Transportation from/to/around MSP
 

Spending two nights in January at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center and an additional 2 nights outside the Minneapolis area.

1. Are there any taxi voucher stand or similar at MSP? My accent has earned me some very questionable taxi rides from airports around the world in the past.

2. What would be the best way to get out in the outside areas of the city, Eden Praire/Chanhassen?

Would appreciate any advice.

MSP does have a light rail system that will get you to the Mall of America and to the downtown area. There's also very limited commuter rail service.

To the suburbs, you're best bet is to drive, but you might be able to pick up a car downtown.

Bob H

From the airport to the Marriott, I'd also suggest the light rail if cost is an issue.

Very easy - follow the signs at the airport to the train station, and I'd exit the train at the "Nicollet Mall" station. Walk 1/2 block in the direction the train was traveling to Nicollet Mall, turn left, walk 2 blocks to 7th street, turn right and the Marriott will be on your right.

For the journeys outside the city I'd also suggest a rental car, you can probably arrange to pick up the car at a city center location and return it at the airport (very easy). Note - once you enter the airport off the interstate you will have passed the last gas station, fill up when you're getting close.

I'm on company money so cost really isn't an issue, still I don't want to be taken advantage of by some cabbie that takes me for a turn just because he can tell I don't know the city. The light rail sounds like a good option though. How safe is Minneapolis in general terms?

You could stand on almost any street corner with $100 bills hanging out of your pockets and the only thing that would happen is that very nice people would point out the problem to you.

Why would anyone stand on a corner when you can take the Sky Walk ... <lol>

For the OP's benefit, all the major buildings in downtown MSP are connected by enclosed walkways and you can walk for miles without going outside.

Great this time of year !

BOb H

True - but if you take the Sky Walk you miss the Moore sculture (as in Mary Tyler, not Henry).

Actually, you can probably also take the Sky Walk most of the way from the Light Rail stop to the Marriott, but since its only a couple block and the SW can be confusing at first I just thought it would be easier to walk, unless its 30 below that day.