Hampton Inn & Suites Washington DC North/Gaithersburg

We appreciated how easy it was to stay just outside D.C. and avoid the morning traffic. The staff were kind, and breakfast was a nice perk, with the usual range of choices. Our room was roomy, clean, and updated. The Hampton has an old-world feel alongside modern amenities and updates.

I was billed over $200 for what the hotel called damage to the bed sheets. Valire, who was presented as the manager, was no help; I doubt she was the manager since managers answer the phone. They said charging me was their “policy” instead of washing the sheets and doing their job. I plan to report the charge to my card company as fraud and sue them. Stay away if you don’t want unauthorized charges on your credit card. You’ve been warned.

I’d just had a much better four-night stay at another HI, so this one felt like a step down. As a Hilton Honors member, I ended up in a room beside the elevator, with constant noise. I also paid $5 more than advertised because I had to book by phone, plus $5 for parking in a ridiculously huge lot out in a field. It was clean enough, but the place had a lesser feel than other Hampton Inns.

The rooms were clean, and getting here off the highway was easy. It’s a decent place near DC. Parking costs a small fee, despite the misleading claim that it was free. During the day, there also seemed to be homeless people outside.