Best Western University Inn

Hotels
Best Western
7.4 (827 reviews)
1020 Ellis Hollow Road , Ithaca , us

Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Electric bicycle charging station
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
Safety deposit box
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Good location
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Old building and furniture

Categories

Cleanliness
6.56
Several reviews mentioned cleanliness issues, including outdated decor and dirty carpets, which significantly impacted the rating.
Service
8.53
Positive feedback about the staff being friendly and helpful, though some issues with bedding assistance were noted.
Location
8.57
Multiple reviews praised the good location, convenient for access to downtown and local attractions.
Room Quality
6.52
Comments on old and uncomfortable furniture, with specific mentions of issues like slugs found in a room.
Amenities
7.05
Amenities are adequate but mentioned issues with the pool area and outdated gym equipment.
Value for Money
7.51
The value is seen as fair for what was provided, but the quality of facilities could be improved.
Food and Beverage
7.06
Breakfast received mixed reviews; while some liked it, issues like unavailability of food items were reported.
Overall Experience
7.43
Overall decent stay, particularly for short visits, but significant room for improvement noted.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 12:47

Property Description

Convenient Location near Cornell University
Located adjacent to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, the hotel offers a prime spot for visitors to the university.

Comfortable Rooms and Amenities
Guests can relax in rooms with cathedral ceilings, cable TV with HBO, a microwave, and a refrigerator. The outdoor pool and free WiFi add to the comfort of the stay.

Complimentary Services and Nearby Attractions
Enjoy free shuttles to the airport and Cornell University, along with free parking. Explore Six Mile Creek Vineyard and other nearby attractions easily from the hotel.

Book your stay at Best Western University Inn for a convenient and comfortable experience.

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Swimming pool: Closed from Mon, Sep 1, 2025 until Sun, May 31, 2026

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: ITH

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 9 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

Location

Guest Reviews

7.4
Based on 827 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.56
Service: 8.53
Location: 8.57
Room Quality: 6.52
Amenities: 7.05
Value for Money: 7.51
Food and Beverage: 7.06
Overall Experience: 7.43
J
Julie couple us
10
Pros:

Convenient, friendly staff, clean

2026-02-13 via Nuitee
S
scott family_with_children us
8
2026-01-29 via Nuitee
W
William family_with_children us
8
Nice midrange hotel convenient to Cornell (and Grandma's house!) and a bargain by locaj standards
Pros:

I booked a King Room with Fireplace at the Best Western University Inn Ithaca for 5 nights for my son, his wife, and my 3 year old granddaughter who were visiting. I had offered them the choice between the Best Western room or a King Suite in a much fancier and more expensive hotel downtown, and they opted for the BW because it's only a mile from our house (and also only a mile from the heart of the Cornell campus); is easy to get to; and has an abundance of free parking (while parking downtown is a huge mess). They are very experienced travelers, and found their room to be completely satisfactory. I gave the hotel an overall rating of 8 only because I wasn't in the room myself and I am reluctant to give ratings at either end of the scale unless they are based on personal experience.

Cons:

Nothing, everyone was happy..

2026-01-28 via Nuitee
W
Wheeler family_with_children us
8
Jewel in disguise
Pros:

I was very impressed with the cleanliness of the place, the staff is incredible and happy to help. Great place to stay! Pets are welcome also.
One bad thing about the booking app that I have been using; it doesn't give you any place for discounts. Girls at the front say they can't change it, so a bit of a hard time with that.

Cons:

Just that no discounts were offered

2026-01-25 via Nuitee
L
Lawrence couple us
1
House keeping needs to do better
Pros:

Besides the room we were in the over all hotel was beautiful

Cons:

Our room was very very dirty and most definitely wasn’t cleaned properly

2026-01-23 via Nuitee
F
Fouad solo_traveller sa
8
2026-01-22 via Nuitee
M
Matthew couple us
10
2026-01-20 via Nuitee
N
Nevenka family_with_children ca
7
2026-01-20 via Nuitee
X
Xiaoming couple ca
7
2026-01-20 via Nuitee
T
Trevor family_with_children us
3
2026-01-19 via Nuitee
T
Tara family_with_children us
1
2026-01-19 via Nuitee
A
Alex family_with_children us
5
Pleasant but a lot of improvements could help.
Pros:

I have been coming here for years. My first started coming here when I was a student at Cornell. My biggest concern is the cost. About 5 years ago you could book a room for about $100 or just over $100. It has basically doubled in the last 5 years. At the same time, the property is basically the same property it was 5 years ago. There have been no major improvements, some of the hallways smell, carpeting and other things are old. The lighting in the bathroom is extremely dim. The toilet barely flushed. So there are a lot of things that should be improved, and I don't see any improvements given the fact that the cost has doubled.

Cons:

Hallways had a weird smell. The lighting in the bathroom is extremely dim. Carpets were old. The room itself had not been renovated probably in over two decades. Food choices could be a little bit better. The cost was very high, given the fact that it was only about $100 5 years ago to rent a room. It's over $250 now. As I said, I have been coming here since the late 1990s since I was a student at Cornell, so I know this hotel very well. It just could use a lot of improvements, and the cost is not really worth it when you consider that.

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
R
Raj family_with_children us
10
Pros:

Excellent

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
S
Sami extended_group us
8
2026-01-19 via Nuitee
Y
yannick couple us
7
3 days at Best western for move in
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Some smell in the bathroom

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
W
weibing family_with_children cn
8
2026-01-19 via Nuitee
V
Victoria family_with_children us
6
Overall fine for a short getaway if you’re not planning on spending much time at the hotel.
Pros:

Beds were comfortable. Air conditioner worked very well, room was very cool. Not a far drive from down town Ithica! Very affordable/cheap.

Cons:

The continental breakfast was a zoo. They only had one staff member preparing breakfast foods in a closet. So you spent a lot of time just waiting for breakfast items to be brought out. Pool was small. Location was weird in a strip mall plaza.

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
J
Jermis family_with_children us
8
Pros:

Facilities, friendly staff

Cons:

My room wasn't very clean, a lot of noise from the laundry near my room, very expensive price on weekends

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
N
Nugent couple us
6
2026-01-19 via Nuitee
M
Manargul family_with_children gb
6
Cons:

The room wasn’t clean, my daughter found slugs right next to the bed, we couldn’t sleep or rest.

2026-01-19 via Nuitee