DeSoto House Hotel
230 S Main St, Galena, IL 61036-2227
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Dining (45)
Room & Suite (44)
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What you can expect during your stay
- All linens sanitized in high-temperature wash
- Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff
- Stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Staff required to regularly wash hands
Updated 03/08/22 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
Updated 03/08/22 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
#4 of 11 hotels in Galena
Location
5.0
Cleanliness
4.6
Service
4.5
Value
4.2
Everyone needs a place to lay their weary head. For travelers visiting Galena, DeSoto House Hotel is an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. Well-known for its family-friendly environment and proximity to great restaurants and attractions, DeSoto House Hotel makes it easy to enjoy the best of Galena.
DeSoto House Hotel is a family-friendly hotel offering a flat screen TV and air conditioning in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as free wifi is offered to guests.
Plus, guests can enjoy a lounge, which has made this a popular choice among travelers visiting Galena. For guests with a vehicle, free parking is available.
While staying at Desoto Hotel, visitors can check out Root Beer Revelry (0.0 mi) and Old Market House State Historic Site (0.2 mi), some of Galena's top attractions.
If you like Mexican restaurants, Desoto Hotel is conveniently located near Los Aztecas II, Campeche Restaurant, and Ayalas Las Margarita.
There is no shortage of things to do in the area: explore popular waterfalls such as Thunderbay Falls.
Whether you’re traveling for business, pleasure or both, DeSoto House Hotel is sure to make your visit to Galena one worth remembering.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Parking garage
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Non-smoking hotel
Restaurant
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
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Room features
Air conditioning
Telephone
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Family
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Full view
94Great for walkers
Grade: 94 out of 100
35Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
53Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
Contact
230 S Main St, Galena, IL 61036-2227
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746Reviews17Q+A100Room tips
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Don't expect this to be posh and upscale. Once you're inside, you realize it's definitely a mid-range hotel (think Best Western) built into a charmingly quirky old shell. (The structure is original, but the hotel has been gutted and rebuilt on the inside more than once.) The arrangement of floors, rooms, staircases, and restaurants seems like it was designed by M. C. Escher; all the hallways go in odd, slightly disorienting directions. (It's actually fun to figure out.) Our room (a "junior suite") was comfortable but too dark, with no good reading light over any of the chairs or the bed. Besides the long, interesting history of the hotel and its great location, its major attraction is its three restaurants. We had fine meals in all three.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
Helpful
We came to town for our anniversary looking for a paranormal getaway and had a BLAST! We wanted the full experience and got it. I called looking for a spooky room and they set us up with breakfast in the morning too. The staff was so friendly, facilities are clean and gorgeous. It's beautifully a blast from the past. We had dinner at the hotel restaurant, which was delish, and headed to the downstairs bar with our complimentary drink tokens. The Lady in Black martini was the best I've ever had. We can't wait to come back!
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Stayed at the Desoto and walked around Galena. had a great time, everything was in walking distance for shops and restaurants. Wonderful 3 days with relatives. we will defiantly return again. we ate at several restaurants around the hotel and had drinks at several areas within the hotel.
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Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
husband took me to the mothersday brunch. paid our lack luster server Toni 100 for a 70 $ meal. she took it upon herself to keep the change. after not seeing her for a little bit i asked the host about my server and change and they said she had already left. Host said the manager was out back smoking. I didn't want to wait on their smoke break. I was disgusted and left. Who hires these people ?
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Helpful
Response from Michael Steinhoff, General Manager at DeSoto House Hotel
Responded May 16, 2022
So sorry to hear about your Mother's Day experience. If you would like to discuss this further, please call me directly at the Hotel. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak to you. Thank you.
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This was our first stay in this quaint landmark hotel. Bumped into other visitors who have stayed here numerous times as they love it. The architecture is beautiful. Rooms were clean and adequately updated. Even though hotel was full, it was not noisy (but we were on the top floor so didn't have to put up with anything above us). Great choice of 3 restaurants (all the same kitchen). Parking garage is a bit tight, but we were thankful for a convenient spot to park in this busy, congested town! Note that the floors are not level - my husband thought he had vertigo till we realized the issue was the slanted floors! Suppose that's to be expected in such an old building. Great Galena history can be learned here through their videos and pamphlets.
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Date of stay: April 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: The 3rd floor is the quietest.
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1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This hotel has been around since 1855 and there is a lot of great history involved with this site. It's a very nice place to stay - you can walk to all shops & restaurants right out the front door, plus the hotel itself has a few restaurants/bars inside. The rooms are a little dated but are very clean. I think if they were to modenize the hotel & rooms, it would take away from the historical value of the hotel. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We would definitely stay here again.
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Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
+1
This is a very attractive hotel in all regards...perfect in-town location, free covered parking, easy walk to shops & many restaurants, large beautiful updated room, friendly personnel, plus several dining options. There's the General's fine dining on the lower level, the atrium breakfast & lunch area & the 1st floor Green Street casual restaurant. We enjoyed a drink in the bar area by the General's restaurant. Our bartender, Bonnie, was a delight...friendly, interesting, accommodating & competent!
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Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
1 Helpful vote1 Save
Helpful
Saw the hotel on a trip to Dubuque. Location is excellent and free parking! The rooms are named after Civil War Generals and overlook an atrium. Nice amenities and linens. Only real complaint is the toilets are short, like in elementary schools. Staff friendly and accommodating!
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Date of stay: March 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Perfect location in the heart of Galena. I was able to walk to everything I wanted to explore. This is a great old building, beautifully restored keeping in mind the history of the place. Much more interesting than a chain hotel. I was surprised at how large the room was for a building of its age. Comfy bed with lots of pillows. Terrible placement of TV (on the side of the bed as opposed to at its foot) made it impossible to comfortably watch from the bed, but there was a fairly comfy chair provided. No full length mirror in room. I don’t understand tubs in hotel rooms. DeSoto House missed the boat when they remodeled. There should have been a roomy walk in shower instead of the clumsy tub.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip: It was the dead of winter and convenient, covered parking was included in my price. I don’t know...
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Helpful
I don't know if this is hotel newbie thing or what but they charged us a $200 wrongful smoking fee, and had a debit card with them (which they heard us say at the counter) and could not be reversed like a credit card. Claimed we smoked pot in the room. Will not be returning, still trying to fight for our money back.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
$132 - $204 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
desoto hotel galena
LOCATION
United StatesIllinoisGalena
NUMBER OF ROOMS
55
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about DeSoto House Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to DeSoto House Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Psychic Medium Chris McBrien (0.02 miles), P.T. Murphy Magic Theatre (0.1 miles), and Galena / Jo Daviess County Historical Society and Museum (0.1 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at DeSoto House Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at DeSoto House Hotel?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at DeSoto House Hotel?
Yes, free parking, a parking garage, and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to DeSoto House Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Fried Green Tomatoes, Otto's Place, and Little Tokyo.
Is DeSoto House Hotel located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.2 miles away from the center of Galena.
Does DeSoto House Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business center, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Are there any historical sites close to DeSoto House Hotel?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Ulysses S. Grant Home (0.4 miles), Root Beer Revelry (0.01 miles), and Dowling House (0.2 miles).
Is DeSoto House Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and reduced mobility rooms. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.