Homewood Suites byHilton Philadelphia Valley Forge

The breakfast was a highlight: plenty of choices, hot food that tasted home cooked, fresh cold orange juice, and eggs and sausage cooked just right. The lobby is spacious and lovely, with TVs if you want to watch while you eat. Our room was quiet and very clean, with crisp linens. The kitchen was clean too, and both the air conditioner and heater worked well. I barely watched TV, but the cable worked when I did. Check-in went fine, and the location is handy, with Chickie & Pete's, Wawa, and Starbucks nearby. Just be prepared for Lyft or Uber to take a long time. A roach in the room was unsettling. There also weren't extra rolls of paper towels or toilet paper. When I called the desk for one, the staff member asked me to come get it, even though I was already undressed and ready for bed. I insisted that someone bring it up, and she may have heard how annoyed I was. I wish they left more towels out as well. If you order through GrubHub, scan the QR code in the elevator for free delivery.

The rooms are dated and pretty worn, though they’re large suites and were clean and quiet. The HVAC worked as needed, and I got the best night’s rest of my week there. Breakfast is free and does the job, though the food they tried to serve wasn’t the freshest. The location is great, and I’d stay again if I’m in the area.

The room was dated but in decent shape, with comfortable space for two adults, two kids, and a dog. Still, with so many hotels around, I’d look elsewhere next time. We got there around 1 a.m. Friday, and the front desk service left a lot to be desired. We’d called on Wednesday to stress that we needed a pack n play for our 11 month old and were assured it would be there. It wasn’t. When we called down, the staff member said she’d try to find one but wasn’t sure she could at that hour, then said we should have told them in advance. We explained that we had, and she said nobody had noted it. They did eventually find one, but the interaction made it seem like she hated her job and shouldn’t be in hospitality.

The front desk staff we met were incredibly friendly, and we liked the lobby and breakfast. The bed was very soft. But the room, especially the bathroom, felt outdated. We found a centipede on the bathroom wall, and there was something that looked like mold in the shower, which had no ventilation. For what we paid for one weekend night, it was disappointing. This place has potential and needs updating. I hope to give Hilton another chance, but right now it’s hard to justify.