Hampton Inn & Suites Athens-I-65 (Huntsville Area)

We stayed here about a year ago and it was fantastic, so coming back turned out to be a big mistake. It was a lovely 68 degree day, but the building felt seriously hot as soon as we walked in. Càrrie checked us in wearing a mask, and when my husband couldn't hear her, she got upset and smacked her hand on the desk. Later, when she saw me looking at her, she suddenly became overly nice. We also found out there is now a $3 parking fee. Where else were we supposed to park? In 30 years of travel, we've never had a hotel charge us for parking. Then, as soon as we got to our room tired from traveling, we heard running, stomping, and banging from upstairs. We called politely to ask if they could settle down. It kept going until after 10 pm, then started again at 4 am. We shouldn't have to unpack before requesting a room change. We left earlier than planned. It was a huge letdown, and we won't book here again.

The $3 parking fee is my one real gripe. It's not much money, but the room price should cover the hotel's operating and upkeep costs, and charging extra feels disrespectful. What's next, a fee for water and electricity? Otherwise, the place is clean and well cared for, with friendly staff and a comfortable, clean room. There are lots of downstairs spaces to sit or visit, and the indoor pool is nice. Breakfast was hot and ready, nothing special, but good for a quick meal. I could've used more towels in the bathroom, though that's minor.

We had to switch rooms because the first one smelled unpleasant. The place also felt expensive for the area, especially with the $75 dog charge, which came to $84.42 with tax. The irritation was mostly about how we were treated. We booked online through Capital One because the listing said it was pet friendly. After checking in, I took my pup through the lobby and the front desk lady stopped me and shamed me for not mentioning the dog. She hadn't asked about pets at check-in or explained that there would be a $20 "incidentals" charge. She was cranky when we arrived, too. Maybe I'd have expected less at a cheaper hotel. Next time we'll stay somewhere else.

The worst part was finding that two $50 gift cards had been stolen from my room. I can't recommend this place and would strongly suggest staying elsewhere. I picked it for the “all seasons” pool, but the pool room was colder than outside in December, and staff said they couldn't control the temperature. Breakfast was stale and wasn't restocked properly. I really wanted to enjoy my stay, but there were too many bad situations.