University Lodge

The University Lodge is handy for downtown Amherst and the UMass campus. It's a small, modest inn with clean, comfortable rooms and friendly, accommodating staff. Things got a bit raucous over the weekend and the walls started to feel thin, though that's college town life. I enjoyed the stay and hope to come back.

The rooms are basic, with too few convenient outlets for charging devices and flickering fluorescent lights, though at least the shower gets hot. Morning coffee in the office was promised but never showed up. When I asked the front desk for extra packets for the in-room coffee maker, they said I had to wait for the cleaning service to come by. The WiFi is terrible, slow and constantly dropping out. It seems the upstairs are private residences, maybe rented by students. Someone was practicing drums above me today, and last night I could've sworn someone paced around all night. You get what you pay for, which isn't much.

Staff were polite and helpful, which smoothed things out quite a bit, but I have mixed feelings about this place. The rooms are functional, and its only real advantage is the location. The WiFi is a complete joke. Room 10 gets no signal at the end of the building, and the room feels cave-like. Maybe they could spring for a signal booster. I asked to change rooms and got Room 11 above the main office. Even there, I had to go to the window to catch the login signal, then carry it back to the work desk. The login itself feels like a relic from dial-up days.

The location is convenient for downtown Amherst, and WiFi and parking are free. The place feels run-down and motel-style, and it's managed by the local Howard Johnson hotel. The front desk is open limited hours, so guests have to call the Howard Johnson when it's closed. They offer complimentary coffee at the desk in the morning, and sometimes doughnuts and muffins too.