The staff is very friendly, but the hotel is aging poorly. The pool and hot tub weren't very clean looking (I elected not to risk it), and the furniture, upholstery, and carpets have seen better days.
Stayed here during a road trip from KC to Chicago just long enough to catch some quick sleep. AC wasn't working in the room. We were too tired to switch rooms but definitely won't be staying here again. Room was dated, smelled of smoke and although we were in a non-smoking room, there was an ashtray on the table.
Lame. Shuttle wouldn't take us to the wedding reception after 5pm. So it just sat in the lot. Breakfast wasn't refilled when low. Bathroom didn't have a fan. C'mon guys, this is simple stuff. Have a lil pride in ur work
The hotel is reasonably decent, in terms of furnishings and cleanliness. HOWEVER, a couple of dozen rooms face a harshly and brightly lit indoor pool, giving you no view of the outside (that is, you have no idea whether it's day or night, sunny or raining, when you draw back your curtains). And you won't be drawing back your curtains at all, unless you want to share your private space with everyone who's at the pool. Further, the lights to the pool switch on at 6 am and turn off at 11 pm.
They don't tell you that you've got such a room when you check in, nor ask you if you would be happy with such a room.
I was tempted to ask to change rooms after the first night (Friday), but figured that I would just ride with it, since I was only staying one more night. I should have demanded a switch .... the pool hours 6am-11pm are 7 days/week. What that meant for me is that I was awakened at 6:15 am on SUNDAY MORNING by kids jumping around and yelling in the pool. And the hotel could do nothing about it, since they open the pool at 6am on Sunday. Needless to say, it was be most unpleasant and unrestful stay that I've ever had, anywhere.
To top it off, when I checked out, the desk clerk didn't even bother to ask whether I had a good stay (something else that normally happens at every hotel I've ever stayed at).
Won't be going back there, obviously.
If you do go, don't let them give you a room facing the pool, if you have any desire to sleep.
Price is good, rooms are dark, no microwave or mini fridge in room, no microwave easily accessible (you have to ask the front desk to heat it up for you.)
No hot breakfast, disappointed. Your breakfast is the major reason I stay here!!
Stayed here a week ago. It was unknown to me if you get a patio room people can party all night with no quiet rule. The hot tub was very hairy and dirty. The hotel overall needs remodeling. Pros: restaurant and bar on site, convince off the highway
Checked in at 730pm, had no hot water till 3am. seemed run down.
We booked this hotel to be close to the Hospital for my sons testings the next day that went from 9-3. So I wanted to make sure he had a fun night before to let loose and have a great time. The pool was broken down. The website said there was an arcade, but it was removed "years ago" so I had a very upset child. We had some safety issues in our room as well but the management was very nice, listened and was compassionate to our situation and made it right with us so we can come back and give them another chance for the next trip.
The Breakfast is the BEST Ive had for a continental breakfast!
Too many old people down in the lobby being loud and old while I was hungover trying to find the free coffee.
Very pleasant visit. Short notice stop as we cross the country. Reasonable rates. Comfortable, clean and nicely furnished rooms. Sufficient breakfast to get us back on the road with no need to delay our start. Staff was extremely nice and helpful.
On behalf of our client comedian Jay Harris we at Ignite Hospitality Services would like to give a huge shout out to our friends on the staff and management team here for being so friendly and accommodating while staying here! They were in town for a performance and could not have been happier. The rooms were awesome, and the free breakfast was a perfect way to wake up! Very convenient to the highway as well for an easy transition back on the road after a great night's sleep! #ignitehospitalityservices #travelignite
Good breakfast. Nice pool. Clean rooms. Friendly staff.
Nice room very friendly people and a great breakfast will stay there again
Had a wedding in the area and we're looking for a good hotel value. We found this place and the staff couldn't have made us happier. Everyone from the front desk to the housekeeping staff to the bartender made us feel welcome and went out of their way to make our stay very pleasant and to make sure we had everything we needed! The rooms and facilities are very clean.
For the price, it was a very nice hotel. The room was clean, maybe a little dated, but that's not much of an issue. The complimentary breakfast was really good, especially compared to other hotels I've been to. Overall, I'd stay there again if I happened to be in the area.
This hotel was very conveniently located for travel. I arrived late at night and the front desk was extremely friendly and accommodating, getting me checked in quickly without a hitch. I also enjoyed the complimentary hot/cold breakfast buffet in the morning with fresh food options and hot coffee. The rooms were quiet and clean with super comfy beds. I'd highly recommend this hotel and will definitely stay again next time I'm in Iowa City.
Was a nice hotel good service.. i think each room should have mini fridge and microwaves added too rooms...
We had such a good experience a couple months ago at the Clarion Highlander conference center I came back with another band I tour manage and once again we had a great stay. Massive parking lot allowed up to park bus and trailer with ease. Fast and courteous staff adjusted room preferences per my clients smoking request; they were also impressed with the largest indoor pool they ve ever seen in a hotel. Stay was quiet and peaceful; complimentary breakfast exceeded quality of other hotel chains. There is a amazing restaurant in there as well; also plenty of conference room and business resources as well if that s your thing. This is my favorite spot to stay at in a great location when traveling through Iowa. Be sure to check out the Spam museum!
Great big, comfortable rooms. And pet friendly when we were traveling with our cat. No mini fridge :( pool was under renovation. Staff was great
It was fine but more a 2 star hotel than a 3 star as advertised. If you are looking for a typical 3 star hotel choose somewhere else. But fine for a 2 star.
Very comfortable and a very nice place for a conference
Tub wouldn't work for the kids to bath. Bathroom light was flashing ado it couldn't be used. Room was clean though
Love this hotel, layout, pool area.
Staff is always friendly.
This was a very nice place to stay. It was very clean and met our needs in every way! There is a pool and hot tub, arcade, ice cream parlor, very nice hot breakfast and a super staff! I would love to come back!
We stayed at the Clarion on a previous trip and liked the quality of the room on the 2nd floor. However, this time around not so much. The light on the desk was not working, the curtains had small holes in the liner, the knob for the sliding door to the courtyard was broken and you could not open the door at all, the sheets had several stains on them, the bathroom exhaust fan did not work, and the towels smelled really bad when wet. I don't know if it s because we requested a pet-friendly room, or if all of the rooms on the 1st floor are in this bad of shape. I m certain we won't be staying at that hotel again.
Loved sharing the room with a mouse NOT. I called the front desk and am moved 2 doors down, told that the "mouse will stay in the room they are in"???? Really?
This place either needs new management, or to fold. Aside from the diligent cleaning staff, the front desk man was inept, the electronic locks worked only half of the time, the whole place is in disrepair, and the non/smoking rooms are not segregated, so the hallways smell.
Seemed like a great place to hold a conference but the building was really dated.
It was listed as a 3 star hotel, and that was inaccurate. Very much in need of a remodel.
Stayed here for work for 3 weeks. Rates are great for extended stay. You can tell that in it's prime 20 years ago this was a state of the art conference center. However it needs remodeled. Rooms are decent, on the positive side of the going rate for one. For the most part it's quite. Doesn't have any odors and the towels are clean. The worst part is the pool/hot tub area. My wife came to town for easter and I told her there was a pool and hot tub. We'll the hot tub is a sespool of hair, busted pieces of pool floaties, candy wrappers, and other odds and ends that should of got trapped in the filter if there is one. Needless to say we didn't go in. The pool had an off feel to it just grimy and gross. We waded in about waist level and decided to go back to the room and shower again. The pool area is a zero star. If this place totally redid the pool area it would be 4 star. It is nice that they still allow pets though. I will stay here again, just not on hopes of using the pool.
When my mother and I inquired about a room as we were unexpectedly by there late at night, we were booked to a room where someone was sleeping already. We told the front desk and while apologetic, we went somewhere else as we were very uncomfortable being there.
The Wi-Fi was very weak. Another guest ate all the oatmeal by 7am and attendent refused to place more on the buffet.
Good hotel for a night. Food was just okay but total cost of everything wasn't bad at all.
Nice hotel, stayed here for a solid week. Great breakfast in the morning (I believe I stole it from the Hampton next door though), pool was nice, bar had decent prices and good food and they make cookies for customers. Also, rented a conference room for a business event. Good service for this as well.
Very impressive on the inside. The rooms are very comfortable and the breakfast was decent
I didn't pay for accommodations, so I can't speak to the value proposition, but this hotel is quite dated. Even though things have been kept in pretty well, it obviously hasn't been updated in awhile. The toilet was public-bathroom style. There was an odd towel rack in the shower. There bathroom needed re grouting. Etc. The pool area was very large and quite nice (again quite dated though.) The gym only has a single treadmill.
I went to the hotel for a cookware party that was being held in one of their meeting rooms. The room we met in was quite large and a good space. I wish overall the hotel had better lighting. Some areas of the hotel and parking lot seem dimly lit or unlit entirely.
Nice place but our room was right next to the pool and I could hear the door open and close while trying to get my kid to go to bed
The people were wonderful and helpful. The a/c didn't work very well it was very humid in the room. The a/c fan bearings were out so every so often when I was asleep it would start squealing loud. The bed was not very comfortable.
Just a wonderful and accommodating hotel. Staff are super friendly.
The staff here were all simply amazing! Place definitely seems like it was a happening place in years past. Rooms could use some fixing up, but for the price I really have no complaints.
I stayed there for my Christmas diner and the service was great, the people were very friendly
The hotel room was clean but could use a little maintenance. The staff was all very helpful and friendly. The pool area was pretty nice but it seemed like the pool filter and pool bottom needed a little maintenance.
Nice friendly staff.. but the rooms are very outdated. & so is the pool.
stayed after wedding nearby. room was overall nice, bathroom door door was a little messed up, but it didn't really matter. staff was friendly and helped return a phone that was lost the night before.
The place smelled like smoke from the 70's other than that,it was very nice. Needs updating but clean and worked for our purposes.
Had a lil miss hap but it was fix immediately. Would stay again
I stopped during the middle of the night on a last minute road trip. Booking was easy. Staff was ok. Rooms are a bit dated in terms of furniture/ decoration, but they were clean and comfortable. Had a view of the pool from my room, and I only wish I'd had time to swim- it was big and looked very clean! Nice space. Would recommend.
We got a room with two queens and it was fine. Room had tv, largish bathroom, a closet, and smelled better than most. Came with a hot breakfast the next day. Overall, pretty average experience.
Worst hotel stay ever will never go back room was dirty found roaches in the hallway and the bedroom had to switch rooms cuz the heater broke!!! Never ever again n wouldn't recommend it to anyone
I stay in hotels 4-6 nights a week and very few have got it together like this one.. Very friendly and helpful staff, check-in is a breeze, the rooms are very clean, beds are comfortable, good food and drink. You really should try this hotel.
It was nice but when we tried to make a complaint the person was really rude
Decent rooms and always a good price on Priceline, usually the best one. I do like a hotel with a good weight room, and this one doesn't really fit the bill. Their weight machine has been broken for 9 months.
Clean, nice enough. A little outdated and the furniture is pretty scratched up in places.
We worked with Cassie at the Clarion and her colleagues to reserve a room block for our wedding guests in October 2017. We had an excellent experience. Cassie was so easy to get a hold of via email and phone and answered any questions we had quickly and clearly. Our guests had a nice stay and utilized a very reasonably priced and convenient shuttle service to and from our wedding venue. We also had a nice brunch Sunday morning with special breakfast cocktails that our guests loved!
I was there for a meeting. The staff wasn't really present at the desk. However, it was pretty easy to find my way. The rest of the meeting was south going and the food they brought was good and served well.
It was smelly, old, it was not what I expected for the brand. The first room I was given the TV did not work and the phone had missing keys and did not work, I walked to desk to let them no. The next room was still old and smelly but the TV worked.
I would NoT go back
We had a great night of rest at The Clarion Hotel Highlander Conference Center. We pulled up to the hotel after a long day of driving and had no problems finding the place. The check in process at the desk was a breeze. I found the clerk to be very helpful. This place is so close to everything around town. It is clean and comfortable. I think the Clarion definitely fits the bill for a comfortable stay in Iowa City.
This week I was rolling through Iowa City, IA and had the pleasure of checking into the wonderful Clarion Hotel Highlander Conference Center. Driving up to the entrance, I couldn't help but notice and appreciate the spacious, ample parking, large enough to fit buses, trucks, etc., and I was welcomed by a very friendly and warm staff and provided with a state of the art room equipped with incredibly cozy beds, top of the line TVs with plenty of channels to choose from, as well as a very ample bathroom space with a great shower, stocked with all the necessary amenities. For you traveling pet owners, this hotel is perfect if you're traveling with a furry companion. The Clarion is very pet-friendly.
In close proximity to gas, food and downtown Iowa City, fun & nightlife is not too far out of reach. If you're looking to enjoy yourself but don't want to stray too far, go check out the sleek lobby hotel bar & grill Against The Grain.
If you're working from the road and need a space to efficiently complete your tasks, the Office center provides Guest PC computers, as well as copy & fax machines.
Do not leave without visiting the indoor spa area taking a dip in the very spacious and luxurious pool and heated jacuzzi; peak relaxation for ANYTIME of day. If you're looking to break a sweat and keep your body in tune, the exercise room conjoined with the spa provides all you need for a top of the line workout...Also, don't go without taking advantage of the delicious free coffee and continental breakfast, to charge you up before you return to the open road. Incredible staff, great room, accessible to the disabled/handicapped, the Clarion provided a comfortable, relaxing and incredibly luxurious stay. Can't recommend it enough, and I look forward to running back through Iowa City again.
Was advertised as a 3 star hotel, but should have been a 1.5, maybe 2 star. Everything was old and grimy in our room. Furniture was scuffed and dinged. Tub was rusty and cracked. The tv, phone, and 2 lamps didn't work. Pool was nice but the towels were terrible. Continental breakfast was great.
Was fine for a room while traveling. Clean and staff friendly. Beds could be a updated to pillowtops.
The staff was excellent to us. The hotel room was great. Completely satisfied with those aspects. I'm disappointed that the pool area is filled up with kids taking swim lessons half the afternoon and night. I travel for work and specifically picked this hotel to use the whirlpool after work. Had I known that I would be unable to use that area, I would have stayed elsewhere.
Excellent rooms. Great service. A fantastic breakfast. The restaurant inside has awesome food as well. I have stayed here several times. The experience has always been good.
Heather the bartender is just a great gal and takes good care of us every Monday night. Five stars for Heather
