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Tags: Hotel Vetro / Iowa Hotels / Loft Hotels / All-Suite Hotels / → All Tags

Hotel Vetro: The NYLO of Iowa City

Where: 201 S. Linn St. [map], Iowa City, IA, United States, 52240

Just in time for today's caucuses in Iowa, the Hotel Vetro is way more flash than you'd expect for flyover country. Located on Iowa City's pedestrian mall (who knew?!), it's one of those fancy hotels that takes full advantage of its college town market.

Many of the 54 suites in the 14-floor building overlook the University of Iowa campus. In-room, polished concrete floors, kitchenettes, free wifi, free bottled water and Starbucks coffee give the hotel an upscale feel despite the relatively low rates. And don't fear: The bathroom is far from useless, despite the W vibe:

We were impressed with the fancy, but functional room that included both a bathtub for two and a glass-walled shower. Lighting is great, and there is a make-up mirror. The sink was square and shallow. High-quality soap, shampoo and lotion was provided in large bottles.

You'll have plenty of time to enjoy it, too. Breakfast is served in-room until 11 am every morning.

Related Stories:
· Suite Dreams in an Iowa City Boutique [Chicago Tribune]

Tags: Historic Hotels / Frank Lloyd Wright / → All Tags

Frank Lloyd Wright Hotel Could Open by 2010

We normally think of Frank Lloyd Wright as a guy who designed homes, but he also created a handful of hotels, including the now-destroyed Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.

His last remaining hotel is in Mason City, Iowa, and soon enough, you'll have the chance to stay there. A major renovation project will fix up both the Park Inn Hotel and an adjoining bank, and should be finished by 2010. (Of course, "should be" are the operative words here.)

If you can't wait until 2010 to stay in the Wright hotel, our little bro site Jaunted has plenty of dish on the architect's famous (and not-so-famous) buildings around the US.

Related Stories:
· Last Wright Hotel on Track for 2010 Reopening [Preservation]
· Wright on the Park/Park Inn Hotel [Official Site]
· Historic Hotels coverage [HotelChatter]
· Frank Lloyd Wright coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Hotels / Anti-View / → All Tags

Room with an Anti-View: Country Inn & Suites

Where: 140 East 55th Street [map], Davenport, IA, United States, 52806

You know the scene. You open the door to your brand new hotel room, run over to the window, open the blinds and bam, you are hit with the anti-view. Maybe you are looking down a dirty alley, witnessing a drug deal, staring at an air shaft in the face, or seeing a brick wall. Whatever you are viewing it is not extremely pleasurable. Help out your fellow hotel mavens by uploading your anti-views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number with the not-so-easy-on-the-eyes view.

We know that this view from the Country Inn & Suites in Davenport, Iowa is better than a brick wall in Manhattan, but for some reason this is just as depressing.

Related Stories:
· Jim Frazier's photostream [Flickr]
· Country Inn & Suites Davenport reviews [TripAdvisor]