This review is not for the hotel portion of their operation but for their bar/catering. We…read moreattended a birthday party hosted in their first floor bar & parlor rooms (and their outside balcony). The spaces are gorgeous - the architectural detail of the rooms is beautiful. The waitress who served this group of 30-40 people did a fantastic job getting a thirsty group their drinks. She was super friendly and very helpful. The selection of both hot and cold appetizers was very tasty. The cocktails we had were top-notch and served in cut glassware. It was a high end affair. I would consider holding a similar event here (though I have no idea what the cost was...)

My husband and I were offering an adventure and he wanted to try Madison, Wisconsin for biking…read morearound the lakes and hiking. The weather was stunning and Mansion Hill Inn was a phenomenal choice. Every single concierge at the Inn were charming, delightful and accommodating. Our room was spectacular. The bed was wonderfully comfortable. Conversation with the several concierges was particularly enjoyable. The restaurants in Madison were truly incredible experiences. Each night we had the finest food. We were then off to our next adventure, to be cheerleaders for our son running in the Chicago marathon. What a delightful city you have, and Mansion Hill Inn is the premier bed-and-breakfast to choose. I wouldn't recommend any other location.

Overall the hotel is nice and new-ish. It's modern and fun…read more At the front desk they have complimentary pretzels and m&ms. There's also free coffee/ tea in the morning and a drinking water station. Snacks and ramen etc are for purchase. The lobby area has plenty of seating and sofas, fireplaces, foosball, etc.. I happened to be at the bar on Tuesday night where they have Trivia. I talked to one of the locals that goes there weekly to play for cash prizes! Nice vibe. They told me that the hotel rooms are European style with no closet. It was hard to get used to but I made it work and hung my clothes on the hooks and hangers provided on the wall. Oh and my room window had a cow that looked into the Google office space. Ha My TV worked great and had good cable tv options. I used the cute little lantern as a night light when I went to sleep. The bathroom was super clean and I liked the aesthetic of the black shower head hardware with the white tiles. Beds and linen were comfy but I felt like the modern vibe had me in IKEA versus a true Marriott or St Regis feeling of a traditional hotel. In other words this hotel doesn't have 700 count Egyptian cotton linen. No complaints about noise or pests or dirt. Very comfortable stay with a good night sleep. Overall I was very happy!

Loud music from adjoining venue well into the night. So loud felt like we were actually at the…read morewedding that was going on

Would definitely recommend this hotel. It's clean, and compared to the other hotels in the area…read moreprice-wise it was a no brainer. Included were free parking, a free drink per person per night from the bar below, and free breakfast from the hotel restaurant. So not a "breakfast buffet" like you get at other hotels. You can walk to the capital and there is a very nice overlook of the lake across the street to sit and have a drink and hangout. They also have a cute patio off of the bar that's private. I really liked it. The rooms are a little old but like I said before-very clean. And the beds are comfortable with nice mattresses. You do get earplugs in the room since you are over a bar and on a busy street. It actually wasn't too bad. My husband and I slept pretty peacefully. We would definitely stay here again. I think it was a bargain.

My husband and I were staying in Madison on a Thursday night, and the prices of most of the hotels…read moreseemed unreasonable, especially for a weeknight during the summer. I stumbled across Hotel Ruby Marie which was more reasonably priced, and found that a friend had stayed there giving only positive reviews. The hotel is primarily a one-man show. The same gentleman had answered the phone, checked us in, was vacuuming the rooms, and seemed to have put together the continental breakfast. He was very nice, as I had accidentally booked the wrong Thursday. He was very polite and allowed me to rebook without charging the no-show fee. Also, I found that they seem to offer a discount to customers who call. The hotel is located a short distance from the capital building, right by the Lake Monona running path. It shares its parking lot with a couple bars and restaurants. The stay comes with fee parking, welcome cocktails at Up North Tavern, and a small breakfast. It is really a beautiful, old hotel with antique furnishings and small touches that make you feel at home, such as candy and bottled water in the room. The location has a lot to offer, as many businesses are walking distance or a short drive. The cocktails at Up North were great. Though the breakfast was nothing fancy, it was fresh and hot and served in an attractive dining room. I think the main issue with the location is that if you have a first floor room (we did not) you are likely to be bothered from the noise in the bar. Also, it is near the train tracks. A long train passed by in the early morning hours and woke me up. I should also mention that our lake-view room did indeed have a lake view, but it was really more of a partial lake-view. All in all, we enjoyed our short stay at Hotel Ruby Marie. It was unique and had a historic feel. I would definitely return.

I can't believe this place hasn't been reviewed on YELP! I feel like I am letting the cat out of…read morethe bag by giving away a secret. If you don't have the time to drive all the way to the Northwoods, you can still have a fantastic view of a beautiful lake, paddle around in a kayak or rent a pontoon, cook out, throw a frisbee, or borrow bicycles and ride into Stoughton (Norwegian bakery!). You can eat at Halverson's, a short walk down the road, and drink too many Old Fashions and walk back to the resort. Their food is great in the old Wisconsin way. You can come by boat or bicycle with a little planning and make a mini-adventure out of it. There are three tiny but efficient cottages and a small, medium, and large guest house. We got Cottage #1 (the one in the photo up on the hill). The cottage has a tiny but full bath and a bedroom. Naturally, you'll spend most of your time on that patio with the awesome view of Lake Kegonsa. The manager Frank is an outstanding fellow who keeps everything immaculate. He also rehabbed all these units so he must be quite a craftsman as well. He went the extra mile for us on a couple of accounts. So 5 stars for accommodations, 5 stars for service, and 5 stars for value.

WOW! I agree with the other review that it's crazy there isn't more yelps on this beautiful…read moreproperty. I was looking for the perfect getaway for my boyfriends birthday when I stumbled upon this place. Lake Kegonsa was never a lake I had heard of until now and boy let me tell you I'm glad I did. This lake is stunning and the views you get of it from these cabins are unreal. It's breath taking to watch the sun rise over the lake in the early morning. Cabin number 2 was our choice for the weekend. The prices were very responsible especially for all the cabin had to offer. It was fully stocked with anything and everything you may need. Don't let the pictures on the website fool you, these cabins are completely updated. New appliances, new TV's and very comfy beds. Lastly, Frank the owner of the property, was very kind and inviting. When we first arrived there he greeted us with open arms at 6pm. Which was very nice because many places offices close at 5pm and he was there all ready for us at 6. He keeps the properties very tidy and presentable. Don't sleep on this place, it's not one that should be missed!!

Stayed at Wisconsin Union Hotel in Madison, and we were pleasantly surprised. From the outside, the…read morerather plain exterior and almost hospital-like entrance didn't exactly set the stage for what we found inside. Once we got off the elevator and reached our floor, the feeling changed completely. The hotel was well maintained, clean, and had a surprisingly upscale feel, with a pleasantly decorated room that made for a comfortable stay. The front desk area and staff appeared to be student-run, but in a very good way -- everyone we dealt with was pleasant, organized, and on task. The hotel is a little removed from the core of downtown, but when the weather is nice, it's a great walk into the heart of Madison. Overall, a surprisingly good stay that exceeded our expectations. I'd definitely stay here again. Saluti.

Solid place to stay Pros:…read moreLocation Service -very helpful and kind Clean Cons: For this price I want liquid cream in my room not powder ICK that's a motel 6 thing Towels were so rough I didn't want them touching my skin Shower ehhh Nothing open past 8 Fit a boutique like hotel I expected more still recovering from that powdery substance they called cream

I recently stayed at the Gonstead Guest Cottage. My partner and I wanted a quick getaway and…read morerearranged our vacation schedule to accommodate Gonstead's 2-night minimum stay . This was the vacation spot I was most looking forward to and the one I was most disappointed by. The best parts? 1- Mt. Horeb is an amazingly wonderful small town we will be sure to return to. 2- The radiant heat throughout - no cold floors. 3- An iPod with 6,000 songs hooked up to a nice stereo system. Our beef? At $110/night, we strongly feel the Gonstead Guest Cottage is overpriced. We resented the 2-night minimum stay once we got there, and hated learning that we would be charged $10 to use their wood (we got a cord of wood from the gas station down the street for $5). We thought the price would guarantee us a nice stay. We were sadly mistaken and will not stay here again. Yes, clean (if you overlook the cobwebs) but you can't escape the strong smell of smoke from the fireplace. No problem, right? We'll just air it out. Sadly, that's not possible as the owners removed the hand cranks from the windows. Yes, they have bikes for you to use, but no air in the tires (even after promising to remedy this). Yes, they have a full kitchen with nice cookware but if they are charging so much it needs renovation. We'd also been told there would be cereal avaialble for us but nothing was there. We did love the town and will be back to visit it. We'll just seek alternate accommodations next time :) As a frequent B&B customer, I know my money should go further than it did here and am sorely disappointed in my stay.

I stayed there last week for a gonstead seminar and the experience was absolutely fantastic. I'd…read moredefinitely go back again.

I would DEFINITELY stay here again. Though there are downsides (it is urban), there is a lot of…read moreupside here. Oh, and with changes lately, things are much improved so some of the older reviews may no longer be applicable. OK - so I arrived mid-day Monday for check-in for one night and found my bunk in the 4-bunk room to be great - and lucky me, I ended up with a private room as the other two reservations ended up cancelling. There is a 2-door locker but you need to bring your own lock. No problem for me as the room door has a key so my belongings were safe inside. The 4-bunk room was the old kitchen - amazing to contemplate. It's not small for a room but I can't imagine fitting in a kitchen for multiple person use. The new kitchen is on the first level behind the office and sitting room. It has a large island and dining table and lots of space for moving around. I didn't use the kitchen except to store some food in the fridge and get some water to drink. However, there was an ample availability of things and an easy clean-up system, though it appeared some people had left their dirty dishes in the sink. I washed a couple more than just mine but not all of them. Maybe people don't get that this is a hostel, not a hotel. There is no cleaning lady to make up your bed, no maid to clean the kitchen. That's why it's inexpensive!! There is a large couch in the lobby entrance which, with the sitting parlor, allows multiple groups to have gatherings. The sitting room even has a piano! I should have taken a moment to play but I'm so rusty... There is a limited library so bring a book to donate if you can. I was so busy touring State Street that it was not a problem but for a longer stay, you may want to bring some reading material. When I was here in Jan-2015, the computer in the lobby was non-functional. I had my own but didn't even use it so can't comment on the WIFI. There is no alcohol allowed at the hostel so if you're gonna be drinking, you can enjoy one of the MANY pubs within walking distance. However, if you have an experience like me, do this with a GPS so you can find your way home. I have a very good sense of direction but all the criss-crossing and diagonal streets really threw me for a loop. I will say (to my credit) that I had to ask for directions at the parking garage around the corner from the hostel and even that guy had to pull out a map! I was literally a stone's throw from the place. He said it's real easy to get turned around. What an understatement! Parking was $7 and I was glad I paid for it as this is right downtown and it snowed overnight. Glad to be safe in a spot in back. There was some hallway noise but nothing too loud and nothing during quiet hours. The bed was SUPER COMFY - way great for a hostel environment. Nice sheets and blankets with extra pillows available (my personal favorite thing). Downsides: 1) The towels in the bathroom are hand towels (like large washcloth size) so it took two to get the job done. But they are super-absorbent and brightly colored so they are cheerful! The shower is small but I'm a big girl - standard 3' x 3' which is workable. 2) There is a garbage truck garage across the street and they rumble out about 6 AM... but it's over quick. I guess this is just weekdays so weekends would be better. Best upside: Carlos is super-fantastic friendly. He can direct you to anything you might need to get to in town. I definitely felt welcomed by him when I ran into him late Monday evening. Helpful hint: A family of 3-4 could stay in Room 2 as it has a double bed-bunk. That's where we'll stay next time we do a family vacation to Madison. Overall, I thought Madison was a hip town with loads to see - wish I had more than 24-hours and that it was about 50 degrees warmer! This place is a good value for the price.

I'm going to make this simple as I can. 2019 summer I came back to the hostel and already I was…read moreasked to have a conversation about my last visit to the hostel. There was no room for the next few days (private) and I still have a booking in another room but I decided to cancel and head to Chicago for a big wedding. But let's be honest here ok, Yelp translated my last review wrong and now I am here to update and clear the air. I didn't like my last visit in 2018 of November and there were things I wasn't too cheerful about it. There was a guy doing drugs and offering us things that were so troublesome. We had complained about it to the staff and they said they will talk to him. Turns out that he was a homeless man last-named Goldsby living in Madison Wisconsin at the Men's homeless shelter. "How do I know this? Well, I'm the case manager for homeless services and I see him all the time but the point of this is to point out a flaw in checking in an individual that suppose to be from out of states. I've warned the young ladies that his energy didn't sit well with me or with the other guest. Another homeless guy comes in but this time it happens in October/November or 2018 where a friend of mine from Thailand had her GoPro stolen (I did replace it out of the kindness of my heart) but this guy was asked guests for money and wanted to eat our food. "I know, so disturbing." but later that night he now has money? So I can someone do a background check on this guy and the guy took off the next day. Again, months later after taking a JOB under the city and returning to Madison, I'd see the same guy at a day shelter for the homeless. "I should say something to the hostel but that's not my problem anymore but you as the viewer should know what happen with my experience. This is why I'd happen to take a star off, as a dual citizen I want to be told and ensure that this is a happy place for travelers. There were other things that happen but I rather keep that between HIUSA and I. Other than that, other HIUSA locations are out of this world amazing. But doesn't this bother some people, to find out that Hi-Madison isn't fully checking state Identification or have the better judgment to denied hospitality services? In 2015, 2016, 2017 and all experiences were so excellent that I starting to bring friends with me from other countries to Madison to the hostel. It's still a great place and right at the heart of the capitol. I'd notice a few things and questions. Now, I do not make visits to the hostel anymore and do not need the services from this location but it's a good place for anyone working in the Madison area for a short time. I'd now work for the city of Madison and a full-time photographer. But you only can stay up to 14 days a year now. It's not seasonal anymore. So if you here doing a Covance study or working internationally under visa requirements, be aware this also applies to you. Max stay is 14 days as well. But now I just have some friends that I've met at the HI-Madison location for work or summer classes and offer them a place to stay for FREE. Book your rooms in the advancement.

Stayed here for a summer weekend and enjoyed great weather , a beautiful lake! One of the best kept…read moresecrets near Madison! We spent 1 day on the lake and another in Madison which is only 20 minutes away. An overall great stay !!

Stayed @ Lake Ripley Lodge for 3 nights, 4 nights with my boyfriend. It was a lovely stay. Very…read moreCozy, relaxing and the views are breath taking. The fresh roasted coffee on the front lawn and looking out @ the lake will never be forgotten. Fire Pits at night looking into the sky with the million dollar lake views. The homemade baked goods in the morning reminded me of my grandmas home cooking. I highly recommend this. The owners of this bed and breakfast make you feel at home.