Graduate by Hilton East Lansing

Wonderful staff. Great cafe. Pet friendly. Campus view was charming. Conveniently located 15min walk to center of campus. There are cheap nearby parking structures by HopCat/Target, otherwise the Valet gives you unlimited access to your car.

The valet parking process was a bit tricky at first, but James and Trevor made all the difference. They were friendly, professional, and incredibly helpful—making what could have been a stressful experience feel smooth and easy. Really appreciated their attentiveness and willingness to guide us through everything. Great service overall!

July 2025: My husband and I stayed one night at Graduate East Lansing by Hilton while road-tripping through Michigan, and overall it was a charming and memorable stop. Something to know before you go, valet is essential. While there's a nearby public parking lot for $20, we went with the $35 valet service--it was convenient, especially with luggage and a dog. The hotel is dog-friendly, which we really appreciated, though the $75+tax pet fee felt a bit excessive. The hotel itself is beautifully decorated with a University of Michigan theme. It was charming and really well done. I liked the main staircase lined with vintage-style portraits. The staff were friendly and welcoming. We enjoyed coffee from the on-site café, and the Graduate Rock Bar had stunning views of the city. We enjoyed watching the Sunday night sunset. Our room was clean and nicely styled but the bed and pillows were uncomfortable to me and I didn't sleep well. Also, the luggage carts were frustrating to use because they were difficult to maneuver. One thing we loved was the green space around the hotel. There were plenty of parks and trees nearby, perfect for walking our dog. Also I wanted to mention that many reviews comment on how crowded this hotel is but that wasn't our experience. We went on July 7 and I'm guessing because it's summer, we had zero wait. We were greeted at the reception desk right away, there was plenty of seating at the bar (outside and inside) at 9PM, and in the morning when the cafe opened at 7AM, we waited in line for less than 5 minutes.