Hilton Garden Inn Ann Arbor

The modern Hilton Garden Inn draws a diverse clientele, including lots of families who enjoy the spacious Cool Pool that has a children’s play area with slides and toys. It’s also close enough to the University of Michigan to attract university parents, business travelers, and college sports fans on weekends. The lobby is a bright, airy, and inviting space, with high ceilings, natural stone columns, and light wood floors. Thoughtful decorative touches such as a fireplace, tropical plants in large planters, and vibrant colors add to the appeal. There's plenty of comfy seating throughout the hotel’s common areas, including a spacious outdoor patio with a gas fire pit. The granite bar just off the lobby is a cozy spot as well. 

The hotel is off Interstate 94 and across the street from the Briarwood Mall, which has several shops and restaurants, including full-service eateries like P.F. Chang and Bravo Cucina Italiano. Some other hotels are also are nearby, and several more restaurants are within a 10-minute drive. It’s an eight-minute drive (north) to Michigan Stadium, and about a 14-minute drive to downtown Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan’s main campus. Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti is about 15 minutes away by car, and it takes approximately 30 minutes to drive to Detroit’s airport. 

Rust-colored carpet, butterscotch accent walls, soft lighting, and wood furniture with a soft amber finish give these guest rooms a warm and pleasant glow. Duvets are bright white, there are cornflower blue armchairs and matching ottomans, and desks with office chairs. Some of the wood furniture has granite tops that add polish.

Standard Kings and Double Queens (there is only one suite) aren’t particularly large, but offer plenty of space for comfort. Bathrooms are only average in size, but they feature wide granite vanities and handsome, wood laminate floors. Kings have stall showers with frosted glass doors, while Double Queens have shower/tub combos. Both options are framed by beige tiling. 

Amenities are excellent, and include Keurig coffeemakers, microwaves, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and free basic Wi-Fi (premium service costs extra), but there are no safes. Views are unremarkable, but some units do overlook a small lake. Rooms get some ambient noise from the nearby interstate, but they're generally quiet.

This Hilton Garden Inn features something many hotels in the chain do not -- a restaurant and bar. The Garden Grille and Bar serves American classics for breakfast and dinner, and it offers happy hour specials, but there's no lunch. Evening room service is available. Iced tea and fruit-infused water are free in the lobby as well. There's also a 24-hour pantry that sells snacks, sundries, frozen entrees, beer, and wine. 

For wellness, The Cool Pool is indoors and exceptionally large, with a children’s play area that includes a fountain, slide, and toys, and there's a whirlpool. There's also a 24-hour fitness center with a good selection of five Precor cardio machines, a weight-training machine, and free weights. It also offers free bottled water and fruit. 

For business travelers, the hotel’s four meeting spaces can host functions for up to 220 people, and the spacious business center has two computers, two printers, and an ATM. Other amenities include two washer/dryers in the guest laundry room, valet dry cleaning and laundry, and freebies such as newspapers, on-site parking, and basic Wi-Fi, though premium service costs extra. 

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