A home away from home -- only neater. Duke Tower Condominiums and Hotel was the perfect choice for…read moremy Durham sojourn.
Within walking distance of Brightleaf square and a multitude of other shops and restaurants, DTC is nicely situated. I had a one bedroom condo, fully furnished with everything I could expect. More like an extended stay hotel, DTC furnishes the linens and the appliances and some dishes, cups, glasses and utensils, but you bring your own toiletries, coffee and food. With all the restaurant options in the area, food is optional; although using the kitchen might be more prudent for an extended stay. Housekeeping comes by once a week, but there's a change of bedlinens available if you can't wait that long. Overall, it worked for me since I didn't have to pre-clean my room every day before a housekeeping visit.
Each unit opens to the courtyard and there are no units behind so it has a private feel. The courtyard was quite beautiful with its blooming flowers, bird feeders, vine covered trellis', a couple of grills, a lawn chess set and pool. The Tower, in the center of the garden, has an honor-system, continental breakfast in the morning. The Tower's dark wood floors, walls, and tables is either relaxing or claustrophobic, though, depending on your perspective. Disappointingly, the spiral staircase to the upper floor is closed.
There's wired and wireless internet service available, but they're still upgrading the wireless for the entire property and for me, the wired connection worked better. Besides all of that, DTC offers complimentary shuttle service to Duke Medical and DPAC. The office staff, security, and long-term residents are some of the nicest people with really interesting stories to share. Oh, and if you can't bear to travel without your furry four-legged friend, DTC accepts pets with a small extra fee.
If you're the type who won't consider staying anywhere that's older than five or ten years, DTC won't work. But if you enjoy the subtle beauty and quirkiness found in older places, DTC will deliver and for a price much less than you'll pay for any of the nearby chain hotels.