Homewood Suites by Hilton Carle Place - Garden City, NY

The room itself was nice and clean, and the location was good. Room service was also quick when we needed something. But there were too many downsides, and I don’t plan to return, even though I really wanted this to become a yearly family trip. We’ve been Hilton members for years. I came for a weekend with my two kids while pregnant. I asked for a room near the elevator, and the front desk lady said she had one, but ours wasn’t close, so I felt misled. The pullout couch was flimsy and painful to sleep on. The walls are thin, and at 3 a.m. a loud bang woke us. I couldn’t tell if it came from next door or the parking lot, but it went on for several minutes and ruined my deep sleep. The pillows were flat, too. We were looking forward to the pool, but the water was too cold and everyone was shivering. The towels were tiny, the chlorine smell was strong because ventilation wasn’t good, and the floor was slippery. Breakfast was okay: bagels, bread, cream cheese, butter, fruit, cereal, coffee and tea, yogurt, French toast, bacon and tater tots. The tots tasted like bacon, which was upsetting since we wanted them not to taste like meat. One thing that concerned me was the key policy. The next day, a different front desk lady gave me an extra room key without asking my last name or checking that I was staying there. I was shocked she could have given me access to anyone’s room. On arrival, the desk lady was kind, though she seemed like she didn’t want to be there. I’d hoped the place would be somewhere we could return to every year, but with these issues, we won’t be back. They need to fix them so families can enjoy their stay.

By the fourth morning, breakfast was ready for me to enjoy before a long workday, and Dora made sure I had a good experience at Homewood suites. The first three mornings had left me disappointed, but she really turned things around. I stayed for five days and plan to come back for another week in the near future. Dora is an exceptional employee. Thank you for having people like her at Homewood suites.

Kaylan and Joanna at the front desk were so kind and helpful throughout our seven-night stay. When my husband mentioned that our room was next to the parking lot’s back door and the slamming was keeping us from resting, they moved us to a quieter spot after the first night. The room was kept clean every day, with the bed made, rubbish taken out and towels replaced. We were visiting friends near where I grew up, and I hadn’t been back since 2006. The room was lovely, with a sitting area and TV, a full-size fridge, dishes and silverware, toaster, microwave, and a table with chairs. The bedroom had a comfortable bed, another TV, two bedside tables with drawers, storage, and a good-sized closet with hangers. There was a nice sink area and a separate bathroom. The location was very convenient, the complimentary breakfast was plentiful and delicious, and I used a treadmill in the exercise room since I walk on one at home every day. I highly recommend this hotel.

A young staff member went out of her way to call leadership when I accidentally booked two rooms and was told I’d have to pay for both because same-day cancellations weren’t allowed. She checked whether one could be canceled without a penalty, and thankfully it could. I wish I’d caught her name so I could thank her properly. The hotel looked clean and attractive when I arrived, but the room felt worn. The couch was sunken and discolored, the kitchen floor was sticky, and there were dirty dishes in the cabinets, even though the room seemed clean at first. The pillows were flat and uncomfortable. The bathroom, though, was spotless. Breakfast was tasty, and the breakfast tacos were a fun surprise. I wish the items had labels, especially because some contained pork. I probably wouldn’t come back soon. Maybe the hotel next door in the same parking lot would be a better choice, but it had no availability while I was there.