The Cook Hotel and Conference Center at LSU

The small suite was comfortable for four, and the standard room we also booked worked well for two. The rooms were nicely appointed, and the lobby gift shop was great. The hotel is right on the LSU campus, in a great spot that’s not too far or difficult to reach from downtown Baton Rouge. Breakfast is included, but the selection is limited and a bit disappointing. The staff were friendly and helpful, though not quite as hospitable as some others we met during this stay. Still, it’s a nice place to stay.

When we came back to the room the next evening, housekeeping had left no face towels. Earlier, as soon as we got into the room, I tried to open the cabinet door for the refrigerator and microwave, and the whole door fell off onto my knee. The hallway smelled like old water, lemon, and musk.

It’s a beautiful hotel, and the staff we met were the friendliest. But we paid a lot for the convenience of being right on campus for a new-student event, and the bathroom wasn’t cleaned properly. There was previous guests’ hair everywhere. At these rates, that shouldn’t happen. They comped us breakfast tickets, but breakfast didn’t seem “exclusive.” Weeks later, despite the wonderful staff saying they’d report the matter, we still hadn’t heard from the manager. I’m not sure I’ll return, even with the small university discount. I’m not eager to pay again for that experience.

The lobby looked gorgeous, and the pool was clean and relaxing, though it only went to five feet, which I understand for liability reasons. The staff were friendly and helpful, and I’d stay here again. I loved the standalone shower, but hoped to use the jacuzzi tub at least once during my week there. I told the front desk there was mold in its jets, and someone came right away. Unfortunately, they cleaned only three of the six jets. I mentioned it again the next day, but the same three were still dirty, so I gave up and took showers instead. The TVs are very outdated, only 720p, and don’t offer Netflix, Hulu, or other streaming services. They did have lots of cable channels.