Hampton Inn Athens

I usually like Hampton Inn, but this location didn't look out for Hilton Honors members. My reservation had been duplicated without me knowing, so I only found out on arrival that two rooms were booked instead of one. They still wouldn't waive the $200+ cancellation fee. Very disappointing treatment of a guest. If you're a Hilton Honors member expecting the usual Hilton hospitality, I'd book somewhere else.

The maid staff were friendly and helpful, but the common area tables weren't clean. You could hear service conversations throughout the shared spaces, and when no rooms were available, staff tried to help guests very loudly. The restaurant next door was also loud and disruptive at night.

I've stayed at Hilton properties through most of my 30-plus years traveling, and I've never had an experience like this one. I booked late Monday night for a meeting, then the meeting location changed with little notice. I needed to stay elsewhere to save three hours of driving and make my meetings. I called to cancel and explained the situation. The woman on the phone said I'd owe the entire stay because cancellation had to be more than 24 hours ahead, even though it hadn't been 24 hours since I booked. Other locations had helped me in the past, but this one wouldn't. Hilton Honors called the hotel for me and got the same answer. I asked who I should speak to when I arrived, and was told it was the General Manager. When I got there, a woman came out and confirmed she was the General Manger. I calmly told her this would be my last visit because the hotel wasn't user friendly for a business traveler. She slammed her hand on the counter, pointed toward the door, and yelled, “GET OUT.” When I asked what was going on, she yelled “LEAVE NOW,” said I wasn't welcome and that she could refuse service, then threatened to call the cops if I didn't leave. I told her to call them. Two officers arrived about 10 minutes later. She said I was harassing her; I explained what had happened. They told me that if she asked me to leave the property, I had to, under Georgia law. I only wanted my nearly $200 back for the room, but they said that was a civil matter and I'd have to take them to court. I took my license and left. As I was going, the General Manager got one last dig in, telling me not to come back because I wasn't welcome. I said I never would. The officers explained that this meant a two year ban from this location, again under Georgia law. There was no reason for any of this. I was the customer being harassed, and I'm still in disbelief. How embarrassing.

Check-in was easy, but the room fell well short of what I expect after staying at several Hampton Inns over the years. Room #207 was easily the worst Hampton Inn room I've had. The lobby was fine, but the elevator was in rough shape, with a missing ceiling light diffuser and poor flooring. The king bed seemed to be on a regular-size frame. Its mattress was thin, had no box springs, and was extremely lumpy. It sagged at least 2 inches from the top to the bottom. The dust ruffle barely reached the floor at the head and foot, while 2-3 inches of it dragged on the floor in the middle. I've had better bedding at fishing and hunting lodges.