Best college town hotels – The Points Guy

There’s something extremely nostalgic about visiting a college town after Labor Day. Even on a warm day, there’s a crispness in the air. Fall is on its way as campuses hum with activity and fans cheer on their favorite college teams at packed stadiums.

If you’re a parent visiting for a family weekend, an alumni visiting for homecoming events or a prospective student checking out college life, choosing a beautiful — and conveniently located — hotel will make the experience even more memorable. It’s especially sweet when you can book the property with points.

Below, we’ve rounded up properties in 10 of our favorite college towns that have prime locations, lively atmospheres and cozy accommodations. Many of the options (like Graduate Hotels properties, which were just acquired by Hilton) are bookable with points.

Graduate by Hilton Princeton

The Princeton Historic District encompasses the Princeton University campus and sits on the National Register of Historic Places. It was settled by Quakers in the 1600s, and four U.S. presidents attended Princeton. Needless to say, it’s a dream destination for anyone interested in learning about American history.

You can see 17th- and 18th-century treasures such as the university’s oldest building, Nassau Hall — which once served as the home of the American government — or the Italianate Prospect House. Strolling past these buildings is a magical experience in the fall as the foliage explodes around campus.

Featured on our list of the most anticipated hotel openings in 2024, the new Graduate by Hilton Princeton is Ivy League through and through. Its preppy jewel-toned interiors are inspired by Princeton Tiger lore and local history.

Every guest room detail, small or large, gives a nod to the college. The university’s colors of orange and white are apparent throughout. Bedside lamps take cues from the Revolutionary War-era cannon buried behind Nassau Hall, while intricate wood-carved bed frames have hand-drawn illustrations. Sketches by Albert Einstein, who worked for Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study, decorate the space.

The Gothic-style lobby and library with high ceilings feel very Hogwarts-esque, with dark-wood built-in bookcases, leather couches and framed Princeton blazers.

Ye Tavern, Graduate Princeton’s signature bar and restaurant, serves Prohibition-era cocktails and classic regional fare.

As mentioned above, Hilton recently acquired the Graduate Hotels brand for a cool $210 million. As a result, stays at Graduate Hotels are now bookable with Hilton Honors points.

Rates at Graduate by Hilton Princeton start at $306 or 50,000 points per night.

The Steward Santa Barbara, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott

Just 2 miles from the University of California Santa Barbara, The Steward is close to Goleta Beach and all sorts of campus activities, yet it remains an oasis of calm. The all-suite boutique hotel has just 87 rooms and is on land purchased in the late 1860s by pioneer horticulturist Joseph Sexton. He created one of the area’s first nurseries on the grounds. A historic landmark, the property still features many of Sexton’s signature trees and plants throughout. The refurbished original house and a historic barn (which has been repurposed as a fitness and yoga center) are other highlights.

The Steward is a health-conscious, sustainably minded place to stay. While renovating the hotel, the team discovered a journal on the property from the 1930s that features one of the first recorded recipes for avocado toast. Guests can try the original recipe at the hotel’s restaurant, Terra. The restaurant also features herbs from the property’s gardens in many dishes and offers botanical blooming tea service and organic mocktails.

The multiple museums, wine bars and restaurants of downtown Santa Barbara are just a 15-minute drive away.

Rates at The Steward Santa Barbara, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott start at $283 per night or 57,000 points.

St. Julien Hotel

Sitting at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is a unique destination with its vibrant downtown. Visitors can do a hardcore mountain bike ride by day and dine on Michelin-starred Northern Italian cuisine by night.

The swanky St. Julien Hotel, a member of I Prefer Hotel Rewards, is in the heart of it all. It’s just off the Pearl Street Mall, less than a mile from the University of Colorado campus. Renowned for its uniform romantic Italianate-style architecture with red tile roofs and sandstone walls, it’s stunning in fall when the oak, maple and cottonwood trees turn vivid shades of orange, gold and deep red.

Many guest rooms at St. Julien have chocolate brown four-post bed frames with snowy white linens, complementing views of the famed Flatirons. A stay at St. Julien includes access to many amenities like the indoor pool and hot tub, as well as complimentary shuttle service to campus. Seeing Coach Prime and the Buffs back in action this fall at Folsom Field will be a hot ticket.

Rates at St. Julien Hotel start at $379 per night or $266 plus 15,000 I Prefer Points. I Prefer Hotel Rewards benefits include exclusive member rates, points for future stays and hotel rewards, such as early check-in and free Wi-Fi at hundreds of hotels around the world.

Graduate by Hilton Nashville

In Midtown, Graduate by Hilton Nashville is perfectly poised for a visit that includes exploring all the action on Broadway and Vanderbilt University. With a lively mix of prints and textiles, this is one of the most colorful Graduate Hotels yet. There’s a rooftop pool Dolly would love with magenta settees and wide-brimmed umbrellas, as well as panoramic views of Music City’s skyline.

The rooftop bar, White Limozeen, serves dinner and creative drinks such as the Fixin’ to Leave (made from mezcal, salty wine, chinola, passionfruit, cucumber and lemon). There’s also a 21+ karaoke bar and a lobby-level cafe with a chandelier where toast is served all day.

Founded in 1873, Vanderbilt is named for railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school with its initial funding. The renowned research university has a beautiful campus with Gothic Revival-style architecture and a lush arboretum. In between campus explorations, visitors can eat hot chicken at Hattie B’s, go to honky-tonks on Broadway and partake in Graduate Nashville’s immersive experiences like line dancing lessons and in-studio songwriting experiences.

Rates at Graduate by Hilton Nashville start at $252 per night or 66,000 points.

Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman 

When Spartans come back to Montana State in late August, the mountain town of Bozeman has a unique, buzzy energy. Just an hour and a half from Yellowstone National Park and surrounded by high peaks and world-class fly-fishing opportunities, the city is a gateway to outdoor adventure in every season. Here, Montana State’s tree-shaded campus, with its wide walkways and grassy lawns, is especially beautiful in the fall.

Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman is right in the middle of downtown and a quick drive from campus. The property has a mix of historic and contemporary architecture. (For example, part of the building is an art deco National Guard armory built in 1941.) Guest rooms at the Kimpton feature a modern Western style: think natural materials like rich wood, hand-stitched leather and woven textiles.

The hotel’s Sky Shed Lounge — the tallest building in town — and rooftop pool have beautiful mountain views. Guests can immerse themselves in local culture with live music at Kimpton’s Armory Music Hall, which used to be the National Guard’s gym. They can also pay a visit to the nearby Montana State’s Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of the Rockies to discover dinosaur fossils, a living history farm and a planetarium.

Rates at Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman start at $329 or 71,000 IHG One Rewards loyalty points.

The Carolina Inn Destination by Hyatt

Autumn in Durham, North Carolina — close to both the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Duke University — delivers that quintessential vivid fall foliage and a classic college town feel. The Carolina Inn Destination by Hyatt is essentially on the campus of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, making it the ideal place to rest one’s head during the back-to-school season at either campus.

The elegant hotel was built in 1924 and looks like a sprawling mansion with its brick facade and stately columns. It’s close to the Chapel Hill football stadium and Franklin Street, the main college business district where you can shop, dine and experience weekend football game activities.

The Carolina Inn has a restaurant serving traditional Carolinan cuisine. Guest rooms have blackout curtains, writing desks, campus views, and a blue and white color palette to match that of Chapel Hill.

Rates at Carolina Inn Destination by Hyatt start at $270 or 15,000 World of Hyatt points.

Four Seasons Hotel Boston

Home to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston University and more, the historic city of Boston teems with students when fall rolls around. While there are many hotels to choose from, Four Seasons Hotel Boston stands out for its prime Back Bay location overlooking the Public Garden and nearby Victorian brownstones.

The hotel also has a new guest experience this fall geared toward prospective students and their families. Students in the City, designed in collaboration with Cambridge Historical Tours, gives visitors an insider’s look at Boston’s colleges and universities, as well as the neighborhoods around them. Guests who are visiting campuses like MIT, Harvard and Boston College can pair with a private local guide who knows everything about the schools’ histories and campus lifestyles.

Guest rooms at the Four Seasons have garden, city or courtyard views. Residential-style decor includes a fresh, neutral color palette, crisp luxury linens and cozy, wide armchairs.

Rates at Four Seasons Hotel Boston start at $895 per night.

Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes

Arizona State University is one of the largest universities in the country. If you happen to be visiting, a stay at Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes will feel like a true getaway. Of course, it’s also a natural option for Bonvoy loyalists.

The desert resort has several mountain-backed swimming pools where you can soak up the Arizona sunshine, as well as a tranquil spa and access to numerous hiking trails. Large guest rooms have pillow-top beds and gleaming marble bathrooms. Top of the Rock restaurant has views of Camelback Mountain and Tempe’s purple-tinged sunsets. When you’re ready to experience bustling Tempe and campus life, ASU is just three miles away.

Tempe’s Mill Avenue is the center of downtown and is lined with bars, restaurants and clubs. Another perk of staying at the Marriott: You can maximize your vacation time because it’s just 10 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

Member rates at Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at the Buttes start from $230 per night or 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Graduate by Hilton Ann Arbor

Fresh off a national championship, the Wolverines are returning to the University of Michigan with passionate school spirit. Games at The Big House, the third-largest stadium in the world, will be particularly festive this fall. Even if you can’t score tickets, Ann Arbor is a wonderful place to visit. The university town is known for a smattering of delicious restaurants, notably historic architecture and museums like the Museum of Natural History and the University of Michigan Museum of Art.

Graduate by Hilton Ann Arbor is a great home base for those Hilton Honors loyalists exploring Tree Town. It has a free mini library curated by a local bookstore, complimentary bikes for exploring campus and a fitness room with Peloton bikes. Front desk staff are always happy to share insider tips on what to see and do, whether you want to shop for vintage goods or find the best place for gelato. The rooms are classically collegiate, with wood floors and furniture and pops of plaid.

Rates at Graduate by Hilton Ann Arbor start from $219 per night or 63,000 points.

Burlington Blind Tiger

Autumn in Vermont’s Champlain Valley is simply stunning. Hillsides are blanketed in fiery hues as trees begin to transform. Burlington, the home of the University of Vermont, is bustling with events and activities like the South End Art Hop each September in the South End Arts District. The Pride Parade and Festival, Vermont’s largest pride festival, takes place downtown and in Waterfront Park; there are also many harvest festivals and county fairs in the surrounding countryside.

Vermont is known for its historic inns. Aesthetes will appreciate the considered design and fine amenities offered at Lark Hotels’ Burlington Blind Tiger, which is just a few blocks from the University of Vermont. Set among historic homes on a tree-lined street, the 14-key hotel feels more like a guest house than a hotel.

The 1881 brick mansion has a slate roof and an exterior marble staircase. It’s decorated with a mix of handmade items and antique furnishings, like the 1970s Swedish sectional in the living room. Some guest rooms have gas fireplaces, and many have original mantels. The light-filled solarium with a green and white-veined marble floor and abundant potted plants gives guests a dose of nature indoors.

Rates at Burlington Blind Tiger start at $299 per night or 20 points for a complimentary night’s stay. Guests who join the “On a Lark Club” receive one point per night’s stay at Lark or Bluebird Hotels. They receive room upgrades, unique welcome gifts, and points that can be redeemed at any time for exclusive discounts and complimentary stays.

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