Hilton Vacation Club Riviera Beach & Shores

The pool and hot tub were clean and well maintained. The only disappointment was that the marketplace was closed for flood repairs. Restaurants and grocery stores in town are a good 30-plus-minute walk across the road and along the beach, though the property is in a good location. We stayed one night as regular guests and left happy. The clean room had everything we needed, including a toaster that was a nice surprise. Would we choose to return? Yes.

The bathroom was spacious and really nice, and there were games, pools, and a small store, though their hours weren't convenient. The hotel is across from the beach, but that beach is rocky. Other softer beaches and Dana Point Harbor are nearby, and they gave us handouts about places around, which was nice. There were plenty of downsides too. The bed wasn't comfortable, the furniture and lighting felt dated, phone streaming to the TV didn't work, and the Wi-Fi was spotty. They were pushier here about the video they wanted us to watch, putting me against my husband. They tried to upgrade our room, then couldn't. A bit of a conundrum.

There are two pools and jacuzzis, a gym, rec room, included bike rentals, billiards, ping pong, an arcade, and plenty more. I also love sitting on the balcony to watch the sunset, or listening to the ocean roar from my room. I've been coming here for years and really love the place. From late May through September there's a free open-air trolley service in the area. It picks up right outside the resort and is super fun.

I saved my Hilton ownership points for years and rarely use them, expecting this stay to be good, so it was especially frustrating. The one-bedroom suite had stained pillowcases and bedroom curtains that were extremely dirty and stained. That isn't the cleanliness or quality I expect from a Hilton-branded hotel. When I brought up my concerns at the front desk, I felt dismissed and uncomfortable instead of welcomed or helped. Cleanliness and customer service should be basic standards at any hotel, especially one with the Hilton name. Very disappointing.