OverviewLocated about a 10-minute drive from Dane
County Regional Airport (MSN) just off Interstates 90 and 94, the Best Western East Towne Suites is suitable for car or air travellers who require a hotel with a free breakfast, a free airport shuttle and easy highway access.
Each of the hotel's air-conditioned suites comes equipped with free Wi-Fi, cable TV, an iPod dock, a microwave, a mini-fridge, a coffeemaker, a desk, an iron and ironing board, a hair dryer and a seating area with a sofabed. Rooms with a separate bedroom and a balcony are also available, as are smoking, non-smoking and wheelchair-accessible rooms.
Hotel amenities include an indoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness centre, meeting/banquet space, a 24-hour business centre, a gift shop, guest laundry, free parking and a free breakfast. A free airport shuttle is also offered daily from 6 am to 11 pm (24-hour advance reservations required). Pets are permitted for an additional $25 per pet, per day.
Madison's city centre is about a 16-minute drive from the hotel, while East Towne Mall can be found 8 minutes away on foot. The University of Phoenix - Madison Campus is a 3-minute drive away and The University of Wisconsin-Madison is roughly 18 minutes away by car. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets $25/pet/day, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: December 30, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's staff, location, rooms and breakfast.
The hotel's staff were the source of numerous compliments by reviewers. They were characterized as professional, friendly, helpful and accommodating.
Many guests praised the hotel's location, describing it as safe and close to shopping, restaurants, highway access, the airport and East Towne Mall. One patron noted, "There are many places to visit in the local area, shopping, dining as well as being close to the state capital with plenty of opportunities there for those that enjoy the 'big city' feel in a beautiful setting that says 'WELCOME', with that 'small town' flavor. Easy accessibility in getting around the area".
Several lodgers were pleased with their accommodations at the hotel. They found their rooms to be clean, spacious, quiet and well equipped, with comfortable beds. A few guests had complaints about their lodgings, however (see below).
The hotel's breakfast was enjoyed by several travellers, who described it as great and fantastic, with several hot and cold items and helpful staff. One guest remarked, "The hot breakfast was absolutely wonderful - many choices including eggs, sausage, apples, oatmeal and waffles".
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the rooms.
Although several reviewers were pleased with their clean and well-equipped rooms, a few guests had complaints about their lodgings. They reported dated decor, worn linens, a limited TV channel selection and uncomfortable beds.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.2 out of 5 with a 93% recommendation rate from 632 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #27 of 62 Madison hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 182 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8.5 out of 10 from 113 reviews.
The author called the hotel on December 30, 2013 to verify some information.
