St. Louis is one of those towns that offers enough attractions to satisfy your curiosity, but, at the same time, not on such a grand scale that you feel guilty (or unfulfilled) if you don’t see them all. That makes St. Louis a good bet for a weekend break. The “Sights & Sounds of St. Louis” package, at Radisson Hotel & Suites St. Louis Downtown, is among a host of deals that combine some of the Gateway City’s favorite activities. Good through Dec. 31. (314-621-8200)
THE DEAL
$350 per couple
Includes: two nights at the Radisson Hotel & Suites St. Louis Downtown, cocktails, full breakfast buffet one morning, dinner certificate worth $25/person at Hannegan’s on the Landing one evening, admission to the Gateway Arch tram ride, taxes.
THE ALTERNATIVE
Done on our own (prices are for two):
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Hotel: $273 (two nights at $119 plus 14.87 percent tax) for standard double room at Radisson Hotel & Suites St. Louis Downtown, Oct. 12-13.
Drinks: $10 (two at $5/person) in hotel bar.
Breakfast: $30 (two at $15/person, including tax) for full buffet in hotel restaurant.
Dinner: $50 ($25/person) at Hannegan’s on the Landing.
Gateway Arch: $14 (two at $7/person) for tram ride.
Total: $377 on our own for features similar to those of the package.
Difference: $27 less with the package.
BEYOND THE DOLLAR SIGNS
On your own, there’s a trick to snagging an affordable hotel rate on Friday-Saturday in St. Louis, particularly downtown. When I called Radisson, all they had left for Oct. 5-6 were executive digs that started at $179/night. The hotel reservation operator was only able to quote the $119/night rate, listed above, when I changed travel dates to the Oct. 12-13 weekend.
Aside from its perennial attractions (Gateway Arch, Union Station) and oddity stops (a museum with 3-foot-high fiberglass teeth, a bowling hall of fame), the St. Louis area holds some unusual events (a cat show held in a cave, a wolf rendezvous, a trail ride through downtown) that can add another layer of experiences to a visit here. But remember how I was saying that the Radisson’s “Sights & Sounds of St. Louis” deal was just one of many St. Louis packages? Thirty-six hotels have lined up more than 80 different packages geared for romance, culture, family fun, sports, shopping or casino-hopping. 9 gaming, 9 shopping, 5 sports, at 36 hotels–most good through Dec. 31.
MAKING THE CALL
Radisson’s “Sights & Sounds of St. Louis” not only gives you a good rate but a good location: If the hotel were any closer to Gateway Arch, it would be inside of the thing. The package also offers dinner in a restaurant that serves toasted ravioli (the national dish of St. Louis) and live jazz in the city’s entertainment district, Laclede’s Landing–about seven blocks from the hotel but probably not a stretch you’d want to walk at night, so take a car.
If you’d rather learn about those other deals I mentioned before you make a decision, you can get information on them through the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at www.explorestlouis.com, or by requesting the Special Hotel Packages & Events brochure by calling 800-916-9680. At that number you also can listen to recorded information about hotel deals–if you’ve got lots of time and patience. Otherwise, just contact individual hotels.
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Toni Stroud’s e-mail address is [email protected].