Six Places To Stay During Your Next Campus Visit

Sure, campus visits are essential for parents of high school and college students, but they can also be both charming and interesting for, well, everyone. It’s fun to imagine what life would have been like had we spent time studying hard (and playing hard) in various cities in our 20’s. But where to stay when the drive-in motel just won’t cut it? That’s where we come in: our design-driven hotels and restaurants are close to some of the country’s best colleges and universities. For all your college visits, Kimpton offers a much-needed reprieve, with nightly hosted wine hour and complimentary beach cruisers to boot. Whether final semesters are winding down or prospective college tours and alumni weekends are revving up—here are a few hotels to keep in mind.

Kimpton Cardinal Hotel (Winston-Salem, NC)

The Kimpton Cardinal offers parents and students a dash of spunk amidst Winston-Salem’s rich Southern legacy. Image Credit: Cris Molina

The legacy of history can be felt everywhere in Winston-Salem. From its prestigious private Wake Forest University to its historic R.J. Reynolds building, it’s also the current home of the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel. This Southern city is as steeped in its tradition as its sweet tea. Families flock here for Wake Forest’s family weekend and hundreds of alumni make the trip for Homecoming for which the Cardinal sets up a Polaroid station for families to snap photos during their yearly visit. We also provide koozies to guests over football weekends while promoting #wewakeatthecardinal on social media. The social living room or patio at the adjacent Katharine Brasserie is the perfect place for a pre-game Mint Julep or a relaxing nightcap. If you can’t score tickets to the game, the Rec Space is an ideal place for younger families to watch.

Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills (Los Angeles, CA)

Spend your days touring UCLA and your nights in boutique comfort at the Kimpton Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills. Image Credit: David Phelps

Directly off the famous Wilshire Boulevard, four-minutes from UCLA’s campus is Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills. The Palomar is a glamorous home base for campus tours, football games, awards ceremonies or graduations. This boutique hotel is filled with perks from its nightly wine hour, to its 24-hour fitness center and outdoor heated pool. You can hire a town car to drop you off at campus between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and take advantage of discounts at local establishments so you and your prospective freshmen can scope out the area in style.

Kimpton Glover Park Hotel (Washington, DC)

Discover the Kimpton Glover Park’s boutique luxury (and fabulous outdoor terrace) on your next visit to Georgetown or American University. Image Credit: Clark Douglas

The nation’s capital is home to a number of the country’s most prestigious universities and colleges. Kimpton’s Glover Park Hotel is a leisurely stroll from two of the city’s best universities, American and Georgetown. A tranquil and luxurious getaway awaits after the school tours, family weekend visits and hectic move in and move out days in the city. You can also be sure Glover Park’s restaurant Casolare has wood-fired pizza and Italian fare that will top any campus cafeteria offering.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco (Baltimore, MD)

Yes, please! A trip to Maryland means a chance to sample incredible Chesapeake soft shell crab from B&O American Brasserie. Image Credit: Adam Milliron

Inside the historic B&O Railroad Headquarters is the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Baltimore Inner Harbor. Its stately gilded fixtures and ornate chandeliers are the perfect welcome to nearby collegiate life. With the University of Maryland, Loyola University and Johns Hopkins University all within a quick cab ride, it’s an ideal place to immerse yourself in Baltimore while visiting these top-notch unis. And a trip to “Charm City” wouldn’t be complete without trying the famous Maryland crab at B&O American Brasserie.

Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt (Austin, TX)

Right off Rainey Street, the Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt offers proximity to UT Austin and a postcard-worthy rooftop pool. Image Credit: Whit Preston

It’s practically a straight shot from the University of Texas Austin Campus to the Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt. This music-themed boutique hotspot is the perfect jumping off point for prospective students looking to get a taste of what life in Austin is really like. Take Kimpton’s PUBLIC bikes for a ride along the Colorado River or a barbecue crawl; yes, they exist in Austin. Dance all night to our local live music at Geraldine’s or relax post-football game in our calming spa rooms featuring an oversize soaking tub and Atelier Bloem bath amenities. Just what you need after a night out in Austin.

Kimpton Aertson Hotel (Nashville, TN)

Soak in Vanderbilt’s collegiate vibes with panoramic campus views from the Kimpton Aertson Hotel. Image Credit: Laure Joliet

A stone’s throw from Vanderbilt’s collegiate clocktower and columned buildings is the Kimpton Aertson Hotel, named after the original Vanderbilt surname. This sophisticated spot is a perfect pit-stop with a rooftop pool that overlooks the prestigious Southern school. Whether the whole family is coming into town for Parents’ Weekend or friends are coming in for Homecoming, this Midtown mainstay is an ideal spot. If mom needs a spa weekend with her girl, we’ve got you covered with our sublime Woodhouse Spa. Our complimentary, custom-made PUBLIC cruise bikes make it even quicker to zip between campus and the hotel. Plus, there’s a secret rate code, “Commodore”, for Vandy families that gives 15 percent off the best flexible rate when booked via phone.

Kimpton Greenville, SC: Opening in 2022

Fall’s Park is a cultural oasis and nature lover’s paradise within the city. Photo credit: @rebekka.mains

If you love a good comeback story, Greenville, South Carolina, could write the book on staging the perfect urban revival. A former industrial hub dominated by the textile industry, the city has restyled itself into the next Southern “it” destination, complete with farm-to-fork fare, green space galore and an art scene worth writing home about. All of this within driving distance of Clemson University, home to nearly 25,000 students. Our digs, opening in 2022, will feature rooftop views of the Smoky Mountains at a downtown location that puts you in the heart of it all.