$150–300

For a unique option, consider the intimate Bell Tower Hotel (300 S. Thayer, 734/769-3010, www.belltowerhotel.com [1], $169–210 d), which offers 66 rooms and suites, right in the middle of campus. It’s a surprisingly elegant place, with accommodations decorated in a crisp, traditional English style, as well as the on-site Earle Uptown, one of the city’s finest French restaurants.

If you prefer the coziness of a bed-and-breakfast, the Ann Arbor Bed & Breakfast (921 E. Huron St., 734/994-9100, www.annarborbedandbreakfast.com [2], $169–189 d) might suit your needs. Just steps from some of the university’s finest performance venues, the inn features hearty breakfasts, wireless Internet access, and free covered parking. Two of the guest studios even come with kitchenettes.