Best college town hotels to book using points

There’s something extremely nostalgic about visiting a college town after Labor Day. Even on a warm day, there’s a crispness in the air. Fall is on its way as campuses hum with activity and fans cheer on their favorite college teams at packed stadiums.

If you’re a parent visiting for a family weekend, an alum visiting for homecoming events or a prospective student checking out college life, choosing a beautiful — and conveniently located — hotel will make the experience even more memorable. It’s especially sweet when you can book the property with points.

Below, we’ve rounded up properties in 10 of our favorite college towns that have prime locations, lively atmospheres and cozy accommodations. And nearly all of the options (like Graduate Hotels properties, which were acquired by Hilton) are bookable with credit card or hotel loyalty program points.

Related: Celebrating 1 year of partnership: The coolest SLH hotels you can book with Hilton Honors points

Graduate by Hilton Princeton

The Princeton Historic District encompasses the Princeton University campus and sits on the National Register of Historic Places. It was settled by Quakers in the 1600s, and four U.S. presidents attended Princeton. Needless to say, it’s a dream destination for anyone interested in learning about American history.

You can see 17th- and 18th-century treasures such as the university’s oldest building, Nassau Hall — which once served as the home of the American government — or the Italianate Prospect House. Strolling past these buildings is a magical experience in the fall as the foliage explodes around campus.

Graduate by Hilton Princeton, which opened its doors in 2024, is Ivy League through and through. Its preppy jewel-toned interiors are inspired by Princeton Tiger lore and local history.

Every guest room detail, small or large, gives a nod to the college. The university’s colors of orange and white are apparent throughout. Bedside lamps take cues from the Revolutionary War-era cannon buried behind Nassau Hall, while intricate wood-carved bed frames have hand-drawn illustrations. Sketches by Albert Einstein, who worked for Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study, decorate the space.

The Gothic-style lobby and library with high ceilings feel very Hogwarts-esque, with dark-wood built-in bookcases, leather couches and framed Princeton blazers.

Ye Tavern, Graduate Princeton’s signature bar and restaurant, serves Prohibition-era cocktails and classic regional fare.

And, as mentioned above, thanks to the fact that Hilton acquired the Graduate Hotels brand, stays at Graduate Hotels are bookable with Hilton Honors points.

Rates at Graduate by Hilton Princeton start at $282 or 60,000 points per night.

The Steward, Santa Barbara, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott

Just 2 miles from the University of California Santa Barbara, The Steward is close to Goleta Beach and all sorts of campus activities, yet it remains an oasis of calm. The all-suite boutique hotel has just 87 rooms and is on land purchased in the late 1860s by pioneer horticulturist Joseph Sexton. He created one of the area’s first nurseries on the grounds. A historic landmark, the property still features many of Sexton’s signature trees and plants throughout. The refurbished original house and a historic barn (which has been repurposed as a fitness and yoga center) are other highlights.

The Steward is a health-conscious, sustainably minded place to stay. While renovating the hotel, the team discovered a journal on the property from the 1930s that features one of the first recorded recipes for avocado toast. Guests can try the original recipe at the hotel’s restaurant, Terra. The restaurant also features herbs from the property’s gardens in many dishes and offers botanical blooming tea service and organic mocktails.

The multiple museums, wine bars and restaurants of downtown Santa Barbara are just a 15-minute drive away.

Rates at The Steward, Santa Barbara, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott start at $264 or 52,000 points per night.

St. Julien Hotel & Spa

Sitting at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is a unique destination with its vibrant downtown. Visitors can do a hardcore mountain bike ride by day and dine on Michelin-starred Northern Italian cuisine by night.

The swanky St. Julien Hotel & Spa, a member of I Prefer Hotel Rewards, is in the heart of it all. It’s just off the Pearl Street Mall, less than a mile from the University of Colorado campus. Renowned for its uniform romantic Italianate-style architecture with red tile roofs and sandstone walls, it’s stunning in fall when the oak, maple and cottonwood trees turn vivid shades of orange, gold and deep red.

Many guest rooms at St. Julien have chocolate brown four-post bed frames with snowy white linens, complementing views of the famed Flatirons. A stay at St. Julien includes access to many amenities like the indoor pool and hot tub, as well as complimentary shuttle service to campus. Seeing Coach Prime and the Buffs back in action this fall at Folsom Field will be a hot ticket.

Rates at St. Julien Hotel & Spa start at $379 or $266 plus 15,000 I Prefer Points per night. I Prefer Hotel Rewards benefits include exclusive member rates, points for future stays and hotel rewards, such as early check-in and free Wi-Fi at hundreds of hotels around the world.

Graduate by Hilton Nashville

In Midtown, Graduate by Hilton Nashville is perfectly poised for a visit that includes exploring all the action on Broadway and Vanderbilt University. With a lively mix of prints and textiles, this is one of the most colorful Graduate Hotels yet. There’s a rooftop pool Dolly would love with magenta settees and wide-brimmed umbrellas, as well as panoramic views of Music City’s skyline.

The rooftop bar, White Limozeen, serves dinner and creative drinks such as the Fixin’ to Leave (made from mezcal, salty wine, chinola, passionfruit, cucumber and lemon). There’s also a karaoke bar and a lobby-level cafe with a chandelier where toast is served all day.

Founded in 1873, Vanderbilt is named for railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school with its initial funding. The renowned research university has a beautiful campus with Gothic Revival-style architecture and a lush arboretum. In between campus explorations, visitors can eat hot chicken at Hattie B’s, go to honky-tonks on Broadway and partake in Graduate Nashville’s immersive experiences like line dancing lessons and in-studio songwriting experiences.

Rates at Graduate by Hilton Nashville start at $245 or 71,000 points per night.

Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman

When the Bobcats come back to Montana State in late August, the mountain town of Bozeman has a unique, buzzy energy. Just an hour and a half from Yellowstone National Park and surrounded by high peaks and world-class fly-fishing opportunities, the city is a gateway to outdoor adventure in every season. Montana State’s tree-shaded campus, with its wide walkways and grassy lawns, is especially beautiful in the fall.

Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman is right in the middle of downtown and a quick drive from campus. The property has a mix of historic and contemporary architecture. (For example, part of the building is an art deco National Guard armory built in 1941.) Guest rooms at the Kimpton feature a modern Western style: Think natural materials like rich wood, hand-stitched leather and woven textiles.

The hotel’s Sky Shed Lounge — the tallest building in town — and rooftop pool have beautiful mountain views. Guests can immerse themselves in local culture with live music at Kimpton’s Armory Music Hall, which used to be the National Guard’s gym. Nearby, Montana State’s Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of the Rockies is the spot to discover dinosaur fossils, a living history farm and a planetarium.

Rates at Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman start at $344 or 59,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

The Carolina Inn, Destination by Hyatt

Autumn in Durham, North Carolina — close to both the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Duke University — delivers that quintessential vivid fall foliage and a classic college town feel. The Carolina Inn, part of the Destination by Hyatt brand, is essentially on the campus of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, making it the ideal place to rest one’s head during the back-to-school season at either campus.

The elegant hotel was built in 1924 and looks like a sprawling mansion with its brick facade and stately columns. It’s close to the Chapel Hill football stadium and Franklin Street, the main college business district where you can shop, dine and experience weekend football game activities.

The Carolina Inn has a restaurant serving traditional Carolina cuisine. Guest rooms have blackout curtains, writing desks, campus views and a blue-and-white color palette to match that of Chapel Hill.

Rates at Carolina Inn Destination by Hyatt start at $316 or 15,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Boston Marriott Cambridge

Home to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston University and more, the historic city of Boston teems with students when fall rolls around. While there are many hotels to choose from, Boston Marriott Cambridge stands out for its prime location on the Charles River and in the heart of the Kendall Square area near both MIT and Harvard. The neighborhood has a number of fall festivities on tap, including an urban beer garden, live music, outdoor movies and fresh air yoga, as well as a Fall Party.

From here, you’ll also be in a prime position to visit the Museum of Science (a six-minute walk) or jump on one of the Boston Duck Tours (also a six-minute walk away) to see the seasons change both on land and water. Plus, you’re only a mile from the North End, where you can eat your way through some amazing pastries.

The hotel has modern rooms with contemporary furnishings and at least 320 square feet of living area for every category of room, so there’s plenty of space to stretch out. And the property offers a host of amenities, including a 24-hour fitness center, the M Club lounge and the Element 50 Speakeasy. Best of all, the Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Square, an outdoor leisure space with everything from pickleball courts to gardens, is accessible from the fifth floor of the hotel.

Rates at Boston Marriott Cambridge start at $224 or 49,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes

Arizona State University is one of the largest universities in the country. If you happen to be visiting, a stay at Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes will feel like a true getaway. Of course, it’s also a natural option for Bonvoy loyalists.

The desert resort has several mountain-backed swimming pools where you can soak up the Arizona sunshine, as well as a tranquil spa and access to numerous hiking trails. Large guest rooms have pillow-top beds and gleaming marble bathrooms. Top of the Rock restaurant has views of Camelback Mountain and Tempe’s purple-tinged sunsets.

When you’re ready to experience bustling Tempe and campus life, ASU is just 3 miles away. And Tempe’s Mill Avenue is the center of downtown and is lined with bars, restaurants and clubs. Another perk of staying at the Marriott: You can maximize your vacation time because it’s just 10 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

Member rates at Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at the Buttes start at $199 or 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Graduate by Hilton Ann Arbor

Still buzzing from their national championship football win last year, the Wolverines start the University of Michigan school year with even more passion and school spirit (and trust us, they were pretty passionate about their football program already). Games at The Big House, the third-largest stadium in the world (it holds 107,601 people), will be particularly festive this fall. Even if you can’t score tickets, Ann Arbor is a wonderful place to visit. The university town is known for a smattering of delicious restaurants, historic architecture, and museums like the Museum of Natural History and the University of Michigan Museum of Art.

Graduate by Hilton Ann Arbor is a great home base for those Hilton Honors loyalists exploring Tree Town. It has a free mini library curated by a local bookstore, complimentary bikes for exploring campus and a fitness room with Peloton bikes. The front desk staff is always happy to share insider tips on what to see and do, whether you want to shop for vintage goods or find the best place for gelato. The rooms are classically collegiate, with wood floors and furniture and pops of plaid.

Rates at Graduate by Hilton Ann Arbor start at $191 or 59,000 points per night.

Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC

The nation’s capital is filled with well-known institutes of higher learning, among them George Washington, American, Catholic and Howard universities. But when you think of a college in Washington, we’re guessing it’s Georgetown that you’re picturing. The Gothic campus overlooking the Potomac River is an iconic site with its spired chapel, red brick walkways and cobblestone streets that lead to the colorful historic townhouses that line the residential streets around the school. And for a perfect location for an autumnal visit, it’s hard to top the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, located along the C&O Canal at the edge of Georgetown.

In the fall, the maple, oak and elm trees that line the streets here create a canopy of autumnal foliage, perfect for strolling, shopping and picking up snacks for a picnic at Dumbarton Oaks, a hidden-gem park from the 1920s. And the always fun Georgetown Main Street Fall Market is just around the corner.

The Four Seasons Washington, DC is a mix of classic red brick exteriors and modern interiors with a notable art collection featuring renowned artists like Andy Warhol and Fernando Botero. The 222 incredibly posh and comfortable accommodations range from 385-square-foot deluxe guest rooms to the 1,924-square-foot presidential suite with rich wood details and crystal light fixtures. There’s also a destination-worthy restaurant, Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak, ideal for a cozy fall meal.

Rates at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC start at $1,500 per night. While the Four Seasons brand does not have a loyalty program, guests can book via American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, which is available to those with The Platinum Card® from American Express.

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