Hampton Inn & Suites Bakersfield North-Airport

The location worked well for me, with easy freeway access and plenty of nearby restaurants. I booked because Hampton Inns have been pretty consistent and good for me in other cities. Since walking is difficult for me, I asked for a ground-floor room near the front desk, and they gave me exactly that. It was clean and met my expectations. My two issues were the temperature and the pillows. There are no phones in the room, so I went to the desk about the thermostat. The clerk came up right away to check it, which I appreciated. Warm air came in bursts, but mostly the vent seemed to blow cold, and I spent much of my time in a jacket. Then it got very hot overnight, and the same temperature problem continued the next day. The pillows were so thin that I used all four on the bed and still barely felt elevated. I plan to book again when I'm back in the area in February, and I'll ask for extra pillows at check-in.

The air inside seemed questionable from the moment we entered. There was a faint, odd smell, and I was sneezing throughout the stay even though I don't have allergies or a sensitive nose. At breakfast, which runs from 6am to 10am, my husband and I noticed at least four other guests sneezing in different parts of the room. It was strange. I've stayed at other pet-friendly Hilton properties and didn't have this experience. We booked two rooms and got one suite and one regular room. Despite the Hampton Suites name, not every room is a suite, and both rooms felt more like a motel. They could use some care, especially the carpets and bathtubs, to make them look less worn. The staff were just okay to me, not especially friendly, and didn't interact with us, which was fine.

I used to stay here years ago and had a great experience, but this visit was disappointing. The hostess was welcoming, though I had to ask for water because my status wasn't acknowledged. The hallways smelled like urine mixed with a bar stall smell, and the room carpet was so musty I didn't want to walk on it barefoot. The hotel seems to have worn quickly with age and use. It might work for a quick night before an early flight, but it feels more like a traveler or airport hotel.

The staff really made a difference. Michael and Landon were so nice, as was the maintenance guy who helped with my key card. The place is a nice hotel mostly because of the people working there. They're doing some renovations, too, and I don't think it was fair to hold that against them. I ended up raising my rating to three stars because of the staff, but there were a lot of things that bothered me. My room smelled like it had been smoked in, and the bed was one of the worst I've slept on. It was hard, with a big lump in the middle that made both sides slope. The comforter and pillows were nice, though I needed three pillows for support. The lights were very dim, which felt relaxing but could be hard for someone with poor eyesight. The bathroom had no ventilation, so the door had to stay open during a shower to keep it from getting too hot. There was no tub, just a roomy, decent shower, which is a matter of personal preference. Laundry was a hassle. The machines take coins, one didn't work right, and there's no ATM for change, so I had to walk to a nearby gas station. The vending machine in there was out of order, too. The coffee maker wouldn't pour into the pot unless I lifted it, because the bump on the lid didn't press the mechanism. When I heated water for tea in it, the water came out brown. I later realized I could have removed the coffee basket, but it made me wonder if the machine had been cleaned. The room was quiet and dark at night, and the curtains were great. The pool and gym were nice, and food options were within walking distance, though nothing particularly healthy. You could get a salad at dennys or something. I didn't try breakfast.