Hilton Madison Monona Terrace

As the city’s convention headquarters hotel that’s also close to the state capitol, this hotel buzzes with events and business travelers. It sees its share of university-related guests as well, with a free shuttle to the nearby campus.

The Hilton in located in downtown Madison and overlooks lovely Lake Monona. It’s directly connected via an enclosed skywalk to the Monona Terrace Convention and Community Center, which is on the lake’s shores. It’s a three-minute walk to the Wisconsin State Capitol, and numerous restaurants and bars are between the two buildings. The center of the lively nightlife on State Street is about 10 minutes on foot, and the Kohl Center sports complex on the western edge of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s campus is one mile away -- a five-minute drive or a 20-minute walk. The hotel operates a free shuttle service to the campus, capitol, State Street, and other downtown locations. It also runs to the Dane County Regional Airport, which is 15 to 20 minutes away.

Guest rooms feature tasteful, traditional decor. Standard Rooms have King and Double-Double options, as do the Executive Rooms that feature robes and access to the 14th-floor Executive Lounge that serves a free continental breakfast and refreshments during the day. Three Suites and seven Junior Suites are also available. The rooms are generally clean, quiet, and spacious, with approximately half offering views of Lake Monona and half featuring views of downtown. Corner rooms provide both views. The bathrooms are average in size. Amenities include safes, coffeemakers, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, magnifying mirrors, and mini-fridges stocked with free bottled water.

This Hilton serves as Madison’s convention headquarters hotel, as it's directly connected to the Monona Terrace Convention and Community Center via an enclosed walkway. Amenities are geared toward business travelers, with a free shuttle service that takes guests to the airport, Capitol Square, University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, and other downtown locations. The 24-hour business center has two computer stations and printers, plus Wi-Fi is free throughout. Remote printing is also free. Five meeting spaces can accommodate groups of up to 80 people, and the hotel’s restaurant has private dining facilities for up to 40.

The restaurant serves prime aged beef and line-caught seafood for lunch and dinner, and has outdoor seating in season. The lounge offers a buffet and table service for breakfast as well as a Starbucks barista station, but the breakfast is not included in room rates. The lounge also offers light snacks during the day and has live music in the evening. The 24/7 pantry in the lobby sells sundries, drinks, and snacks, and room service is also available 24 hours.

The Hilton has a parking garage, but it fills up at times and has tight spaces. Parking rates are reasonable for a downtown property, and valet parking is available for only a few dollars more, with in-and-out privileges. The fitness center has several cardio machines and free weights. It’s adjacent to the indoor heated pool and whirlpool. The pool area features lovely tile and Adirondack-style chairs, but the pool itself is small. Valet laundry and dry cleaning are among the concierge services, and guest laundry facilities are on-site as well. Free "USA Today" newspapers are offered in the lobby during the week, which also has an ATM. Pets are welcome with a surcharge.