The Highlander Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection

Hotels
•
Ascend Collection
8.3 (345 reviews)
2525 Highlander Place , Iowa City , us
+1 319-354-2000

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Pet-friendly
Great staff and service
Spacious rooms
Amazing decor and amenities
Cons:
Some areas slightly dated
Issues with breakfast timing and quality
Missing coffee makers in rooms
Overpriced food in certain instances

Categories

Cleanliness
8.13
Generally clean and well-maintained but some areas appeared slightly dated.
Service
8.6
Staff were professional and accommodating, overall positive interactions noted.
Location
9.14
Convenient location with easy access to desired destinations.
Room Quality
8.09
Spacious rooms but some were noted to be slightly dated.
Amenities
7.62
Good range of amenities, but some missing features (like coffee makers) were noted.
Value for Money
8.58
Overall a good value considering the amenities and location.
Food and Beverage
8.13
Good quality food and beverages but some felt prices were high.
Overall Experience
8.1
Enjoyable stay with minor inconveniences; would recommend and stay again.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-30 10:22

Property Description

Convenient Location
Located just off Interstate 80, The Highlander Hotel is a mere 5.8 miles away from the prestigious University of Iowa, making it the perfect choice for visitors wanting easy access to the campus and beyond.

Luxurious Amenities
Guests can unwind in the indoor pool and jacuzzi, stay connected with free Wi-Fi, and enjoy in-room entertainment with cable TV. Each room is equipped with convenient coffee facilities, bathroom amenities, and ironing essentials for a comfortable stay.

Impressive Facilities
With a game room, gym, and 7 spacious meeting rooms including a grand 5,832 square feet option, The Highlander Hotel caters to both leisure and business travelers looking for top-notch facilities.

Ready to experience comfort and convenience at The Highlander Hotel? Book your stay now!

Important information:

Upon check-in photo identification and credit card is required. All special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.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.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: CID

Location

Property Accessibility

Total Disability Score: 35.71
Public Area
  • Ramp: No
  • Entrance Leveled: No
  • Pet Friendly: No
Reception And Restaurant
  • Reception Hearing Accessible: No
  • Reception Wheelchair Accessible: No
  • Restaurant Wheelchair Accessible: No
Elevator
  • Elevator Audio Signals: No
  • Elevator Braille Numbers: No
  • Elevator Contrasting Buttons: No
  • Elevator Visual Signs: No
Show all accessibility features

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 345 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.13
Service: 8.6
Location: 9.14
Room Quality: 8.09
Amenities: 7.62
Value for Money: 8.58
Food and Beverage: 8.13
Overall Experience: 8.1
D
David • couple • us
7
Cons:

I little too deep into the hippy vibe for me. The wall art had that feel of rejected traditional middle-class morality, institutional church authority, and conventional sexual and social rules. Nice place, just had an oppressive vibe feel.

2026-08-13 • via Nuitee
P
Peggy • couple • us
10
Definitely would stay here again. Quiet and very close to interstate!
Pros:

Beautiful 70’s inspired hotel. Beautifully decorated. Breakfast was great. Loved the fresh yogurt bar.

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
L
Linda • couple • us
9
We truly enjoyed our stay at the Highlander. Great location and super eclectic - so much fun!
Pros:

Nicole at the front desk was absolutely amazing! She was so helpful and accommodating and all the other staff was fantastic too. We loved the ability to use a record player in our room and were very happy with all the amenities they offered. We would definitely stay there again.

Cons:

We would have liked a coffee maker in our room.

2026-07-24 • via Nuitee
M
Melissa • couple • us
2
Dirty. Cheap bedding.
Pros:

It was conveniently located near the highway.

Cons:

The rooms were dirty. Room service was not as advertised. Room was warm upon arrival and AC did not work well.

2026-07-22 • via Nuitee
E
emily • couple • us
10
2026-07-21 • via Nuitee
F
Fullmer • solo_traveller • us
7
2026-07-21 • via Nuitee
G
Glen • couple • us
7
a short stay while traveling
Pros:

one of the better hotel breakfasts

Cons:

no elevators, so we had to carry the luggage and cooler up the stairs. fortunately only a single flight

2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
A
Aimee • couple • us
8
Good location and overall decent stay.
Pros:

Ample (free) parking, interior decor was nice (historic hotel), lovely pool and play area, free breakfast was good (real plates and glasses, good coffee and food).

Cons:

The first attempt to check in - didn't get checked in properly. So when we returned to the hotel around 11pm our room key didn't work and was occupied by someone else. Had to go talk to the front desk and get a different room (and be actually checked in).

2026-07-06 • via Nuitee
J
John • couple • us
8
2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
E
Emily • couple • us
7
Not what it appears to be, in a bad way
Pros:

The pool and amenities were fine and the free breakfast was a plus. The interior pool view rooms are nice.

Cons:

The pool was shut down for almost the whole day on a Monday due to PH imbalances. Front desk said it was due to a busy weekend, but weren’t they monitoring that? Big bummer that our full day had the pool shut down. The pool area is nice when it isn’t packed with kids and there’s not huge puddles all over on the floor- good luck with that if you stay on a weekend. They have a lot of outdated furniture and it was scattered around, not placed purposefully, especially outside.

2026-07-02 • via Nuitee
O
Omer • extended_group • us
5
Like a motel 6 but somehow famous.
Pros:

Not much

Cons:

Decor, rooms, it was like a motel 6

2026-06-12 • via Nuitee
B
Brian • family_with_children • us
9
Pros:

Nice hotel, good location, clean and quite rooms

Cons:

There were many of the machines in the arcade that needed repair or did not work

2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
H
Hope • couple • us
7
It was okay.
Cons:

Upcharge because at the desk it was $40 cheaper. That’s where I should have booked instead of on booking

2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
D
Daniel • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
L
Larissa • couple • us
10
2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
J
Jim • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • couple • us
10
2026-05-22 • via Nuitee
A
Amanda • extended_group • us
9
Great for a family or couples. Highly recommend.
Pros:

Love this hotel. Lots of amenities, the pool is beautiful, and the bar/arcade is perfect.

Cons:

Highly recommend. Not a fan of the huge price markup during prime weekends, but that’s true of all hotels in Iowa City.

2026-05-17 • via Nuitee
A
Albaugh • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
J
JoAnn • couple • us
10
Pros:

Such a cool retro vibe. Loved it!

2026-05-06 • via Nuitee