Hampton By Hilton Newcastle

The location was fantastic, with everything within walking distance. Our room was clean, nicely decorated and had what we needed. Breakfast was great, and the staff there were just as lovely as the rest of the team. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I’ve stayed at other hotels in Newcastle, but Hampton by Hilton had the friendliest staff by far. Hard to believe it’s only rated three stars, it should be at least four!

My daughter and I keep coming back because the staff are pleasant and helpful. Megan and Joseph even recognise us now, which is part of what makes us feel so welcome. The rooms are cosy and comfortable, and we always get a good night’s sleep. Breakfast is hearty, with lots to choose from. As a Hilton Honors member, I can collect points towards free stays, too. With the Metro and train station just across the road, and shops and Wetherspoons close by, it’s a perfect spot for us. This is always my number one hotel. Many thanks for looking after us again and again.

The breakfast was disappointing. The bacon was good, but the sausages were below average, there was no black pudding, and neither fried nor scrambled eggs were available. We were told our room wasn’t ready at 3pm and that we’d get a text when it was. Nothing had arrived by 6pm, so I went back and found it was ready. Neither of the rooms assigned to us matched the ones we’d selected during online check-in. The bed was just about okay, though the springs creaked. The heating didn’t work, but it was 11pm and the hotel was full, so I didn’t report it. I wasn’t confident it could be fixed quickly, if at all. Meh, below-average Hampton.

We paid quite a lot for one night, and the stay fell well short of what I expected. We’d originally booked the Hilton at the airport, unaware of the ongoing Metro problems. The staff there kindly moved us to the city centre Hampton by Hilton, which we appreciated. The replacement booking was for a larger room with two twin beds, but reception gave us a double room with a camp bed and very little space to move around. I called straight away, thinking there’d been a mix-up, but was told no twin rooms were available. The reception manager wasn’t helpful, and the eye-rolling felt completely unprofessional. After several minutes of going back and forth and hearing the third-party booking blamed repeatedly, I gave up. By then I was sure I wouldn’t return. The room was cold because the heating didn’t work. Breakfast was basic, and the food was already cold by 8am, although the breakfast staff were very nice. Other reception team members were polite as well. I’d had high hopes after reading so many positive reviews, but the experience didn’t meet my expectations at all. Well below zero.