The University Inn Ann Arbor

The location was the only thing I liked, right by Trader Joe’s and about a five-minute drive from the University of Michigan. We stayed with family because I had something to do at U of Michigan, and the place was awful. It may technically be a hotel, but you’d be better off at a motel. Nearby hotels are probably cleaner and cheaper, though our room with a kitchen may explain the high price. This place is a scam. Don’t stay here. We found a cockroach behind the microwave after dinner. That was disgusting, and it made it seem like housekeeping wasn’t doing its job. The staff member was friendly at first, but blatantly denied that anyone had complained about Wi-Fi or dirty rooms. Trying to get the remaining days refunded because we wanted to leave for another hotel was a pain. Their “continental breakfast” was basically some bread, an apple, and maybe cereal if it hadn’t all been eaten. The room’s condition got worse the more we looked. The shower was a little dirty, there was mold on the mirror and a stain on the wall, and the sheets were crusty. My mom developed intense hives from them, something that had never happened to her before. There were also safety issues: a dip where the floorboards changed to carpet near the back of the room that was easy to trip on, and a lamp by the door that looked ready to fall. It was meant to extend, but when I tried, it seemed about to tumble down. The biggest issue was that there was no fire alarm or smoke detector, which is against the law and especially concerning in a room with a kitchen. One outlet also looked questionable, like it could break if you pulled a plug too hard. At check-in I was given the wrong room, then another room with a broken lock that the key wouldn’t fit, and only after that did I get my room. Wi-Fi in the room was terrible. It only worked outside or if I sat right next to the door. Someone a few rooms away spent much of the day sitting outside with the same problem.

We couldn’t talk through our concerns before leaving because the office doesn’t open until 8 a.m. The beds weren’t the indicated queen size and weren’t comfortable, and the towels felt rough. The sheets smelled awful, as if they hadn’t been dried promptly. Check-in itself was pleasant, but breakfast started too late for swimming prelims at Michigan University. I won’t stay here again.

For a last-minute booking at a fairly low price, this worked out well for staying with a family member, and I’m grateful for that. It’s a basic place, and the rooms and services feel that way. The rooms aren’t in perfect shape, but mine was clean and the night was quiet. When I visited, they had free coffee and yogurt cups, though you shouldn’t expect a fancy continental breakfast. Downtown Ann Arbor is about a 35-minute walk if you’re without a car.

Our first room was dirty, with what looked like dried blood on the sheets. You could see outside around the AC unit and under the door, the shower was dirty with hair still in the drain, and there was a nail by the microwave. We asked for another room, but got no apology or urgency. The employee even admitted the second room wasn’t the cleanest either. The sheets there looked better, though they still had questionable spots. In the last five pictures, what looked like bodily fluids was still on the carpet, and there were dirty bags and a pop can under the sink. In the morning, a bug crawled out of the sink. This “hotel” is a motel, and it isn’t worth your money. I wish I’d gone somewhere else.