Indianapolis & Minneapolis (metropolises)

Now that I've visited the 2 cities (polis), I won’t confuse them anymore. Indianapolis and Minneapolis are both pleasing metropolises.

The excitement is building up for the annual 500 IndyCar race, where I took this photo at the Indianapolis airport.

Indianapolis is a sports lover's paradise. The city hosts the Indianapolis 500 and regularly hosts the NCAA men's basketball tournament. My hotel room had a view of several stadiums. The JW Marriott Indianapolis is next to the Lucas oil stadium. The city is sooo synonymous with racing that it has inspired the name "IndyCar," used for both the competition and type of car used in it. The Indianapolis 500, this week is intense car racing. On May 29th, will be the 100th time the annual 500 IndyCar series will race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

I arrived at the JW hotel drenched because I had to walk in the rain. (The streets were blocked off for runners but I did not see any runners, since they were not foolish enough to run in the rain) Anyway, I was disappointed to get to my room and discover that I could not have a hot bath because they forgot to build a bath tub in my room. Apparently, if you request a King sized bed, you only get a shower. All was forgiven because a really nice Marriott guy came to empathize with me and moved me to a room with a tub. He had a British accent, so I felt like I had my very own butler. It was nice to see him again the next morning in the Concierge-Executive Lounge, being helpful with breakfast needs. Service is the essence of Luxury!

The JW Marriott hotel in Downtown Indianapolis is next to the Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites, Westin and Embassy Suites. The JW Indy is joined via a walk way to the Indiana Convention Center. I loved the warm pool and my view of White River. it is a Cat 6 hotel so Marriott Rewards members need 30,000 points for a free night. You may also combine redemption nights with cash nights within a single reservation using Cash + Points. This is a new thing for Marriott, but "Cash + Points" have been around for a long time at other hotel chains like IHG and SPG

I was at the Sonesta airport hotel in Minneapolis - St. Paul Airport it is an ES Branded Sonesta. The Sonesta Hotels Travel Pass guest reward/recognition program is offering free nights, points that never expire, no blackout dates. Sonesta Business Pass is specifically designed with the needs of small and mid-size businesses. Sonesta in Hilton Head, Vermont, Austin/Bee cave and Curaçao. Several south American cities and Royal Sonesta Hotel & Casino Panama, but not in Mexico. they differ from other hotel chains because they have Hotels and river cruise boats on the Nile in Egypt. Sonesta ES Suites Flagstaff AZ and Tucson has the Sonesta's new extended-stay brand, Sonesta ES Suites. you'll receive great benefits across locations worldwide — in the U.S. and Sint Maarten, you'll also earn points that will add up quickly for free nights. You become elite after 12 nights. but a preferred member after 6 nights a year. Elites get free club lounge access (or continental breakfast daily)

The only airport hotel that Sonesta has is in Minneapolis, at St. Paul Airport it is an ES. Minneapolis' name is attributed to Charles Hoag, the city's first schoolteacher, who combined mni, a Dakota Sioux word for water, and polis, the Greek word for city “polis”