graduatehotels.com Avis 3

My husband and I stayed at the Graduate in Lincoln, Nebraska. This was formerly a Hilton. The theme idea of matching the state and University location is cool. For me, it stops at that. For the cost of the stay it felt like I was at a Super 8. Bathroom door opened into the tiny bathroom and ate up the bathroom space. Checkin was at 4 PM. Hated that. No coffee or tea. Carpet and woodwork in the halls and by elevators were very worn looking. We didn’t eat at the attached restaurant, but my husband said it had the best whiskey and Scotch selection he has ever seen. If you’re curious and want to know what it’s like, stay. Otherwise, there are better places for the same amount.

A few months ago, my husband and I stayed at The Randolph Hotel in Oxford, now called The Graduate after being sold to an American company based in Chicago.
My husband and I had very fond memories of the Randolph when owned by Macdonalds. The dining room had beautiful white tablecloths, the breakfasts sublime, it was elegant and classy.
What a difference now, and not for the better.
Rooms have this idiotic American Universiry theme with pennants on the wall, and as for the dining room, all the panelling has disappeared, the waiting staff now inefficient, the atmosphere and decor akin to a McDonald’s takeaway. Brash, breakfast cold, grumpy chef when asked for items missing.
My husband has Coeliac disease, well asking for gluten free bread or menu was a joke.
When we did get something, the waiter delivered it to the wrong table, when that was wrong just left it in an empty table and we retrieved it ourselves.

It was a huge disappointment, and will never be repeated. The only light was a young concierge who was a delight, that was it.

For an iconic city, and as a previously iconic hotel, the City of Oxford is ill served by this travesty of a hotel.
Avoid at all costs, and save your money to stay somewhere worthy of the effort.

I stayed at the Randolph Hotel, Oxford, some years ago. I was thrown out of the large lounge at 4pm because the whole room was taken over by people from outside having tea! Imagine a guest not allowed to use the only lounge. Catering was poor: only the cheapest type of sliced bread at breakfast. No 'real' bread at all; also no margarine. The hotel has since been taken over by the present owners so I hope they have improved these aspects - but they have certainly destroyed some of the principal public rooms (see website) in 'remodelling'. The bedrooms' new decor is staggeringly vulgar.