Tru by Hilton Madison West, WI

The room was clean, with a clean bed and floors, a great shower, working AC and heat, and an iron and ironing board. I had nothing to complain about there. The hotel has a modern look, with swing chairs that are pretty close to hanging egg chairs. There’s a small business nook, a sundries shop, a 24/7 fitness center, and games in the lobby. I also saw what looked like a Super Chexx Pro bubble hockey table. The pet area was welcoming, and since it had just snowed, I noticed the parking lot had been cleared promptly and was mostly snow-free.

The rooms were clean and nice, and service was excellent. Breakfast was well done too. The facility seems newer, though it doesn’t have a swimming pool. My only complaint is the hourly fee for late checkout.

The staff were kind, but this was by far my worst hotel stay. It was very noisy from neighboring rooms, doors in the hall, and the parking lot. The bed squeaked constantly, so sleeping was hard. Breakfast was bland, though I expected that. What really made the nights unacceptable was the on-and-off but persistent weed smell in the hallway and my room. It woke me several times, even with the thermostat and fan switched off.

Breakfast runs from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, longer than at most hotels, and it’s free. There’s a nice range of choices, from bagels and fruit to cereal, eggs, several kinds of milk, juice, and other items. My favorite was the pancake machine. It’s fun to watch the pancakes come out automatically. The hotel was especially suited to a quiet stay, with a 24-hour gym and calm places to use a phone or laptop, or get some work or studying done. The lobby is thoughtfully laid out, with a pool table, game tables, and charging outlets all over. Everything was very clean and relaxing. I appreciated the 24-hour fitness center too. It has the essential equipment and met my basic workout needs while traveling. In the room, the body wash, hand soap, shampoo, and body lotion came in convenient pump bottles, so it was easy to use just the amount I wanted. Parking was simple, with plenty of spaces by the entrance. A comfortable, well-planned stay, and I’d recommend it.