Internship in Hastings, MN. Places to stay and commute (Minneapolis: car rental, apartments)

[Tulip25]

Hi,

My name is Robbert Tulp from the Netherlands. I am planning to do my bachelor internship at a large manufacturing company in Hastings, MN. In order to do my internship I need to get a place to stay for a period of 5 months, from February till July 2012. I think this is doable, anybody have any tips where to look for cheap housing?

Also I have heard that it is hard to commute to Hastings, from for example Minneapolis, by public transport. Is this really true? What other options are there for transport? Can I buy a car in the USA on a working Visa?

Hope to hear from you soon!

Greetings from the Netherlands!

[golfgal]

I would just look in Hastings. It is one of the more affordable places in the metro area to live and then you won't have to worry about commuting.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

If bus routes from Minneapolis to Hastings even exist the service would be sporadic at best. I would not rely on this option. It'd be in your best interest to first look right in Hastings as that would be your most convenient option.

[GBCommenter]

Hello Robbert, welcome to Minnesota and America (well, soon enough). I just looked at the website for the Minneapolis-St.Paul public transit system (Home - Metro Transit). On their map, it does not appear there is any line that goes to Hastings at all. That said, I would say bus service will not be an option for you.

Keep in mind Hastings is a somewhat small city away from the main metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St. Paul. From downtown Minneapolis, Hastings is approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) away.

I would also suggest considering finding a place in Hastings itself. While perhaps not as flashy as living in Minneapolis, if you will be spending the majority of your time in Hastings, it probably makes more sense to live near where you will spend time, though I realize I am projecting my own preferences onto your situation. I am uncertain if you can purchase a car on a work visa or not. Would your internship or Embassy have information? You may also wish to contact the Minnesota Attorney General's office, which would be our public resource for laws in the State of Minnesota. Their website is Office of Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson.

You might also consider doing a long-term rental of a car too. The major car rental companies do rent cars by the month, though I do not know specifics. You would not have to worry about what to do with the car once you return to the Netherlands.

I hope that is helpful for you.

[Citykid3785]

Parts of Eagan are close to Hastings, and have service to Minneapolis and st Paul, however housing is more expensive. I would opt for housing in Hastings, then rent a car or take a taxi to a bus station the handful of times you want to check out the cities in your 5 month stay. The money you'll save on housing in Hastings will allow you to not mind spending a little bit a few times to travel.

[Tulip25]

Hi,

I want to thank you all for the quick replies on the subject I posted.
I have been looking into housing in Hastings and it is as you said, affordable.

I however had the desire to live in the city, because there they have student housing and that is a great way to get to know some people in the USA. But since getting from Hastings to Minneapolis is such an impossible task, I think I'll live in Hastings. And I'll look into the car subject! Thanks for the heads up!

greetings

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Not impossible, just not reasonable without a car. Even with a car, it's a commute you'd probably be better off avoiding if possible. Hastings is over 30 miles from Minneapolis and over 20 miles from St. Paul.

[xandrex]

It's definitely possible to commute that far, but why would you want to? I know when I was really young, my family lived in Hastings for a short period of time. My dad was commuting to Minneapolis/St. Louis Park for his job. He did it, but I don't think it was much fun.

Your best bet...stick to Hastings.

[mn55110]

Hello Tulip25:

Since your internship is in Hastings, and you would like to live where there are more college students in their 20's and Minneapolis being thirty plus miles from Hastings, you may want to look across the Mississippi River at River Falls, Wisconsin.

The campus of University of Wisconsin-River Falls is only 10-to-15 minutes from Hastings, MN with abundance of affordable, off-campus housing near the UW-River Falls campus with a college atmosphere. There is no traffic between Hastings, Prescott and River Falls. The Univ. of Wisconsin-River Falls campus is only 25 miles to downtown St. Paul, 35 miles to downtown Minneapolis and 10 miles to Hudson,WI.

I would suggest posting a River Falls question on the Wisconsin Board as well.

If you decide on living in Hastings as others have correctly suggested, there are plenty of rental townhomes and apartments available since the housing bubble burst. Hastings also has a Target, Cub Foods Grocery Store, Wal-Mart Supercenter, numerous chain restaurants like: Green Mill Pizza, Arby's Mc Donalds, Apllebee's, Panera Bread and historic restaurants/ shopping, drinking establishments along their beautiful historic riverfront downtown. Dakota County Services are also based in Hastings as well.

Welcome to the United States and the St. Croix River Valley, or as the locals call it "The Friendly Valley"

An automobile is must in this area.

[Tulip25]

Hello,

Thanks to you all for the reactions. I think River Falls is also a good option, if I can buy a car in the US. I've looked into it and I think it is possible to buy a car during my stay on a work visa. I'll check back here when the time comes! I will be in the US from February till July!

See you then!