DoubleTree by Hilton Appleton

The location worked well for us, close to downtown Appleton and the mall, with easy access to I-41 and plenty of places to eat nearby. Check-in was quick and easy, and the staff were friendly. The parking lot wasn’t great, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. The room was decent overall, though the bathroom floor could have been cleaner, especially dust and grime in the shower creases. The large CrabTree & Evelyn bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were a nice touch. There were lots of USB and C charging ports, plus a charging pad on one side of the bed. The TV didn’t respond to the remote, and smart TVs would be nice. Still a nice hotel, and we’ll stay here again.

The restaurant breakfast was good each morning, and the staff were friendly and accommodating, even on Christmas Day. The rooms were clean. My one complaint was the water pressure. It was so weak I had to move around the shower just to get wet.

I called ahead to check whether our room had a hideaway sofa. The young woman at the front desk made sure it did, then remembered the call when we checked in and confirmed she’d put us in a great room. That’s personal service.

For three days straight, we listened to 40+ kids running through the halls and screaming at the top of their lungs. There was no peace or quiet. The front desk kept saying they’d do something, but all they offered was a room change. They couldn’t give us another king room or a price reduction if we downsized to a queen. Ten other people complained too, and nothing was done for them either. Only one worker seemed to care, and he was great. The rest of the experience was horrible, including the staff and the parents. We’ll never come back, and I won’t recommend this place. 0/10.