Wisconsin Union Club Suites

THE MOST WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR A UW-MADISON ALUMNI TO COME HOME TO. We all went to the Memorial Union as students for food, drink or rest out on the Terrace. Now imagine being able to stay a few nights in the Memorial Union to create even better memories. A bucket list and must do for any alumni. I was in Badger heaven for 3 days. On Wisconsin

9 months ago

Section I: General Information||The Wisconsin Union Hotel has two hotel locations: Club Suites at Memorial Union and Hotels in Union South. ||The Wisconsin Union Club Suites in Memorial Union consists of six rooms, some with two queen beds, some with a king size bed. ||This is an ideal location for those whose primary activities are UW-Madison focused, especially for the Wisconsin alumnus. ||The suites have great views of Lake Mendota and Wisconsin Union Terrace.||||The location is unbeatable. ||The price is relatively higher than hotels off campus, but still worthwhile because of its location and the view. ||||The club suites room has standard and modern amenities equivalent of 4 star+ hotel. ||||The hotel team from front desk to room cleaning are courteous. ||||Because this is not a typical hotel like Marriott/Hilton/Hyatt, it's a university run hotel, there are several unique things to bring to your attention:||1) There is no hotel front desk inside the Memorial Union. The 24/7 hotel front desk is located on the first floor of Union South. ||2) You will first need to check in at the hotel lobby located on the first floor of Union South (there is a ten-minute complimentary parking). The hotel staff there will provide a detailed and clear instruction and map showing you parking location and the best way to get to the room from the parking lot. Parking is complimentary, and you can go in and out of the parking garage as many times as you need during your hotel stay. ||For check out, you can leave the keys in the room without having to return to Union South. A phone call to the hotel front desk upon leaving the room is encouraged. ||3) Free WiFi - Unlike most hotels where you can log on easily, you need to create an account first in order to use the UW network.||4) Unable to make reservation online directly from its homepage, you need to call. ||5) In busy seasons, these rooms are in high demand so do plan on making reservations early.||6) There is no room service/in room dining. There are several restaurants on first floor of Memorial Union.||||Section II: Personal Experience during the stay||* The front desk team, Emily and Andrew provided fast check-in. Providing multiple keys was a thoughtful idea in case one doesn't work, there are back-ups, especially given the distance between Memorial Union and Union South. ||* The bottled waters were not available upon check-in. They delivered to the room in Memorial Union before our arrival. Even though we had to remind them, but they delivered to the room before our arrival, which's efficient.||* Appreciated the hotel giving late check-out for both room and parking. They seem to be willing to help as long as it doesn't impact its cleaning operations before the next group of visitors coming in.||* The hotel practices and enforces COVID restrictions, the entire university does the same.||* The hotel makes efforts on protecting environment. ||* The room cleaning crew can do better by paying attention to details by checking cleanness in uncommon places and reporting items which requires repairs. For examples: A desk drawer handle fell off; two long hairs stuck on a hair dryer, unclean pillowcases with perfume smell||* The hotel staff misquoted pricing over the phone when making reservations. || Provided pricing for Union South instead of Memorial Union. || High recommends confirming pricing when making reservations and at check-in.||||Section III: Memorial Union vs. Union South||* Memorial Union Club Suites is slightly more expensive than rooms in Union South.||* Weekends can be noisy at Memorial Union|| On weekends when the UW hosts football games, noise from Camp Randall can be heard at Union South. ||* Both locations have restaurants on first floors||* Both locations do not provide in-room dining||* Union South has the hotel front desk; Memorial Union does not||* Rooms in Union South feels more like a modern hotel, and its bathrooms are also more modern. ||* Rooms in Memorial Union feels more like a classy boutique with smaller bathrooms and shower curtains||||Section IV: Overall Rating (4.5 out of 5.0)||5 out of 5 on university's effort in providing a convenient way for short term visitors to stay on campus. 5 out of 5 in terms of university's ability to manage and run a hotel, especially when it's not its core. Impressive.||4 out of 5 for room cleaning, ease of making reservation, and pricing miscommunication.||||Highly recommend the Wisconsin Union Hotels.

2 years ago

Comfortably appointed and well though out. Our room had a great view of Lake Mendota and the terrace. Drinks, food, ice cream, gift shop are just steps away. No driving needed once parked. Easy walking distance to State Street and nearby businesses. Room includes a tall shower w/ a fixed shower head plus a hand-held spray shower, toiletries, safe, ironing board, iron, microwave, Keurig coffee maker w/ mugs or to-go cups, coffee and tea pods, TV, desk, wardrobe armoire, dresser, luggage rack, two chairs: an easy chair and a desk chair. A secure, common entry lounge is only accessible to hotel guests. Lounge includes seating, desk, a photo exhibit of university events over the years, an ice machine and extra towels. Each of the six rooms is named after esteemed guest lecturers. Parking is included at nearby Helen C. White Library, The band on the terrace ended at 10:00 PM on a Saturday night and the terrace cleared out, FYI, re: some muffled, outside noise. It didn't bother us, but if you want a super quiet room, choose accordingly. We liked being able to see the bank and crowd from our window. To check in, go to Union South first. Park at the temporary parking at street level outside Union South (if you park in the subterranean parking, you might pay a fee after 10 minutes). You'll get your key card and parking pass there. The only downside with our stay is at the end of the night, we could not connect to the Wi-Fi in the Memorial Union in our room even we followed the written instructions. In the morning and on the phone w/ a staff person at Union South to guide us, we still could log in to the provided Wi-Fi. I had to go to Starbucks on State Street to get Wi-Fi (an easy block away). So, when you check in at Union South, be sure to have staff help you figure out how to log in to the Wi-Fi. There is no hotel staff at the Memorial Union. The history and memories of the building as an alumni, plus the fantastic location can't' be beat. I would definitely stay here again. ||||PROS: location, room amenities, building amenities.||CONS: Wi-Fi did not connect; instructions followed did not work.

2 years ago

The rooms have great views of the lake, and you can drink on the terrace or State Street with friends & family, and then walk upstairs to go to sleep. Super convenient. The suite has three double beds!||||The downsides? The toilet takes a few flushes to actually flush everything away. The shower temperature fluctuates. There is no mini-fridge or microwave. The air conditioners are very loud. Also, there is very poor communication between the staff at the Memorial Union (they give you keys and papers to sign) and the staff at Union South (they do the actual bookings for all rooms). ||(When I first showed up at the Memorial Union the front desk didn't know I had a reservation and they had to make a call to Union South for a bit to get all the information.)||||In the end, let's be honest, the main reason to stay here is the location. That was good enough for me to forgive the downsides.

11 years ago

Rooms with great lake views (two have a bit less), free on campus parking (a big bonus) and recently upgraded rooms with cable TV, wifi and coffee machines. Only downside is that hot water can take a few minutes to run up the four stories to your room, but there is plenty once it comes. All in all great value for money.

10 years ago