Alton Cracker Factory…read more Well-Appointed Hotel with a Stunning View of the Mississippi River Eagle's Nest Penthouse Hospitality: The spacious suite includes a large kitchen and seating area attached to a balcony with a panoramic view of the Mississippi river and the town of Alton. The rooms are well-appointed with decor to match the historic location. Many household amenities are included as well as a washer and dryer. The larger bedroom includes a relaxing air tub. Service: The owner, Mike Kelly, answered my request to make a reservation immediately. He made the booking process very easy. Check in and check out were all communicated through text messaging with keyless access so I could come and go as convenient. Housekeeping: The area was well-maintained and tidy with an open floor plan that made it very comforting. Atmosphere: This was my first trip to Alton and I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere on the river. The penthouse was very comfortable and made a great home away from home. The building is located near the casino and the square and many downtown attractions are within walking distance. Conclusion: I cannot give a higher recommendation for the Alton Cracker Factory if you are staying in Alton, Illinois. The historic location offers a great ambiance and the view of the river and the surrounding community is exceptional. The management really made my reservation and the entire stay very pleasant.

Spent a few days here for a wedding and what a find! The perfect spot for an IL get away. Lots of…read morespace for you and your guests. You can rent out the whole place or one of the many gorgeous room. Secured locked doors with a code that only guests know ensures safety is first. On the second floor there are a variety of 5 rooms to choose from. Some have an en suite bathroom and kitchen. One room has a bathroom adjacent in the hall and leads to a kitchen area and living space. Full kitchen comes with anything you need including utensils, cutlery, and even those condiments you forgot! There is also a balcony with tables chairs and grill. If you get the penthouse on the third floor you won't be disappointed! Huge full kitchen with amenities like the second floor Kitchen. Huge living area with comfy couches and large dining table. 2 bed rooms can sleep 4. The huge balcony with tables and chairs provides an amazing view of the Clark bridge and Mississippi River. This place is within walking distance of many great Alton eateries and shops. Also only a 16 minute drive to Grafton or Edwardsville for for entertainment. One drawback is the parking. No dedicated lot so it's only street parking. There are dedicated spaces out front and side parking is available too. We cannot wait to come back and utilize this space again! *Wasn't able to picture of all the rooms just mine*

If you're an antique collector or lover this is the only place to stay in Alton. I went here for a…read morework trip and have extreme diva standards when it comes to hotels. In Alton there isn't much to choose from. For a decent hotel you'll have to drive to St. Louis which is 30 minutes out of my way for meetings. I chose this place because it's a B&B and it was gorgeous from the pics and literally 6 minutes from my meeting the next day. Once I booked it, I got a call from one of the owners, Jim, who asked me about my tea preferences and what he could do to make my stay there more comfortable. I was ecstatic. Tea and antiques! Once I got there I was blown away at the detail they put to maintain a long gone era of Victorian décor. Everything was carved and commanded a presence of luxury. Also, I immediately notice how calming and quiet it was, which was a pleasant surprise! I really dislike loud noises of any kind (high anxiety here), and I felt peace in this place. Jim helped me take my luggage to my room and even gave me a tour of my room outlining all the details and amenities just in case I wasn't sure. My room was absolutely gorgeous! There was an 8 or 9 foot tall carved teak armoire, a great size bathroom with separate shower and bathtub and homemade lavender infused bath salts his wife made! I took a bath every night and I felt like a queen! I was ecstatic. There was even a separate antique vanity strategically placed in the corner of the room right in the middle of two windows so that light would surround it evenly. It was fabulous. I enjoyed all the attention to detail. They made sure a guest would not need a thing. The bedding was perfect. Down comforters and down pillows and cotton sheets, none of that microfiber nastiness. It smelled and felt like home. The most important thing was the food! They had a tea station in the dining room for 24/7 use. And the kitchen was open in the morning for breakfast. Tea, oatmeal, bagels, fruit, eggs. Perfection! I would've been happy with just the 24/7 tea station. And let me tell you it was just bliss to be able to obtain some decent tea and hot water at any point throughout the day. I am HUGE tea drinker! And this was the reason I fell in love with this place. There was also coffee and their own brand of tea which was also quite delicious. They even had stevia if you didn't want the 5 other choices offered for sweetener. On the other side of the dining room there was a station for CHOCOLATE! I was a mess. They were all carefully placed in crystal dishes with the flavor or type of chocolate being offered just above it. Just shoot me. It was amazing. Sadly, I stayed here for less than the time I actually booked it for since I had a cancelled flight and rushed to book something earlier as a result of the airline. I was in such a panic to leave that I left my very expensive leather backpack in the room and didn't notice until I was already at the car rental location. When I called over I spoke to Jim and he went to my room to locate it and said he would overnight it to me as per my request. It contained not only my laptop but also my house and car keys! I was distraught, but knew Jim would take care of it as he had taken care of everything else while I was there! Overall the price was more than fair for the room. Cleanliness 1000%. Quiet. Beautiful. EXCELLENT customer service. Oooh and there also was free brandy in the parlor. I gotta stop because otherwise I'd be writing a dissertation. Please stay at this place when you're in Alton, Illinois!

What a delightful bed and breakfast mansion complete with host in a tuxedo and amazing history! I…read morefelt right at home and absolutely loved my amazing suite complete with chandeliers in the bedroom and spa bathroom. The bed is soooo comfortable, the fireplace homey and takes any chill off on a rainy night. The jacuzzi helped ease my muscles after a long drive. I was a short drive from bakeries, restaurants and St, Louis.

We love this super clean new hotel. There was a mixup with our reservation so they upgraded us to a…read moresuite. I didn't even know Hampton Inn had suites but they're fabulous. Its twice as big, not really a true suite. But it is delicious to be in a huge spacious room with a large comfortable couch. The desk is huge and the TV swivels so you can watch it from the couch or bed. I will definitely stay here again and I plan to check out suites in other Hamptons.

Filthy. filthy. filthy. I wrote the housekeeper's name "Emily" in the dirt beneath the tv for her…read more No housekeeping service whatsoever. Just picked up our own towels from the front desk to replace the dirty ones that weren't picked up from our bathroom. The entire place is gross and cringy.

We recently had a sudden trip to Alton, Illinois for a funeral. Usually we stay in the Holiday Inn…read morebut discovered that the Best Western was newer and considerably cheaper, no brainer! It is a great little hotel, friendly wait staff, fresh modern rooms and the breakfast was pretty decent. Plus free Wi-Fi and a pool that is coming soon. I loved everything but the pillows. Ay, my aching neck. These were some sort of synthetic which did not mold to my needs. Next time, I would bring my own and probably sleep a bit better!

I came to stay at this hotel while visiting for my grandfathers funeral and I am extremely…read moredisappointed. First of all the room was dirty when we came in, they had to come back to clean the bathroom after we checked in. The quality of this room is also abysmal. The air filter desperately needs changed it smells like mildew and cigs. There's paint chipping off the wall and there are stains all over the carpet and curtains. Our room was not cleaned the next morning even though we were out of the room for 5 hours. One day 1 we ran out of hand soap and we had to go down to the front desk to get it bc they refused to bring it to us. The fridge doesn't work properly so my mom's medication that requires refrigeration went bad. The breakfast was mid at best. The TV and internet do not work! The internet is extremely slow and disconnects constantly. The tv doesn't have cable for some reason only YouTube and Netflix which again were useless because the internet doesn't work. I called the front desk to ask for a late check out, because our flight leaves at 6. Their website says we can pay an extra fee and stay until 4. Of course it is upon availability, which normally is granted if they are not fully booked. They were not fully booked, they actually had almost 50 rooms available. I explained the situation again and requested accommodation. Well instead of being accommodating the lady at the front desk threatened to make us check out early and call the police on us if we weren't out by 12:30. That is absolutely insane and It was pouring rain outside btw. After I asked to speak with her manager she just straight up hung up on me. I called back and she said the manager isn't in and hung up on me again. That's just completely unacceptable. I grew up here and this used to be one of the nicer hotels in the city, but it's clear they don't care about their rooms or their guests. I would advise anyone to book elsewhere. This was a terrible experience and I'm extremely disappointed. For $120 a night in Alton you would think it would be a little nicer at least.

My favorite accommodation of my two-week trip along the Great River Road was Green Tree Inn,…read morelocated in the charming town of Elsah. My friend and I stayed in the Meadowlark Room, featuring two full beds and a shower/tub. The room was immaculately clean, quiet, and adorably antiquated. Connie and Gary could not have not been kinder or more hospitable hosts. Breakfast was lovely, and hot and cold beverages were available in the common area along with Connie's delicious homemade treats -- she even insisted on packaging up brownies for us to take on the road when we departed! When visiting, do ask Connie and Gary for instructions on how to take a self-guided driving tour of nearby Principia College, which features many amazing buildings by architect Bernard Maybeck and stunning views from the bluffs of the Mississippi River. I'll be looking for an excuse to return to Elsah for another stay at Green Tree Inn... Highly recommended!

We just stayed at the Green Tree Inn in Elsah for our annual weekend. We cannot say enough good…read morethings about the new Innkeepers. Megan and Calvin are the perfect hosts ! The Inn has the same warm and homey feel to it as it was with Connie and Gary. They have converted the "antique" room to a game room and filled it with board games ( or bring your own.) The breakfasts were fantastic (especially Megan's breakfast pizza with a puff pastry crust.) The afternoon treats are amazing (cinnamon pecan coffee cake and fresh raspberry cheesecake tarts..yumm!) The common area with the fireplace and the comfy couch and chairs is perfect after a day of hiking a Pere Maquette or exploring Grafton. The rooms are cozy and very clean. It is such a relaxing getaway ! I look forward to many more trips to the Green Tree Inn !

My wife is a native Altonian and we've been making the five hour pilgrimage down to Alton since,…read moreummm... 1998ish. Usually we stay with family but when there's a big event going on and the family can't put us up, we need to find a place to stay. It had been a while since we've needed a room in town, but usually Comfort Inn or Holiday Inn are cheap and clean. I don't know when it happened, but at some point, the Comfort Inn on College Ave. and Holiday Inn (also in College Ave) must've reinvented themselves as luxury hotels [Comfort Inn wants $130 per night?! (*pffft*) screw that] The Super 8 is cheap and is clean and is quiet and the rooms are dark. When you're visiting from out of town and you don't spend more than 8 or 9 hours in the room, that's all you need. They also serve an edible breakfast although you might consider driving into town for something else - you're saving a few bucks on the room... go ahead and treat yourself. Still, if you don't want the hassle of driving somewhere for breakfast, you can carb load here [waffles/cereal/muffins/bagels/toast/oatmeal]. If you get the hankering to booze up, just run across the beltline and buy a six-pack of beer @ the Shop N Save - you can keep it cold in the convenient mini-fridge - just make sure you buy before midnight or no booze for you. My one complaint was the truck-driver who was grinding his gears trying to turn his truck around in the parking-lot next door at 2:00 am - that's just rude.

Wouldn't Recommend for vacational stay. Bed bugs frequently…read morefound during stay. October 30th, 2023.

DO NOT STAY HERE! Booked a room through Expedia arrived at…read moremidnight to a total sh**t show! Front desk staff had no idea what they were doing . Called front desk manager CHRISTINA who was a total idiot! She was not only stupid but extremely rude. We booked a double queen room which they didn't have and couldn't explain why they didn't have it and offered a totally different room that wouldn't even accommodate my family. CHRISTINA proceeded to berate me as if that was my fault and blame everyone except herself for the mistakes. She even threatened to call the police when I told her it was HER job to have an accurate listing of rooms online. LAZY, RUDE, CRAZY! STAY SOMEWHERE ELSE!

The price is low. There are reasons for that…read more The train goes by a lot. My car was dirtier than it ever has been , I think from the filth the train kicks up every time it goes. My room was very clean. Nice shower! It is rare for me to praise a shower. But this one was very nice. White (glass?) walls. Very clean. Sliding glass door. Walk in shower. Towels smelled burnt. I think they are dried in a very hot dryer and it gives them that burned smell. The inside of the elevator needs a good wiping down. I thought it would be cleaned in the morning, but it wasn't. The maid staff and the check-in staff were all very friendly. The pool is nice. We enjoyed our visit in the pool. As I said, the train is loud. Also, the walls are quite thin. I could hear someone else's phone call on speaker phone through the walls. Once I turned on the fan to run full time, it was fine though. I didn't hear anything and I could sleep quite well then. Also, there was a very nice pillow selection and the bedding was comfortable.

Off the main road (State Highway 3) is a small farmhouse converted as a guest house. The house…read morehas a modestly appointed kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. A living room and sitting room each complement the rest of the home. The decor and furnishings are what I would call "farmhouse eclectic". Do not expect the plush antiques of the average B&B. The house is comfortable and cozy. The kitchen is roomy with a full sized refrigerator, range with a double oven, microwave and coffeepot. The master bedroom contains a queen sized bed and more then enough closet and drawer space, The second bedroom is smaller, but will easily accommodate two or three small children or a second couple willing to share a single bed. The living room has plenty of comfortable chairs and a very nice couch and table. The sitting room is an added sun-room area. The property is located on a small working farm with some friendly cattle and a fishing pond. There was even a mother robin nesting in a wreath on the front porch! The atmosphere is quiet and serene. The cellular and G3/G4 reception is nearly none existent and no WiFi is available. Ideal for those wanting to get "away from it all" The facility also has no land-line telephone. Good cell, mobile and data reception are available in nearby Alton, Il. for those who need it. There are some locally owned restaurants In Grafton including the "Mississippi Half-Step" which we really enjoyed. For those who prefer chain eating establishments, Alton offers the usual fast food and other casual dinning places. St. Louis Mo. is about 30 miles away, placing the big city attractions within a comfortable distance. The rental cost was very reasonable, about what you would pay per night at a lower end chain motel. This was for a small house, not a cramped guest-room. . The owner does not take debit/credit cards so a check or money-order is needed for the reservation deposit. The balance of the rent can be paid by check, money-order or cash. We found our time at the Homestead Retreat to be restful, refreshing and revitalizing. The lack of electronic disturbances made this guest-house a true retreat from the noise and hurry of the world. We strongly recommend the Grafton Homestead Retreat for any small group looking for a quiet time. It truly is a retreat and a treat!

This is a hidden gem! Owner was very accommodating and the room was great! Adorable and spacious…read moremain shared area that led to the private garden was also a very nice addition.

You have got to be kidding me. This is the worst place I have ever spent a night. This "quaint"…read morebed and breakfast features such amenities as 70's grade school false ceilings complete with flourescent lighting. The windows shake when Harleys ride by. There are ear plugs and a white noise machine by the bed. The kicker, though, is the misquito netting around the bed that hangs from the artificial ceiling. The best part is that the netting smells like cat urine. It's funny, the guest book has entries (all written by men) about their honey moons at this place....why do you suppose these oblivious red necks were writing about how much better it was than their trailer. Could it be that their wives were in tears about the bad sex and worse accomodations? Interestinly enough, most of the pages were torn out of the guest book....can't imagine why. Worst place ever!

Super Nice and Clean!!! Great customer service! New building is beautiful!!! Clean and Quiet!!!…read moreHighly Recommend

From the owner: "NOW OPEN" Exciting News: A new chapter has begun at…read more"BEL-AIR MOTEL". We are now open for business with our Brand New Rooms.