Cheapest options for staying 5-10 days for heart surgery?

@beckykurszewski Hello and welcome to Connect. I'm sure you have lots to do to prepare for your trip. I think all the hotels have discount rates for Mayo patients, just call them and ask. I think your best bet is to contact the Mayo free Concierge service as they have a list and know what each property offers as well as pricing. Generally, if you are close to the clinic or hospital, the price is higher. The hotels have free shuttles, but after heart surgery, you may would want some private transportation to get to the hotel. I like to stay at Candlewood Suites which is about a mile from the Clinic. They have full kitchens with full size refrigerator and dishwashers, plates and utensils. They don't have a free breakfast, but that keeps the cost lower. It was the Concierge that helped me find Candlewood Suites right after it opened. They have free parking. Some of the closer hotels may charge for parking, but also have access through the subway underground walkway. Pushing a wheelchair a few blocks in the subway may be too much to do.

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Jennifer

beckykurszewski @beckykurszewski

I will add to Jennifer's response. When picking a location, consider where you will be spending most of your time. If majority of time is going to be when patient is in hospital, you may want to stay closer to hospital.

Pre surgery visits and tests will probably be done at clinic in downtown area, I think most cardiac surgery is done at St Mary's Hospital which is about one mile away from the downtown clinic buildings. If most time is going to be spent at St Mary's might be more convenient to have hotel close to hospital so can go back forth without driving or using shuttle. Your finance should have an appointment schedule on portal indicating where appointments are.

This map shows locations of clinic and St Mary's:
https://mcforms.mayo.edu/mc1600-mc1699/mc1663-55.pdf

As Jennifer suggested, start with Mayo Concierge Services and call hotels to ask about Mayo patient discounts and extras like kitchens, free breakfast, parking, etc...

Have you been to Rochester before?

Hi @beckykurszewski,
I'm jumping in here with the other responses you have already received. You got some great information already, but may I add my two cents?(for what its worth in today's economy!)
How great to be able to have open heart surgery at the finest hospital in the land! This of course is wonderful, but I get not knowing where to stay, coupled with your love facing a tough surgery is nerve wracking to say the least.
I had open heart surgery at St. Mary's in Rochester three years ago. In my case I had the bulk of the pre-op testing done at the Mayo downtown, and some labs and the heart cath was done at St. Mary's the day before surgery. I don't know if your fiancé' will be having a heart cath or not? But if so, he will not be allowed to walk afterwards and they will insist he use a wheelchair...so being close by is important. Can you imagine pushing him in a wheel chair blocks away? It's not impossible, but knowing up front is good too!
There are free shuttles from St. Mary's to downtown all day long, so it's super easy to get back and forth from where you are if you are staying close to the hospital.
I was in for five days. Each person is different and will have different post op experiences, but planning ahead is the best thing you can do.
The advice you got to stay close to St. Mary's is what I would suggest too. My guy literally walked across the street to the hospital each day at 8:00 in the morning. It was super convenient for him. We stayed at the Courtyard/Marriott and it also has a Mayo discount, serves Starbucks in the lobby and has a bar (yay!) and restaurant on site.
Here is their address/phone #
161 13th Ave. SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Phone
+1 507 536 0040
There's a great whole foods kind of place near by within walking distance, called Fresh Time Market that we walked to after my surgery for more healthy options. I was able to walk there afterwards, so it wasn't far for sure. There are many other hotels on the same street, and also just across from the hospital, so like suggested, if price is the main focus, I'd get ahold of Mayo Concierge, because this is what they do every day!
We planned to stay two weeks, but ended up only staying 8 days because I got out so quick, and we did stay a day over to do to a post-op clinic visit. I can pretty much guarantee he will be weak and tired, but that is expected after open heart surgery. For your sake, being close to the hospital and safe to walk back and forth at night is important...
If you have any other questions, I hope you reach back out again. Mayo Connect is a great place to find answers to your questions, a place to share your concerns, or just have someone to virtually hold your hand.
Don't forget his cell phone charger! He will need it while he's in the hospital. I think May is good weather in Minnesota, so you most likely won't have to fight the snow. When in May is his surgery?

@beckykurszewski When I had my spine surgery at St. Mary's, we stayed right across the street at Aspen Suites which have full kitchens. It is nice, but more expensive because of being in walking distance to the hospital. It is right across the street from the older entrance to St. Mary's called the Tower entrance. That entrance has stairs, so it would not be wheelchair accessible. The main entrance has the drive up access and there are sidewalks if you exit there and walk to the cross street and around the corner where most of the hotels are. Shuttles stop at the main entrance.

Here is a little photo tour of St. Mary's that may help you become more familiar with the area. You'll see it is very beautiful and welcoming.

Hello @beckykurszewski. Most of the hotels in the Saint Marys area will start just over $100/day, with the discount you can get for being a Mayo Clinic patient. Aspen Select is right across the street for SMH and one of the patient entrances. I have included their information below. We would have some other options, depending on prices you are looking for or if you would have a car with you. I can share some of those as well, if you would like.

Aspen Select - $$$
1215 2nd St SW
Rochester, MN 55902
800-366-3451
507-288-2671
http://www.aspenselectrochester.com