The Kensington Hotel

Enjoyed our stay.

Checked in at 10pm and got the worst room possible. The room was full of a variety of bugs. Since we were at the very end of a very long winding hallway and were extremely tired, we chose to ignore and crashed.

The gym was very underwhelming and it seems like they charge for anything additional including lobby coffee.

I always stay at the Kensington when visiting Ann Arbor. It is always clean and attractive. The staff is helpful and friendly. The rooms are spacious and comfortable.

The Kensington is a larger hotel on the outskirts of Ann Arbor near I-94. This makes it convenient to access from the roadway, whether one is staying in Ann Arbor or just spending one night. There is plentiful, free parking and the hotel is adjacent to restaurants and stores in a shopping mall. The facilities are clean and the staff is friendly and willing to help guests (within limits). We’ve stayed many times at the Kensington as we have had several children attending U of M. Anyone who knows Ann Arbor knows that it’s a competitive lodging market because of the University, football games, parent weekend, graduation, etc. The hotels offer various packages to guests as a result and because they are relatively expensive, guests expect a higher level of service in return. Unfortunately, the Kensington is a shadow of its former self. We first stayed there in 2016, when our child was touring colleges. We were impressed then by the level of care, service, and amenities offered. Gradually, however, that care and the level of amenities have evaporated. Gone are extra perks such as complementary afternoon snacks and beverages in the Executive Level room block, complementary coffee in the lobby in the morning, and free or discounted breakfast in the restaurant. What remains is a half-glass of champagne on arrival and a “hope you have a pleasant stay” from the check in clerk. The physical condition of the hotel has also deteriorated over time. On several occasions recently, we encountered various issues with the pool, sauna, and guest rooms that either limited, prevented, or made their use unpleasant. On this latest stay, we noted that the sink in the bathroom was cracked and appeared to be harboring mold. The pool was unusable due to the heater being out of service. Also, one of the pieces of furniture in the room was filthy with what appeared to be grease stains. On prior visits, our room had a leaking window, bathroom door that wouldn’t close properly, and shower heads that did not allow proper water flow. When I brought it up, the manager always acknowledged the problems, apologized, and said he would have them addressed. Since this has occurred on several occasions over the past several years, I can’t chalk it up to chance anymore. We’ll be staying elsewhere in the future.

Exceptional

Amazing! Spotless! Wonderful!

Gym I used was ok, room was a little dirty. Tried to use the sauna but it wasn't working and a bit worn down. Location was good near the mall, lotsa restaurants within walking distance. Price was competitive. Overall an "ok" to "good" not great.

Superb

None

Good

Overall everything was great

No problems at check-in; everything went smoothly!

Great staff. They really tried to do anything possible to make our stay enjoyable

Very good

Pleasant at check-in. I had a spider in my bathroom.

An unexpected value. It was run and had the feel of an European boutique hotel. It will be our go to residence in Ann Arbor.

Very nicely remodeled room. Exceedingly comfortable beds. Wonderful pool, hot tub & sauna. Great breakfast “quick grabs” & a full breakfast for a few in the restaurant if you were interested. Courtyard was great for relax & staff was enthusiastic, helpful & welcoming. Close & easy to the interstate.

The gentlemen working the front desk were so respectful and helpful. My husband said we would definitely stay here again.

Great place to stay.