Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Edmonton St. Albert

We had a really quiet night on the ground floor. The room was very clean, nicely furnished, and the bed was comfortable. I was glad we could bring our pet, and breakfast had lots of good options. I paid a $25 pet fee when I booked, but when I checked again for a future stay, it had gone up to $75. That seems much higher than what competitors charge. I’d stay here again.

I’ve usually been happy with the staff, location, and amenities at this Hampton Inn, so finding a small critter in a trap under the mattress in my first room was an unpleasant surprise. It looked like the kind of monitoring trap used to check for a bug problem. I left the room right away, told the front desk, and they moved me to a second room that was fine. It was an unfortunate disruption to what have normally been nice stays. They didn’t offer any further accommodation, discount, or points for it.

I’ve been a Hilton Honors member for a long time, and this was easily my worst Hilton stay. We paid $210 a night, but no member benefits were acknowledged or offered. The whole visit felt cold and dismissive, and nowhere near the Hilton standard. I wouldn’t stay here again, and it wasn’t worth the price. We’d booked a King room with a pullout couch, but there were no extra pillows or blankets for it. When I asked, the response made me feel like I was being a nuisance. The room was covered in notes and signs about rules and charges, which came across as stingy and unwelcoming. At breakfast, the woman serving the eggs told me to “move” rudely while I was getting food. “Excuse me” would have been enough, especially since I’m pregnant. And when we arrived, the front desk staff didn’t welcome us or make eye contact. They just gave us an odd, uncomfortable look as we approached. No greeting, no smile, nothing. This location needs serious retraining in basic hospitality. Zero out of five.

Frank, the general manager, is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. The rooms are clean, the staff are kind, and the breakfast is on point. I enjoyed talking with Frank, the staff, the housekeeper, and everyone else. It’s been an amazing stay, and my girlfriend and I have gotten closer here. Something about these rooms brought some love back into our life. We had an amazing dinner at the steakhouse, one of the best in the world. This is a great place to relax, get away, and have a retreat, with amazing food and great sleep. If you’re ever in Edmonton, pick this hotel for your stay. It’s one of the world’s best, and you won’t regret it.