Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel

The bar was really nice, with great bartenders and amazing drinks, and there was plenty of parking. The front desk was very nice too. The lobby fridge had free water, Gatorade, and chocolate milk. My bed was comfy, though the pillows were flat unless I stuffed two into one pillowcase. The room had a small fridge, and the shower pressure was okay, but the water was barely hot at times and great at others. I was on the first floor near the bar door, and it was loud. I could hear people in the hall, upstairs, and next door. A constant rattle made it sound like someone was testing our door, though I think it was hallway doors opening. At one point I got up to check the bathroom because the neighbors sounded like they were in it. There’s a bathroom vent, but no swimming pool.

Hotel Grinnell is a fascinating old building, and the renovation is great. I stayed at the end of September 2025, and the modern rooms were terrific, comfortable, and clean. As a Choice Privileges member, I appreciated how well they treated me when there was a misunderstanding about using Privileges points, and how quickly they resolved it. The restaurant and patio were great too, with good food, a nice cocktail menu, and friendly service. A wonderful gem in the middle of Iowa. I'll stay again next time I'm near central Iowa!

The hotel has a nostalgic feel because it's a remodeled old school, and the rooms are very clean. The staff are always friendly, and their service and location beat the other hotels I've stayed at when visiting my son.

The building is historic, beautifully designed, and in a great location, which makes the decline in service on my five to six stays especially disappointing. Breakfast used to be in the Periodic Room, but now it's squeezed next to check-in with too few seats, so guests have to wait for a spot. I've never found anyone at the front desk and have always had to call for help, which is hard for international travelers without a local number. On my last visit, AC cords were even exposed on the floor. Management needs to hire more staff, keep someone at the desk, and bring breakfast and the games back to the Periodic Room to restore the quality the hotel used to have.