Madison is a funny place when it comes to lodging. At first look it seems to offer a whole world of accommodations from budget hotels to luxury properties with a hostel and several excellent bed-and-breakfast options as well. How could all these places ever fill up at once? Yet they do. On Badger football game weekends, during the various conventions, expos, and other special events, as well as on parents’ weekends or during student arrival/departure periods at the University of Wisconsin, the city can book solid. Special annual events such as the Ironman Triathlon or Art Fair on the Square often fill up the hotels closest to downtown. Hotel rates may also spike during these special events.
The University of Wisconsin provides some housing. Much of it is reserved for visiting academicians or other guests of the university, but a couple options are available for alumni and parents or even the general public. Madison also has its own hostel in a prime location right off the Capitol Square and an RV park at the end of the chapter.
For a hometown sort of feel to your stay in Madison, definitely consider the bed-and-breakfast option. All of those listed here really have great charm and character and offer high quality. Business travelers are also welcome.
This chapter first lists the hostel, the University of Wisconsin options, and the bed-and-breakfast properties. After those listings, the hotels are arranged by location: Downtown/Campus, East Side (which includes Monona), South Side (which includes Fitchburg), and West Side (which includes Middleton). Travelers visiting the university will probably want to stay downtown, though to be honest nothing is more than about 15 minutes from the center of the city in any direction. Parking can be an issue downtown so be sure what your hotel’s options are. The west and east sides of Madison show the bulk of all the big chains and the extended stay hotels. Many of the eastside hotels often bill themselves as “airport” but really aren’t any more convenient to that location than downtown. The areas around both east and west side locations are often filled with shopping centers and franchise restaurants most travelers know by name, and only hotels lacking nearby restaurant options are noted.
The south side hotels near the Alliant Energy Center are a short drive from downtown and offer easy access to the Beltline and thus the east and west sides of the city. Though this may be perfect for concerts and expos, there is little else in the way of attractions, and without a car, visitors who stay here will rely on a hotel’s shuttle, if there is one, or taxis. Farther south a couple more miles along Fish Hatchery Road is neighboring Fitchburg with some properties as well as local dining. These remain less than 15 minutes from the Capitol.
Many hotels have airport shuttles, but be clear on where they go and at what times during the day. Some shuttles advertise for a 7 a.m. start, for example, while the earliest flights out of Madison are before that time. Other shuttles serve more than just the airport. Don’t get the runaround: when taking a taxi from the airport, the drive to downtown should not involve any kind of major highway and is about 10–15 minutes. Even to the far west side, the fare should come in around $35 for a ride of less than 25 minutes.
As of July 10, 2010, all hotel rooms are nonsmoking in the state of Wisconsin.