If time is of the essence, try the quick soak. For a faster soak, put the beans and water in a saucepan and bring them to a boil. Allow them to boil for about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat, cover it with a lid and let the beans soak for at least 1 hour.
On the way down, I stayed at Comfort Inn in Mount Vernon, which was fairly average. While I was in Mississippi, I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. It was a step up from the Comfort Inn. The Hampton Inn had the Hilton stamp all over it...the quality and feel was definitely more upscale than the others.
Hotels: Chanhassen Inn Motel (Highway 5 And Great Plains) (1), Country Suites Chanhassen (591 West 78 Street) (2), Holiday Inn Exp Stes Chanhasse (7855 Century Boulevard) (3), Country Suites by Carlson Chanhassen (591 West 78th Street) (4), AmericInn Chanhassen (570 Pond Promenade) (5).