Urbana's BEST Hotel Near University of Illinois? (Rodeway Inn Review!)

Rodeway inn Urbana Champaign University Area Urbana (IL) United States

Urbana's BEST Hotel Near University of Illinois? (Rodeway Inn Review!)

Okay, buckle up Buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the swirling vortex of a Rodeway Inn review. And let's be honest, when you're looking for the BEST hotel near the University of Illinois, "Rodeway Inn" probably isn't the name that immediately springs to mind, right? But hey, budget travel often leads to… well, interesting experiences. This isn't going to be your typical dry hotel write-up; this is a full-blown, messy, utterly honest (and hopefully funny) romp through my stay.

SEO & Metadata Stuff First, Because Apparently, That's Important:

• Title: Rodeway Inn Urbana Review: Best Hotel Near UIUC? (Spoiler Alert!) – Accessibility, Amenities, and… Quirks!
• Keywords: Rodeway Inn Urbana, University of Illinois hotel, UIUC hotels, budget hotel Urbana, accessible hotel Urbana, free Wi-Fi Urbana, Urbana lodging, hotel review, Rodeway Inn review, Urbana accommodation, Illinois hotel, near campus, affordable hotels, wheelchair accessible, pet-friendly, amenities review, cleanliness, safety, dining, services, parking, internet access, free breakfast, swimming pool.
• Meta Description: Is the Rodeway Inn Urbana the best hotel near UIUC? Find out in our brutally honest review! We cover accessibility, amenities (yes, even a pool!), cleanliness, dining, and all the little quirks that make a stay at the Rodeway Inn… unforgettable. (For better or worse!)

Now, Let's Get Messy (and Real):

Okay, so, I needed a place to crash for a weekend at UIUC. Didn't want to break the bank. Rodeway Inn. The name itself conjures up images of… well, you get the idea. But hey, the price was right. And hey, a hotel is a hotel, right?

Accessibility (Because, You Know, Important):

I don't have any mobility limitations myself, BUT I always pay attention regarding accessibility. Rodeway Inn? Well, they say they have facilities for disabled guests. I saw an elevator (a big win!), which is crucial. I couldn't fully investigate every nook and cranny, but I did note that the front desk was accessible (that's a huge plus). It's also worth noting that they list wheelchair accessible rooms, but ALWAYS call ahead to confirm your specific needs can be met. Don't just take my word for it. Check online.

Rooms (The Heart of the Matter…):

The room itself… it was… a room. Let's leave it at that. The air conditioning worked eventually (this is Illinois, summer heat is no joke), and that's half the battle won. The bed was… well, it was there. I slept. Okay? Look, it wasn’t the Ritz, but it was cleanish (we'll get to cleanliness later). They've got all the basics included: The bathroom was functional. A shower. A toilet. Soap that probably won't actually make you smell good.

What's Actually Available In the Room? (The Good (and the Meh)):

• Available in all rooms: Okay, let's tick some boxes:

  • Air conditioning: Yay! Important.
  • Alarm clock: (Did anyone use these anymore?)
  • Bathtub: Check. Not a jacuzzi, don't get excited.
  • Blackout curtains: Vital for sleeping in, even if they're a bit… thin.
  • Coffee/tea maker: Essential for me. A lifeline. This was a pleasant surprise.
  • Complimentary tea: Okay, not bad.
  • Daily housekeeping: I'll revisit this later.
  • Desk: A work surface.
  • Free bottled water: Nice touch.
  • Hair dryer: Standard.
  • Internet access – wireless / Internet: Free Wi-Fi. (More on that later!) Woohoo!
  • Ironing facilities: Well, someone had to.
  • Laptop workspace: Adequate.
  • Non-smoking rooms: Yes, thank goodness.
  • Private bathroom: Always a win.
  • Reading light: Helpful.
  • Refrigerator: Handy.
  • Shower: Okay, the shower was functional, pressure could be better.
  • Smoke detector: Crucial. Safety first!
  • Telephone: For emergencies.
  • Toiletries: Basic, but they were there.
  • Towels: Fluffy-ish.
  • Wake-up service: Apparently it still works?
  • Wi-Fi [free]: Bless.

• Some Notes:

  • The "extra long bed" was appreciated.
  • The closet was… a closet.
  • The TV had enough channels to zone out with.
  • The furniture was "there".

Cleanliness and Safety (The Make-or-Break):

Ah, now we delve into the area where budget hotels often stumble. I'm not going to sugarcoat it: the Rodeway Inn isn't the epitome of spotless. The rooms I saw were… acceptably clean. Not sparkling mind you, but no obvious red flags. They do claim to use antiviral cleaning products, deep cleaning rooms between stays. I didn't personally witness this, but the staff seemed to be taking things seriously (at least wearing masks). I noticed hand sanitizer dispensers in the lobby.

• My personal notes: *They mentioned rooms had a 'sanitization opt-out' I do not believe I would have exercised this, if I had the option. I do not like to play with the "what if…" situation. *That being said, there was a noticeable "cleanish" vibe, rather than a "clean" vibe. *I did wonder about the carpets. *I did see "staff trained in safety protocol.

Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (The Fuel):

Rodeway Inn Urbana does offer a breakfast. The word 'buffet' is used loosely here. It was… functional. Cereal, some pre-packaged pastries, coffee, and maybe some questionable fruit. I survived. There is a coffee shop/breakfast bar.

• My Experience:
  • I strongly suggest planning on eating elsewhere for anything beyond a quick carb-load.
  • The coffee was lukewarm.
  • Don't get too excited about the "Asian breakfast" listed. I'm going to assume that means instant noodles.

Internet Access (The Modern Necessity):

Free Wi-Fi! Hallelujah! It actually worked, and the speed was decent enough for basic browsing and streaming. A huge plus for the budget price point. I was able to get my work done, which was nice.

• My Experience:
  • The Wi-Fi was a lifesaver.
  • I was able to watch my favorite youtube videos, which was nice.
  • Connection reliability was acceptable

Things to Do & Ways to Relax (Beyond the Room):

• Amenities (Yes, Really!):
  • Swimming pool [outdoor]: They have a pool. It looked clean from what I could see. I didn't dive in, but the very existence of a pool at this price is a bonus.
  • Gym/fitness: They claim to have a fitness center. I didn't see it. So I don't know.

Services and Conveniences (The Extras – and the Missing Ones):

• Front desk [24-hour]: Always good to know.
• Car park [free of charge]: Score! Free parking is a win.
• Convenience store: A limited option for snacks.
• Laundry service: Helpful, if you need it.
• Cash withdrawal: This could have been convenient.

For the Kids (Family-Friendly? Maybe Not):

I didn't see any specific "kids facilities". It's a basic hotel. Probably not the ideal choice for a family vacation. They offer babysitting services, but I suspect this might be an outside service.

Getting Around:

• Car park [free of charge]: Awesome. Super convenient.
• Taxi service: I didn't use one, but the option is there. Taxi service.

My Verdict (The Truth, Unfiltered):

Look, let's be realistic. The Rodeway Inn Urbana is not a luxury hotel. But it's a perfectly acceptable place to crash overnight. If you're on a budget, need a place near UIUC, and prioritize price over polish, you could do a lot worse.

The Good:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Free parking
• Relatively cheap.
• Functional air conditioning (very important.)
• Decent location, good to access UIUC.

The Okay/Meh:

• Cleanliness could improve.
• Basic breakfast.
• The overall vibe leans towards "functional" rather than "luxurious".
• The pool, while present, needs inspection.

**The Potentially Problematic (Depending on Your Tolerance):

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Rodeway inn Urbana Champaign University Area Urbana (IL) United States

Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your perfectly pristine, color-coordinated Pinterest travel guide. This is my potential disaster, I mean, my fantastic adventure at the… Rodeway Inn in Urbana, Champagne, University Area, Illinois. Don't judge. The reviews said "clean," and after that cross-country drive with the kids, "clean" sounds like the Elysian Fields.

Arrival Day: The Illinois Shuffle & Hotel Hell (Possibly)

• 1:00 PM: Land at… oh god, what's the name of the airport? Oh yeah, the University of Illinois Willard Airport. Sounds fancy. Pray to the travel gods my luggage isn't in Timbuktu (again). I'm already picturing myself, wild-eyed and clutching my passport, chasing after a rogue suitcase on a baggage carousel that smells suspiciously of stale french fries.
• 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Shuttle to the Rodeway Inn. Fingers crossed it's actually running. I'm envisioning a crumbling, rusty minivan, driven by a guy named "Bubba" who tells me all about his prize-winning pig. Actually, that could be an improvement. After the last flight, silence might be a gift from heaven.
• 2:30 PM: Check-in! This is where reality bites. Is the lobby as sad and lonely as it looks in the online photos? Is there that distinct smell of chlorine and despair that seems to haunt budget hotels? Or will I strike gold and get a room that actually doesn't have a view of the dumpster? I’ll update you, and I'll be honest, even if I have to lie about everything else.
• 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Settle in, unpack, and, let's be honest, probably collapse on the bed for a good hour. Travel is exhausting. It's like taking a nap in a blender of anxiety, bad coffee, and questionable air quality.
• 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Wandering (or stumbling) out to find dinner. No pre-planning here, folks. We're operating on pure, unadulterated instinct. Based on Google Maps, a few casual eateries are nearby. The only goal? Food. Any food. And hopefully, it's not deep-fried. Okay, maybe some deep-fried. I deserve it.
• 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner. Observe the locals. Pretend I’m not wildly jetlagged and staring at everyone like they're aliens. Try to remember the name of my hotel. Probably fail.
• 7:00 PM: Stroll back to the hotel, maybe grab a drink at the bar. If there even is a bar. If there isn't, well…looks like I'm going to bed at 8:00 PM. The life of a travel blogger is glamorous, I swear.
• 8:00 PM - Bedtime: Total collapse. Staring at the ceiling, maybe fighting the urge to call room service. Or the front desk. Or someone, anyone, to just… tell me everything's going to be okay.

Day 2: University Stroll & Cultural Awkwardness

• Morning: Wake up. Curse the alarm. Attempt to locate a decent cup of coffee. This could be the day I realize I’m entirely dependent on caffeine to function.
• 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Walk the University of Illinois campus. Okay, I'm trying to be cultured, even if my cultural experiences usually involve me accidentally spilling coffee on important historical monuments. I'll attempt to sound intelligent. Pretend I know something about architecture. Pretend I'm not picturing myself tripping and face-planting on the quad.
• 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch. Must find something besides fast food. Must.
• 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Visiting the Krannert Art Museum. Here we go with this idea of culture! I hope I appear to be intellectual and not the clumsy, slightly frantic tourist I am inside. I'll try to appreciate the art. Maybe even fake a gasp of awe at a particularly abstract painting. Please don't let there be children running amok. I'm already feeling this trip is testing my patience.
• 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Stroll through the campus, maybe find a cute bookstore. I love bookstores. Even if the smell of old paper makes me sneeze.
• 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Finding dinner again. This time I'm aiming for a proper restaurant. I'm feeling adventurous.
• 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner out. I might have a drink. I probably will. If the bar is not a bar, a bottle of wine, a book, and my room is the order of the evening.
• 8:00 PM - Bedtime: Reading, if I don't fall asleep immediately. That'll be the real test.

Day 3: The "Day Trip" Debacle & Departure Prep

• Morning: Oh, God, how many more days? Wake up. Consider a second helping of coffee.
• 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: "Day trip". I read that there's a cute little town nearby or something…I'll check the map. I'm expecting traffic. I'm expecting wrong turns. I'm expecting a flat tire. I'm expecting something to go horribly, hilariously wrong.
• 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch in…wherever I'm going. Hopefully, it's not just a gas station.
• 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Continued exploration of the Cute Little Town. Buy a souvenir I'll probably lose or break within a week. Or two. I always do.
• 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Head back to the hotel.
• 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Pack. This is the part when you realize you've accumulated way too much stuff. How did this happen?
• 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Last Dinner. One last chance for culinary bliss. Or disaster, depending on my luck.
• 7:00 PM - Bedtime: Final packing adjustments. Staring at the ceiling. Wondering if I’ll ever see my way out of this hotel.
• 7:30 PM - Bedtime: Final preparations for the trip home. This time I am not going to be late for the flight, I am not going to be the person frantically sprinting through the airport while wearing their shoes. And then I will cry as I leave. Or maybe I'll just sleep.

Day 4: The Great Escape (Or, More Likely, The Airport Hustle)

• Morning: Wake up. Check out. Pray the shuttle to the airport is running. And that my luggage actually makes it this time. Wish me luck! I'm going to need it.

And that, my friends, is the plan. Or, at least, a rough approximation of the potential chaos. Stay tuned. I’ll provide updates. Pray for me. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll actually manage to get out of Urbana alive.

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Rodeway inn Urbana Champaign University Area Urbana (IL) United States```html

Urbana's BEST Hotel Near U of I? Seriously? (Rodeway Inn Review!) - Prepare Yourselves.

Okay, spill the beans. Is the Rodeway Inn in Urbana *actually* the best hotel near the University of Illinois? Or is this clickbait?

Alright, alright, settle down, internet. "Best"? That's a loaded word, like "easy" or "diet." No, it's not *the* best if you're expecting a Four Seasons experience. Think more…reliable. Think "gets the job done." Think "you're probably drunk and just need a place to crash." Look, let's be honest, the Rodeway Inn isn't winning any interior design awards. Picture late 90s motel chic, if "chic" means "slightly faded floral prints and questionable lighting." But, and this is a big BUT, it's close to campus. Like, *really* close. You could practically roll out of bed, stumble across the road, and be on Green Street. That, my friends, is gold when you have a 9 am lecture after… ahem… some "studying" the night before. Is it *perfect*? Absolutely not. We'll get to the imperfections. Oh boy, will we get to the imperfections. But for location and the sheer, raw, unadulterated *convenience* factor? Yeah, it's a contender. In my book, it's a strong contender.

Let's talk location. Seriously, how *close* is "close"? And what kind of parking situation are we talking about?

Okay, the location is the Rodeway Inn's bread and butter, the reason you're even considering it (let's be real). We're talking a *very* short walk to the heart of campus. Like, you could probably get there faster than the guy trying to maneuver his monster truck into a parking spot on Armory. You're steps away from Green Street, which means you're steps away from food, bars (essential for student life!), and various academic buildings. Think about it: no more freezing your butt off waiting for the bus in January. No more the agonizing search for parking (good luck with *that*). Pure, unadulterated bliss. Parking? Ah, parking. It's… there. They have a lot. It's free. But it fills up quickly, especially during big events. I remember one time, I showed up late on a Saturday for a football game (don't judge, I was celebrating… something). I had to circle the lot for what felt like an eternity, internally chanting, "Please, please, PLEASE let someone be leaving!" Finally, a car pulled out, and I dove into the spot like a caffeinated cheetah. So, get there early, or prepare for a brief, but potentially frustrating, scavenger hunt. Consider arriving early, even if you are sleepy.

The Rooms: Tell me *everything*. Clean? Comfortable? Bedbugs? (Please say no bedbugs.)

Alright, rooms. This is where things get a little… interesting. Cleanliness? It's usually acceptable, but don't expect surgical theater levels of pristine. I've stayed in worse (let's just say a certain dorm room comes to mind). The sheets have always *looked* clean, but those little details are a touch uncertain. Think "slightly-worn-but-functional." Comfort... depends on your definition. The beds are… okay. Not cloud-like, but they'll do the job. I've definitely slept on worse (again, that dorm room). The pillows? Well, they're pillows. Not the goose-down, fluffy kind, but they'll support your head. You know, the basics. Bedbugs? Okay, let's address the elephant in the room (or, you know, potentially *in* the room). I haven't encountered any, and I've stayed there several times! (Knock on wood. *Knock, knock, knock.*) However, it’s always smart to do a quick visual inspection before you unpack. Just saying. Better safe than itchy. The air conditioning? Sometimes works. Sometimes doesn't. It can be a gamble, so choose your room accordingly.

What about the amenities? Breakfast? Pool? Free WiFi? Don't leave me hanging!

Okay, amenities. This is where the Rodeway Inn starts to feel… well, like a Rodeway Inn. Breakfast? Supposedly there's "continental breakfast." In practice, it's usually some pre-packaged pastries, instant oatmeal (which, let's be real, is an abomination), maybe some toast and coffee. Don't expect a gourmet spread. Think "fuel for survival" kind of food. If you're a breakfast snob, you're better off hitting up a nearby diner. Pool? Yeah, they have a pool. I've never actually *used* it, but it looks… pool-like. I've always been too busy trying to find my way back from *somewhere* at 3 AM. Free WiFi? Yes, thank goodness. And it's usually… okay. It's not the fastest, but it's good enough for browsing, checking emails, and, you know, avoiding your responsibilities. But be prepared for occasional dropouts. Other amenities? Probably nothing that's going to rewrite your life.

The Staff: Friendly? Helpful? Or are they secretly plotting world domination?

The staff! Ah, yes. The unsung heroes (or villains?) of the Rodeway Inn experience. In my experience, they're perfectly *fine*. Not overly friendly, not overly surly. Just… there. Doing their jobs. I've had a couple of interactions. One time, I was having a *really* rough morning (let's just say I’d slightly underestimated the effects of a certain celebratory beverage the night before) and needed a late check-out. They were surprisingly accommodating. Score one for the Rodeway Inn! Another time, the key card didn't work. That was a minor inconvenience. But they fixed it quickly. They're not going to be your best friends, but they're not going to actively try to ruin your day. They're probably just trying to get through their shift, just like you and me. So, overall, the staff get a solid "meh." Which, considering the circumstances, is a win.

Value for money? Is it worth the price? Or am I better off sleeping in a cardboard box?

Value for money! This is a tricky one. It depends on the time of year, what events are happening, and your personal definition of "value." During peak season (football weekends, graduation, etc.), the prices can skyrocket. If you're desperate, you might have to swallow the price. However, most of the time, the Rodeway Inn is reasonably priced, especially considering the location. You're paying for convenience, plain and simple. Is it worth it? Personally, I'd say yes, within reason. Sleeping in a cardboard box is *definitely* not worth it unless you are in dire straits. At least with the Rodeway Inn, you get a bed, a roof over your head, and the potential to avoid a walk that’s longer than a city block in the rain. The value proposition changes depending on your priorities. If you're on a super-tight budget, explore other options. ButHotels In Asia Search

Rodeway inn Urbana Champaign University Area Urbana (IL) United States

Rodeway inn Urbana Champaign University Area Urbana (IL) United States

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