I checked into my room and found that it had been only partially cleaned. Apparently, the cleaning staff decided to call it a day before picking up towels, robes, and dirty glasses and cleaning the bathroom sink. I complained upon checking in, but they couldn't give me a different room. There solution was to give me some new soap and towels. The TV wouldn't work either. The staff tried to be nice, but there were no apologies and no sense that the customer comes first. Despite my efforts for them to acknowledge my inconvenience at check-out, they just gave me a form to fill out that someone will probably never see. Needless to say, they never followed up with me. For the price you pay, this place is completely overpriced. Breakfast is below average. Room AC/heater unit is loud. Walls are so thin that I woke up when my neighbor's alarm clock went off. Avoid this hotel.

Used to visit this hotel since late 2009 and paid $140/night with Stanford medical discount. Rate this week was $279/night. Not worth this kind of money. Hotel management doesn't seem to understand there are numerous alternatives within 2 miles for $100 less per night. The most important hotel amenities are the secure underground parking (excellent) and the proximity to everything Stanford. A Starbucks is next door. Despite this the rooms are over sized, over priced, some of the oldest most uncomfortable furniture possible. Some rooms don't have reading lamps near the bed and in some cases you cannot watch TV while in bed. The furniture was stained and horribly uncomfortable. These people do not have a clue what's going or they are marketing to a population of visitors that doesn't care what shape the hotel is in. THIS HOTEL HAS SEEN ITS LAST BETTER DAY. We can't stay here again as I feel ripped off for the features provided. The hotel staff can be accommodating but they don't have the assets to work with to make this a competitive hotel. Look for this hotel to be re-sold (again) or go out of business. WAKE UP. There are possibilities here but not based on a good continental breakfast and nearby Starbucks.

A medium walk to campus or a quick ride on the shuttles, this hotel is comfortable enough but rather worn. Big rooms, nice coffee machines, very competent American-continental style breakfast (cereal, fruit, bagels, waffle-machine). Mrs.Madrigal-style courtyard garden; useless (tiny) pool. Rooms dark and facing the courtyards, and worn. I mentioned that the radio-clock-ipod dock was not working (except for the clock part); nothing was done. The ice-machine didn't work either. Depending on your needs, it is OK, but I will not return.

The reviews for the Stanford Inn were good and the location seemed close to Stanford, so my son and I booked it for a recent visit to the area. Our ground floor room had a terrible moldy smell and was worn beyond what is acceptable. I didn't want to take off my shoes and knew I would not be staying the night when I was told no other rooms were available.
While the Inn is near the back area of Stanford, the back end of Stanford is far away from the visitors center. Don't be fooled as I was. It is definitely not walking distance to the downtown area with all of the shops and stores.
Visiting Palo Alto is tough because there are expensive hotels or slightly (very) run down inns and motels which still charge over $200 a night....in my opinion the extra money for the clean and modern hotel is worth it.