I travel to Duluth a lot and I always stay at the Best Western Downtown. It's not down by the canal so I don't have to pay exhorbitant prices and it's an easy walk to restaurants, bars, etc. The staff is fantastic. Most notibly the front desk staff. They bend over backwards to make me feel welcome. They're so nice they could be "Canadian".
The rooms have been upgraded nicely, the beds are comfortable and clean. I LOVE the free wifi. So many hotels charge for this service. Plus, there's a computer in the lobby that you can use FREE. Imagine that!
The complimentary breakfast is really quite good for such a small establishment. Although the lobby is not big, there is a second comfortable lounge with a big screen tv and a washroom where I often enjoy breakfast. There is also a coin operated washer and dryer in the washroom so I can easily do laundry during a longer stay.
I like the Bestwestern Canadian club rewards program that offers a free room for every 10 nights that you stay. I've used this promotion a lot.
In high season they offer a free shuttle service which comes in handy if I have too many wobbly pops down at the Canal and don't trust myself to walk up the hill. Once during a snow storm the receptionist arranged for a free taxi to bring us back to the hotel because the shuttle wasn't available.
The coffee makers in the room are convenient and if I need a fridge they will get me one. I like that they have non smoking rooms. My friend left some valuable shoes in the room once and Sue from the front desk packaged them up and shipped them to her right away. Also, one time, I visited Duluth with a friend who was celebrating her birthday so one of the staff went out and bought a case of her favorite beer for me, which I later reimbursed him for, and put it in the room so that we could have a "cold" one as soon as we arrived. He even put a Happy Birthday note on it. Talk about good service.
On the down side, the hotel is located near the fire and police stations so sometimes you can hear a siren in the night. It doesn't bother me at all but some people might be put off by it. I almost never take my car when I go out for dinner at night and I've never had a problem walking by myself. I walk one block down to the Holiday Inn and take the indoor skywalk right down to Canal Park. It's brightly lit, safe and warm during those cold winter nights.
There's so much to do close by the Best Western Downtown, all within walking distance. Why pay more for a room that you're only going to sleep in. This place is clean, comfortable, friendly, priced right and I always feel like it's my home away from home.