Illini Union Hotel

Staying in a campus hotel has a nostalgic feel, with university life all around. The rooms were kept in good shape and cleaned daily. For campus business, the location is about as convenient as it gets. Breakfast vouchers were the only real snag for me. I was there in summer, when restaurants had shorter hours and some shut on weekends. The ones that were open started serving at 8, which was too late on a few days, so breakfast choices can be limited.

The room was pretty average and took a while to cool down. There was construction happening, and parking was limited.

I really enjoyed my stay, and the staff were kind and helpful. They arranged a taxi that arrived right on time, and even contacted me about the eye drops I'd left in the fridge. They also let me get a closer look at the Wedgwood porcelain exhibition by the entrance to Art Gallery. The building has a lovely modern-colonial look and sits in picturesque surroundings. My room was clean, spacious, and air-conditioned, with tea and coffee facilities. At breakfast, the $5 vouchers worked at a few places on the first floor and in the lower-level food court. I especially liked the bagel place. The hotel was also in an excellent spot for the conference I attended. My only real discomfort was the very soft bed and oversized pillows, though that seemed in keeping with the old-school style. The bathroom had ordinary fixtures, some modern and some more vintage.

The staff were lovely, and I liked the location, the view, and the comfortable bed. But the bathroom was pretty gross, with hair all over. I used towels to sweep the floor before taking photos.