Hotel UMass

This hotel is a teaching facility, with most staff comprised primarily of UMass hospitality and tourism program students. It’s surprisingly quiet and serene, given that it’s part of the UMass Campus Center that includes a food court and bookstore. The long and narrow lobby has an industrial feel, with light gray carpet and concrete walls. Clusters of modern armchairs are arranged around small tables, while a dark-wood reception desk sits along the back wall. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlook an expansive plaza. Although the hotel is usually quiet, there’s an undeniable collegiate energy about it. The food court and bookstore bustle with activity, and the entire campus can get busy during sporting events or art performances. The university hosts many conferences throughout the year that attract participants who stay at the hotel. Visiting parents and returning alumni are also frequent guests.

The hotel is directly connected to the Campus Center in the heart of the UMass campus. Several dining options are in the center’s food court, and fine dining is available at the University Club, which is a 10-minute walk away. The UMass Fine Arts Center is a nine-minute walk from here, and most other notable campus attractions can be reached on foot in less than 10 minutes. Downtown Amherst attractions like Amherst College, the Amtrak Station, and Town Hall are a five- to eight-minute drive or 10 to 20 minutes via public transit. Access to Interstate 91 takes about 10 minutes. Amherst Golf Club and Mount Holyoke Range State Park are about a 15-minute drive. Bradley International Airport, situated between Springfield and Hartford, is approximately one hour by car, depending on traffic, while Boston and its international airport is about two hours away.

Guest rooms at Hotel UMass are clean and tastefully decorated, but a bit small -- though they still offer enough space for comfort. Decor is dark and fairly bland, but not unpleasant, with espresso-colored wood furniture that includes headboards, dressers, nightstands, and large desks with ergonomic chairs. Black-and-white photos of the university adorn some of the cream-colored walls. Matching crimson bed skirts, bolster pillows, and bed throws add splashes of color to the bright white bedding. Gold drapes complement the crimson and gold upholstered armchairs.

Deluxe Rooms come in King, Queen, and Double-Double bed options. Suites add more space and have sleeper sofas as well as kitchenettes with mini-fridges, microwaves, and wet bars. Bathrooms are small but nice, with gray tiling, walk-in showers, and Corian-style vanities. Suites add second vanities outside the bathrooms. Standard amenities include room service, free Wi-Fi, 37-inch flat screen TVs, magnifying mirrors, iHome alarm clocks, and Keurig coffeemakers. Some guests report noise due to thin walls. Views of the surrounding campus are impressive, especially from the higher floors. 

The amenities at Hotel UMass are enhanced by the university services that surround it. A free continental breakfast is served in a small area that can overflow with guests. Afternoon refreshments are provided daily in the lobby. The Bluewall food court, located on the bottom floor of the Campus Center that encompasses the hotel, offers several upscale fast food options. The Center also has a pub, and there's a fine-dining restaurant in the nearby University Club. The Center has a bookstore, ATM, and banking. Guests receive free access to a campus gym during the academic year, and they can use the recreation center and campus pools for an additional fee. Free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the hotel, and guests can also use a computer station. A large inventory of meeting space is available at the hotel and throughout the campus, which hosts numerous conferences and other educational events. Free newspapers are available in the lobby on weekdays, and the front desk is staffed 24/7. Same-day valet dry cleaning services are available. Parking is included in room rates in an attached garage.