Homewood Suites by Hilton Bridgewater/Branchburg

The pool was so dirty that my kids’ eyes became red, blurry, and watery. I had to rush them to urgent care for eyedrops. Instead of enjoying our time together, we spent it there. The service was awful too. From check-in until 8:30pm, I kept asking the receptionist for coffee, which had been ice cold since 3pm. She said she’d call the kitchen, but never did. There were bugs in the bathroom and inside the bathtub, so I had to flush them away. Disgusting. Breakfast wasn’t good either, and the boiled eggs were so cold they were inedible. One of the worst properties. Don’t go there.

I’ve stayed twice because my work assignments were nearby, and both rooms were very nice. But the way staff spoke to me left me anxious about talking at all. On my first stay, a kitchen worker called me out in front of staff and guests for not picking up the tongs. It was embarrassing. The second time, before I’d even checked in, I was still holding my luggage when the manager told me not to talk to the front desk workers or linger because they needed to do their jobs. I felt reprimanded as a guest for talking too much. I kept wondering whether I’d get in trouble just for speaking near employees. It’s ridiculous to feel that way in a hotel. I was only talking, yet afterward the manager stood behind the desk and told me about her new employee. I should’ve been treated like a guest, not just a dollar filling a room. Those two incidents spoiled what could have been a nice stay. Good luck if you come here.

For a family funeral weekend, we booked four suites and really liked the layout. Each suite had two bedrooms with their own bathrooms, separated by a shared living area with a kitchenette. The furnishings felt upscale, and everything was clean and comfortable. The accessible bathroom also had lots of thoughtful additions.

Kimberly is why I keep coming back for this work project, even though there are cheaper hotels nearby. I usually arrive after midnight a few days a week, and she remembers my name and welcomes me back. She already knows I don’t like rooms with connecting doors, and has my bill printed and fresh coffee ready for my early checkout without me needing to ask. She goes above and beyond, even chasing noisy kids back to their room. I haven’t met many other employees because of my hours, but the maintenance staff have been great about fixing things. The rooms are very clean and well kept, and the fitness center is decent for a hotel. If work sends me back this way, I’ll stay here again.