University Inn Duke

Hotels
8.7 (857 reviews)
502 Elf Street , Durham , us

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Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
Facilities for disabled guests
Non-smoking throughout
Front desk (limited hours)
Free wired internet
Self parking (surcharge)
Internet access
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Cleanliness
Location
Friendly staff
Shuttle service
Cons:
No breakfast bar
Parking fees
Noise from thin walls

Categories

Cleanliness
8.48
Room was mostly clean, but thin walls caused noise disturbances.
Service
9.05
Several comments highlight friendly and efficient staff.
Location
9.29
Many guests praised the hotel's proximity to Duke and other amenities.
Room Quality
8.74
Rooms were generally described as clean and spacious.
Amenities
8.57
Shuttle service appreciated, though some expected breakfast options.
Value for Money
8.73
Good value based on cleanliness and location, but parking fees noted.
Food and Beverage
7.78
Lack of breakfast options and paid parking impacted perception.
Overall Experience
8.95
Overall feedback indicates a pleasant stay with noted concerns.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-07 14:51

Property Description

Charming Boutique Hotel near Duke University Medical Center

Convenient Amenities: Enjoy the convenience of a free transfer service to the hospital, along with in-room microwave, refrigerator, cable TV, and free WiFi.

Exceptional Services: Benefit from a 24-hour front desk, on-site laundry facilities, and a complimentary local area shuttle service on weekdays.

Nearby Attractions: Explore Durham easily with a short drive to Durham Bulls Athletic Park and Thomas Executive Conference Center, or take a leisurely stroll to Sarah P Duke Gardens.

Book your stay at University Inn Duke for a comfortable and well-equipped experience in Durham.

Important information:

Please note the hotel provides a free transport to/from hospitals, clinics and other locations within a limited radius, between the hours of 07:00 - 21:00. Guests are kindly requested to contact the hotel for further details.

One parking pass for one vehicle will be provided per reservation, passes for additional vehicles will have a cost of $8 per day.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.

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

Property Policies

  • Internet

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

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 11 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs USD 8 per day.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.7
Based on 857 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.48
Service: 9.05
Location: 9.29
Room Quality: 8.74
Amenities: 8.57
Value for Money: 8.73
Food and Beverage: 7.78
Overall Experience: 8.95
K
Kaji • couple • us
7
2026-04-01 • via Nuitee
P
Phil • family_with_children • us
9
2026-03-29 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • family_with_children • us
10
2026-03-28 • via Nuitee
D
Devi • family_with_children • us
7
2026-03-22 • via Nuitee
A
April • family_with_children • us
3
Shabby/Will not come back here
Pros:

I enjoyed the location of the hotel being close to a lot of the fun activities in downtown Durham.
Other than that, I did not like the hotel experience at all.

Cons:

Contential Breakfast:
I particularly did not like that there isn't a continental breakfast! I was very shocked that a hotel that is with Duke wouldn't have at least the continental breakfast option.

Parking:
The parking was very scarce and a tight squeeze overall.
Duke medical University van transportation chose to double park at one point. I made a complaint about it and got an attitude back saying that, "Sometimes transportation just parks and goes."
But with the limited parking that they already had, I told them they should re-park to give room for the guests!
Also, it should be made very clear even what the third party of booking.com that you have to pay for parking. There should be a a heads up that if you book through Duke in you can get free parking. This was not established to me beforehand and I ended up having to pay $10 a day!

Staff:
I have a neutral review of staff here. It wasn't a terrible customer service experience and it wasn't an amazing one either. With me stating that I was new to the area, I would have loved recommendations of where to go locally and nice places to visit.

Hotel Room:
The room was pretty much a studio apartment. I did not like the popcorn ceilings and I feel like it was cheaply put together. The paintwork was patchy and the TV didn't even have streaming services on it.

Overall I would not come back to this hotel ever!

2026-03-15 • via Nuitee
F
Flavia • solo_traveller • us
7
2026-03-12 • via Nuitee
C
Carter • couple • us
10
Cons:

Having to pay to park

2026-03-12 • via Nuitee
N
Nitya • solo_traveller • us
5
Pros:

Proximity to Duke

Cons:

Not very responsive staff

2026-03-10 • via Nuitee
C
Cosmina Viorela • solo_traveller • ro
9
2026-03-09 • via Nuitee
M
Margaret • solo_traveller • us
9
Pros:

Convenience n cleanliness

2026-03-05 • via Nuitee
S
Sherri • solo_traveller • us
6
A necessary stay
Pros:

Breakfast????

Cons:

My car got hit in the parking lot

2026-03-05 • via Nuitee
S
Steve • solo_traveller • us
9
I will not book through Bookings.com again as booking.com causes you to be charged hidden fees when checking in .
Pros:

Very Clean , friendly staff, easy to get to .

Cons:

No complaints

2026-03-03 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer • family_with_children • us
4
Not comfortable
Cons:

The pullout sofa was unusable, pillows were terrible and not enough towels

2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
林 • solo_traveller • tw
9
2026-02-27 • via Nuitee
R
ROBERT • couple • us
10
The University Inn Duke is the perfect place to stay for anyone having a medical procedure at Duke.
Pros:

Reasons for traveling: medical, for a procedure at Duke Medical.
The staff were great, went out of their way to be helpful.

Cons:

More gluten-free options in the foods available in the lobby.

2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
S
Suzanne • solo_traveller • us
7
Pros:

good location.

Cons:

No small coffee pot in the room. It was too much trouble to dress and go down to the lobby for coffee early in the morning.
The hallways should have carpet. I could hear people talking and moving in the hallway very early in the morning.

2026-02-24 • via Nuitee
G
George Alan • couple • us
8
Excellent value for money if visiting Duke students!
Pros:

The location is one of the biggest attractions. Everything at Duke seems to be no more than a few minutes' drive away. The staff at the lobby were generally pleasant. The rooms were exactly what someone with basic requirements would value.

Cons:

The walls are a bit thin, but that did not prevent us from falling asleep at all.

2026-02-24 • via Nuitee
K
Kaluta • family_with_children • us
8
Cons:

Lack of restaurant

2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
E
Elizabeth • extended_group • us
10
Very restful.
Pros:

Room was comfortable.

Cons:

No coffee pot

2026-02-13 • via Nuitee
S
Sherpa38423392206 • Solo travel • Winnsboro, South Carolina
10
Will definitely stay again for upcoming appointments
Pros:

Clean, comfortable and quiet. Staff was very kind and helpful. 10 minute easy walk to hospital or they offer a shuttle. Well equipped spotless room.

2026-02-07 • via Tripadvisor