A really sketchy hotel
I'm rather suprised by all of the positive reviews for Alexix Park Inn. I did not find this hotel particularly clean, accomodating, or by the least bit "charming". Alexis Park is more like a cheap apartment or dorm room than like a hotel.
My colleagues and I had an extended stay on business. We booked the room months in advance -- and the owners made us pay in advance. Sure, I've had to book a room with a credit card in advance before, but I don't think I've ever been *charged* in advance before.
I was a little more than just disappointed with the "hotel". When I arrived in our hotel room there was an immediate stench. I never really got used to the smell. It was that awful. In addition, there was a cockroach infestation in our suite. There were half-dead cockroaches all over the place. I kept my suitcases zipped at all times for fear that I would bring the roaches home with me. Furthermore, the bathroom was an odd green color. I think it was done purposefully so that you can't see all the rust stains.
As far as amenities went - there were next to none. Housekeeping almost never came. When my colleague asked for the trashed to be removed from our suite, the desk people just told her where the dumpsters were so we could take it out ourselves! Unbelievable. I think we received a new set of towels once during our stay. Also, I'm pretty sure we were shafted on our "free breakfeast" every morning we were promised. Finally, please stay out of the pool -- it looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a long while and it faced someone's backyard.
The pluses were that it was really cheap in comparison for the size of the room you get. They upgraded us from a 2 bedroom to a 3 bedroom for no extra charge. Our suite also came with a kitchen with a full size refrigerator, and a living room. But if you're only in Iowa City for a brief period of time, I think all of that is unnecessary and the money is better spent on a place without cockroaches, without funky smell, and better service.