Extremely comfortable lodging. Free wi-fi available throughout the house. Large common areas for hanging out and meeting others. The Carvers are very friendly and considerate proprietors. Their dog, Sky, is beautiful and sweet.

Conveniently located to Dinkytown (a quick walk to Al's Breakfast), and about a 40 minute walk from downtown across the Stone Arch bridge (and a 5 minute drive).

At these rates, why stay anywhere else?

I can't recommend Wales House highly enough, for either short or longer stays.

This inexpensive, friendly bed and breakfast (run by Kelly and Julie) is ideal for anyone visiting the University of Minneapolis, being located close to one campus, with other areas of the university easily accessible via campus shuttle bus. Other forms of public transport are available nearby, and the airporter bus dropped me at the door.

My room at the front of the house overlooked the quiet tree lined street and the front lawn of the house, where squirrels and rabbits constantly played. The room itself was simple but lovely: a comfortable bed (with plenty of pillows and a pretty patchwork quilt), a good desk, chair, desk lamp and computer access for working, plus a phone and answering machine for the room's direct line. If you don't want to stay in your room, the house contains many sunlit and antique filled spaces where you can read or take your laptop.

While some rooms have ensuites, mine shared a bathroom, which was right next door and spotlessly clean. A continental breakfast (with great fresh juice) was set out downstairs each morning near the guests' kitchen, where cupboard and refrigerator space was thoughtfully allocated for each guest.

Being at the front of the house my room did experience some noise one night from students living in the area (who were apparently celebrating a return to campus) but this didn't bother me. However, if noise is a concern, simply make Kelly aware of this when you make your reservation, so he can advise whether your stay might coincide with any student festivities, and locate you in a quieter area of the house.

Kelly's thoughfulness extends to excellent advice on what to do and where to go. Restaurants (try Kafe 421, which I tried on his advice), ATMs, supermarkets, some interesting second hand book stores and even a cinema are all available within a 5 minute walk, at Dinkytown shops. I greatly enjoyed walking around both the neighbourhood and the university campus, which was beautiful in Autumn. With only three days in Minneapolis to attend a conference, I felt I had seen a lot more than if I had based myself in a hotel downtown. Wales House, in just three days, had become home.

We have stayed at the Wales House three times in the past three years and always look forward to going back. It is not a romantic getaway type of B&B, but it is comfortable and friendly. Their main clientele are visiting academics for the University, which usually results in a diverse group of guests from all over the world.

The Wales House is a large house near Dinkytown and the University of Minnesota. The guest rooms are basic, with either a double or queen bed, a clock radio, no television and radiator heating. The rooms have hardwood floors and are furnished with antiques. Some rooms have a private bath while others share a hall bath with one or two other rooms.

In the basement there are common areas for cooking, eating breakfast and watching television/videos/DVDs. You can cook your own meals in the common kitchen, and each room has refrigerator and cabinet space in the kitchen.

The owners, Kelly and Julie are very friendly and personable.