planning, anticipation and decision making was first class. Equally importantly, his good humour and love of his job made the history and culture of Bhutan come alive, while always seemingly effortlessly made all go smoothly... What a great guy! Our driver Chorten provided excellent support during activities, but his driving was unbelievable.... So smooth on the winding mountain roads, stopping safely on request for photo ops, and his pristinely clean and maintained van was perfect to carry our group in comfort. Our 13 day itinerary encompassed Central and Western Bhutan, and we never felt rushed, often spending 2 nights in one place. Accom was great and always seemed appropriate to the location, and included guest houses, lodges, and traditional hotels. We always seemed to have the best rooms with views etc. We enjoyed the food, and non of our group had tummy issues throughout the trip. We agreed that Bhutan is a fantastic place to visit, and Windhorse made our trip perfect.... At a very reasonable cost.

We've just returned from a second trip with Windhorse Tours in Bhutan. Last year (2024) we did an…read moreexcellent 6 day cultural trip with them and wanted to go back this year for trekking. There was no question who we would arrange our tour with this year: Windhorse Tours! We booked a 10 day tailor-made tour with 2 days acclimatization hiking around the beautiful Haa Valley; time in Thimphu and then 7 days trekking the Jomolhari loop. We booked to go late October/early November... usually a sweet spot between the end of summer rain and the start of snow accumulation in the mountains. This year was unusual. While it's understood weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, this year Cylcone Montha inserted itself into our plans bringing heavy rain, and snow to the mountains. Our excellent guide, Pelden Wangchuk, really took care to ensure our well-being, safety and happiness. While we had planned a circuit trek, significant new snow at higher elevations blocked our path. Pelden was continually checking on conditions ahead, and with us. We all decided to aim for Jomolhari Base Camp but then return the way we came. Remarkably, we awoke at Base Camp to clear skies and spectacular views of Jomolhari. And, one benefit of returning the same way was seeing the gorgeous scenery we missed previously. With larch and other trees in their full autumn colours, the views were quite stunning... often enhanced by high water in the swollen Paro river! We've done a few Himalayan treks and were impressed by the quality of equipment and service provided by Windhorse. Their tent did a remarkable job of staying dry and the sleeping bags were toasty warm. Hot water bottles were a nice touch! It must've been quite a feat keeping our gear and all the tents dry on the inside but somehow the crew did just that. On previous treks, we'd never had a mid-morning hot tea/coffee break, let alone a hot lunch... served by our Camp Assistant with good humour and smiles. Whatever the conditions, our cook turned out a choice of tasty, varied food including unexpected treats like French Toast and a beautifully decorated cake that tasted as good as it looked. All the hotels and food (often buffets) were of top quality too - as they were on our first trip. Even though it rained on our trek, we still enjoyed the whole experience and were again really impressed with Windhorse Tours.

It's horrible. The hallway smells like cigarettes even though it's a free smoke zone. The rooms…read more also smell horrible. That air conditioning doesn't work overall wouldn't recommend.

Pros: it's by the airport Free laundry…read more Gym Cons: smells horrendous (smells of smoke , mold , barnyard, dirty petting zoo and feces) The majority of the staff is rude with the exception of one male staff member. There is being on your phone and then there's being totally immersed in your phone that don't even greet guest when they approach the desk. They were regularly out of towels and soap . Our rooms were never touched, trash never taken out , nothing ever replenished or replaced. When we got the room on the first day there was no soap , no shampoo, nothing in the bathroom. One of the worst hotels I've ever stayed at. If you can avoid it, avoid it .

DO NOT BOOK A ROOM HERE. If I could give this place zero stars--or better yet, negative stars--I…read morewould. What started as a disappointing stay quickly spiraled into one of the most traumatizing and disturbing hotel experiences of my life. 1. Management's Disregard for Human Life Four hours into my stay, I was forced to call the police because of clear and terrifying signs of child abuse occurring in the room next to mine. Before involving the authorities, I went to the front desk, assuming management would take immediate action or offer to move me. Instead, they literally shrugged their shoulders. The manager's response was a chillingly indifferent, "Do what you need to do." They acted as if violent domestic disturbances are just a standard Tuesday night for them. Their complete lack of empathy or urgency suggests this is a regular occurrence that they simply refuse to address. 2. Respiratory Hazards & Filth Despite the "strict" no-smoking policy, the entire hallway and my room reeked of stale Swisher Sweets and cheap tobacco. The air was thick enough to choke on, and it was obvious that the "policy" is never enforced. It's clear they don't clean the air filters or smell the rooms themselves, the smell is baked into the very fabric of the building. 3. Broken and Bizarre Amenities The room itself was a joke. * The TV: It was mounted absurdly high on the wall--near the ceiling--making it impossible to watch without straining your neck. * Zero Functionality: Not that the height mattered, because the unit didn't even turn on. * General Decay: Everything felt grimey, outdated, and poorly maintained. Final Verdict This isn't just a "bad hotel"--it is a dangerous environment managed by people who clearly do not care about the safety of their guests or the community. Between the smell of smoke and the sounds of violence, you won't get a second of sleep. Save your money and your sanity: Stay literally anywhere else.

A Return to Real Hospitality -- Microtel by Wyndham Bloomington…read more As someone who stays in hotels constantly, I've come to expect the usual: basic service, polite interactions, and a place to sleep. But my stay at the Microtel by Wyndham in Bloomington was something entirely different -- it was a throwback to the days when hospitality truly meant taking care of guests. From the moment I walked in, every single team member treated me not as a transaction, but as an actual guest. And while their friendliness feels completely natural, it's clear there is intentionality behind it. You rarely find a hotel where every person at the front desk shares the same standard of warmth, professionalism, and consistency. That tells me this team has tapped into something special -- something the rest of the hospitality industry could learn from. I want to give special kudos to Chadu, Teja, Sunny, and Mohammed. Each of them went above and beyond in their own way, yet all were aligned in creating a space where a traveler feels welcomed, valued, and cared for. You don't see that often anymore, and it made a real impression. If the old saying is true -- "if you build it, they will come" -- then this team has built the type of hospitality culture that earns loyalty, repeat business, and word of mouth. I'll absolutely be staying here again, and recommending it to others. Exceptional work to the entire staff. You've brought back what hospitality is supposed to feel like.

Katie and Luke rented us their Uptown Minneapolis poverty standard one-bedroom over the Christmas…read moreholidays. Shabby stained couch sunk in the middle. No bedding was provided for our daughter. Floor boards and corners had not been cleaned in years. Katie and Luke did not follow the Airbnb standards for cleanliness (see below). Old dusty ski hat found in the corner of the bathroom, someone else's hair in the shower, a sheer carpet of dust covered the shelves, furniture, and television. A yoga magazine left on the kitchen counter was out of place in the shabby, poorly lit student style apartment. The ground floor walk up was renovated with cheap faux wood flooring and throw rugs that had not been washed. No laundry detergent in the basement to do it myself with the ancient washer and dryer. False advertising, Katie and Luke: mop and dust before every guest arrives.Show some love to your otherwise well-located Airbnb rental off Hennepin in Uptown Minneapolis. Airbnb Cleanliness Policy: Providing a clean and tidy space will make your guests feel comfortable from the moment they arrive. A clean listing will always look its best, and it will show your commitment to making your guests feel welcome. To make your listing shine, start with these steps before each guest's arrival: Clean every room that your guests can access during their stay and pay special attention to the bathroom and kitchen. If you provide towels and sheets, make sure they are freshly-washed. Take care of the small things that show extra consideration: dust the bookshelves, wipe the mirrors, and empty the wastebasket. Make room in the closet or dresser so that guests can store their belongings. We know that cleaning is one of the more challenging aspects of preparing your listing, particularly if you're traveling, yourself. If you can't do the cleaning, you can always add a cleaning fee to your listing price and hire a professional cleaning service. It's important to give yourself enough time to clean your space, particularly when you have back-to-back bookings. Giving your guests the ability to tidy up after themselves will be a big help, so be sure to leave cleaning supplies in your space, so they can take care of spills and accidental messes.

this stay wasn't planned, nor was it for fun. I needed a place to go to get away from my former…read moreliving arrangement and get get back on my feet. during the first five days, I extended my stay twice, as I was surprised, it wasnt as bad as the external vibes of the building projected at night (the main entrance doors are out of commission, and when I arrived in the middle of the night, there were no building lights/parking lot lights, but there were two Bloomington Police SUVs right outside of the temporary new entrance). there's no elevator - if there is one, it doesn't work. while the place allows pets for a fee, my room door looked like a dog had spent many hours trying to scratch his way out. I used one of the bath towels to block the excess light and noise, due to it. despite the towels are of the lowest quality, they'll have you know that you'll be charged $50 if one goes missing. you will also not be allowed to extend your stay past 14 days - not that I had asked to because on day six, I encountered the worst customer service in a hotel, (with an employee) that I have ever encountered. "Susan", supposedly her name, (now I try hard not to judge or assume, but I'm quite certain her name is not Susan), was the worst. I have no words for Susan (aside from ones that would get me banned from Yelp). i met Susan at 8:45 one weekday morning... gave myself plenty of time to be able to ask for new door keys, since I had extended my stay again and I'd be able to get my packs of oatmeal, hot water, and have my bagel with packets of peanut butter and jelly, (that were probably purchased around the time the Met Center was cleared out to pave way for MOA and my beloved ikea), and be back to my hotel room by 9am, as I was working remote. Well, Susan had other plans for me. In a tone that came across as if she was accusing me of doing some heinous crime, she brings it to my attention that this place actually charges $100 per stay (supposedly refundable) for incidentals. I encountered three other staff (four if you count the cleaning gal I tried getting a clean towel from but failed because between my inability to summon the half semester of Spanish I took during my last semester of college, just so I'd be at full-time student status, and the cleaning gal's inability to comprehend "May I please get a clean towel" (even acted out animated gestures, to get my question across)... (I never did get another towel)... none of the other staff mentioned this $100 that Susan was determined to figure out why I had not been charged. Now I understand rule followers and doing the right thing. I work in a field where I literally help people find what they need, before they can even articulate it. I hate to be a bother, I hate asking for help and there are days I hate to be in existence. However, my current situation: unplanned, unfortunate, but still my reality at the moment, did not afford the luxury of allowing me to plan to be upheaved from my previous dwelling, and if you have ever lived in a hotel/hotels, they add up, especially since I am still fighting the last place I was at to be refunded, given the physical state of that dwelling. it did not matter none to Susan. I could have been on fire and Susan would not have moved. She kept asking me who allowed me to stay in the hotel for so long without collecting this magical fee that was not mentioned until going into day six of my stay, (she wanted to know what these men looked like)... being that I know how staff schedules work and assuming Susan knows her coworkers, I almost thought she was trying to be funny by asking me the question, but then I started thinking, she may be trying to trick me into inadvertently saying something that could possibly be seen as been racist, and that really pissed me off, not cool Susan. between Susan's attitude, abruptly helping some other guy because he never learned how standing in line works and figured if he started whining and getting loud and huffy, he'd get his helped. Now I understand, it is thanks to the Susan's of this world those people still exist. She did just that. Despite having asked for a managers number, Susan shot me down. She even made sure to have a cleaning staff lock the door to the breakfast area in front of me). If you can avoid Susan, (or fire her), it is ok for"hourly fun", or if you have a red eye out of MSP (and have no friends/family that are willing to do you a solid), or you're on a business trip for a small, perhaps non-profiting (not to be mixed up with a non-profit), business/organization. the facility, its "amenities", and the complete lack of English speaking/comprehending staff (aside from the front desk), will make you want to reuse you towels a day or three longer-even contemplate using the towel that was put down as a make-shift door extension, upon arrival. don't get me wrong, this place hasn't been the worst place I've ever stepped foot in. but if you have any standards/self-respect, consider another place

NEVER STAY HERE!!! On their website it says that they have shuttle to the airport. This is…read morespecifically what I rented the room for. When I checked in, they said they no longer do airport shuttle. They said instead that I had to pay for an Uber which supposedly if I email the management, they will reimburse me for. When asked what I should do with my car, they said to leave it in their parking lot at a fee of $15.00/ night. They said this will not be reimbursed! They didn't ask me for any information about my vehicle (make, model license plate #), I had to bring it up to secure that my vehicle won't get towed. They gave me a blank piece of paper to write the information down on. They didn't even have a form or anything for me to fill out. Pretty shady if you ask me. I also had to ask for a receipt for the money I paid for parking. When I told them that they are doing false advertising by saying online that they do shuttle, they had the nerve to say depending on when I booked my room, the website was correct. When I said I had just booked it two days prior, they had no words. The hotel is a dump. The parking lot is all potholes. Things didn't work everywhere you looked; I overheard other guests tell the font desk about problems/ things that didn't work. The carpet in the hallways was all stained and in one spot looked like bleach was spilled on it. Our room was on the second floor and of course, they don't have an elevator. I have NEVER had such a horrible experience at a hotel!!!

I stayed here for five nights and enjoyed my stay. Kathryn…read moreat front desk was great! She checked in via text twice during my day and responded quickly to a minor issue I brought up. On another occasion I brought up to staff that there was dirt being tracked in the stairway and onto the landing area of the carpet and it was taken care of by the time I got back a couple hours later. The room, one bedroom, was nicely laid out. Bath vanity nightlight is a nice touch. Nice, hot water too. It was really cool to have two types of pillows on the bed and the pillowcases actually tell you if they're firm or soft. Bed was very comfortable. I found the room to be quiet other than a little road noise. In the little kitchen, it would be nice to have something other than powdered creamer for coffee (could have the little containers of creamer that are available at the breakfast counter. And the only spoons were large spoons. Breakfast had some nice options with staff constantly refreshing items. The make your own waffles are always a treat. Only a couple of negatives. The Monday-Wednesday "social" is a nice idea, but it's really just one or two little nibbles. Nothing else. And the with bathroom fan is very noisy. I did mention this to staff. Overall a great option in the area.

This is our 4th hotel to live in during the past 12 months (I'm a travel nurse) ! This hotel is…read moreclean, homey and staff are so welcoming ! They accommodated my requests to be at the end of a hall (I'm a night shifter) and my preference on charging my card for the room weekly). The kitchens are well stocked with dishes and utensils. The internet is super fast and the other amenities (business center and pool/hot tub) and working and nice. They have hot breakfast every morning and is free. There is a restaurant at the neighboring hotel that even offers room service to us here at the Staybridge. They also have frozen pizzas (that are actually really tasty) that they will make for you right here in the hotel.

This hotel is filthy! Hair on the bathroom floor and dirt. It looks like they don't clean the room…read morewhen one guest leaves and the other checks in. My daughter in another room also found blood on the shower curtain the carpet in the hallways are dirty, including big stains in the lobby rug! What a disgrace!!! Will never stay here again.

We enjoyed our stay here. Its a fairly large room, and clean. The free wifi was quick enough to do…read moreeverything we needed without issues. However, we did find it to be a little on the noisy side, since its close to a main road. Not terrible though. Didn't interrupt our sleep. Also there are no restaurants in the immediate area so you will need a car or rely on delivery.

I was visiting Minneapolis for a few days and saw that Twin Cities Tours had many great thematic…read moredriving tours of the city and knew that it would be a great way to be introduced to the city. Douglas gave a FANTASTIC tour, driving to all of the points of interest that I wanted to see...historic neighborhoods, downtown, Summit Ave., the river area, and so much more. He has been doing this for decades and really knows his stuff. I LOVE history, so I drank it all in and couldn't get enough. I would HIGHLY recommend this tour to anyone. This was the best city tour I've ever taken and Douglas was very kind, gracious, and knowledgable.

From the owner: Sightseeing and step-on guide services for the Twin Cities area (Minneapolis & St.Paul, Minnesota)…read more These are prearranged tours in buses, vans and sedans..