places to stay in st. louis

The Chase Park Plaza is the hotel I have stayed at whenever I have come to St. Louis. We have very much enjoyed it each time!

CONTACT: LYOST (at) sonesta (dot) com

PROS:

• SDR discount is generous compared to their regular rate, and it’s probably the most upscale hotel in St. Louis, so it’s a beautiful place to stay.
• Amazing staff!!!! The entire staff was friendly, but there were a couple of people who truly made an impact on us. If you choose the Chase, look for Brenda (Ms. B) and James; they’re often right outside the dining area. Their kindness and prayers meant the world to us!
• Outdoor pool open in warmer months (not sure of the exact month) all the way through November. (However, keep in mind that after SDR or PERCS, you will have to wait 2 weeks to swim again.)
• Movie theater. You don’t have to be staying at the Chase to go to their movie theater, but it’s pretty magical to be able to walk down to the theater from your room. In the days after SDR, it was uncomfortable for me to sit up for long periods of time, so we ordered popcorn from the theater concession stand and brought it up to our hotel room to eat while we watched Netflix in bed. Twice, when I wasn’t recovering from a surgery, actually watched a movie in the theater, and we had almost the whole theater to ourselves!
• Washer and dryer down the hall (or in-room if you choose their apartments).
• Shuttle that operates at scheduled times.
• Pretty close to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. It was about a 10-minute walk for my mom (who doesn’t have CP); slightly longer for me (mild CP, can walk independently), a total of eight-tenths of a mile. By car, it’s about a 5-minute drive.
• Walking distance to Whole Foods, Straubs, restaurants. The Chase is within close walking distance to a grocery store called Straubs, which is pricey, but has good prepared meals (I’ve included some images of Straubs in the image slideshow, including one that shows its location across the street). They have excellent mushroom-Swiss quiche and prepared salads, which were useful when we didn’t want to go out for dinner, especially when I was back in the hotel after my SDR hospital stay. Other nearby places include Jeni’s (a gourmet ice cream shop — we loved it! May be slightly fancy for young children’s tastes.), a delicious cupcake shop called The Cup, and a natural-foods grocery store called Whole Foods (pricey, but high-quality food).

CONS:

• Not the closest to the hospital. It’s about a 10-minute walk or a 5-minute drive, and the hotel no longer offers a shuttle service. If you need a closer hotel, consider the Double Tree by Hilton St. Louis Forest Park (connected to the hospital) or MetroLofts (if you’re staying 30+ days).
• May not be suitable for larger families. If you need a larger room, some people have booked 2 rooms next to each other (ask the hotel about your options), but otherwise you should look into other options. The apartments may work if you’re staying longer, but these are pricier.
• Only the apartments have kitchens.

  Photo gallery below; if the photos don’t load on their own, you may need to click the images, click the arrows, or wait a little bit. Use the arrows to scroll between photos.

 Metropolitan Flats is an apartment complex. (Here’s another link!) Usually, only international families stay here because they require a 30+ day stay. This is one of the most popular options with international families because it is so close to the hospital! The costs depend on the month, but I saw 2019 costs that ranged from $108 to $116 per night.

Keep in mind that the info below may be outdated; I received this information back in 2019, when it was still called MetroLofts. I’m not sure how much has changed since then.

PROS:

• Directly across the street from the hospital (about a 5-minute walk from the apartment to the therapy room!).
• Washer/dryer in apartment.
• Full kitchen.
• Bakery down below.

CONS:

• May be noisy. Some of the bedroom walls don’t extend all the way to the ceiling. This may be an issue they address in future renovations.
• Exposed concrete flooring.

Email contact: [email protected]

Drury Inn Forest Park has emerged as a popular option for SDR families.*

PROS:

• SDR discount. (Though some families have reported that they received a better discount through the free rewards program.)
• Pretty close to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. By car, it’s about a 5-minute drive.
• Free breakfast and dinner.
• Free coffee, soda, and popcorn in the lobby. Adults can also receive a couple of free alcoholic beverages each night if they wish.
• Indoor and outdoor pool and whirlpool. (However, keep in mind that after SDR or PERCS, you’ll have to wait 2 weeks to swim again.)

CONS:

• No kitchens. This may be an issue for international families, who stay for a month. There is a refrigerator and microwave in the room though!

*There are many Drury Inns in St. Louis; the Forest Park Drury Inn is the closest to the hospital. However, some families choose the Brentwood Drury Inn and have reported liking that one a lot too! 

The Orion Apartments are luxury apartments about a 10-minute walk/5-minute drive from the hospital (they’re very close to the Chase Park Plaza, and they are attached to the Whole Foods). They are an option for international families (who stay a month), but most US families don’t stay long enough to be able to rent them.

COST ESTIMATES (SDR rates as of 2018):

• 2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Suite: $150 USD per night (including tax)
• If you rent for a month, you get a 20 percent discount off the above; if you rent for a week, you get a 15 percent discount.

PROS:

• Pretty close to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. (About a 5-minute drive/10-minute walk).
• Washer and dryer in apartment
• Whole Foods (grocery store with mostly natural/organic food) is downstairs.
• Rooftop pool when weather is warm.
• Gym

CONS:

• Not the closest to the hospital. It’s about a 10-minute walk or a 5-minute drive. If you need a closer hotel, consider the Parkway (connected to the hospital) or MetroLofts (if you’re staying 30+ days).
• No shuttle. It’s within walking distance to the hospital, but if you need a ride there or need a ride to other places, you’ll need to get an Uber/Lyft or rent a car.

HOW TO BOOK: Book through Kasa or Arch Interim Housing.
Photo gallery below; if the photos don’t load on their own, you may need to click the images, click the arrows, or wait a little bit. Use the arrows to scroll between photos.

Orion photos courtesy of Carly King.

Haven House is a nonprofit built for families who are receiving medical treatment. If costs are a problem for you, consider Haven House. Aside from Ronald McDonald House, Haven House is probably the least expensive option on this list, and they welcome all families who are 25 miles away or farther. Note that you’ll need a referral from a medical professional or social worker to stay here; the hospitals in St. Louis can provide this for you.

Haven House is now temporarily at a DoubleTree hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton St. Louis Westport.

Note that this is not the same hotel as the Forest Park DoubleTree. (The Forest Park DoubleTree is connected to the hospital and more expensive. The Westport DoubleTree is much less expensive but is also much farther away from the hospital.)

Website: https://www.havenhousestl.org/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HavenHouse-St-Louis-151829398184176/

PROS:

• Very inexpensive. $65/night. (Book through Haven House to receive this rate.)
• Relocated temporarily to a DoubleTree hotel during renovations. Haven House has a partnership with a DoubleTree, so it is currently located at a hotel that is quite nice: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St. Louis – Westport
• Free breakfast, dinner, and snacks.
• Free shuttle (but not on-demand; see below).

CONS:

• About 25 minutes from the hospital.
• Shuttle runs at scheduled times, about every 3 hours. Not on-demand.

Photo gallery below; if the photos don’t load on their own, you may need to click the images, click the arrows, or wait a little bit. Use the arrows to scroll between photos.

Haven House DoubleTree photos courtesy of Joy De Stigter.

The Ronald McDonald House is a free option (but suggested $15/night donation) for families whose child is in the hospital.

Just as with Haven House, you’ll need a referral from a medical professional or social worker to stay here, and St. Louis Children’s Hospital can provide this for you. However, be aware that you cannot make a reservation for the Ronald McDonald House. Therefore, if you choose this option, you’ll need to arrange a backup hotel option in case the Ronald McDonald House is full.

Website: https://rmhcstl.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/rmhcstl/

PROS:

• Free (with a suggested, but not required, donation of $15/night).
• Washer and dryer available (community laundry room).
• Free dinners every day, free breakfast on weekends (usually).
• Kitchen.
• Some shuttle service to hospital and grocery store.

CONS:

• No reservations. You can request to be put on a waiting list, but this does not guarantee you a spot. You won’t know if there’s a room available for you until the day before you arrive.

Hilton Home2Suites

PROS:

• Washer and dryer available (community laundry room).
• Free breakfast.
• Free shuttle to hospital, which is 1 mile away.
• Indoor accessible pool (but keep in mind post-op swimming restrictions!).
• Mini kitchen.

CONS:

• Not really close to stores/restaurants.

The Mariott Residence Inn

PROS:

• Can accommodate larger families more easily.
• Indoor pool and hot tub.
• Complimentary breakfast buffet, free dinner 3 times per week.
• Recently renovated.
• Free shuttle to the hospital and any other place within a 3-mile radius.

CONS:

• 10-minute drive to hospital, and there’s sometimes heavy traffic.
• Long waits for the shuttle (according to some people’s experiences) and it’s too far to walk to the hospital if the shuttle is running late.
• Shuttle is not wheelchair accessible.

Airbnbs can be fantastic, but they can also be risky. If you choose this option, you really need to do your research before booking.

PROS:

• Often much less expensive than other options.
• May offer more space and more comforts of home compared to a hotel.
• May more easily accommodate larger groups.
• Often have a full kitchen, washer, and dryer.

CONS:

• May be in a dangerous area. Many neighborhoods in St. Louis are unsafe, even near the hospital. You should look at crime maps and thoroughly research the area before booking.
• May be a scam. I have heard of families who booked what appeared to be a fully furnished apartment, only to arrive to an apartment with no furniture at all! Check the ratings before you book.
• May be farther from the hospital. You may have to deal with significant traffic, and you’ll have to arrange your own transportation, like Uber or a rental car.
• May not be accessible. You may need to verify that the doorways are wide enough to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs. Other details to consider: Are the bathrooms accessible? Is there a step (or steps) to get into the house?

Here are some Airbnbs that SDR families have booked and liked:

Industrial Chic Hideaway in the Heart of Central West End

The Grove