Bw Plus Dubuque Hotel & Conference Center

We chose the Best Western for our wedding more than two years ahead because it was supposed to be an all-in-one venue with catering and bartending. Just under a year before the date, my fiance was told the caterer was quitting. The hotel gave us a short list of approved vendors and left us to sort out a bartender if the caterer we chose didn't have one. When we asked for our deposit back, they said it was non-refundable. I argued that they had broken the contract, and they eventually found a replacement caterer, so we thought things were settled. Then, while arranging the menu and drinks a couple of weeks later, we learned that this caterer didn't have an Event License. We were told getting one would cost $800 to $1200 if we wanted alcohol at our wedding. We'd explained what we expected from the start, so we pushed back. Their alternative was to put a keg at Old Chicago and have our guests walk over whenever they wanted anything besides soda. They said the contract only promised a caterer, not a specific one or one with an Event License. After months of arguing, we were fed up. We found another venue and caterer for our date and told the Best Western we were cancelling and wanted the deposit back because they hadn't held up their end. They refused, saying they had fulfilled the contract. Anyone planning a wedding there should expect that promises may not be met and that they may not get their deposit back.

After a long road trip, the calm feel of this place was exactly what our family needed. The staff were welcoming and helpful the entire stay, and they even changed our reservation when car trouble kept us from arriving on the original date. It's very dog friendly, with lots of grassy spots for walks. The hotel was truly clean, without musty smells or dingy rooms or carpet. We had a first-floor room right by the pool, but it was surprisingly quiet. The pool and hot tub were warm and inviting in the cold Midwest winter, and both had accessibility chairs. The atrium by the pool is a lovely place to relax, and the game room was fun for passing time. Rooms are easy to find and the layout doesn't feel like a maze. The shower pressure was a great surprise, and the room had a desk for my husband to work at. The couch wasn't fabric, which I actually prefer since it's easier to wipe clean after guests. This may have been our best hotel stay in years, and we'll likely make it a regular stop when we drive to see family.

The staff were helpful and very friendly, and we really liked the pool. It reaches 9 feet deep, and the glass ceiling lets sunshine in during winter. Since we don't have kids, we also appreciated that the pool is for adults only during the last hour on weekends.

For $162 USD before tax on a September 2025 weeknight, this stay didn't feel like much of a "plus." The beds were very comfortable, the pillows were amazing (I wish they were for sale), and the free breakfast was excellent, with scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, pancakes, and lots more. There was also a large pool, a restaurant and bar attached to the hotel, and exceptionally fast WiFi at 134 Mbps download and 70 Mbps upload. Our check-in set a poor tone. We felt unwelcome, weren't thanked for being diamond select members, and didn't get the bottles of water others received. No one explained that a nearby back entrance would make getting to our room easier, so we walked through the whole hotel. We also weren't asked if we wanted a room by the pool, though there were at least 18 empty ones the next morning. Instead, we were far down a dark hallway and never bothered going to the pool. The AC kept resetting to 76F, even after maintenance came in while we were out to cool the room. It was uncomfortable all night. There was no room clock, and a gap of about 1.5 inches under the adjoining-room door let us hear the neighbors' dog barking and spousal yelling. A towel under the gap barely helped. The lobby coffee machine was out of order.