Graduate by Hilton Chapel Hill

We liked having a balcony, and the bar's outdoor seating was great. The food is simple pub fare, but the chef was flexible about vegetarian needs. Fidel, our bartender, was efficient and really friendly, and the front desk staff were very welcoming. The hotel is centrally located. Inside the room, though, some closed cupboards would be useful, and instant coffee isn't much of a perk. We also felt uneasy seeing so many homeless people in front of the hotel. That's a city issue, so there isn't much the hotel can do.

The location was good, but we had no hot water. Worse, a holiday parade shut down Franklin street, and no one on staff warned us. When we went to check out, we were told we couldn't leave for another 2.5 hours because of the parade. A heads-up to leave earlier or park somewhere else would have made all the difference. It was incredibly frustrating. I won't be back.

After a 2 hour drive, I just needed to use the bathroom while my partner handled the reservation. The front desk guy tried to stop me from going in, even after I explained the situation. While I was inside, he banged on the bathroom door as I peed. My partner immediately called the company, and we canceled the booking and reserved at the Marriott across the street instead. That kind of harassment is unacceptable anywhere.

The rooms were a little dated for what we paid, especially the bathrooms, which could use an update. Still, the space was comfortable and it didn't take away from our stay. We were in town for a wedding over the weekend, and the location couldn't have worked better, with lots of restaurants just a couple of minutes away on foot. The Carolina theme was fun, and everyone at the front desk was friendly and helpful. I'd stay again if I came back to Chapel Hill.