A friend and I are going to princeton this fall to attend a conference that will be held at the University. Where should we stay? (the conference doesn't give any suggestions) She thought maybe the Hyatt regency, but someone suggested the nassau Inn since it is right on campus. reviews of the nassau inn on tripadvisor are pretty bad. Actually, the hyatt's reviews aren't great either. Any suggestions?

Also, we'll be looking for a place to have a nice dinner the night before the conference- any recommendations for a nice meal? TIA!

topping

are you going to have a car? There are some hotels on Route 1 near the shopping outlets that are ok. From there it's less than 15 minutes to the university. I stayed with my boyfriend at a great place several years ago when we took a long weekend from northern NJ -- the name of which I cannot remember right now but it was a conference center/hotel on Route 1 north across from the shops.

As for a nice dinner, maybe someone else will have suggestions.

Let me think about the name of that place ...

Nassau Inn is not on campus but close-by. Whereas the Hyatt is out on Rt.#1. I think that a lot depends on if you will have a car or not. Try the BluePoint Grille for good seafood.

OK, one of the places I stayed with my boyfriend was called the Chauncey. you definitely need a car to get there, but it is only minutes from downtown and feels like it is in the middle of the country.

http://www.ahl-chauncey.com/

It is on the grounds of the Educational Testing Service -- the people that write the SATs.

If you google Princeton Route 1 hotels you'll find there's a bunch. There's a Wyndham Forrestal Village on Scudder's Mill Road -- I think that's the other one I've stayed at.

I stayed at the Nassau Inn in the 1970s on a trip to visit the campus. The Inn dates to 1756, and the room I occupied smelled as though the windows hadn't been opened since the inaugural year. Nevertheless, it is very near a beautiful campus, and, it must be doing most things right to have survived 250+ years.

Not having learned my lesson, going back and will stay at Nassau when my oldest visits the campus.

we will have a car, but i would really prefer to not have to drive everywhere. Not being familiar with that area at all, i just don't know where we should stay. Is route 1 just an ugly commerical area? the hyatt on route 1 doesn't get great reviews either. The reviews of the nassau inn are really not great, but, again, this is 2 girls going to a conference at the university and wanting to go to a nice dinner in town the night before.

Hmmm, having been there, still not loving the Nassau inn, you're still choosing it over a route 1 hotel- sounds like maybe i should do that too?

Rte 1 is an ugly commercial area, but it's not as bad in the Princeton area as many others. There are more, nice looking office parks than commercial strip centers. You might want to check out Forrestal Village. There's a Westin there, just a mile or two from the University. It's an outdoor shopping mall of sorts that has gone through several rebirths over the years, as it just hasn't been very successful (too many cold months for the outdoor concept?) Still, it's a nice area, and not far from your desitnation.

I live in the little town next to Princeton and frequently eat there. Honestly, Princeton is not blessed with great restaurants, which I and my friends often lament. Here's where I would recommend eating for your best chance of a good meal, depending on what type of food you are looking for:

Teresa's Italian Cafe (in Palmer Square) -- informal and not too expensive

Witherspoon Grill (on Witherspoon Street) -- one of the newest restaurants in town, about two years old -- has the best atmosphere, I think -- energetic, friendly, often crowded. Expensive but good continental cuisine

Mediterra (on Hulfish) -- this one turns me on and off (not always happy with the food for the price), but the space is nice and lots of people go there

Ferry House (on Witherspoon) -- has had its ups and downs. Most of my meals (continental cuisine) there have been very good.

Masala Grill (on Chambers) -- informal, very tasy Indian food. My meals here have always been excellent, though the room itself could be improved. Always popular.

Tiger Noodles (on Nassau) -- super fresh Chinese food in an informal cafe setting. Love this place. My son comes home from New York every few months just to eat the Szechwan noodles here (not always on the menu, but available if you ask for them). Mmmmm, delicious.

Sunny Garden (on Route 1 just south of Princeton Marketfair shopping center) -- best Chinese in a more formal setting. Excellent food. (If you stay at any of the Route 1 hotels and like Chinese, this is the place to go for dinner.)

Bluepoint Grill (on Nassau) -- for fish and seafood, as recommended by another poster.

As for hotels, if you want to be in town it's Nassau Inn. Personally, I would choose that over the Route 1 hotels (though I've just attended meetings at Nassau Inn, so I've never seen the rooms). It's right in the heart of Princeton and is the only way you're going to get the great college town atmosphere (Princeton--the town and campus-- is very conducive to walking!). You're not going to be spending that much time in your room anyway--but if you decide to stay on Route 1, you have a choice of the standard hotel chains, so you know what you'll be getting. The Princeton campus is about 15-30 minutes from the various hotels on Route 1, and rush-hour traffic on that highway will add to the time if that's when you will be coming in and leaving town for the evening.

The recommendation of Chauncey Conference Center, about 3 miles from downtown Princeton, noted in a previous post, is also a good one. Chauncey (which is operated as a hotel, conference center, and growing more popular as a wedding site) is in the middle of the ETS corporate campus. The hotel is very pleasant, well-designed, and removes the problem of rush-hour traffic on Route 1 since it's in the residential area of Princeton Township. Has a small swimming pool, tennis courts, and walking trails, as well as a decent (though not great) restaurant that serves limited hours.

If it were my trip, I would choose the Nassau Inn, and Witherspoon Grill for dinner. In any case, you'll love Princeton!

Thank you all very much- that helps make the decision. I think nassau inn it will be. April thank you so much for the restaurant recs!

I live right off Rte 1. Yes, it is ugly! But conveniently located to lots of hotels & restaurants.

I would say just stay at the Nassau Inn. That is perfect for having a home base in town, and strolling around. Traffic sucks almost all of the time, and you don't need the stress. You can shop, go to a movie, eat, walk to campus, go to Triumph Brewery for a drink, and walk home.

The other place would be the Forrestal Village. It has a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Tre Piani, and Saltcreek Grill (or something like that!). Nice area, but right off Rte 1.

Nassau Inn is not that bad. If you are not happy with your room, don't accept it. Just ask for another, until you are satisfied. There should be some newly renovated rooms in there, so maybe if you check in early enough, you'll get a prime spot!