Best Western Plus University Park Inn & Suites

We came to town for a football recruiting event and arrived early. The staff helped us out and made the stay wonderful. “Kari” was polite and informative, and “Jolene” made our day with her professionalism. They and the breakfast staff are the kind of people who are hard to find in customer service now. I’d give six stars if I could. The building and rooms were clean, and breakfast was wonderful. I’d recommend this spot to anyone new to Ames or visiting the ISU football facilities. If you’re going to the game, getting there is easy with several transportation providers. Getting back afterward is harder, and it’s a 1.5-mile walk to the hotel.

We came back to this same hotel after staying here a year ago because the care had been great last time. This time, I’m not sure we’ll return. Checkout is at noon, and we didn’t get back until 5 a.m. We were getting ready for a 12-hour drive, so we took our time sleeping and packing. At 11:35 a.m. on January 24, 2026, one of us had started carrying bags to the car while the other finished a shower. A few minutes later, while we were finishing an upload to social media before leaving, we heard a maid ask, “Are they done yet?” Another answered, “No, they are just taking their sweet time.” It felt like they said it loudly so we’d hear, and I found it disrespectful. Two minutes before we left, I looked through the peephole and saw a maid sitting by her cleaning cart outside our door, as if she couldn’t go home until she cleaned our room. That made it feel like we were being rushed out of a stay we’d paid for.

We were traveling to Ames because my friend was having surgery, but our planned three-night stay became just one. The room smelled strongly of toilet bowl cleaner, the beds felt like plywood on springs, and paint was cracking and peeling in several places. The “crown molding” in the hallways looked tacky too. In the morning I asked about mattress padding or bed toppers, and they looked at me like I was crazy. When it was clear that wasn’t going to happen, I asked to check out that day without a fee. They agreed, but once the staff member realized they could check me out even though I’d booked through a third party, they did it without anything close to an apology or confirming that was what I wanted. The service was extremely rude, and the property was far below standard.

The TV service could use an upgrade, but otherwise I have no complaints. The staff were friendly and helpful, especially on Saturday morning. Breakfast was hot and well stocked, and I always appreciate having biscuits and gravy. It’s a great place to stay for a football game, and the hotel did a good job accommodating the big crowd.