Truth be told - this is a Motel. Albeit, better than a Red Roof Inn, but still a motel. Pictures shared on their site show the main building where the lobby, coffee shop and restaurant/bar (The Foundry) is located, but the rooms are across a street in a large L shaped, two-story building. First the positives: The lobby and coffee shop are decorated in a fun, quirky way which creates a casual and relaxing environment. I've heard the decor described as being from a Wes Anderson movie. (I think that is an accurate description.) We would have our morning coffee over there relaxing on the comfy couches/chairs and had a surprisingly good breakfast burrito at the coffee shop. Location was good. Close to downtown, easy 10 minute walk to most things, and it was close to the North Oconee River Greenway walking trail on the other side of the river. Our room (on the second floor) was comfortable, clean, well appointed and quiet. The quietness may be due to the fact that we were possibly one of only two or three customers in the hotel those nights. Nonetheless, we slept well and have no complaints about the room. Now for some minor negatives: Staff, which comprised mostly college students, were less than friendly or attentive. At check-in, important information was not disclosed, like the optional housekeeping service, or that the restaurant/bar was not open (at all) during our stay. The $12 per day parking fee was excessive in my opinion. We were the only car in this lot - I feel like they could've waived the parking fee. And the $75 dog fee was a bit steep - but the room rate was low, so I guess it balanced out. We had to call for towels (and to replace a broken soap dispenser) repeatedly before someone finally showed up around 7 pm - I think they didn't have anyone working.... Anyhow - would I stay at this hotel again? Yes. My girlfriend probably wouldn't however. I think had it been warmer and had the Foundry been open, we probably would have had a better experience there. But, it is significantly cheaper that other hotels I looked at, and, frankly, you have to take that into consideration. read more

Lovely little hotel in Athens, GA. Lots of character and attention to detail - I included photos of some of the little touches that made me smile. Bonus: keycards look like student IDs! Plenty of parking and within walking distance from the university of GA and downtown Athens. Overall clean and comfortable. If I get the chance to visit Athens again, I'll stay there. read more

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Would I stay here again probably if only for one night passing through to another town. Didn't like that you had to pay to park here. Rooms were decorated like the 70's which was cool , room was definitely smaller than expected. Staff were super friendly. read more

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I have mixed thoughts and after reading reviews, maybe they are on an upswing from the past. I agree, it's not a hotel - looks like it used to be a Ho-Jo and was (nicely enough) painted and remodeled. The lobby is great, as are the people working there, however the rooms are disjunctive with a couple cool pieces of furniture and paintings, the place just doesn't 'gel' overall. It's similar to when you first have kids, short on cash, get something inexpensive in a tourist trap...yet a step or two above that. The website makes it look like a cute little boutique, shabby-chic kinda place...and it is very much not. They also tack on parking, which isn't unusual for Athens, but for this place it's comical. Will go back - no, but it wasn't terrible, just a not stellar version of odd. Beds & linens were good, air/heat a tad wonky, and they are upgrading the bathrooms to open concept with a glass panel...but it's too short and you need to put towels across the entire bathroom floor to mop up the spray (no exaggeration in the slightest). Coffee shop is 7-11am and dinner / bar is sporadic. It just needs some help to gel or I can't see it competing in Athens, especially with a Hotel Indigo next door for $10 more a night. read more

Hotel Abacus - Cute - just ignore the "fridge" inside - it doesn't get cold. - Hotels Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Very convenient location to the UGA campus. A very comfortable stay and quiet, although it is close to main streets. Bed and pillows were very comfortable and the room is very spacious and clean. The café is by the lobby and has a selection of breakfast sandwiches and muffins and coffee. read more

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After a hellacious time booking this place (it was still the Graduate), I didn't have high hopes for the hotel. Upon arrival, I realized it was a motel, not a hotel. The woman working the front desk was so kind and the lobby area was beautiful. Unfortunately the foundry was closed the night we came so we had to find dinner elsewhere. Our room had the strongest smell of chlorine. It's summer in GA and as a native, I understand humidity. Our sheets were damp and after waking up, the room smelled slightly of mold. Would've taken the chlorine smell over the mold smell. The beds are wildly uncomfortable as well. I'm hopeful that adjustments will be made since a new company took over. read more

Hotel Abacus - Hotels Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Like others have said, this is a MOTEL, not a hotel. The rooms open up to the outside of the building. The lobby staff are very friendly and professional, but sadly that did not make up for the state of the hotel rooms. As other reviewers mentioned, immediately upon entering my room I noticed a strong moldy/musty smell. So much so, that I called the front desk and asked if possibly there was another room I could try. They were very accommodating and quickly sent a staff member with a room key to another room. Still a musty smell in the new room but at least a little better than the first one. The decor of the hotel lobby is fantastic, and they really tried to decorate the hotel rooms in a fun, whimsical way. I'm sad for the hotel owners that the state of the building is so run down. The rooms have old, moldy (mold visible on the vents in the unit in my room) air conditioning units. The AC made so much noise whenever it turned on/off it woke me up. The floors in the room were pretty but very dirty. The hotel room "refrigerators" mentioned on the website are NOT functioning refrigerators, they are described as COOLERS by staff, and there is a sticker on the cooler directing users not to put perishable food in it. No vending machines at the hotel. At this writing, there was no access to any laundry room or gym. There is an ice machine -- you have to walk outside to access it. The coffee shop in the lobby is only open from 7:00AM-1:00PM. Be sure to check the hours of The Foundry restaurant before planning meals. At this time of year, it's only open Thursday-Saturday in the evenings. read more

Hotel Abacus - MOTEL, not hotel - Hotels Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Great location and I would totally stay here again! Rooms were cute and very tidy. The staff was very pleasant and I liked the lobby coffee area. The only thing I would do differently next time is inquire about the outlets in the room. There were no outlets near the bed and I had to plug in my CPAP machine. It was either the air conditioning unit or my CPAP and I had to go with the air conditioning. I suppose next time I'll ask about the outlets and maybe pack myself an extra surge protector. We had a great visit and everything was in walking distance, so it was pretty much perfect. read more

My husband and I stayed here for one night and would stay here again in the future. The staff upon checking in were very friendly and the decor was unique and nostalgic in the lobby, cafe, and room. It was $10 to park even though they had their own parking lot (this seemed a bit excessive to me). The room itself could have been cleaner, especially the floors in the bathroom. There is a restaurant and bar next to the lobby that we did not get to try due to having other plans. The location is ideal for walking around downtown and having a night out. I also had no safety concerns while staying here. I would stay here again for the same price (we paid around $110 for 1 night with a discount). read more

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First of all, this isn't a hotel, it is a motel. A cute motel, but a motel all the same. This score isn't tied to the lack of accuracy in the name though. This score is tied to a lack of cleanliness. There was dirt on the floor, the sheets were grimy, and there were long black hairs on the wall of the shower. The place was gross. read more

Would never stay here again, nor would I recommend it to anyone. In desperate need of revamp and repairs. Maybe at the least uniforms and name tags for staff. And the parking should be free. Overpriced for a "roadside motel" style stay. read more

The hotel is the original one which may or may not be a good thing. The lobby and coffee shop are very nice and it's a convenient walk to the main street and then onto campus. The rooms and gym were reminiscent of a motel though. I've stayed at several other graduates and this is not in the same category. It's more of a boutique motel than a luxury hotel for sure. We saw the ones in Knoxville and North Carolina and they were significantly nicer. read more

Hotel Abacus - Hall - Hotels Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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This is the most over priced dump I've ever stayed in. The rooms reek of mold and staleness. The shower curtain was moldy. The tub had stains in it. Much of the outside was either in need of paint, dirty or covered in algae. The breakfast was served in warmers but it was cold. I don't think food safety is a priority. Honestly, the lobby has some pretty elements to it but this place needs investment soon. Can't see how it was worth anything close to the rate. Was what I imagine a low rate truck stop would be. read more

People are rude including the manager. The second day we were there- I key was turned off and could not get in our room. I have stayed there multiple times and this was the worst ever- will not stay there again. read more

I would have given 2-3 stars if it were not for the hotel's response to my feedback. The room was dirty, the fridge leaked and walls were very thin so it's noisy. I tried to sit in the central gazebo but there are only tables- no chairs. The same man at the desk was very curt to me- both checking in and asking a question on check out day. After I checked out I received a text to rate and provide feedback. I wrote exactly what I did above to them. Then I received a text back that it was the man at the front desk and he didn't appreciate my comments. You would think it would be professional if he had asked me why I thought he was curt. But I guess he proved my point! read more

Sadly, the Graduate in Athens has devolved from "yield boutique" to "but of a dive motel." During our recent stay, there was a huge crack in the door that let in cold January air. Half the lamps in the room didn't work, the wallpaper was peeling, and basic supplies like cups were missing, making me wonder about the care that was taken in cleaning the room. The door to the bathroom only opened halfway because it's settled oddly on it's hinges and got stuck against the floor, so we had to squeeze into the bathroom all weekend. Finally, the heating unit in the room clicked on and off every thirty seconds non-stop all night. Pre-pandemic, I was always happy for a stay here during my conferences in Athens. I believe we'll be heading to the Hyatt up the street for a more comfortable stay on our next visit. read more

Hotel Abacus - Huge cracks in door - it was cold! - Hotels Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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As soon as I entered my room, I could not help but notice the musty odor in our room. I do not know when this room last got a good cleaning as there is dust and hair on the towels/blankets/desk/shower. I can tell that a lot of effort has been placed in the decorations but the cleanliness issue did not create an inviting atmosphere. The front staff, however, were very friendly and accommodating. In addition, there were concepts that were very creative such as the DO NOT DISTURB sign and the GREEN CORD idea. Bed linens were wrinkly and it was hard to achieve a good's night's rest due to the "plastic" feel of the bed. Showers did not have any vent and remained damp hours after showering (this could explain the moist/moldy smell that we experienced when we entered). Gym has a basic weight machine and some yoga mats but some of the equipment is broken. This hotel has a cool concept but due to the other necessities that define a good hotel, we will be selecting a different type of feel next time (especially for the price) when we are in Athens. read more

Hotel Abacus - Gym. With some machines not working. - Hotels Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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This motel must once have been fashionable and is now rundown, mildew-y, and in disrepair. No maid service in my room (out of shampoo in the shower) though my door was open when I returned mid-day. The room was very cold - front desk staff encouraged me not to turn the heat up too quickly since this would send a blast of dust into the room that could activate the fire alarm. I managed to avoid the fire alarm but not the full face blast - gross. It's right on North Avenue and is very loud. Feels vaguely unsafe - locks installed backwards, and if someone wanted to kick down the cheap fiberglass door between connecting rooms, they could. I'm booked for a three night stay and will be moving to Hotel Indigo for my last night. Avoid this hotel. read more

I do not recommend staying hear. Needs to clean and sanitize. Mold in the bathroom. Stained grout on restroom floors and tub. Waited over an hour for toast. No music or friendly lobby staff. No tv in lobby while you wait for an hour for food. read more

This place is a disaster. We had booked an important event for 40-50 people (alumni who were there for a national meeting) and the director of sales sent us an email as she was leaving for the day saying that it couldn't happen. Spoke with the manager. No effort to make it right. Absolutely terrible and they caused an enormous problem for us. Incompetence personified. Twelve emails regarding the event never with any mention that there could be a problem. One star because there is no option for zero. read more

This was the first Graduate hotel I've stayed in. I was really excited to visit judging by the website. The Graduate certainly has some amazing marketers because as others have mentioned on here, the in-person experience does not quite live up to the expectations. Basically, this spot is a glorified motel with a better paint job. PROS: Location- Good. The area is walkable and is the perfect in-between of close enough to the nightlife and far enough away from the nightlife. Design Aesthetic- Cute. It's more exciting than your typical chain hotel. Service- Great. All employees I interacted with were super helpful. CONS: Parking- There seems to be barely enough spaces for hotel guests so when there's any kind of special event (such as the three being held while we were there) the parking was very tricky. Noise- Luckily we were on the quieter end of town, but the walls are really thin and considering all rooms are street level and most are next to the road, it stays pretty loud. Overall, the concept is great, they've just got to work out a few more challenges. read more

Hotel Abacus - Hotels Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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I should have read the other reviews bc they are spot on. We chose The Graduate for a fun stay while visiting UGA with our high school senior. Pros: Cute idea and concept and great service. Cons: An old motel - terrible hvac - musty room- peeling paint- bathroom door didn't close properly - no vent in shower so bathroom was wet for hours. Thin walls. The marketing is slick but this hotel is completely underwhelming in real life. Would not stay here again. read more

This may have been a nice property when it was remodeled 15+ years ago but it has not been maintained. Rooms are musty and dark. The staff is nice but enough to make up for our depressing visit. We couldn't wait to leave. read more

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This hotel is an incredible find. We loved all the nostalgic pieces in each room. The young lady at the service desk could not have been nicer and patient with our group. If this room has available during ur trip jumó on it u will not be sorry. read more

We had an excellent stay at The Graduate Hotel in Athens. The hotel is trendy and chic with a cool, laid back atmosphere. I especially enjoyed the eclectic decor, which helped push the throwback vibe. I was also impressed with the friendly front office staff. There are no bell staff or concierge at this hotel. Luckily, the front desk folks are happy to help with everything from luggage assistance to recommending restaurants and things to do. The hotel also has a complimentary shuttle that will drop-off and pick-up from anywhere downtown until 2:00 AM - SUPER CONVENIENT! The only reason I did not give this place 5 stars is because of the disappointing breakfast sandwiches served at the little lobby cafe. The overall character and charm of the property, coupled with the excellent service made me feel excited to visit again in the future. Keep up the good work. read more

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The Graduate is a 70's themed, quaint, eclectic/quirky boutique B&B turned hotel. The lobby is situated in a nice sized coffee shop. When I arrived around 1:00p.m., the shop was filled with patrons chatting and working. I initially had a room in building C near the back, but then switched to building A so I would be near the front. One thing to note is that all rooms are exterior access. The room keys are made to loon like old student IDs. The room decor follows the eclectic, kitschy theme, and look pretty identical to the photos on the Graduate's website, which I appreciated. Supposedly, there are live bands and concerts at The Foundry on the property. Unfortunately, I was visiting the area on a Monday and there were no live shows scheduled. Overall, I enjoyed experiencing a different overnight stay. Ultimately, I do prefer a more traditional hotel. read more

Hotel Abacus - Hotels Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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When we arrived everything was great, wonderful customer service, the lobby was beautiful. However, we get to our room and it smells like cigarette smoke - really bad. We think, maybe if we turn the shower on, the air conditioner, it will start circulating the smell out. The bathroom steams up and the mirror has a creepy message "welcome to your prison cell." My husband said it's probably someone messing around, let's go get dinner. Still shaken by it all, I text the front desk about the smell, they change us to a different room above our first - it was only slightly better. They had an air freshener and another cooler in there. The person who cleaned it left cleaning supplies...then we noticed that the shampoo and conditioner that was in the last bathroom hadn't been replaced - so there was just opened holders in the shower. After we woke up we got to our car to leave and noticed our hood on our Jeep, had been opened overnight - which made an alert go off on our car. Since this was a stop on our way to ATL, we had another hotel the next day, I unpack all of our clothes and the whole bag smell horrific of smoke. I couldn't even wear it. I was I could get a refund, because it was one of the worst hotel experiences I've had. It's cute to look at, the employees are doing the best they can, but the actual stay wasn't great. read more

Motel 6??? Try a Motel 1! We were charged over $500 a night for this dump. They definitely do a great job marketing (CON JOB) on Expedia. This is a run down motel NOT a hotel. In the middle of the night I woke to see a 2" COCKROACH ON THE WALL ABOVE MY BED!! Dirty. No Glasses, but they did put 2- plastic wrapped styrofoam coffee cups in the bathroom... which is ironic since they don't even give you a COFFEE MAKER! You have to walk across the $10 per night parking lot to the office to buy a cup of coffee flavored water. The (second) room is musty smelling (slightly less than the first one) No Housekeeping. No body wash in the shower. Dirty carpets. Wall paper peeling in the musty bathroom. I doubt the shower was clean. The carpets certainly weren't and feel sticky. The bathroom has no vent and half a shower door and a bathroom door that won't even close. When we complained about the rip off price gouging they told us to talk to Expedia!?!?!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? You can get Ritz Carlton for the price we were scammed our of for this dump. Unfortunately since everything is booked in town this weekend, these guys take serious advantage. Read the reviews. I seriously doubt the validity of any of the 4 or 5 stars... Beware read more

Hotel Abacus - Mid night visitor - Hotels Near Me - Athens, Georgia

The rooms are absolutely disgusting. Not only is it dirty, but there was a roach in our room and an uninviting scent. I guess that's why they have automatic air freshener dispenser. While the decor is cute and the furniture has a 60s vibe, the pieces appear to never be wiped down or cleaned. The bathroom smelled horrible upon arrival. I felt the need to buy Lysol spray before even touching anything. This hotel is severely cheap, run down, and worse, UNCLEAN! Additionally, the young woman at the front desk gave us the wrong key TWICE!! The second time we ended up in an occupied room. The guests were not there but their belongings were!! Never staying here again!! read more

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Rooms smelled very musky & wet. A/C was old & bed placed right next to it, so it was freezing on that side of room & had to barricade with pillows. Other side of room never got very cold. No coffee makers or micro in rooms. Half shower glass, like Europe, just don't work. Feel badly for housekeepers because of so much water on floor. No vent in bathroom. Decor cute, liked that it was near places. Looks like new carpet was a good move, but rest of place needs painted & updated. Very motel feeling, definitely not hotel feeling. Front desk person, nice & said they'd switch us rooms, but our daughters room was the same, so it was pointless to move. It just needs revamped, yet keeping with the theme. We actually left a night early and just did the drive home late. Unfortunately, won't stay again at this location again. read more

I booked two rooms for three nights beginning the evening of June 5. Due to several flight delays, my colleague and I arrived around 11:30 pm. We walked into adjoining rooms on the first floor and were immediately hit with an overwhelmingly strong musty mildew smell. The room was humid and was being cooled by a single air conditioning unit. The floor was so damp because of humidity that I actually put a towel on the floor to wipe my feet before I put them on the bed. The room felt damp as did the bed linens and while the sheets were probably clean, they did have gray/black stains. The strong smell resulted in a headache and by 6:30 am the following morning, we cancelled the next two nights and moved to a Fairfield Inn. I shared my concerns with the receptionist who was very kind, but there was not really anything she could do. At the very least, I think we should have been refunded at least half the cost of each room, but lesson learned. The terrible smell remained in our clothes and we couldn't wait to get home and wash everything. Travelers beware, maybe this is a first floor issue but read the reviews, I wish we had. read more

This hotel is cute and conveniently located, but I'm somewhat disappointed with my experience when I stayed over Memorial Day weekend. I was deciding between staying at the Graduate and another hotel with an indoor pool, and I picked this one because the pool is outdoors. Their website says the pool opens on Memorial Day, but when we got there, the pool was closed all weekend. I was told the closure was because the city hadn't come out to inspect the pool for the season, which isn't management's fault. But what is their responsibility is making sure they're not falsely advertising amenities that aren't available. They even posted a picture of a pool on their Instagram the day before I went with the caption "catching some rays this Memorial Day weekend." Very misleading. read more

I really want to bump up this rating, but god help me, they're not working for it. We arrived at the posted check-in time and were told we'd have to wait. Ok, np. We get it. But the lounge area was consumed by college students spread out everywhere, with no recourse for paying guests. I get it- students need coffee and WiFi. But they're not the ones paying an exorbitant amount for a room AND amenities. We patiently stood awkwardly off to the side. The gentleman at the desk finally called us over, nervously avoided eye contact and rushed through the expectations/amenities, and sent us on our way. The room was decent, motel style, but felt safe enough. Location was ideal and walkable to downtown and the campus. I do want to highlight a very exceptional team member: Calla. She was friendly, approachable, calm, helpful, and offered several tips for places to see while in the area. read more

Great MCM hotel close to bars, shops, and restaurants. Only downside is not all the rooms have a microwave and fridge so make sure to ask for a room with both! No free breakfast but the coffee shop attached to the lobby is good and has some small food items. It also has a bar. read more

We booked the Graduate hotel due to it being pet friendly. However, they don't tell you they don't have any grass! Maybe 30 sq. ft. max. We won't be back, pitiful establishment. Don't be dog friendly and not have a place for them to relieve themselves. read more

Sorry to stay 2nd visit not up to par with first. We booked a room for 2 days on Memorial Day and the following. Website said pool open Memorial through labor day... we were not told when booking that it was closed. That would've been a a definite no on booking had I been told, since my plan was to relax and swim while hanging out with my family for a couple days. We were also not told half the hotel is under construction so not only would there be no pool, but our view would be primarily dumpsters. Fridge in room didn't work, but they did bring another. However, the worst part of all is the gaping holes around the door, the heat and gnats were in constantly and the whole family woke up multiple times. The gaps around door also let in tons of noise, heat, and smoke from people the outside. This is probably why multiple reviews complain of the musty smell. After a good stay the first time, I can't say how disappointed I am. I can tell you I won't be back and will stay at the Hilton for future visits. There is a small parking fee. It's within a mile of downtown. read more

Hotel Abacus - Hotels Near Me - Athens, Georgia

The Graduate is ok if you know ahead of time it's a motel. Slicked up but still an old motel with moldy smelling rooms. The kitchy decor is cute but still, a motel. The service is excellent and they text constantly to see if you need anything, but...my two major complaints are no coffee makers in the rooms and the toilet that flushed so aggressively it sprayed its' contents a foot in every direction. Which is gross. When it had a spa and coffee shop was open it was okay but now I'll stay at the Marriott. read more

We stayed in the older part of the hotel and the room had a horrible smell. I didn't think it would work but after driving 7 hours, it was about 8pm and all I wanted to do was lay in bed. I did that and my eyes started burning from the fumes. It seemed like a combination moldy smell and disinfectant. I called the front to change my room which they were very nice and did move us to another room. The second room was no better and just down the hall. Cute decor but the very old part of the hotel needs tearing down. I think that is why there is a disparity in the reviews: old vs. newer section. We did not stay and left for another, newer hotel in town for the same price. Graduate refunded and apologized and asked me to write to corporate and let them know of my experience. read more

Beautiful boutique hotel with exposed brick- seriously though, SO CHARMING: I was here for a wedding and it was the perfect venue. ALSO, chef Bethany's food is to die for! I would absolutely recommend, and I will definitely be back :) read more

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Such a cute/interesting concept! I was somehow able to snag a reasonably priced room on game weekend (I think this is where I'm contractually obligated to say Go Dawgs) when my mom was in town. Disclaimer: we were there for a Fleetwood Mac cover band concert and NOT the game. Still, the Graduate is the perfect place to stay! Super cute decor from the lobby to the rooms. Subtracting one star because the bar area had looked really cute online and I was looking forward to grabbing a couple drinks there before we headed into downtown for the show, but it was...underwhelming to say the least. All the lights were on, there was one tiny TV over the bar, and only staff members were there hanging out before the on-site band began for the night. I get that it's a hotel bar so I shouldn't have really gotten my hopes up, but it looked great online! I did have a special margarita that was pretty delicious. We also got a couple of snacks which were, again, underwhelming. Breakfast the following morning (complimentary) was also in the bar/venue space and was equally underwhelming. Still, the decor is so cute it makes up for it, and the quick walk into town makes this a fun and unique place to stay. read more