Graduate by Hilton Cincinnati — Hotel in Cincinnati

After a long day of travel that included a flight that was cancelled and another flight that was diverted to refuel, I was looking forward to getting some sleep before our early morning appointments at Cincinnati Children's. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the hotel, I found out that they didn't have a room for me. Having a reservation with a reduced hospital rate and arriving late left me a prime target to be walked.

I was traveling solo with my two year old who had received a transplant two months ago at Cincinnati Children's. Traveling with a toddler is difficult, plus add on a car seat, all his medicine and medical supplies. The 15 hour drive by car is brutal so the plan was to fly and stay close to the hospital.

I found out that they were moving me to another hotel after I had taken his car seat out of the Uber. It is incredibly difficult to install a car seat with a sleeping toddler. I had to wait longer for a taxi to come and pick us up. A young lady and a toddler at 2am in an unfamiliar city traveling to a hotel/area of the city they weren't familiar with in a random taxi. My phone was low on battery. I had to install the car seat again in a car, check in, get settled. I barely got any sleep, and my dinner had consisted of a few bags of pretzels. I just wanted to sleep and have a more relaxing trip. The front desk clerk just stared as me blankly with no sympathy. I am not one to cry, but this experience made me cry.

We had morning appointments at the hospital. They put us in Kentucky so, the next morning, I had to get a taxi and install a car seat in a taxi in the rain. My other experience with being walked was on business travel with a corporate rate in the same hotel brand, so we just rebooked at the new property. The property that the Marriott moved me to was over twice the rate I had originally booked. We had already spent plenty on having to relocate part of my family for almost 3 months for the transplant, plus all the medical costs, and will have frequent trips back to Cincinnati. I don't want to pay more for a hotel. I had to request a late checkout, miss a lab appointment, and rush back (again, installing a car seat in another car during the toddler's nap) to get my bags and move to another hotel.

Comping one night in the other hotel and the taxi, which is industry standard, does not even beginning to make up for the terrible experience and extra burden caused by the Kingsgate Marriott in Cincinnati. It is shameful how...

I recently stayed at the Graduate Cincinnati while my father was undergoing open heart surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and I cannot say enough about the staff and the hospitality we experienced. This wasn’t just a hotel stay—it was a true support system during one of the most stressful weeks of our lives.

One of the biggest advantages of this property is its walking-distance location to UC Medical Center, which made everything so much easier. I could go back and forth quickly throughout the day, and it allowed me to bring my mother over to rest in the room between visits with my dad. The convenience alone made a huge difference.

The hotel itself was wonderful—stylish, clean, and comfortable. The rooms were cozy with beds that provided much-needed rest, and the common spaces had a warm, welcoming feel. The restaurant/bar made it easy to grab meals without having to think too much after long hospital hours.

But what really sets Graduate Cincinnati apart is the people. The staff went above and beyond in ways that truly touched us: • Alysa – She made everything seamless, including extending my stay by three days as my father’s recovery took longer than expected. She always checked in to ask how my dad was doing when I came back from the hospital, which meant so much during such an emotional time. Her kindness and professionalism were unmatched. • Karen (Head of Housekeeping) – She made sure my room was cleaned early each day so I could bring my mom back for her afternoon naps. That extra consideration was invaluable and gave us a sense of calm in the middle of so much stress.

These thoughtful gestures, along with the overall spirit of the staff, made me feel like I wasn’t just staying at a hotel—I was being cared for.

I will forever be grateful to the Graduate Cincinnati team for creating an environment of care, comfort, and compassion when it was needed most. If you’re visiting the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for any reason—or just coming to the city—you couldn’t ask for a better...

This hotel is clean, has a fun design, but is fairly basic. It’s located near a college campus and is within walking distance from the zoo. If you want a hotel within walking distance to restaurants, then definitely consider a hotel that is downtown. This hotel’s main restaurant is Fiona’s. It has decent food but options are kind of limited. If you go there when Kesha is working, request that she makes her awesome off-the-menu cocktail, “The Kesha.” It is infinitely better than the other cocktails listed on the menu (at least the ones I tried). Kesha also makes an excellent old fashioned. As fun as the hotel is themed, they have missed an opportunity with the cocktails. Corporate, put Kesha on it! For breakfast, Poindexters at the hotel is also decent but be prepared for a long wait, depending on how many people are ahead of you. ||The parking garage is $15 a day, which is a better deal than most other hotels. There are no bells and whistles about this hotel. No valet and no housekeeping during your stay (unless requested). The housekeeping thing wasn’t explained at the front desk when checking in. I’m a little bougie when I travel and love to return to clean room, so that was a little disappointing. Like the lobby, the rooms are well-themed. However, our room had a dented door frame that looked like a crowbar or something had been used to pry the door open at some point. It also had a bit of a musty smell. There was a mini-fridge in the room (another review said there wasn’t one). The two cans of water in the fridge were a nice touch. The bathroom was cool and clean but small (especially if traveling with a family). The beds are kind of hard. Don’t expect the plush hotel bed experience. ||Overall, this hotel is very cute and is ideally located if your there for the university, hospital, or zoo. Don’t expect a luxurious hotel experience, as it is moderate. I feel like a lot of previous reviews oversold it a bit. The rooms are...